Pioneer Elite SC-LX501 (North American version)

Pioneer Elite SC-LX501 was introduced in 2017. It is equipped with 7 channel amplifier and is capable of 7.1 maximum channel processing.

We evaluated the Receiver and gave 60 overall score out of 100. Our ranking system is based on the amplifier specifications, audio and video features, connectivity, multizone capabilities, radio and many other details.

Amplifier score is based on power ratings, minimum impedance load, power supply, transformer type, total harmonic distortion, damping factor, signal to noise ratio and other small details. Audio score depends on the number of channels, front wide channel support, maximum channel processing, support of audio formats, DAC specifications, room calibration algorithm... Video score is based on HDR, Dolby Vision and video signal passthrough and upscaling, analog to HDMI upconversion. Connectivity score is defined from all wired and wireless inputs and outputs, internet and bluetooth connections, HEOS, SONOS and others. Multizone score depends on the number of zones with their outputs. Radio score is evaluated form digital radio support and analog tuner with its frequency range, signal to noise ratio, harmonic distortion...

In this section we present pros and cons of Pioneer Elite SC-LX501.

Here we are comparing Pioneer Elite SC-LX501 to its predecessor SC-91 and displaying the major changes.

UPGRADES	Pioneer Elite SC-LX501	Pioneer Elite SC-91
DTS:X	βœ”	βœ–
DTS Neural:X	βœ”	βœ–
HDR10	βœ”	βœ–
BT.2020 color space	βœ”	βœ–
Dolby Vision	βœ”	βœ–
FireConnect	βœ”	βœ–
FlareConnect	βœ”	βœ–
Chromecast Built-In	βœ”	βœ–
More Analog Audio Line Inputs	4	3
Phono Input	βœ”	βœ–
More Optical Inputs	2	1
Tidal	βœ”	βœ–
Deezer	βœ”	βœ–
Higher DSD Sampling Rate via USB	11.2 MHz, 5.6 MHz, 2.8 MHz	5.6 MHz, 2.8 MHz
Newer Bluetooth Version	4.1 + LE	2.1 + EDR

DOWNGRADES	Pioneer Elite SC-LX501	Pioneer Elite SC-91
Front Wide Channel Support	βœ–	βœ”
Sound Retriever	βœ” Advanced	βœ” Advanced (Multi-Channel / Auto with ARC)
Sound Retriever AIR	βœ–	βœ”
High-resolution Music Enhancer	βœ–	βœ” Hi-bit24 Audio Processing
Less Advanced Auto Speaker Calibration System	βœ” MCACC	βœ” MCACC Pro
Analog To HDMI Upconversion	βœ” Component**, Composite	βœ” Component****, Composite
MHL Input	βœ–	βœ” 1 Rear (Version 2.0)
DLNA 1.5	βœ–	βœ”
Less Analog Audio Line Outputs	βœ–	1
Less Composite Video Outputs	βœ–	2
Less Zones	2	3
Transformer Stabilizer	βœ–	βœ”
Smaller Power Supply	250 W	290 W

For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Pioneer Elite SC-LX501 vs Pioneer Elite SC-91.

Amplifier

Pioneer Elite SC-LX501 has 7 channel Class D³ amplifier and delivers 120 W (8 Ω, 1 kHz, 2 channel driven) and also has a stable performance at 4 Ω load.

Video Features

The Receiver has 4K passthrough up to 60p and 4K upscaling up to 60p. It can bypass HDR10, Dolby Vision.

HDR10

High-dynamic-range (HDR) video has greater dynamic range than standard-dynamic-range (SDR) video with brigter whites and deeper blacks. HDR10 was announced on August 27, 2015, by the Consumer Technology Association and uses the wide-gamut Rec. 2020 color space. It sends static metadata via video stream to the TV which calibrates its screen brightness and color according to that. HDR10 supports up to 1000 nits of brightness and 10-bit color which corresponds to 1024 shades of the primary RGB colors.

