Pioneer VSX-LX305 Home Theater Receiver (Bestbuy) shop-links.co/cgWiVsGNU8A --Pioneer VSX-LX305 Home Theater Receiver amzn.to/372SmRw ---Tidal Deal bit.ly/3siuqSF ----Crutchfield shop-links.co/cguPK8XEGmt ----Best Buy Deals shop-links.co/cf9yDZeYtUH ---amzn.to/3GkNaop ---CAM Store (New Products!) bit.ly/30Lgu4K --apos.audio?sca_ref=552340.TY98BPcZ6P -massdrop.7eer.net/qnOye5 =======Amazon Unlimited Music and Disney Plus Free Trial amzn.to/3DRAVj9 =========www.patreon.com/cheapaudioman
Thanks for the heads-up! Strictly soundwise, which sounds better _for your own "objective" ears_ in 5.x/2.1/2.0 2 chan. modes: The Pioneer VSX LX305; the Denon AVR-X2700H; the Denon AVR-X4700H/4800H; or the Marantz NR1711....?
Great review. Watching this in February 2024. Amazon has this receiver priced at $640. Updating my home theater gear and your videos have really helped. Much thanks…
Marvellous no-nonsense review, I bought this amp after a lot of research and am delighted with the audio performance both for music and films. Thank you.
I've been using a Denon X6700H paired with SVS Prime Pinnacles and two PB-3000 sub for the past 3 months. Two channel music performance is exceptional in my living room. Moved it yesterday to its permanent resting place, 7.2.4 channel family room setup, and boy I have a lot of tweaking to do to make it sound right. All-in-all, multipurpose reciever was the right choice for me over separates. Great video!! 👍 👌
I have this receiver now and I've always just played my music through my receiver for 2 channel because it was easier and cheaper to do than having separate since my speakers are always part of a home theater, but recently after reading online started feeling like I was missing out by not having an amplifier and been researching which ones to get how much money I need to spend etc. Thanks for the comparison of this receiver to amplifiers it really made me feel better about it and like I don't need to go buy a separate $1-2k amp to have a good audio experience without missing out on something. Besides that I love everything about this receiver as a person who uses my speakers for equal amount music and home theater. Awesome video as always, thanks Randy!
I’m glad to hear that Pioneer isn’t (so far) having any HDMI issues. From experience, I can say that the Sony “ES” AV receiver that I own has shown zero HDMI issues as well.
Randy, Thanks for review, I just found this amp listed for $652 w/ your link! FYI link for Best Buy has one too. Truly a Cheap Audio Man to the core ;)
This is a great video! From the Pomeranians to the description of your experience with the plethora of features this receiver has. It definitely sounds like a high value proposition.
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.
Makes me almost want to go out and buy one.. almost. Nice to know there is a good AVR at that price point. Glad you stumbled across a nice one, great review as usual
You’ve sold it to me. Only thing is, over here in the U.K. our gas and electricity has risen 55% today which is about $200 a month extra. It will have to wait
Here in the States, things aren’t must better… gas was at 1.79 when Pres Trump left office and now it’s 4.39/gl Home heating oil is at 5.39/gl… So now I’m burning trees…
Dude. Nice circling back to the matrix at the end. Absolutely clever. Appreciated that. It brought the whole video together. Nicely done. Next review, the red dress DAC.
I have had 5 Marantz AVRs (even a 7006), and they all did 2 ch music well (6000 and 7000 series the best tho). Now I have a Marantz AVP 7705, and man, the 2ch experience on this processor is out of this world! And yes, it is a crazy 7.1.4 experience as well.
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.
I bought the pioneer vsx-ls105 and I love it. You only get 7 channels and no dirac but almost all the other features are present. It's a great option if you don't need/can't fit 9 channels in your listening space. 10/10 great product.
I love my Pioneer SC95 (2015 model), Its class D amp at 135 wpc plays my 5.2.2 set up flawlessly. Side note, for the price I'd like to see more pre outs
Great review. So many AVR reviews totally ignore the quality of music delivery. For those of us who will only ever have 1 component for movies and music, this is a huge factor. Thanks for focusing on it.
Thanks Randy really enjoyed the review of the Pioneer VSX-LX305. I think at the end of the day chasing that feeling of being there live and hearing the music the way the artist presented it is what we are looking for. If a home theatre receiver can do that I'm happy, I just don't want someone trying to push me out of my chair to get my ideal spot when I am listening.
I picked up this receiver a couple months ago. It sounds great. I like it overall but it has a few features I wish were improved. One being the up firing atmos speakers front and rear can’t be set at different distances from the ceiling. My rear atmos speakers are closer to the ceiling. Edit: Maybe this can be set in Dirac. I only set it up in MCACC so far. Looks like I have some fiddling to do.
Love your injected humour in your videos. Keep up the great work and info. Thank you. One criticism, there's no link to purchase antibiotic, free-range Pomeranian. 😂👍
These are great receivers. I have the elite 504 and the 103 and I love them. The pioneer remote app for the phone is fantastic, you can control almost everything for it including the 9 band eq and built in streaming options.Only crossover an distances initial etc have to be done on screen with the actual remote. I use the bluesound node for streaming, but before I got that I was using receivers built in streaming and it was fine. I absolutely love the dsp with surround music listening with atmos to create a 3 dimensional sound field which puts you IN the music. Sound stage can’t be beat. Was waiting for this review , thank you! 😃
@@joelane4670 I have a 9ch denon receiver and I would say that my pioneer 504 , actually like better but they both perform really well in terms of sound quality.
Is the crossover still global for all speakers, or can I set a different crossover for different set of speakers? I know mcacc is global, but how us Dirac implemented on this receiver?
@@travel5456 they are still one crossover for all which is lame. I just go 80hz , would like a bit lower for the LR towers but it is what it is. As far as Dirac goes, that on the 05 generations (new). My receivers use MCAAC room correction which is really good but DIRAC is better. ✌️🤟🍻
Thank you for not going through all the features that’s rather bored, however thank you for telling us how amazing this receiver is having a amazing day God bless you sir
Nice review and great product and thanks for not going through the gazillion of features it offers. I'm a simple man so I like simple things, going back to washing machines I bought a Speed Queen 12 years ago, 3 cycles, used daily and still working great with no service and/or breakdowns. My main AVR is a Cambridge Azur 640R from about 12-13 years ago, very "primitive" in features for today's standards but just like the Speed Queen, set it up, all manual, and forget about it. Very powerful, 100wpc all 7 channels driven at 0.006%THD. An Oppo disc player, GoldenEar speakers all around and an SVS sub do the job. Great sounding in movies, music and 2 channel listening but not vinyl, that's set up in another room powered by a wonderful SX550. I do have a Yamaha and Onkyos AVR's set up in other rooms but never a Pioneer, could the VSX-LX305 be the replacement once the old Cambridge goes to AVR heaven? The price is certainly right!
