Pioneer SC-LX901 review
Oct 01, 2018
A Pioneer is regarded as one of the most famous audio brands. Every new product is accompanied with a great attention and skepticism, so it was interesting for me to test such a creation, as an SC-LX...
Read MoreAnd what do you choose – Pioneer SC-LX901 vs SC-LX801?
Pioneer SC-LX901 Elite 11.2 Channel
Pioneer SC-LX901 is a wonderful receiver. This has all of the most recent technology and permits to connect on Bluetooth and stream to the receiver. Great sound, both for music, and watching movies. The integral networking options for music are pretty cool, especially once running through the AV they show the album covers on TV. The Rock/House sounds a bit over-processed, however, it's absolutely listenable and the soundstage is sort of clear. Chrome cast is finally supported with a firmware update. All in all, this is a great sounding receiver for the price, especially if you need something to push your 4-ohm speakers.
Pros of Pioneer SC-LX 901:
- The multi-zone is nice and thus the Pioneer supports up to three.
- The sounds crisp and detailed, I found that notably for vocal/jazz music it's superb.
Cons of Pioneer SC-LX 901:
- The front panel is made of plastic, the developers of SC-LX901 have saved on metal, although its texture looks great from any angle.
- ARC is picky, need to disconnect/reconnect HDMI cable to make it work.
Pioneer SC – LX801 Network AV Receiver
The Pioneer SC-LX 801 features an amplifier based on the Direct Energy HD Amplifier circuitry using the latest digital amplification technologies. It produces a powerful and high-quality sound, ensuring optimal reproduction of the most up-to-date multi-channel digital content. The sound quality is very high, it had to be recognized by sound engineers from the London company Air Studios, who after careful tests honored the receiver with the coveted "Monitor" certificate. The only thing that bothers me about this receiver is that there is no way to turn every blue light on the front panel off. Even when the front display is completely dimmed there is an "FL OFF" blue light lit up.
Pros of Pioneer SC-LX801:
- The picture is detailed too, even when scaling to ultra HD the quality does not deteriorate in any way.
- There are automatic settings to help.
- The compatibility with any types of acoustic systems, even with my 6-Ohm loudspeakers.
Cons of Pioneer SC-LX801:
- The failure to use an external power amplifier for the front channels for configuration 7.2.4 - only for Surround Back channels.
- There is no way to fast forward / rewind to the USB input.
Pioneer SC-LX801 vs SC-LX901 comparison chart - make your choice
Both receivers have excellent and convenient support for network services. Pioneer SC-LX801 vs Pioneer SC-LX901 has a better sound, but fewer channels of amplification. In the Pioneer SC-LX801, there are nine of them. However, there are some more factors to pay attention to.
The advantage of Pioneer SC-LX801 is quality sound, I think, it is not necessary to mention, everything is really perfect. Also, Pioneer SC-LX801 made with aluminum, not with plastic, this means that it is stronger. But its disadvantage lies in the fact that it has the property of overheating. Consequently, you may need a special device for cooling.
The advantage of Pioneer SC-LX901 is that it's several input ports of various types, thus you'll connect the majority the devices you have got. The disadvantage is that the device cannot be very configurable for the 7 functions that it needs to provide.
So, if you choose Pioneer SC-LX901 vs Pioneer SC-LX801, then you must compare all the pros and cons and think about what you need. If you prefer a super clean sound, then SC-LX801 is just for you, but if you have many devices, then the SC-LX901 will be the best choice.