Dolby Vision

Dolby Vision is an update to HDR10 by adding dynamic metadata that can be used to more accurately adjust brightness levels up to 10,000 nits maximum brightness on a scene-by-scene or frame-by-frame basis and supports up to 12-bit color depth (4096 shades of RGB) and 8K resolution.

Dolby Atmos and Dolby Surround upmixer

Pioneer Elite SC-LX501 supports Dolby Atmos with its Dolby Surround upmixer. It can be configured upto 5.1.2 channels using internal amplifiers.

Dolby Atmos is the first cinematic audio format in which sounds exist as individual entities, called audio objects. In Dolby Atmos, any sound - the helicopter, a car screeching around a corner, a melodic bird call - can exist as an independent audio object, free of channel restrictions. They can be precisely placed and moved anywhere in your room, including overhead, to flow above and around you in three-dimensional space. Through the use of audio objects, overhead sound, and all the richness, clarity, and power of Dolby sound, Dolby Atmos turns your room into an amazing place for entertainment. You'll feel like you're inside the action, in ways you've never experienced before.

Dolby Atmos for the home represents every sound in the original cinema mix as an audio object. Extensions to the Dolby Audioβ„’ codecs, along with an advanced scalable algorithm, allow Dolby Atmos to be delivered via Blu-ray Disc and streaming media. A spatially-coded substream is added to Dolby TrueHD or Dolby Digital Plus. A Dolby Atmos audio/video receiver (AVR) adapts the cinema experience to your home theater from seven speakers to as many as 34 in 24.1.10 configuration, recreating the original artistic concept. The format supports up to 128 simultaneous independent audio objects in a mix for rich, realistic, and breathtaking sound. It recreates the director's original concept through descriptive metadata to provide customized playback for home theater and delivers sounds above you through overhead speakers, special upward-firing Dolby Atmos speakers, or a Dolby Atmos enabled sound bar.

If the content is not mixed in Dolby Atmos then the Dolby surround upmixer will expand the audio to all channels including ceiling speakers. The upmixer has replaced the Dolby Pro Logic II family with improved upmixing algorithms.

DTS:X and Neural:X upmixer

Pioneer Elite SC-LX501 supports DTS:X with its Neural:X upmixer. It can be configured upto 5.1.2 channels using internal amplifiers.

A technique used in DTS:X is similar to the one used in Dolby Atmos. Instead of a fixed number of channels, DTS:X defines object locations from the listener in polar coordinates. An a/v receiver then dynamically renders sound according to the current speaker configuration. The speaker layout employed by DTS:X is the sum of Dolby Atmos and Auro-3D. It has standard 7.1 channel base layer, a 5 channel height layer above the base layer on the front and side walls, and 3 rows of speakers on the ceiling.

DTS Neural:X is a new upmixer that can take non DTS:X content and upmix it to the DTS:X speaker layout. It has replaced the DTS Neo family with improved flexibility.

Class D³ Amplifier

Pioneer Class D³ amplifiers contain advanced integrated circuitry technology creating unmatched power without sacrificing sound quality or performance. Class D³ amplifiers use a Direct Signal Path Design to provide the shortest audio signal path possible. By eliminating EMI filters, feedback loops, and current limiters of previous designs, Class D³ reduces ringing distortion and noise, especially in the high frequency audio band.

The power consumption of the Digital Class D³ Amplifier is significantly lower than traditional A/B amplifiers - letting you save energy and generate less heat without compromising performance. The Digital Class D³ Amplifier uses a simple structure employing a straight signal path, resulting in improved sound quality requiring less energy than competitive models yet producing more simultaneous power output. This direct signal path means no EMI filters, feedback loops or current limiting - a true engineering art. Unlike traditional designs, these amps deliver the strength to handle multiple low-impedance speakers without dramatic power loss. The efficiency of Class D³ means cooler operation while drawing just a fraction of the power consumed by conventional amplifiers, enhancing and extending component life and reliability.