Speed Queen washers and driers are the Mack trucks of home appliances! The home units are built with the same parts as the commercial units. I'll say you've made great choices on all of your gear listed here. Enjoy your day.
I got the Onkyo version- NR7100 a week ago, and am very pleased with it. Movies have way more impact than my old Denon. Dirac really fixes some of the humps in bass response, but it's a bit of a pain and can be flaky. Love the 3 different Dirac slots for different calibrations- I have a cals for movies and stereo listening, and the soundstage is very wide. Unfortunately the prices jumped $200 across the board one these.
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!😃
I absolutely love this receiver. Paired it with the Sony SS CS5’s for now and added a SVS sub. Want to add some better fronts later but it’s pretty good with the Sony’s tbh. What do you recommend for a good center?
@@gigigg That’s easy. What I don’t like, is what is cool about it. The MCACC feature. Once set is awesome. Any changes to the listening space or other audio devices, speakers, furniture placement, etc, it pays to run it again to capture acoustic changes. And the remote has a thousand button pads almost too small to read. But once set, sounds great any mode.
@@gigigg I should also mention I have 2 Polk RTA11TL towers front channel Creative Soundworks “The Center” 5 driver center channel A pair of Cambridge Soundworks Ensemble mounted from the ceiling for rear effect and a SunFire SDS10 sub. That’s multimedia. My music only system is Yamaha VSX330 a great little Receiver CD player. Has LFE I connected to a Hsu VTF 2 and a second sub, my older Polk 10” front firing ported with the high side currently feeding a pair of Hsu Satellites on stands. Yep, 2.2 in a high (22’ high ceiling) front living room. The room seems to amplify 30 watts to a point where my neighbors complain at times depending music choice. Frank Zappa drives’em nutz…. But, sounds great.
Liked your review, getting into the way it functions, ease of use, quality of the sound and the main features most people will use. I can always read about the other features. I think you danced around the obvious with your comments through....should have just said, if you don't want or have a lot of money to spend, this is a great product for the price. I know some audiophiles might not like that type of comment, but I'm not ready to pay $4K for a NAD receiver. 😁
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 :)
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
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 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.
Hey Randy! Are there any other, more budget friendly, AVRs you would recommend? I'm mainly switching between 5-channel for TV/movies and 2-channel for turntable music. This Pioneer seems to have far more features than I would ever need, so I'm curious what else you might recommend that can handle surround sound while also sound good as a turntable stereo setup? Thanks!
i just bought this reciever 2 days ago. my onkyo tx-sr607 hdmi is dead. i came across this pioneer for 499. i thought that was a pretty fair deal so i purchased it. cant wait for it to arrive im pretty excited to mess w it for sure. it should last me a good long while for sure.
Glad to hear the Elite VSX-LX305 has the HDMI issues resolved that also plague my Marantz. Was also looking at Cambridge Audio CX81 around same price. Also looking forward to trying some tasty Pomeranian snacks during my next hours long critical listening session.
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 still running a Marantz SR8002. Does everything I need it to do and is great for 2 channel. Fads come and go but you can never outgrow good sound. I quit chasing after the x.1 stage
Best thing I've done to my systems around the house ever is a calibrated mic and REW software (aka DSP). Correcting frequency response in all my listening spaces made very noticeable improvements all for about $70. 2nd best is room treatment. To me its just as exciting as getting new gear to try. Great video Randy.
I would like trying the the rew setup but it’s very confusing to me. I bought the mic last year. But don’t know what the hell im doing. Perhaps someday..peace fellow Audio men!
@@joelane4670 Joe N Tells video from a few years ago is pretty good helped me out a lot. Yes I've thought about doing just a basic video of how I use REW and EQ APO or miniDSP 2x4 to tune my systems. This is also why I use a PC to stream and play my music since dedicated streamers are over priced and can't do everything a PC does. I don't do videos very often anymore but I guess you could sub to my channel and I'll try to get a video on it done. Or maybe Randy has the equipment, leave a comment for him see if he'll do a video on it.
@@iowaudioreviews Hey I appreciate the advice..And..I hope Randy is seeing this. Lol. But I will check joe & tells video out. I can’t believe I haven’t seen it. I watch his channel pretty often..
I know this is kind of a 2 year late comment but am thinking of picking this up to upgrade from my pioneer elite VSX 56txi and this one does 110W per channel. I'm just not sure if this would actually be an upgrade given that it's 100W per channel instead of what I'm used to. Now there's nothing wrong with my receiver I still love the sound coming out but am missing out on a ton of modern featured like 8K hdmi and earc. My old receiver doesn't even have HDMI I run an optical cable to the TV and it works just fine. The 305 is on sale for ~$640 right now that's why I'm thinking about upgrading. The question is obvious. Do you think it's worth the upgrade to gain HDMI but give up 10W per channel and spend $640
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..
I'm still using my Pioneer VSX-D511. It works and sounds great. I don't see the need to spend a lot of money on a new receiver which I might not like as much, so until my VSX-D511 kicks the bucket...
Love my marantz sr 5017 it’s a beast with pre-outs , we use it for everything with my Elac Debut reference system. Xbox, 200 inch projector , 4K dvd, streamer but in 2 channel direct mode… simply phenomenal
Agreed sir. I have the SR5014. I didn't use the pure direct mode until I started watching Randy and a few other audiophile channels a couple of years ago. Since then I run, exclusively, pure direct. My only complaint is that HEOS is terrible.
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.
Great idea with the cute dog. When that dog gets a lot older, you can play back this video and show him and explain to him that when he was really young, he was on RUclips. It'll be really special!
Really helpful Discussion. I don’t do TV but I do do music and I experiment with speakers including exciter driven polystyrene, subs and vintage speakers and odd thing I find in thrift stores. Good to know there are home theatre receivers available that will give me fundamentally good multi channel audio.
