Based in Tokyo, Pioneer is a brand founded in 1938 by Nozomu Matsumoto. This group is the first manufacturer of DVD recorders released in 1997 and the first Blu-Ray recorder in 2006. Nowadays, it offers plenty of high-quality models that can become your best Pioneer receiver. The company mainly focused on electronics. It therefore also provides mixing desks.
Among its sound equipment, you can find micro-systems. They are equipped with a CD player, FM tuner, headphone connection, and USB port. Some have an integrated Bluetooth system and a programmable standby. Pioneer has become popular among customers from all over the world due to its quality. Therefore, here you can find Pioneer reviews of receivers.
The Elite SC Series of AV receivers are the high-end audiophile range from Pioneer. They deliver high-quality sound using less power.
Pioneer Home Theater Receiver Reviews
Pioneer Elite VSX-LX104 – best overall
You can enjoy your favorite movies and soundtracks with a high-quality AV receiver. Pioneer VSX-LX104 is the best Pioneer Elite receiver overall due to its quality and fair price. This model is equipped with seven channels that deliver 80-watts of power output. The design of the receiver is kept in the style of the LX series and is familiar from the previous lines of the company.
The front side offers a number of in/outputs for ease of use. Mini stereo jack and MCACC with phones out have gold plating. In addition, there is a USB port on the rear side, the number of connectivity options is much larger. Up to 6 HDMI, standard RCA in/out, coaxial and analog inputs, and others. You can operate this receiver via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The VSX-LX104 is a beautiful receiver, which is cis compatible with the 5.2.2ch Dolby Atmos sound theater platform.
Pros
- It is effortless to install and start using the AV receiver
- You receive plenty of connectivity possibilities
- Users can save presets of settings for different purposes
Cons
- It does not have front broad channel support
Pioneer Elite SC-LX904 – best premium
Better listeners can rejoice because the SX-LX904 cuts an excellent figure in the soundcheck: sufficient detail, tonality, and spatiality are excellent. It is also practical that there are six storage spaces for the determined values so that you can choose from several setups for very different scenarios (film, music, etc.). Thus, SX-LX904 is a premium Pioneer home theater receiver.
The whole thing is controlled with buttons behind the panel, with the illuminated, logically structured remote control, or with a smartphone or tablet and a suitable remote app.
This AV receiver is equipped with 11 channels that are always in class D with 205 Watts per channel for the first and 215 Watts for the second. The Dolby Atmos Height Virtualizer appears to virtually replace ceiling speakers that would be absent. Then it is a shame to acquire a device with so many channels not to use it. More on the move, IMAX Enhancement is also present here. The MCACC Pro audio calibration system, which we appreciate the qualities of, is still there.
It is equipped with a sixth-generation HD Direct Energy amplifier. With all the functions and compatibilities required today, the SC-LX904 will prove to be perfectly functional for multichannel or stereophonic sound reproduction thanks to the two D / A converters.
Pros
- The presence of a USB port allows the receiver to play content from external media
- It can stream audio using the AirPlay
- The receiver has a function of wireless connection to the Internet via Wi-Fi
Cons
- Energy-saving ECO mode is not implemented
Alex Smith is the senior home entertainment editor at theGuruchoice and focused on reviews. His specialities are: technology, home theatre systems, music reviews.