Pioneer Elite SC-LX704 vs Onkyo TX-NR555 review

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An affordable AV receiver is always a good option to consider, so Pioneer Elite SC-LX704 vs Onkyo TX-NR555 comparison definitely makes sense.

Amplifier

A significant difference between the receivers in the number of channels, Pioneer Elite SC-LX704 has 9.2 versus 7.2 for Onkyo TX-NR555. Regarding power, then Elite SC-LX704 has such a W/Ohm ratio - 135/8 when TX-NR555 has a power of 130/6. The THD is the same and is 0.08%.

Audio features

Characteristics of digital to analog converter (DAC) are different, ES9026PRO 384 KHz/32-bit for Elite SC-LX704 and Hi-Grade 384 KHz/32-bit for the TX-NR555. Both the Elite SC-LX704 and the TX-NR555 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 Pioneer Elite SC-LX704 has support for AirPlay, AirPlay 2, and its competitor in our comparison - AirPlay. Spotify can be used on each receiver. Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora - all of these streaming services have found application in each of the models. 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. The Elite SC-LX704 can scale the input HDMI signal, unlike the TX-NR555. Dolby Vision technology found support only on the Elite SC-LX704.

Extensive connections

The Pioneer Elite SC-LX704 has 7/3 HDMI inputs/outputs versus 6/1 HDMI connectors of the Onkyo TX-NR555. 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. The Elite SC-LX704 supports the protection of digital content of the standard HDCP 2.3, versus HDCP 2.2 in the TX-NR555. These compared receivers have a built-in phono stage for connecting a vinyl player.

Additional features

The Elite SC-LX704 supports 3 Multi-room zones, versus 2 for the TX-NR555. An ECO mode is only available for the TX-NR555. The setup assistant will help you configure Pioneer Elite SC-LX704.

Multichannel surround

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