I got rid of mine last year. I had the old 15+ years old elite. Beast. The only reason I sold it because i wanted hdmi. The sound quality was excellent.
Still use a Pioneer VSX-AX4AVi from 2006. It's been driving electrostatic speakers (plus an active subwoofer) from the beginning. At first a full 5.1 HT setup, but now it's driving a conventional stereo setup of fairly large speakers. Done a great job, but now it's starting to falter. Had to switch to the B speaker terminals as the end stages for one front speaker was failing.
I bought a new vsx-lx505 to replace my outdated sc-85 , absolutely loved it for almost 4 months until it just randomly shut off the other night 10 mins into a movie won't turn back on now. So far just getting a run around trying to get it resolved. Time will tell but I'm not impressed at this point. For the short time that it worked it was great but now I'm hooking my sc-85 back up because it at least works
I have a lesser model Elite receiver in a secondary system. No Dirac but it's a very good piece for the money. I have a JBL Synthesis processor in my main system with full Dirac bass management, it's a game changer.
Emotive has a new prepro for 1,000, and it's sound is decent enough for audio. 13.2 channels (My system is 7.2.4) but the big thing is the way it sounds. Bought it for HT but might be running my audio through it. It's that good. Only has what you need also
I wanted to buy the pioneer elite VSX-LX504 but I wasn’t quite ready with my home theater yet so I held off. And then when I was ready to order one it landed up getting canceled because availability was not there anymore. Do you know the difference between the 504 and the 305? I know they both do 9.2 channel but I would like to know the difference between the 504 and 305. And why was the 504 discontinued? The 504 model was $999 and now the 305 is $1199. Is the 305 a better unit than the 504? Thank you so much for your video. I hope you will be able to answer my questions. Thank you.
Hi Randy..Hey,I don’t have a External amplifier nor do I plan on buying one anytime soon..I’m thinking on changing my speakers out to svs,maybe prime or ultra..so I guess any asking with this puppy have any problems powering a 5.2.4 in a 16-16 room ? Leaning tours svs ultra bookshelf..(as soon as their prices drop). “Hear me SVS”. 😀😀. Thanks again. Peace
Welcome to Pioneer Elite club! I've had my Elite VSX-94TXH paired with Polk Audio RTi10, CSi3 and FXi3 since 2008!! Added a Fluance RT85 and Schitt Mani 2 years ago and couldn't be happier! Definitely would like to add some sort of Dac/streaming to the group - any suggestions with this setup??
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!
I got a great NAD T773 for 800 in 2012 and it had to go to the shop this time last year and they never seem to get around to fix it and I'm on disability so I can't find anything to replace it with the same or cheaper price yet but it gave me years of fun
It has almost everything... Preamp output... But, theres a VSX-L505 for a modest upscale in price. Thanks for the review! I've been looking for an upgrade over the YPAO on my Yamaha RX-V777.
I have the VSX-LX104 and it is a great unit. While shopping for receivers I realized that most of the modern features were available in most of the integrated receivers so I searched for the harder to find feature that was most important to me and that was phono input. I don't have the money/space/time to set up a 2channel and a surround system and I found this one on closeout at a great price and I couldn't be happier with it. I set it up with my Klipsch reference 5.1 surround speakers I got on a yuuuuge discount and love it.
I spent up for a Pioneer VSX 933 last year, that was after trying the equivalent from Denon returning that, then Yamaha and returning that because the Pioneer's sound stage and imaging was superior i dont even use the inbuilt phono input. The LX305 is the bottom of the range and is still almost 2K here in Australia.....cant justify the expense!
I almost just ran out and bought this, but then I got to thinking... maybe my room is too big for this? It is 20x45 with 14' ceilings. What do you fine folks think? I'm really only interested in two channel listening.
Great video and topic. I am considering getting a Yamaha R-N803 because it has room correction and internal cross over. I would replace a Cambridge Audio AXR100. Thoughts on this?
Aww a deal where the lx305 is on sale for $550, new. I heard the Onkyo NR7100 is the same receiver except for pre outs and the ability to change the crossover for each speaker. Should I wait for a sale on the NR7100 or just jump on the lx305 deal?
Not knocking Pioneer, but the RZ50 with Dirac is fantastic for two channel listening. Plus so much more! Paired with SVS Ultra Bookshelves and SVS sub... Super happy!
I was looking for a new receiver to replace my old Denon AVR X-1000. I was satisfied with how it sounded but wanted something with more up to date features like 4k, wifi, etc .. I was also curious to know how much better a more "upmarket" receiver would sound. And if I'm going to buy a more expensive AVR I really wanted something that sounds good, especially for 2ch as I still love listening to CDs, and I also have a collection of SACD, DVD-A and Bluray audio. I don't really watch TV or movies, but do enjoy concerts on Bluray and RUclips. So audio is more important than video, but I want multi-channel capabilities as well as good 2ch. I first saw a review for the Onkyo RZ50 and was quite sold on it, especially because of what the reviewer said about the sound quality. But when I saw the Australian price, I was little horrified! So I decided to see what else was around, that's when I found the Pioneer 505, which was essentially the same and more reasonably priced. But then I found your review of the 305, and I was completely sold! I'm not able to audition any audio equipment as these aren't sold in stores where I live, so I have to trust reviews, but everything I heard about the 305 was encouraging, especially your no-nonsense review. The 305 retails for around $2400 in Australia, but I found a store that had it on sale for $1680 ... that thing went into my shopping basket straight away!! I've had it for a few days now and I'm absolutely delighted with it. I can't believe how much better it sounds than my old Denon, night and day. I'm going through my extensive CD collection and listening to them all again! I still want to tinker with Dirac a bit as it's a little on the bright side. I'm very sensitive to 2k frequencies, but even where it's at now it is easy on my ears, not harsh or brittle at all, but I'm curious to see if I can get it a little better, but won't be disappointed if I can't. I downloaded a Harman curve to boost the lower end, and curtained the frequencies over 1k but I might push it up a little around 500hz too, just for a little extra oomph. But my goodness, the space, the detail, the clarity, my old B&Ws have never sounded so good! My only gripe is that the Australian model doesn't have that gorgeous amber display, only the blueish display like every other AVR, but I can live with that. Sorry for the long post ... but thank you so, so much for your review. I really enjoy watching your content, even for things I'm not going to buy! :D
I have no need for that many channels but it sounds like this is my next item to get for music and HT in one box. I'd rather have an easy to use receiver with extra channels than one I can't expand on if I want. Thanks, Randy.
