Pioneer electronics makes some of thebest AV receiversmoney can buy, and its flagship Pioneer Elite brand is about to push that envelope further with the announcement of its latest AVR (audio video receiver), the Elite VSX-LX805. The 11.2.4-channel network receiver will be available this Spring for a premium $2,999, but that big price gets you big power at 150 watts per channel, a new 32-bit digital audio converter, some AI-driven room calibration, and some audiophile upgrades.
The Pioneer Elite VSX-LX805 is the first Pioneer receiver to be designed in cooperation with Premium Audio Companysince its licensing agreementwith Pioneer/Pioneer Elite in 2021, which put them in charge of marketing and selling the brands’ AVR business globally (except in China). PAC is a powerhouse of home audio gear, with huge brands under its umbrella, including Klipsch, Onkyo, Teac, and Energy, so expectations are high for its new arrivals.
Building from Pioneer Elite’s previous models in its VSX range, the VSX-LX805 usurps them all with its 150 watts per channel that powers 11 channels with powerful Class AB amplifiers that are kept cool and managed by newly-designed aluminum anti-resonant heat sinks and capacitors. A substantial upgrade from its predecessor, 2021’s 9-channel VSX-LX505, the LX805 adds an additional Height channel (two in total), an additional Zone channel (for three in total), and with the help of external preamp connectivity, the LX805 can achieve up to an 11.2.4 surround system.
Among the connections of the LX805 are sixHDMI 2.1 inputsthat deliver 8K/4K resolution images at up to 40Gbps, which means you’ll be able to enjoy HDMI 2.1’s higher resolutions and refresh rates on content and gaming consoles that support it, and three HDMI eARC outputs. There are also four RCA inputs, includingone for phono, three optical inputs, two digital audio inputs, and a set of balanced XLR inputs, too.
While the VSX-LX505 was one of the first Pioneer AVRs to feature Dirac’s popular Dirac Live Room Correction technology, the LX805 takes it to the next level with the company’s premium-tier Dirac Live Room Correction Full Bandwidth suite included, which uses AI-driven algorithms to scan and analyze your room to configure the AVR to the best sound. And if you’ve everset up a subwooferon your own, you might appreciate a bit of help with an available upgrade to the Dirac Live Bass Control software, too, which will run you an additional $349 for a single subwoofer and $499 for multiple subs. That said,the Dirac Live feature does require an internet connection, so for those not able to connect (or don’t want to), Pioneer also has its legacy MCACC room-tuning option available, too.
For an AVR of this caliber and price point, it’ll be no surprise that the VSX-LX805 supports Dolby Atmos, Dolby Atmos Music, Dolby Surround, DTS:X, Neural:X, and IMAX Enhanced surround sound formats, and with a firmware update scheduled for June 2023, the Atmos rivalAuro 3Dsound will be available as well. And if this thing wasn’t already stacked enough, the LX805 also has support for Chromecast, AirPlay 2, Spotify, Pandora, TuneIn, and coming with a firmware update in September 2023.
A couple of welcome features that have been carried over from the LX505 and other VSX models include multi-room support in the form of aSonos Certified designation, which means that you can connect the LX805 to your existing Sonos system with the use of a Sonos Port, meaning you can send the sound from the receiver throughout your Sonos speakers, too. Additionally, the LX805can respond automatically when a Sonos device is connected and turn itself on when you play a song using the Sonos app.If you’re not a Sonos user, though, you can still find support for DTS Play-Fi, which allows you to access your online music services, media servers, and your device library over your Wi-Fi network to play through compatible speakers in your home.
The Pioneer Elite VSX-LX805 is also voice assistant-compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Josh. The Elite VSX-LX805 (US MAP $2,999) will be available in Spring 2023 through authorized Elite retailers and at thePioneer website.
