Pioneer SC-LX801 vs Yamaha RX-A860BL review

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The present review is aimed to compare two AV receivers - Pioneer SC-LX801 vs Yamaha RX-A860BL that are meant to satisfy the needs of cinema and music lovers.

Amplifier

A significant difference between the receivers in the number of channels, Pioneer SC-LX801 has 9.2 versus 7.2 for Yamaha RX-A860BL. Regarding power, then SC-LX801 has such a W/Ohm ratio - 140/8, 200/6, 255/4 when RX-A860BL has a power of 110/8. The THD is 0.08% for the SC-LX801 but 0.06% for the RX-A860BL.

Audio features

Characteristics of digital to analog converter (DAC) are different, ESS SABRE32 Ultra 192 KHz/32-bit for SC-LX801 and Burr-Brown 192 KHz/24-bit for the RX-A860BL. Both the SC-LX801 and the RX-A860BL support Bi-amping. Each of the AV receivers can transmit an audio signal directly to the amplifier and bypasses any DSP processing. Rivals from our review have Bluetooth support. The Apple Music service is implemented on considered devices: AirPlay. Spotify can be used on each receiver. Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora - all of these streaming services have found application in each of the models.

Video features

Both AV receivers support HDR10 technology (High dynamic range). Compared AV receivers retain the quality of 4K/60Hz signal when transmitting from a source to a TV or projector. HDMI signal transmission in standby mode is implemented in each of the devices. Both rivals can scale the resolution of the incoming HDMI signal. Dolby Vision technology found support only on the SC-LX801.

Extensive connections

Each receiver has 8/2 HDMI inputs/outputs. The HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) feature supports both devices. Unfortunately, HDMI eARC is not available on monitored devices. The Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) feature is present in most modern AV receivers and the models in our comparison are no exception. Both models support the standard HDCP 2.2. These compared receivers have a built-in phono stage for connecting a vinyl player.

Additional features

The SC-LX801 supports 3 Multi-room zones, versus 2 for the RX-A860BL. An ECO mode is only available for the RX-A860BL. Both SC-LX801 and RX-A860BL can be configured using the Setup assistant.

Multichannel surround

Both devices have support for Dolby Atmos multichannel audio format. The surround sound technology DTS:X is supported by devices under review.