I didn't know Pioneer was putting out something at this price point still. I had a vsx-82t xs and needed a replacement for it. I looked high and low and couldn't find anything this cheap. I ended up with a Denon and the Audyssey is a mess to setup. Took me over 20 hours to figure out how to turn all the junk off so I could find a sound I liked.
Audyssey does strange things I still can't figure out after 12 years. Mine might be a bit broken, but i have had issues with crossovers and sub settings not making any difference. The other day I lost all bass and had to do a hard reset. If that didn't work I'd be looking hard at this.
@@moniack I put a whole review out on the 4700h that's rated 1 star on Amazon just for this reason. I think the Denon is much better clarity wise than the pioneer. It just took me ages to figure out the settings for it. I don't understand why pure audio isn't one button. I think I spent weeks trying every setting to get it to that point. The oldest thing is most reviewers call it user friendly. I found it anything but user friendly.
i had the old 4.1 and 5.1 pioneer recievers not too long ago i built a system with a factory refurbished onkyo 393 was glad to modernize but let down sonically s809 towers 2 c912 subs old kenwood center old jbl 2050 satellites. i have been looking to find the piece of my system that is the weak link well at least the first piece to replace is this the solution
Can you run Dirac and then tweak the equalizer on the fly without disabling your Dirac calibration? Like with Denon/Marantz if you enable the eq sliders it fully disables Audyssey.
I just got this receiver mainly to experience Dolby Atmos. As it turns out, the atmos decoder is on the HDMI input port. That means that unless you have a streamer with an HDMI out, you can’t play atmos music! I got an Apple TV, plugged in the HDMI, and now I get Atmos from Apple Music as well as movies.
You can get Atmos via Tidal with an Amazon Firestick HD. I have to say that personally I think most Atmos mixes on Tidal suck. The only Atmos music which has impressed me was on disc and originally mixed for Atmos like Steven Wilson's last album.
You touched on the one Achilles heel of the Pioneer: the ARC HDMI issue. I have a different Pioneer model (VSX-534) I purchased recently and had a major issue with ARC after everything was hooked up and working fine. I then tried playing an audio CD on my BluRay that has an audio out to my dedicated 2 channel audio system (Carver C5 and TFM25 into a pair of DBX Soundfield 10s) in addition to the connection to the Pioneer via HDMI and after that, I completely lost all audio from the Pioneer receiver. After I tried every troubleshooting measure possible, I finally unplugged my TV power cord and plugged it back in and everything was restored back to normal. As you mentioned, ARC HDMI is finicky and does need to be reset by unplugging and replugging power cords. That seems ridiculously archaic with all the sophisticated high end circuitry that is in all my equipment, that should be running in sync and once set, should stay set. But, as I learned the hard way, old school power unplugging (power button reset doesn’t do it) is what it takes to get everything to run correctly. I’ve had many audio and video systems and components over the years and it seems that the more electronic manufacturers try to cram into components the less reliable they are and more difficult to hook up and set up than the simpler ones used to be. Replacing my 20+ year old surround receiver with this new Pioneer was very lengthy and shouldn’t have been so difficult. I foolishly expected to just switch the receivers out but ARC issue and the newer connections vs. the old ones turned what should have been a breeze into an 8 hour headache.
@@romainbailet6488 I will check out the new firmware update in install it. I have been reluctant to play another CD on the BluRay, fearing I would again lose all audio on the Pioneer because of ARC not working properly. I have even considered purchasing a separate CD player to connect to my audio setup and may still do that. I haven’t checked out CD player prices in many years. I’m hoping they will be reasonable. Last player I had with that system was a DBX DX3 which was pretty good, until it started to scratch my CD! I have another audio system in my studio with an older Sony 5 disc changer (SED-CE595) that is starting to act up so I may just buy two.
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.
Pioneer VSX-LX305 Home Theater Receiver (Bestbuy) shop-links.co/cgWiVsGNU8A
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admit it, you use Playfi, and you love it!
Would you be able to compare this to the little brother LX 105? I’m curious how the cheaper price would effect the sound quality.
Thanks for the heads-up! Strictly soundwise, which sounds better _for your own "objective" ears_ in 5.x/2.1/2.0 2 chan. modes:
The Pioneer VSX LX305; the Denon AVR-X2700H; the Denon AVR-X4700H/4800H; or the Marantz NR1711....?
Great review. Watching this in February 2024. Amazon has this receiver priced at $640. Updating my home theater gear and your videos have really helped. Much thanks…
1400 Euro here in rip off Ireland
@@johnthebimmerman1406 1.249€ in germany.. thats an rip off.. ur still good 🤪
Marvellous no-nonsense review, I bought this amp after a lot of research and am delighted with the audio performance both for music and films. Thank you.
I've been using a Denon X6700H paired with SVS Prime Pinnacles and two PB-3000 sub for the past 3 months. Two channel music performance is exceptional in my living room. Moved it yesterday to its permanent resting place, 7.2.4 channel family room setup, and boy I have a lot of tweaking to do to make it sound right. All-in-all, multipurpose reciever was the right choice for me over separates. Great video!! 👍 👌
I have this receiver now and I've always just played my music through my receiver for 2 channel because it was easier and cheaper to do than having separate since my speakers are always part of a home theater, but recently after reading online started feeling like I was missing out by not having an amplifier and been researching which ones to get how much money I need to spend etc. Thanks for the comparison of this receiver to amplifiers it really made me feel better about it and like I don't need to go buy a separate $1-2k amp to have a good audio experience without missing out on something. Besides that I love everything about this receiver as a person who uses my speakers for equal amount music and home theater. Awesome video as always, thanks Randy!
I’m glad to hear that Pioneer isn’t (so far) having any HDMI issues. From experience, I can say that the Sony “ES” AV receiver that I own has shown zero HDMI issues as well.
I have the VSX-LX303 and I absolutely love it. Hope it lasts for many many years to come!
Randy, Thanks for review, I just found this amp listed for $652 w/ your link! FYI link for Best Buy has one too. Truly a Cheap Audio Man to the core ;)
This is a great video! From the Pomeranians to the description of your experience with the plethora of features this receiver has. It definitely sounds like a high value proposition.
Thanks, Steve O
Probably one of the best down to earth reviews I’ve seen in ages on AV Receivers.. great work please keep them coming..
