Pioneer Elite SC LX502 review

I have had this next generation receiver from the marriage of Onkyo & Pioneer for about 5 months now and I was able to take a day off with just me home so I could run it through its paces. During the last view months I have had to upgrade HDMI cables (18Gbps) to allow 4k content to flow from my Amazon Box to the AVR and I also added newer cables for the Pioneer BDP 85FD, since it upconverts to 4k. The TV is a Vizio P55 UHD with smartcast, this allows me to watch my Vudu movies, especially those in 4k, HDR and Atmos. My setup is a straight 7.2 so my opinion on Atmos is still on the fence. This LX502 is just like the models below it as far as inputs except for the 2nd HDMI output (sub channel), if you wanted to run a separate line to another monitor/projector (only the main has ARC).

With the upgrades in cabling I was able to turn on the 4k built in upsampling (sends each source out in 4k to TV) if supported. I verified that option with the TV info and Amazon Direct TV app was being shown in 4k from 1080p content. The LX502 is the mid range model that goes up to the top of the line LX901. It has built in Pandora and Tidal Ready (what that ever means). The newer MACACC calibration makes the unit more power efficient with heavy bass compared to my older Elite VSX 32 that this unit replaced. This unit has some new nice features, but it lacks the aux inputs for analog and extra digital units beyond CD and Phono. So I upgraded to support 4k, but I gave up having more options for music listening. The remote sucks and does not have a button for all the function/inputs


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Family Room HT 7.2/i]:Vizio Oled55h1 Pioneer Elite SC-LX502 Pioneer Elite BDP 85FD Eversolo DMP A6 Panamax M5300-EXSpeakers Fronts Fluance XF8L Center Polk Audio S35 Side Surrounds Optimus LS30's Rear Surrounds Optimus LS30's Subs SVS PB4000 x2 Living room 2ch: Crown Xli 1500 amp Teac EQ MKII FX Audio X6 Mk II DAC Squeezebox Touch Fluance Signature Tower Speakers Panamax M5100-EXOffice media room:Vizio M50Q6 50" Pioneer Elite VSX LX103 Squeezebox Touch Polkaudio R50 Towers Polkaudio CS 10 Panamax M4300 Monoprice 12" subMaster bedroom:Vizio M55Q7 Pioneer Elite VSX LX302 Pioneer Elite BDP 85FD Squeezebox Touch Polk audio RTi 6 fronts, Rears Dayton B652 Polk Audio CS10 center Monoprice 12" sub Panamax M5300-EX

Comments

  • Thinking of upgrading receiver from 7.1 Yamaha HTR-6063 to Pioneer VSX 1131.
    I am powering 2 Audio Monitor 70s in front, CSI A6 for Centre, 4 mc80 for mid and back surrounds. I have two polk powered subs.
    I’m wondering if I should make the switch and whether the pioneer would power my speakers any better. And I’m also wondering if I would have to change the speakers to repeat any of the benefits of Atmos
  • dpowell
    dpowell Posts: 3,050
    Thinking of upgrading receiver from 7.1 Yamaha HTR-6063 to Pioneer VSX 1131.
    I am powering 2 Audio Monitor 70s in front, CSI A6 for Centre, 4 mc80 for mid and back surrounds. I have two polk powered subs.
    I’m wondering if I should make the switch and whether the pioneer would power my speakers any better. And I’m also wondering if I would have to change the speakers to repeat any of the benefits of Atmos

    If you want atmos you have to add 2 or 4 more speakers in addition to your 4 rear speakers.

    ____________________________________________________________ polkaudio Fully Modded SDA SRS 1.2TLs + Dreadnaught, LSiM706c, 4 X Polk Surrounds + 4 X ATMOS SVS PB13 Ultra x 2Pass Labs X1, Marantz 7704, Sunfire Signature Cinema Grande 400, ADCOM 7807, Panasonic UB420, Sony SCD-C333ES, EPSON Pro Cinema 6050
  • Here is a pic showing the 4k upconvert picture using the Directv now app via my amazon TV box

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    you can see the 2160 along the top bar
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    Family Room HT 7.2/i]:Vizio Oled55h1 Pioneer Elite SC-LX502 Pioneer Elite BDP 85FD Eversolo DMP A6 Panamax M5300-EXSpeakers Fronts Fluance XF8L Center Polk Audio S35 Side Surrounds Optimus LS30's Rear Surrounds Optimus LS30's Subs SVS PB4000 x2 Living room 2ch: Crown Xli 1500 amp Teac EQ MKII FX Audio X6 Mk II DAC Squeezebox Touch Fluance Signature Tower Speakers Panamax M5100-EXOffice media room:Vizio M50Q6 50" Pioneer Elite VSX LX103 Squeezebox Touch Polkaudio R50 Towers Polkaudio CS 10 Panamax M4300 Monoprice 12" subMaster bedroom:Vizio M55Q7 Pioneer Elite VSX LX302 Pioneer Elite BDP 85FD Squeezebox Touch Polk audio RTi 6 fronts, Rears Dayton B652 Polk Audio CS10 center Monoprice 12" sub Panamax M5300-EX