Advanced Sound Retriever

Compressed music enhancement in Pioneer Elite SC-LX501 is done by Pioneer’s Advanced Sound Retriever. Hear the detail, warmth and clarity, the way the artist intended it, from all of your highly compressed MP3 and WMA files stored on USB, Smartphone and portable media players. By restoring data that tend to get lost in the digital compression process, Pioneers Advanced Sound Retriever Technology enhances audio reproduction all the way upto 20 Khz frequencies.

Room Correction

Pioneer Elite SC-LX501 comes with MCACC room correction system and includes the calibration microphone.

Connectivity

Pioneer Elite SC-LX501 can be connected to internet using ethernet cable or built-in wi-fi adapter. It can also connect to bluetooth devices via built-in bluetooth adapter. The Receiver supports AirPlay. It has 7 HDMI inputs and HDCP 2.2 copy protection. There is a phono input with built-in phono stage for connecting the cartridge output of the turntable directly to the Receiver.

Front panel has HDMI and USB inputs.

Here we list all the available features and specifications of Pioneer Elite SC-LX501.

BASICS
Brand	Pioneer
Series	Elite
Model	SC-LX501
Type	A/V Receiver
Country	North America
Release Year	2017

AMPLIFIER
Channels	7.2
Front Wide Channel Support	βœ–
Amplifier Design	Class D3 (Direct Energy HD)
THXβ„’ Certification	βœ–
Continuous 6 Ω Rated	βœ”
Certified 4 Ω Performance	βœ”
Bi-amp Capability	βœ”

AUDIO
Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Engine	Cirrus Logic (Quad Core) x 1
DAC	AKM AK4458
Maximum Channel Processing	7.1
Air Studios Monitor Certification	βœ–
Dolby Atmos	βœ”
Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization	βœ–
Dolby TrueHD	βœ”
Dolby Digital Plus	βœ”
Dolby Surround Upmixer	βœ”
Dolby Pro Logic	βœ–
Dolby Digital EX	βœ–
Surround EX	βœ–
DTS:X	βœ”
DTS Neural:X	βœ”
DTS Virtual:X	βœ–
DTS Neo	βœ” Neo:6
DTS-HD Master Audio	βœ”
DTS-HD High Resolution Audio	βœ”
DTS 96/24	βœ”
DTS Express	βœ”
DTS-ES	βœ” Discrete 6.1, Matrix 6.1
IMAX Enhanced	βœ–
Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixer	βœ–
PCM	βœ” 2-ch/Multi-ch Input
Music Playback via USB	MP3, WMA, AAC, Apple Lossless, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, DSD, Dolby TrueHD
High Resolution Music Playback via USB and/or Network	βœ” 64, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz/24 bit
High Resolution Audio Formats via USB	Apple Lossless, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, AAC, DSD, Dolby TrueHD
Multi-Channel Music File Playback via USB	βœ” up to 192 kHz/24 bit
Gapless Playback	βœ”
DSD via HDMI	βœ” 2-ch/Multi-ch Input
DSD via USB	βœ” 2-ch Input
DSD to PCM Converter	βœ–
USB DAC	βœ–
Jitter Reduction	βœ–
Dialog Enhancement	βœ–
Dialogue Lift	βœ–
Sound Retriever	βœ” Advanced
Sound Retriever AIR	βœ–
Digital Noise Reduction	βœ–
Tone Control	βœ” All Channels
Compressed Music Enhancer	βœ” Advanced Sound Retriever
High-resolution Music Enhancer	βœ–
Audyssey Dynamic EQ	βœ–
Audyssey Dynamic Volume	βœ–
Audyssey LFC	βœ–
Audyssey Sub EQ HT	βœ–
Audyssey DSX	βœ–
Direct Mode	βœ”
Pure Direct Mode	βœ”
Auto Surround	βœ”
Optimum Surround	βœ–
Advanced Surround	11 + 1
Wide Surround	βœ–
Front Stage Surround Advance	βœ”
Headphone Surround	βœ–
Virtual Speakers	βœ–
Virtual Depth	βœ–
Independent Dual Subwoofer Output	βœ–