LOL, "down to earth" ?????? Using a line from The Matrix? LOL, wow, I guess ANYTHING will impress YOU.🤣🤣🤣
@@markmalasics3413 I guess your cheap comments have impressed me too .. great work !
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.
Makes me almost want to go out and buy one.. almost. Nice to know there is a good AVR at that price point. Glad you stumbled across a nice one, great review as usual
You’ve sold it to me. Only thing is, over here in the U.K. our gas and electricity has risen 55% today which is about $200 a month extra.
It will have to wait
Ugh. I’m so sorry
Here in the States, things aren’t must better… gas was at 1.79 when Pres Trump left office and now it’s 4.39/gl
Home heating oil is at 5.39/gl…
So now I’m burning trees…
@@davidbailey6350 I'll be tuning up my chainsaws soon also. Let's go Brandon!
Dude. Nice circling back to the matrix at the end. Absolutely clever. Appreciated that. It brought the whole video together. Nicely done. Next review, the red dress DAC.
Great review. Do you think this applies to the Pioneer 105? (Particularly stereo listening).
I have had 5 Marantz AVRs (even a 7006), and they all did 2 ch music well (6000 and 7000 series the best tho). Now I have a Marantz AVP 7705, and man, the 2ch experience on this processor is out of this world! And yes, it is a crazy 7.1.4 experience as well.
Just started watching your channel. Keep up the good work. Loved the sponsor in this one
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.
Been reading some reviews on the Klipsch I’d-51 speaker, looks like the whole world is waiting for your review on these 👍
I bought the pioneer vsx-ls105 and I love it. You only get 7 channels and no dirac but almost all the other features are present. It's a great option if you don't need/can't fit 9 channels in your listening space. 10/10 great product.
nice
Pioneer is selling the LX305 refurbished for $999. Dirac is worth the extra $150 in my opinion
I love my Pioneer SC95 (2015 model), Its class D amp at 135 wpc plays my 5.2.2 set up flawlessly. Side note, for the price I'd like to see more pre outs
Great review. So many AVR reviews totally ignore the quality of music delivery. For those of us who will only ever have 1 component for movies and music, this is a huge factor. Thanks for focusing on it.
Thanks Randy really enjoyed the review of the Pioneer VSX-LX305. I think at the end of the day chasing that feeling of being there live and hearing the music the way the artist presented it is what we are looking for. If a home theatre receiver can do that I'm happy, I just don't want someone trying to push me out of my chair to get my ideal spot when I am listening.
Lol lay down the law! It’s your spot!
I picked up this receiver a couple months ago. It sounds great. I like it overall but it has a few features I wish were improved. One being the up firing atmos speakers front and rear can’t be set at different distances from the ceiling. My rear atmos speakers are closer to the ceiling. Edit: Maybe this can be set in Dirac. I only set it up in MCACC so far. Looks like I have some fiddling to do.
Love your injected humour in your videos. Keep up the great work and info. Thank you. One criticism, there's no link to purchase antibiotic, free-range Pomeranian. 😂👍
Proud owner of a Pioneer Elite VSX-LX302 here.
These are great receivers. I have the elite 504 and the 103 and I love them. The pioneer remote app for the phone is fantastic, you can control almost everything for it including the 9 band eq and built in streaming options.Only crossover an distances initial etc have to be done on screen with the actual remote. I use the bluesound node for streaming, but before I got that I was using receivers built in streaming and it was fine. I absolutely love the dsp with surround music listening with atmos to create a 3 dimensional sound field which puts you IN the music. Sound stage can’t be beat.
Was waiting for this review , thank you! 😃
Would you say that pioneer out performs Demon and other avr ‘s in this price range?
@@joelane4670
I have a 9ch denon receiver and I would say that my pioneer 504 , actually like better but they both perform really well in terms of sound quality.
How does the 103 sound compared to the 504?
Is the crossover still global for all speakers, or can I set a different crossover for different set of speakers? I know mcacc is global, but how us Dirac implemented on this receiver?
@@travel5456 they are still one crossover for all which is lame. I just go 80hz , would like a bit lower for the LR towers but it is what it is. As far as Dirac goes, that on the 05 generations (new). My receivers use MCAAC room correction which is really good but DIRAC is better. ✌️🤟🍻
Thank you for not going through all the features that’s rather bored, however thank you for telling us how amazing this receiver is having a amazing day God bless you sir
Nice review and great product and thanks for not going through the gazillion of features it offers.
I'm a simple man so I like simple things, going back to washing machines I bought a Speed Queen 12 years ago, 3 cycles, used daily and still working great with no service and/or breakdowns.
My main AVR is a Cambridge Azur 640R from about 12-13 years ago, very "primitive" in features for today's standards but just like the Speed Queen, set it up, all manual, and forget about it. Very powerful, 100wpc all 7 channels driven at 0.006%THD. An Oppo disc player, GoldenEar speakers all around and an SVS sub do the job. Great sounding in movies, music and 2 channel listening but not vinyl, that's set up in another room powered by a wonderful SX550.
I do have a Yamaha and Onkyos AVR's set up in other rooms but never a Pioneer, could the VSX-LX305 be the replacement once the old Cambridge goes to AVR heaven? The price is certainly right!
Speed Queen washers and driers are the Mack trucks of home appliances! The home units are built with the same parts as the commercial units. I'll say you've made great choices on all of your gear listed here. Enjoy your day.
@@welderfixer Thank you and you too.
I got the Onkyo version- NR7100 a week ago, and am very pleased with it. Movies have way more impact than my old Denon. Dirac really fixes some of the humps in bass response, but it's a bit of a pain and can be flaky. Love the 3 different Dirac slots for different calibrations- I have a cals for movies and stereo listening, and the soundstage is very wide. Unfortunately the prices jumped $200 across the board one these.
Just scored this on Amazon black Friday deal for $749, going to pair with emotiva B2+ speakers and Sony UBP-X800M2 4K UHD Home Theater Streaming Blu-Ray Disc Player (UBPX800M2) for what should be a killer all in one system for small home studio. Thanks for all the great recommendations and reviews Randy!😃
Adorama has it right now for 549$ if u can return bestbuy one and save urself 200$
This was a great review. I was on the fence. But now I’m gonna buy it
I absolutely love this receiver. Paired it with the Sony SS CS5’s for now and added a SVS sub. Want to add some better fronts later but it’s pretty good with the Sony’s tbh. What do you recommend for a good center?
