2 Channel is Dead! Long Live the Pioneer VSX-LX305 Home Theater Receiver Review

Question please? Pioneer Elite VSX-LX305 doesn’t have Preouts that I see. I have two BO self amplified front speakers, is there a way to use these with this receiver? Always a great show and look forward to your answer. Al

Just scored this on Amazon black Friday deal for $749, going to pair with emotiva B2+ speakers and Sony UBP-X800M2 4K UHD Home Theater Streaming Blu-Ray Disc Player (UBPX800M2) for what should be a killer all in one system for small home studio. Thanks for all the great recommendations and reviews Randy!😃

will the lx 305 run the Polk Signature 7.1 system? 2 S60 floor, 4 s20 ,hts 12" sub and the s35 center. Had a yamaha rx 2070 but it ate itself. will be buying in the next couple of days. Any help will be appreciated.

2 ears need TWO CHANNELS. Case closed.

Great price today. 899.99

What is the Bass frequency on it thinking about getting this

Hi there - does anyone have experiance/advice on using the VSX-LX305 to drive 300ohm headphones (e.g. HD6xx) via the front jack (PHONES)? ...the spec sheet states support for 8-600ohm headphones, but doesn't mention any selection for low/mid/high gain (which I am used to with some other devices) - so not sure how this is handled here. Thanks ;-)

Why Pioneer 305 uses 24/192khz DAC while older 302 uses AKM 32/384khz?? I am currently planning to buy 305 but held back due to this one downgrade, can you pls guide on this?

Can the crossover frequency be set separately for each speaker, as on the Onkyo TX-NR7100?

Great review. I'm looking to upgrade my home theater / music setup. I am looking at the SVS speakers as well. Will this Pioneer run the SVS Ultra Towers + Ultra center speaker and two rear speakers? Will a sub be necessary? Thanks. Any advice is appreciated.

I just discovered your videos! I have a question about the VSX-LX105. I don’t know if I can let myself spend the money on the 305. Can you recommend the 105? Thank you if you get to answer this.

I just set up my VSX-LX305. I came from a Pioneer VXS-LX503. I'm using a pair of KEF Q350s for my mains and a Q650C for my center. I'm using an RSL Speedwoofer 10II with another RSL being delivered Monday. It's a 7.1 system with no Atmos speakers. My room really doesn't lend itself to being wired. I know the Pioneer is the entry-level Dirac receiver, but I'm really impressed. Is there any reason to upgrade the receiver while I'm still in my return window? Thanks for any input.

this is nothing but a paid testimonial

Great review. Do you think this applies to the Pioneer 105? (Particularly stereo listening).

Something that sounds great but is pain to use? Arcam! I have arcam avr20 and the software is horrible. And that’s why I’m watching videos for Pioneer or Integra receivers. Thanks!

hahhaaa spot on man! the older i get the more i think about this

This is really what I need in convinced. But I need it for like 300$ 😅 I mean 1200 is more than I paid for my civic

It's the Burr Brown DAC PCM1690 it's a fantastic DAC. Even the NAD T778 uses that and look at the price of that. Some of the very best receivers years ago used to use that DAC. Now it's back.

Unfortunately, and unlike the Marantz NR1711, it doesn't have a component video input: it won't be able to host my SAMSUNG Blue Ray drive in its highest resolution (it dates from an era of low res"HD" HDMI version, hence the component video that can go up to 1080p - No I don't have the budget to also buy another BD player, as I won't acquire much BD disks anyway, just to play my collection).

Yea but what people don’t realize preouts should be standard

I had an older Pioneer receiver that I bought new in 2000.
It had no HDMI but always sounded great, especially on two channel listening.
Blew the left channel last year and ended up getting the Marantz SR6015 on sale for $600.00 off to replace.
I almost got the Pioneer you're reviewing here, but for only $400.00 more, and a little more power I went with the Marantz for the sound of two Channel music.
With all that being said, I noticed that the Pioneer and Marantz were real close in their music sound comparing side by side with settings set the same.
I was surprised by the similarities. So, is Pioneer using Marantz as their target sound, or vice versa?

I'm trying to spread the news so others are NOT tricked into buying this POS. I like your channel and such. I kind of took your advice and bit the bullet on this VSX-LX305. It's SEVERELY flawed. It keeps dropping my sub-woofer, which has an "always on" switch, which is ON. The app for streaming is TERRIBLE! In addition you cannot use other apps, ONLY their junky one. Even the overall levels seem to indicate that this is barely reaching 100 watts of power. In addition to all of this, the ONLY way to fully setup this unit is using a TV. And whether you CHOOSE to not use the ARC interaction with the TV, just does it anyway. So, you're trying NOT to get the TV in the mix, but it basically FORCES you to. If you want to use 2.1 sound STAY AWAY from this thing!!