CALIBRATION
Auto Speaker Calibration System with Mic.	βœ” MCACC
Manual MCACC	βœ”
MCACC Memory	1
Reflex Optimizer	βœ”
Phase Control	βœ”
Full Band Phase Control	βœ–
Standing Wave Control	βœ–
EQ Bands	9-Band
Symmetric EQ	βœ”
X-Curve	βœ–
Distance Adjustment	0.1 feet
Precision Distance	βœ–
Polarity Check	βœ–
Auto Subwoofer Crossover	βœ”

VIDEO
HDR10	βœ”
HDR10+	βœ–
Dynamic HDR	βœ–
BT.2020 color space	βœ”
Dolby Vision	βœ”
Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG)	βœ–
Quick Media Switching (QMS)	βœ–
Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)	βœ–
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)	βœ–
Quick Frame Transport (QFT)	βœ–
3-D Ready	βœ”
Video Signal Passthrough	up to 4K/60p (YCbCr 4:4:4)
Video Signal Upscaling	βœ” up to 4K/60p (YCbCr 4:4:4)
Analog To HDMI Upconversion	βœ” Component**, Composite
Component Video Upscaling	βœ–
Analog to Analog Video conversion	βœ–
Component Video Maximum Resolution	480i/576i
Stream Smoother	βœ–
Pure Cinema	βœ–
Video Parameter Adjustments	βœ–
Super Resolution	βœ”
isf Certified Calibration Control	βœ–

CONNECTIVITY
MHL Input	βœ–
DLNA 1.5	βœ–
FireConnect	βœ”
FlareConnect	βœ”
Chromecast Built-In	βœ”
DTS Play-Fi	βœ–
Works with Amazon Alexa	βœ–
Works with SONOS	βœ–
AirPlay	βœ” AirPlay
Apple Product Connection	βœ” Made for iPhone, iPod and iPad (Airplay only)
Remote App	βœ” iControlAV5 (for iOS and Android)
InstaPrevue Input Source Prevue	βœ–
Ethernet	βœ”
Ethernet Switch	βœ–
Wi-Fi	βœ”
Bluetooth	βœ” SBC, AAC
HDBaseT Compatible	βœ–
Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC)	βœ–
HDCP Version	2.2
HDMI Inputs	7 (1 front)
HDMI Outputs	2 (1 MAIN, 1 SUB/ZONE 2)
USB Input	1 Front
USB DC Out Port	βœ–
Analog Audio Line Inputs	4
Analog Audio Line Outputs	βœ–
Phono Input	βœ”
Optical Inputs	2
Optical Outputs	βœ–
Coaxial Inputs/Outputs	1 / No
Composite Video Inputs	2
Composite Video Outputs	βœ–
S-Video Inputs	βœ–
S-Video Outputs	βœ–
Component Video Inputs	1
Component Video Outputs	βœ–
PC In	βœ–
Multi-Channel Input	βœ–
Analog Pre-Outs	0.2
XLR Inputs	βœ–
XLR Pre-outs	βœ–
Front A/V Inputs	HDMI, USB
Speaker A/B	βœ”
Headphone Out	βœ” 6.3 mm

ZONES
Zones	2
Powered Zones	2
Zone 2 Outs	HDMI, RCA Pre/Line Out
RS-232 Interface	βœ”
+12V Trigger Output	2 (A: 100 mA, B: 25 mA)
Remote (IR) Input/Output	1 / 1

MISC
On-Screen Display	Icon-based Graphical User Interface (GUI)
GUI Languages	7
AVNavigator	βœ–
IP Control	βœ”
PreAmp Mode	βœ–
Versatile Speaker Configuration	Surround Back/Front Height/Top/Front Bi-Amp/Zone 2/B Speaker
FL Dimmer	βœ”
Function Rename	βœ”
Detachable Power Cord	βœ”
adapterport	βœ–

RADIO
Analog Tuner	βœ” FM/AM
Presets	40
Digital Radio	βœ–
Internet Radio	βœ” TuneIn
Pandora	βœ”
Spotify	βœ”
Tidal	βœ”
Deezer	βœ”
Napster	βœ–
SiriusXM Internet Radio	βœ–