Klipsch RP-504C :D
I’ve got the Pioneer Elite VSX30. It’s been a great box of goodies for all of these years, since 2007.
What's the part/thing that you don't like about your elite vsx 30 ? I'm looking to buy a used one
Thank you
@@gigigg That’s easy. What I don’t like, is what is cool about it. The MCACC feature. Once set is awesome. Any changes to the listening space or other audio devices, speakers, furniture placement, etc, it pays to run it again to capture acoustic changes.
And the remote has a thousand button pads almost too small to read.
But once set, sounds great any mode.
@@gigigg I should also mention I have
2 Polk RTA11TL towers front channel
Creative Soundworks “The Center” 5 driver center channel
A pair of Cambridge Soundworks Ensemble mounted from the ceiling for rear effect and a SunFire SDS10 sub.
That’s multimedia.
My music only system is
Yamaha VSX330 a great little Receiver CD player.
Has LFE I connected to a Hsu VTF 2 and a second sub, my older Polk 10” front firing ported with the high side currently feeding a pair of Hsu Satellites on stands. Yep, 2.2 in a high (22’ high ceiling) front living room. The room seems to amplify 30 watts to a point where my neighbors complain at times depending music choice. Frank Zappa drives’em nutz…. But, sounds great.
@@gravitystorm61158 thank you much
@@gravitystorm61158 it will be first reciver for me
When you performed your analysis of the Pioneer VSX-LX305 did you use an external DAC or just rely on the internal built into the Receiver?
Hey Randy would you recommend the LX301? How similar is it to the 305?
Liked your review, getting into the way it functions, ease of use, quality of the sound and the main features most people will use. I can always read about the other features. I think you danced around the obvious with your comments through....should have just said, if you don't want or have a lot of money to spend, this is a great product for the price. I know some audiophiles might not like that type of comment, but I'm not ready to pay $4K for a NAD receiver. 😁
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 :)
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
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 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.
Hey Randy! Are there any other, more budget friendly, AVRs you would recommend? I'm mainly switching between 5-channel for TV/movies and 2-channel for turntable music. This Pioneer seems to have far more features than I would ever need, so I'm curious what else you might recommend that can handle surround sound while also sound good as a turntable stereo setup? Thanks!
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?
i just bought this reciever 2 days ago. my onkyo tx-sr607 hdmi is dead. i came across this pioneer for 499. i thought that was a pretty fair deal so i purchased it. cant wait for it to arrive im pretty excited to mess w it for sure. it should last me a good long while for sure.
I bought the Integra DRX3.4 which is similar from what I understand but has preamp out for$100 more.
Glad to hear the Elite VSX-LX305 has the HDMI issues resolved that also plague my Marantz. Was also looking at Cambridge Audio CX81 around same price. Also looking forward to trying some tasty Pomeranian snacks during my next hours long critical listening session.
they're great
FYI, the Cambridge CX81 jumped from $1299 to $1499 over at Crutchfield today 😱😱.
@@steventsimtsos4029 Thanks for the update dude. Inflation strikes again. Will have to downgrade from Pomeranian treats to Poodle treats 😂
You were going over music streaming apps... Which one has the best audio, in your opinion. Or is it the native- free one?
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 still running a Marantz SR8002. Does everything I need it to do and is great for 2 channel. Fads come and go but you can never outgrow good sound. I quit chasing after the x.1 stage
Best thing I've done to my systems around the house ever is a calibrated mic and REW software (aka DSP). Correcting frequency response in all my listening spaces made very noticeable improvements all for about $70. 2nd best is room treatment. To me its just as exciting as getting new gear to try. Great video Randy.
Thanks, man
I would like trying the the rew setup but it’s very confusing to me. I bought the mic last year. But don’t know what the hell im doing. Perhaps someday..peace fellow Audio men!
@@cheapaudioman have you ever done a rew video? I know there’s tons out there..but none I’ve found that make it easy for me.
@@joelane4670 Joe N Tells video from a few years ago is pretty good helped me out a lot. Yes I've thought about doing just a basic video of how I use REW and EQ APO or miniDSP 2x4 to tune my systems. This is also why I use a PC to stream and play my music since dedicated streamers are over priced and can't do everything a PC does. I don't do videos very often anymore but I guess you could sub to my channel and I'll try to get a video on it done. Or maybe Randy has the equipment, leave a comment for him see if he'll do a video on it.
@@iowaudioreviews Hey I appreciate the advice..And..I hope Randy is seeing this. Lol. But I will check joe & tells video out. I can’t believe I haven’t seen it. I watch his channel pretty often..
I know this is kind of a 2 year late comment but am thinking of picking this up to upgrade from my pioneer elite VSX 56txi and this one does 110W per channel. I'm just not sure if this would actually be an upgrade given that it's 100W per channel instead of what I'm used to. Now there's nothing wrong with my receiver I still love the sound coming out but am missing out on a ton of modern featured like 8K hdmi and earc. My old receiver doesn't even have HDMI I run an optical cable to the TV and it works just fine. The 305 is on sale for ~$640 right now that's why I'm thinking about upgrading. The question is obvious. Do you think it's worth the upgrade to gain HDMI but give up 10W per channel and spend $640
Love it, Can't wait for you to comind Dirac with some basic room treatments, gets even better!
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..
Randy: "I'm not going to talk about it's features."
*Proceeds to talk about it's features for the entire video*
Loved it.
I talked about 4 or 5 features. But I'm glad you loved it.
Were you not entertained?
I'm still using my Pioneer VSX-D511. It works and sounds great. I don't see the need to spend a lot of money on a new receiver which I might not like as much, so until my VSX-D511 kicks the bucket...
Wow! you have a McIntosh system. That’s how you get a great reference for the cheap audio gear. What are you running in the way of speakers with them?
Lintons perhaps
what do you think about the LX304?..does the 304 have direct?
Love my marantz sr 5017 it’s a beast with pre-outs , we use it for everything with my Elac Debut reference system. Xbox, 200 inch projector , 4K dvd, streamer but in 2 channel direct mode… simply phenomenal
Agreed sir. I have the SR5014. I didn't use the pure direct mode until I started watching Randy and a few other audiophile channels a couple of years ago. Since then I run, exclusively, pure direct. My only complaint is that HEOS is terrible.