Frustrating reviewer, get to the point already!

This video could have been half as long or less.

I mainly watch for the intros. I want that pomeranian.

It's only 22.9 lbs. 100 watts claimed by Pioneer may be at 6 ohm.

no discussion on HDMI 2.1, 4k/8k passthrough, 4 ohm power, bi-amp, transformer, pushing big load speakers, heat produced? I can't find a modern receiver that does it all. At this point I'd pay thousands for one that delivers. I dig your channel, but I'm left thinking this and all receivers still aren't there.

I went out and bought a couple of pair of Baby Advent II speakers for my back channels and overheads..I loves me the Vintage stuff especially the top line Yamaha stuff..

"Do you want the blue pill or the red pill" - Holds up a green pill and an orange gummy, lol...

Yeah , the only problem is that ths is an Elite receiver and it costs 1300$ , way more in Europe - so it is medium-high end . Most people do not buy so expensive . At 500-600$ you find a stereo amplifier as good as this receiver or better for listening to music .

Isherwood referring to the movie matrix, wit da red and blue pill

Great video, because I totally agree with every hi-fi related opinion here expressed.
P.S. talking about too many features on equipment in general ...i haven't counted the features, settings & combo's of, on my now 6'ish month old new mobile, but there's 8,000 maybe inc' combo's ..& so far, I've fiddled with them, only made anything worse & always reset back to the factory's default settings. So I've only had cause to use 3 features i.e. calls, the occasional texts/ reply & rarely, it's car's Tom-Tom ability. (not being a quality- limited photographer or a self-loving selfie-sending face-booker)

I recently purchased the lx405 but cannot find the option for dirac live. Do you have a tutorial?

I like this guy . cutting the fluff

Great video. I use a Pioneer sc-lx57 and I'm looking to upgrade this year. Hopefully Pioneer and Onkyo will bring their latest receivers to a local hifi show next month :)

I just bought a used Pioneer Elite Vsx 45 and I'm still waiting for it to be delivered. I obviously wanted a new receiver but I couldn't afford one that was any good for the money. Does anyone know if it's a good receiver I can't find a lot info on it

Just started watching your channel. Keep up the good work. Loved the sponsor in this one

I did never ever hear anywhere a multichannel system that sounded better or added anything to a GOOD 2.0 or 2.1 system, even in pro theaters even in ridiculous millions $ villas. And even for movies. As soon as the stereo system is good at imaging and when you listen at mono you feel the sound coming from dead center through the screen, and that you ear cars going around behind you, what other channels can do ? Correct for room ? (there is EQ for this) Even on blu rays coded for multichannel you get the full effect in stereo down-mix. The sound is ALWAYS worse in multichannel. It is muddier, messier and has less imaging and less precision in the positioning of things in 3D space. And in music only in stereo you can have both an instrument position AND feel space between players. It's already difficult to make 2 speakers sound good, when you add more you add to the problem. I even installed perforated screens back in the day, for the owner to say, well it sound better in 2.0, just ditch the center speaker. From that day I mostly installed audio opaque screens and placed speakers just left and right from the screen, converging toward the audience. I'm curious to try and be proven wrong, that would be a change.

2.0 is dead not 2.1, don't need more speakers lo listen to music or TV. I have a 5.1 System on my PC with 2 Full Speakers replacing the front ones, I don't use the satellites to much. If I can save lots of money with a 2.1 vs a 7.1 receiver It's a no brainer.

Someone locally is selling the model before this one, the 304, for $400. I'm thinking about it because I've never been really excited about the Yamaha I bought to replace my dead Marantz.

In my mind, I don't know how anything can beat stereo. You just need DSP to get the most out of it.

This receive is now $1399. :( That's a shame. The reasonable gap in price for improvement is diminishing.

I would prefer a receiver that is simpler.
Bigger power supply, decode all surround sound formats , and better room correction.
That's it.
I don't care about anything else because I don’t use anything else...

Several years ago I got a Pioneer 5.2 receiver. It's really quite easy to use, and the room/sound correction is really quite good at gets a good balance between the speakers. Sure, doesn't have the most modern features, but for me it has a good sound stage and a good balance to the sound. The HDMI is modern enough to still do the current standards. Honestly, it may not be the most sophisticated but price point comparison, dollar to dollar it is so much better than a 2 channel amp.

Great video… I bought the pioneer and love it just trying to figure out the Dirac… any help would be appreciated… can you use a iPad?

You were going over music streaming apps... Which one has the best audio, in your opinion. Or is it the native- free one?

So new pioneer lx models doesn't have hdmi issues anymore

This was a great review. I was on the fence. But now I’m gonna buy it

what do you think about the LX304?..does the 304 have direct?