VSX-LX305 Elite 9.2 Channel Network AV Receiver

I had a trusty Pioneer SC-1222-K AV receiver that served me well for 12 years until the Texas Instruments DTS chip failed. Seeking a replacement that matched its legendary quality, I initially bought an Onkyo TX-NR6100. Unfortunately, it was a disappointment with thin sound and screen flickering when using Dolby Vision. Realizing I needed to invest more to achieve the same quality as my old Pioneer, I discovered the Pioneer VSX-LX305. The difference is remarkable, and it's a significant step up from the Onkyo I had to return.Decades ago, we sought equipment with perfect response, requiring amplifiers and speakers to deliver a flat response. In the DSP era, all we need is good signal processing and a reliable calibration system. This Pioneer excels in both. It features a 9-point MCACC calibration system and professional Dirac calibration. It's user-friendly with an app for easy setup using MCACC or Dirac, or detailed calibration using laptop PC Dirac software.The benefits don't stop there. After calibration, you can customize the master EQ or add double bass enhancement among all the customization possibilities. Whether you're an audiophile who appreciates the original sound fingerprint or someone who prefers enhanced bass or clearer highs, the Pioneer VSX-LX305 caters to all preferences. Additionally, after a week of use and an extension, I haven't experienced any Dolby Vision flickering, showcasing the superior quality of this Pioneer AV receiver.I'm thrilled with this unit, enjoying music and watching Dolby Vision DD content. Even ATMOS works perfectly.If you don't need pre-outs, this is the best unit you can get. Highly recommended.

Most recent update (Mar 26, 2023):So, I was able to get contact with Pioneer. They are sending a box (supposedly) for me to forward this to a repair place. But, I wanted to say that this unit has even more problems now. The remote stopped working entirely, for some reason. Also using the front controls, things seem "slow". Like changing from one thing to another takes like 4 full seconds. AND... now the interface with the TV via ARC HDMI, seems to have stopped working too. So, now I cannot even TRY to reset to manufacturer settings, as I have done to temporarily fix things. So yeah. My unit is likely VERY screwed up. Maybe this won't happen to you. But... good luck if it does.===================UPDATED from: (about Mar 8, 2023)I have now grown to HATE this thing. I keeps dropping my subwoofer now. In fact I now cannot even see how to get it to actually send a signal to my self-powered sub. WHEN I have other issues like the app or unit freezing (stuck on one station of my streaming station), I have to use a TV with ARC just to reset and reconfigure the unit again. It seems to be the ONLY way to get things back in order. I've only had this like 3 months and I've done this now about 6 times. But, tonight (Mar 9, 2023) I cannot even get my sub to work anymore. But, it WILL work in the setup routine... just not when I actually play FM or streaming or anything 'live'.For the money this is one of THE WORST units I've EVER bought! The Dirac, which I've done like 8 times, does NOT overcome much, if anything in my room. If anything it just flattens all EQ points, more or less. THAT does not overcome reflections and echos, as it is supposed to do. The interfaces (app, thru TV, AND its LCD are junk). Menus are junk and not intuitive! I cannot believe a unit in 2022 is THIS BAD!I effectively USE the Boycott method. If a company completely drops the ball, I NEVER... EVER use them again. I still haven't bought ANY "Goodyear" parts or services after something really ridiculous happened in year 1995!! I tell everyone I can (if the topic arises). This I will now do for Pioneer amps, and maybe ANY products they sell. I know they're merged with Denon and Onkyo now. So I will extend my boycott to them too. I've gotten ZERO response from attempting a refund. I know it has been past the typical 30 day return window. I'm not angry with Amazon, but I am with the makers!ORIGINAL POST SECTION:===========One main draw of this amp/receiver over others is the DIRACC auto sound adaptation feature. This adjusts levels to best 'smooth out' various frequencies in whichever room your stereo and speakers are in. This part worked quite well in my living space. I will say that, like my living room, some rooms are VERY difficult to get 'smoothed'. Because I have hardwood floors and not much else to absorb all kinds of reflections and such.But, now for the bad parts. This amp is very high priced in my opinion, for what it does. The other 'draw' for this amp is that it allows for "direct streaming" from hi resolution sites, like Tidal and Qobuz and more. But there are two MAJOR problems with this part. Their app is the only way to use this. And the app, flat out sucks. It has frozen on me a few times now. The ONLY way I've been able to get out of the freeze is to do a total factory reset of the whole amp.That brings me to another MAJOR problem with this amp... You pretty much HAVE TO use a TV to get it set up. That means that if you don't really want to or can't use a TV, you're screwed. I KNOW that it's a surround sound amp for TV and movies. But, if I want to do 2.1, I still gotta jump through all kinds of hoops, as if I'm going to do surround sound.Now for what I think the company NEEDS to do to make way better/next version. Just put a little touch screen on this thing. Those are cheap now and would ramp this thing up A LOT. They could eliminate the whole TV setup portion, for those that don't want to use that part. Then they need to build a WAY better audio streaming app, or better yet, just use an open Android or Iphone system that allows people to install their own streaming apps, right into the amp. Then they don't even need to mess with the details of those apps. They basically just say, use your own apps and we're not responsible for the functionality of those.I would have gladly paid $100-200 more to get those changes I mentioned. Plus wouldn't it be super to have a display on the unit to "what is playing". It's actually pretty annoying to use the app through wi-fi. What if my kids, who don't have phones want to play some stuff? You know? These companies need to THINK about HOW people use things, NOT just blurp out the next "unit".

Having gone thru my 3rd Denon (HDMI output/input issues) I was looking for a new receiver brand to try. I was going to go with the Yamaha as I have had good luck with them 20 years ago but this was on sale at a great price-to-feature comparison, and I couldn't pass it up. Very satisfied with the sound and picture quality. Setup was about what you expect in a modern receiver and the DIRAC Live software definitely seems to work better than the Audyssey software I am familiar with thru Denon. Sound is coming out of Emotiva speakers and powered sub. The mobile app is somewhat more streamlined and with significantly less overall function control, but the important stuff is there and works well. So far, I'm quite happy with the purchase!

First, I want to thank everyone who took the time to review this AV Receiver. Your comments, both good and bad, helped me to better understand this product and gave me the confidence to pull the trigger and ultimately buy it. Second, I am not a musician, music professional or a tech expert. I'm just an aging banker who was looking to upgrade my AV receiver (perhaps for the last time) and someone who knows when he hears something good.With some patience this AV receiver is excellent. Set up was easy and the user interface via the TV screen is intuitive. I let the receiver do its thing via the MCAAC sound calibration process, which was a good staring point. I then took my time (here is where the patience comes into play) fine-tuning the speaker levels and tone (bass, treble, etc.) to my liking, which took about three evenings (about one-hour per night). This process was not at all tedious and for me was quite enjoyable, bringing this receiver to life and to its full potential with my existing Polk surround speakers.The surround sound quality is impressive. As an example, I happened to come upon one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies being broadcast on TV and the sound effects coming from all speakers was amazing, so much so that my adult son stated that it was like being in the "freaking" movies. The sound quality for "regular" music is also very impressive.In terms of cons, there are not many. The only real annoyance was connecting the speaker wires since the /- speaker hook-ups are on top of each other (vs. side my side) which made it a bit difficult to attach the speaker wires with my "fat" fingers. However, this step is typically and hopefully done only once so, all in all, its not a major issue.If you are looking for a new AV receiver, I highly recommend the Pioneer Elite VSX-LX305. I believe that with some patience, you will be very pleased with this product.