@@brianmefford630 Agree HEOS is terrible, I made my own streamer using a Raspberry pi and it’s awesome
Did you mean sr 5015?
@@JaredSchumaier yes!
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.
Great idea with the cute dog. When that dog gets a lot older, you can play back this video and show him and explain to him that when he was really young, he was on RUclips. It'll be really special!
Really helpful Discussion. I don’t do TV but I do do music and I experiment with speakers including exciter driven polystyrene, subs and vintage speakers and odd thing I find in thrift stores. Good to know there are home theatre receivers available that will give me fundamentally good multi channel audio.
I like the display color of the Pioneer, it is similar to the JVC I have from 1993. 5.1 system.
Excellent unbiased review for us non audiophiles. I have an older Pioneer Elite receiver that I still enjoy and I think this will be my next one.
Nice
I got rid of mine last year. I had the old 15+ years old elite. Beast. The only reason I sold it because i wanted hdmi. The sound quality was excellent.
Still use a Pioneer VSX-AX4AVi from 2006. It's been driving electrostatic speakers (plus an active subwoofer) from the beginning. At first a full 5.1 HT setup, but now it's driving a conventional stereo setup of fairly large speakers. Done a great job, but now it's starting to falter. Had to switch to the B speaker terminals as the end stages for one front speaker was failing.
Does your 1711 have Audyssey Multeq, Multeq XT, or Multeq XT32? I have had them all and Multeq XT32 is by far the best
I bought a new vsx-lx505 to replace my outdated sc-85 , absolutely loved it for almost 4 months until it just randomly shut off the other night 10 mins into a movie won't turn back on now. So far just getting a run around trying to get it resolved. Time will tell but I'm not impressed at this point. For the short time that it worked it was great but now I'm hooking my sc-85 back up because it at least works
I have a lesser model Elite receiver in a secondary system. No Dirac but it's a very good piece for the money. I have a JBL Synthesis processor in my main system with full Dirac bass management, it's a game changer.
Emotive has a new prepro for 1,000, and it's sound is decent enough for audio. 13.2 channels (My system is 7.2.4) but the big thing is the way it sounds. Bought it for HT but might be running my audio through it. It's that good. Only has what you need also
Do you have a link for it?
Great review! I’ve been pondering the idea of a home theater… The 2008Sony all in one box isn’t cutting it anymore.
awesome.
I wanted to buy the pioneer elite VSX-LX504 but I wasn’t quite ready with my home theater yet so I held off. And then when I was ready to order one it landed up getting canceled because availability was not there anymore. Do you know the difference between the 504 and the 305? I know they both do 9.2 channel but I would like to know the difference between the 504 and 305. And why was the 504 discontinued?
The 504 model was $999 and now the 305 is $1199. Is the 305 a better unit than the 504?
Thank you so much for your video. I hope you will be able to answer my questions. Thank you.
Hi Randy..Hey,I don’t have a External amplifier nor do I plan on buying one anytime soon..I’m thinking on changing my speakers out to svs,maybe prime or ultra..so I guess any asking with this puppy have any problems powering a 5.2.4 in a 16-16 room ? Leaning tours svs ultra bookshelf..(as soon as their prices drop). “Hear me SVS”. 😀😀. Thanks again. Peace
Welcome to Pioneer Elite club! I've had my Elite VSX-94TXH paired with Polk Audio RTi10, CSi3 and FXi3 since 2008!! Added a Fluance RT85 and Schitt Mani 2 years ago and couldn't be happier! Definitely would like to add some sort of Dac/streaming to the group - any suggestions with this setup??
Hello, which is a better bang/buck, Polk R100, SVS Prime, or RP500 at $320/pair?
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!
I got a great NAD T773 for 800 in 2012 and it had to go to the shop this time last year and they never seem to get around to fix it and I'm on disability so I can't find anything to replace it with the same or cheaper price yet but it gave me years of fun
It has almost everything... Preamp output... But, theres a VSX-L505 for a modest upscale in price. Thanks for the review! I've been looking for an upgrade over the YPAO on my Yamaha RX-V777.
Cheap people are good people. We know how to spend money. That’s why when we spend $1200 on a receiver, we are generally spending well.
I have an onyko receiver had it for 7 months I like it, never had a pioneer but this one sounds great
Onkyo makes pioneer. This is the same as the onkyo 7100 and integra 3.4
@@milehighboost5521 the more you know
I have the VSX-LX104 and it is a great unit. While shopping for receivers I realized that most of the modern features were available in most of the integrated receivers so I searched for the harder to find feature that was most important to me and that was phono input. I don't have the money/space/time to set up a 2channel and a surround system and I found this one on closeout at a great price and I couldn't be happier with it. I set it up with my Klipsch reference 5.1 surround speakers I got on a yuuuuge discount and love it.
Just got the 104 myself. Going the same route on speakers. Got the receiver new on a eBay for $151
I spent up for a Pioneer VSX 933 last year, that was after trying the equivalent from Denon returning that, then Yamaha and returning that because the Pioneer's sound stage and imaging was superior i dont even use the inbuilt phono input. The LX305 is the bottom of the range and is still almost 2K here in Australia.....cant justify the expense!
I almost just ran out and bought this, but then I got to thinking... maybe my room is too big for this? It is 20x45 with 14' ceilings. What do you fine folks think?
I'm really only interested in two channel listening.
Great video and topic. I am considering getting a Yamaha R-N803 because it has room correction and internal cross over. I would replace a Cambridge Audio AXR100. Thoughts on this?
Good day... could you tell me more about the term you use, Direct?
Aww a deal where the lx305 is on sale for $550, new. I heard the Onkyo NR7100 is the same receiver except for pre outs and the ability to change the crossover for each speaker. Should I wait for a sale on the NR7100 or just jump on the lx305 deal?
solid AV receiver for sure, Elite series rocks
Not knocking Pioneer, but the RZ50 with Dirac is fantastic for two channel listening. Plus so much more! Paired with SVS Ultra Bookshelves and SVS sub... Super happy!
I'm perfectly happy with a left and right and center channel.
I was looking for a new receiver to replace my old Denon AVR X-1000. I was satisfied with how it sounded but wanted something with more up to date features like 4k, wifi, etc .. I was also curious to know how much better a more "upmarket" receiver would sound. And if I'm going to buy a more expensive AVR I really wanted something that sounds good, especially for 2ch as I still love listening to CDs, and I also have a collection of SACD, DVD-A and Bluray audio. I don't really watch TV or movies, but do enjoy concerts on Bluray and RUclips. So audio is more important than video, but I want multi-channel capabilities as well as good 2ch.
