Pioneer SC-LX502 review
Oct 25, 2018
Each Pioneer product arouses the interest and receiver SC-LX502 didn’t become an exception. The high output power per channel (180W) was enough for my room (17 x 15 sq). I was sure that the rec...
Read MoreHow to choose the best receiver — Pioneer SC-LX502 vs Pioneer SC-LX501?
Pioneer SC-LX501 vs SC-LX502 — the main benefits and pitfalls
Several days ago I got a possibility to test two AV receivers, which were created by Pioneer. Pioneer SC-LX502 has unique features and great sound quality. On the other hand, Pioneer SC-LX501 is not so powerful, but it is cheaper and still compatible with other devices, that’s why it is difficult to choose the best alternative. I hope this comparison will help you to choose the best AV receiver quickly — Pioneer SC-LX502 vs SC-LX501.
Features & Performance
These AV receivers maintain all popular audio formats (AAC, AIFF, Apple Lossless, DSD, MP3 and so on), that’s why you can forget about problems with compatibility. As for the operational power consumption, it is also equal (250 W). Both of them have 3D pass-through and upscaling via HDMI up to 4K. In general, the performance of these receivers is similar and you should consider other features to make your choice.
Connections & Setup
It’s really important that your receiver is compatible with other gadgets. Fortunately, the developers didn’t decide to save their money, that’s why they added 7 built-in decoders, network options, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and so on. There are a lot of HDMI, USB or other ports, which can transform your ordinary receiver into a real audio station.
Design
To be honest, it is difficult to stay objective if you are going to consider and compare the design of receivers, but I have to admit that they look stylish and reliable. There are no major differences between these gadgets, but the product weight of the “older brother” - Pioneer SC-LX502 - is not so big (only 24 pounds, while the second competitor weighs 31 pounds).
Pioneer SC-LX502 pros and cons:
Pros Pioneer SC-LX502:
- It has a special smartphone remote control feature! It is really comfortable because you can change most of the features in several seconds.
Cons Pioneer SC-LX502:
- Improved technologies create bigger problems: it is really difficult to “center” the sound and change settings according to your particular room.
Pioneer SC-LX501 pros and cons:
Pros Pioneer SC-LX501:
- It is a bit cheaper because this model was released in 2016.
Cons Pioneer SC-LX501:
- ARC (Audio return channel) is not really reliable because you have to disconnect/reconnect HDMI cable to get it to work.