CONSTRUCTION
Front Panel	Brushed
Solid Aluminum Front	βœ–
Speaker Terminals	9
Large Speaker Terminals	9
Color-Coded Speaker Terminals	βœ–
Transparent High-Grade Speaker Terminals	βœ–
Ceramic Speaker Terminals	βœ–
3D Space Frame Construction	βœ–
Gold plated RCA terminals	βœ–

POWER
Power Supply	AC 120 V, 60 Hz
Low Leakage Flux Power Transformer	βœ–
Transformer Stabilizer	βœ–
Power Consumption	250 W
No Sound Power	60 W
Standby Power	0.15 W

GENERAL
Auto Power off	βœ”
Dimensions (W x H x D)	435 mm x 185 mm x 395 mm 17-1/8" x 7-5/16" x 15-9/16"
Weight	11.8 kg (26.0 lbs)
Warranty	3 Years Parts & Labor

SPECS
Power Output (8 Ω, 1 kHz, 2 channel Driven, FTC)	120 W (0.08% THD)
Power Output (6 Ω, 1 kHz, 2 channel driven, FTC)	150 W (1.0% THD)
Power Output (6 Ω, 1 kHz, 1 channel driven, FTC)	180 W (1% THD)
Power Output (4 Ω, 1 kHz, 2 channel Driven)	200 W (1.0% THD)
Rated Power Output (4 Ω, 1 kHz, 1 channel Driven)	220 W (1% THD)
Maximum Power Output (4 Ω, 1 kHz, 1 channel Driven)	320 W (10% THD)
Multi Channel Simultaneous Drive (8 Ω, 1 kHz, 1.0%)	560 W
THD	0.05% (1 kHz, 100 W)
Input Sensitivity and Impedance (Line)	200 mV/82 kΩ
Input Sensitivity and Impedance (Phono MM)	3.5 mV/47 kΩ
Rated Headphone Jack Output Level and Impedance	43 Ω
Rated Headphone Power Output	57 mW (32 Ω, 1 kHz, 10% THD)
Phono Overload	70 mV (MM, 1 kHz, 0.5%)
S/N Ratio (Line, IHF-A)	105 dB
S/N Ratio (Phono MM, IHF-A)	80 dB
DSD Sampling Rates via HDMI	2.8 MHz
DSD Sampling Rates via USB	11.2 MHz, 5.6 MHz, 2.8 MHz
Video Input Sensitivity/Output Level and Impedance	1 Vp-p/75 Ω (Component Y) 0.7 Vp-p/75 Ω (Component B/R) 1 Vp-p/75 Ω (Composite)
Ethernet Standard	10BASE-T/100BASE-TX
Wi-Fi Standard	IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n
Wi-Fi Terminal Frequency	5 GHz, 2.4 GHz
Bluetooth Version	4.1 + LE
Bluetooth Frequency	2.4 GHz
HDMI Output Type	5 V, 55 mA
USB Terminal	USB2.0 (Type A) 5 V, 1 A
Extension Terminal	βœ–
FM Frequency	87.5 MHz - 107.9 MHz
AM Frequency	530 kHz - 1710 kHz

* - 480i/576i and 480p/576p only
** - 480i/576i only
*** - no 1080p/24 upconversion
**** - 1080p signal is not converted

In 2017 Pioneer Elite SC-LX501 was replaced by SC-LX502. Let us now have a look at some important changes that the successor brought.

UPGRADES	Pioneer Elite SC-LX502	Pioneer Elite SC-LX501
HLG	βœ”	βœ–
Analog To HDMI Upconversion	βœ” Component**, Composite	βœ” Component**, Composite
DTS Play-Fi	βœ”	βœ–

DOWNGRADES	Pioneer Elite SC-LX502	Pioneer Elite SC-LX501
Video Signal Upscaling	βœ” 1080p to 4K	βœ” up to 4K/60p (YCbCr 4:4:4)
FireConnect	βœ–	βœ”

For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Pioneer Elite SC-LX502 vs Pioneer Elite SC-LX501.