I first saw a review for the Onkyo RZ50 and was quite sold on it, especially because of what the reviewer said about the sound quality. But when I saw the Australian price, I was little horrified! So I decided to see what else was around, that's when I found the Pioneer 505, which was essentially the same and more reasonably priced. But then I found your review of the 305, and I was completely sold!
I'm not able to audition any audio equipment as these aren't sold in stores where I live, so I have to trust reviews, but everything I heard about the 305 was encouraging, especially your no-nonsense review.
The 305 retails for around $2400 in Australia, but I found a store that had it on sale for $1680 ... that thing went into my shopping basket straight away!!
I've had it for a few days now and I'm absolutely delighted with it. I can't believe how much better it sounds than my old Denon, night and day. I'm going through my extensive CD collection and listening to them all again! I still want to tinker with Dirac a bit as it's a little on the bright side. I'm very sensitive to 2k frequencies, but even where it's at now it is easy on my ears, not harsh or brittle at all, but I'm curious to see if I can get it a little better, but won't be disappointed if I can't. I downloaded a Harman curve to boost the lower end, and curtained the frequencies over 1k but I might push it up a little around 500hz too, just for a little extra oomph. But my goodness, the space, the detail, the clarity, my old B&Ws have never sounded so good!
My only gripe is that the Australian model doesn't have that gorgeous amber display, only the blueish display like every other AVR, but I can live with that.
Sorry for the long post ... but thank you so, so much for your review. I really enjoy watching your content, even for things I'm not going to buy! :D
Hey I love your channel I have a pioneer AVR that's a 2010 model that I bought in January 2011 how much longer will it last?
I have no need for that many channels but it sounds like this is my next item to get for music and HT in one box. I'd rather have an easy to use receiver with extra channels than one I can't expand on if I want. Thanks, Randy.
I didn't know Pioneer was putting out something at this price point still. I had a vsx-82t xs and needed a replacement for it. I looked high and low and couldn't find anything this cheap. I ended up with a Denon and the Audyssey is a mess to setup. Took me over 20 hours to figure out how to turn all the junk off so I could find a sound I liked.
Audyssey does strange things I still can't figure out after 12 years. Mine might be a bit broken, but i have had issues with crossovers and sub settings not making any difference. The other day I lost all bass and had to do a hard reset. If that didn't work I'd be looking hard at this.
@@moniack I put a whole review out on the 4700h that's rated 1 star on Amazon just for this reason. I think the Denon is much better clarity wise than the pioneer. It just took me ages to figure out the settings for it. I don't understand why pure audio isn't one button. I think I spent weeks trying every setting to get it to that point. The oldest thing is most reviewers call it user friendly. I found it anything but user friendly.
i had the old 4.1 and 5.1 pioneer recievers not too long ago i built a system with a factory refurbished onkyo 393 was glad to modernize but let down sonically s809 towers 2 c912 subs old kenwood center old jbl 2050 satellites. i have been looking to find the piece of my system that is the weak link well at least the first piece to replace is this the solution
Can you run Dirac and then tweak the equalizer on the fly without disabling your Dirac calibration? Like with Denon/Marantz if you enable the eq sliders it fully disables Audyssey.
Always been Pioneer fan & been thinking about making the upgrade to the 305...✌️
I just got this receiver mainly to experience Dolby Atmos. As it turns out, the atmos decoder is on the HDMI input port. That means that unless you have a streamer with an HDMI out, you can’t play atmos music! I got an Apple TV, plugged in the HDMI, and now I get Atmos from Apple Music as well as movies.
Build a raspberry pi with Volumio cheap and has hdmi and a very nice interface with app connectivity
You can get Atmos via Tidal with an Amazon Firestick HD. I have to say that personally I think most Atmos mixes on Tidal suck. The only Atmos music which has impressed me was on disc and originally mixed for Atmos like Steven Wilson's last album.
Great review Randy. Yes ignorance is bliss, that's why I'm such a blissful person 😊
Done with multi-channel. Don’t think there’s a need beyond 5.1 in most rooms. How long before it’s 36.24.32?! 👩🏼
Ceiling speakers really add to the experience in atmos films so i think 5.2.4 is perfect more then that is only useful in huge rooms/theaters
You touched on the one Achilles heel of the Pioneer: the ARC HDMI issue. I have a different Pioneer model (VSX-534) I purchased recently and had a major issue with ARC after everything was hooked up and working fine. I then tried playing an audio CD on my BluRay that has an audio out to my dedicated 2 channel audio system (Carver C5 and TFM25 into a pair of DBX Soundfield 10s) in addition to the connection to the Pioneer via HDMI and after that, I completely lost all audio from the Pioneer receiver. After I tried every troubleshooting measure possible, I finally unplugged my TV power cord and plugged it back in and everything was restored back to normal.
As you mentioned, ARC HDMI is finicky and does need to be reset by unplugging and replugging power cords. That seems ridiculously archaic with all the sophisticated high end circuitry that is in all my equipment, that should be running in sync and once set, should stay set. But, as I learned the hard way, old school power unplugging (power button reset doesn’t do it) is what it takes to get everything to run correctly.
I’ve had many audio and video systems and components over the years and it seems that the more electronic manufacturers try to cram into components the less reliable they are and more difficult to hook up and set up than the simpler ones used to be. Replacing my 20+ year old surround receiver with this new Pioneer was very lengthy and shouldn’t have been so difficult. I foolishly expected to just switch the receivers out but ARC issue and the newer connections vs. the old ones turned what should have been a breeze into an 8 hour headache.
check firmware : big problem with me with the firmware of december , come back well with the new one
@@romainbailet6488 I will check out the new firmware update in install it. I have been reluctant to play another CD on the BluRay, fearing I would again lose all audio on the Pioneer because of ARC not working properly. I have even considered purchasing a separate CD player to connect to my audio setup and may still do that. I haven’t checked out CD player prices in many years. I’m hoping they will be reasonable. Last player I had with that system was a DBX DX3 which was pretty good, until it started to scratch my CD!
I have another audio system in my studio with an older Sony 5 disc changer (SED-CE595) that is starting to act up so I may just buy two.
That Pom is so chill.
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.