Pioneer Elite VSX-80 Review and Specs
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Pioneer Elite VSX-80 (USA version)

SCORE:
78

Highlights

  • 7.2 channels
  • 90 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven)
  • 4K Upscaling, 4K Passthrough
  • AirPlay, DLNA
  • Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
  • USB input

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Pioneer Elite VSX-80 Overview

Pioneer Elite VSX-80 was introduced in 2014. It is equipped with 7 channel amplifier and is capable of 7.1 maximum channel processing.

We evaluated the Receiver and gave 78 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
73
VIDEO FEATURES
79
AUDIO FEATURES
77
CONNECTIVITY
77
MULTIZONE
90
MISCELLANEOUS
71
RADIO
85
OVERALL
78

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...

Pros and Cons

In this section we present pros and cons of Pioneer Elite VSX-80.

PROS
Front Wide Channel Support 👍
Bi-amp Capability 👍
Dolby TrueHD 👍
Dolby Digital Plus 👍
Dolby Pro Logic 👍
Dolby Digital EX 👍
Surround EX 👍
DTS Neo 👍
DTS-HD Master Audio 👍
DTS-HD High Resolution Audio 👍
DTS 96/24 👍
DTS Express 👍
DTS-ES 👍
High Resolution Music Playback via USB and/or Network 👍
Gapless Playback 👍
DSD via HDMI 👍
DSD via USB 👍
DSD to PCM Converter 👍
DTS Dialog Control 👍
Dialog Enhancement 👍
Dialogue Lift 👍
Sound Retriever 👍
Sound Retriever AIR 👍
Compressed Music Enhancer 👍
High-resolution Music Enhancer 👍
Auto Speaker Calibration System with Mic. 👍
3-D Ready 👍
4K or 8K Video Passthrough 👍
4K or 8K Signal Upscaling 👍
Analog To HDMI Upconversion 👍
MHL Input 👍
DLNA 1.5 👍
Ethernet 👍
Wi-Fi 👍
Bluetooth 👍
Many HDMI Inputs 👍
USB Input 👍
Composite Video Inputs 👍
Composite Video Outputs 👍
Component Video Inputs 👍
Component Video Outputs 👍
Analog Pre-Outs 👍
Zones 👍
Detachable Power Cord 👍
Analog Tuner 👍
Pandora 👍
Spotify 👍
CONS
Not Certified 4 Ω Performance 👎
No Dolby Atmos 👎
No Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization 👎
No Dolby Surround Upmixer 👎
No DTS:X 👎
No DTS Neural:X 👎
No DTS Virtual:X 👎
No IMAX Enhanced 👎
No Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixer 👎
No HDR10 👎
No HDR10+ 👎
No BT.2020 color space 👎
No Dolby Vision 👎
No Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) 👎
No Chromecast Built-In 👎
Does not Work with Amazon Alexa 👎
Does Not Work with SONOS 👎
No eARC 👎
Few Analog Audio Line Inputs 👎
No Phono Input 👎
No Multi-Channel Input 👎
No Tidal 👎
No Deezer 👎
No Napster 👎
No SiriusXM Internet Radio 👎

Major Changes from its predecessor

Here we are comparing Pioneer Elite VSX-80 to its predecessor VSX-70 and displaying the major changes.

UPGRADES Pioneer Elite VSX-80 Pioneer Elite VSX-70
Video Signal Passthrough up to 4K/60p (4:4:4 24-bit)
4K/60p (4:2:2 36-bit)
4K/24p (4:4:4 36-bit)		 up to 4K/30p
Video Signal Upscaling ✔ up to 4K/60p (Marvell Qdeo) ✔ up to 4K/30p

DOWNGRADES Pioneer Elite VSX-80 Pioneer Elite VSX-70
Less HDMI Inputs 7 (1 front) 8 (1 front)
Less Analog Audio Line Inputs 3 4
Less Composite Video Inputs 2 4 (1 front)

For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Pioneer Elite VSX-80 vs Pioneer Elite VSX-70.

Selected Features

Amplifier

Pioneer Elite VSX-80 has 7 channel amplifier and delivers 90 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven). This receiver even supports front wide channels which is found only in a very few high-end receivers these days.


Video Features

The Receiver has 4K passthrough up to 60p and 4K upscaling up to 60p.


Advanced Sound Retriever

Compressed music enhancement in Pioneer Elite VSX-80 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 VSX-80 comes with[y] MCACC Advanced room correction system and includes the calibration microphone.


Connectivity

Pioneer Elite VSX-80 can be connected to internet using ethernet cable or wirelessly[y] via optional AS-WL300 adapter (sold separately). It can also connect to bluetooth devices[y] via optional AS-BT100 or AS-BT200 adapters (sold separately). The Receiver supports[y] AirPlay. It has 7 HDMI inputs. There are 2.2 channel analog pre-outs for external amplification.

Front panel has HDMI and USB inputs.

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Detailed Specifications

Here we list all the available features and specifications of Pioneer Elite VSX-80.

BASICS
BrandPioneer
SeriesElite
ModelVSX-80
TypeA/V Receiver
CountryUSA
Release Year2014
AMPLIFIER
Channels7.2
Front Wide Channel Support✔
Amplifier DesignDiscrete Direct Energy
THX™ Certification✖
Continuous 6 Ω Rated✔
Certified 4 Ω Performance✖
Bi-amp Capability✔ Front
AUDIO
Digital Signal Processing (DSP) EngineTexas Instruments Aureus
DACESS SABRE Premier
Maximum Channel Processing7.1
Air Studios Monitor Certification✖
Dolby Atmos✖
Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization✖
Dolby TrueHD✔
Dolby Digital Plus✔
Dolby Surround Upmixer✖
Dolby Pro Logic✔ PLIIz
Dolby Digital EX✔
Surround EX✔
DTS:X✖
DTS Neural:X✖
DTS Virtual:X✖
DTS Neo✔ Neo:X
DTS-HD Master Audio✔
DTS-HD High Resolution Audio✔
DTS 96/24✔
DTS Express✔
DTS-ES✔ Discrete 6.1, Matrix 6.1
IMAX Enhanced✖
Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixer✖
PCM✔ 2-ch/Multi-ch Input
Music Playback via USBMP3, WMA, AAC, Apple Lossless, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, DSD
High Resolution Music Playback via USB and/or Network✔ 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz/24 bit
High Resolution Audio Formats via USBApple Lossless, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, DSD
Multi-Channel Music File Playback via USB✔ up to 96 kHz/24 bit
Gapless Playback✔
DSD via HDMI✔ 2-ch/Multi-ch Input
DSD via USB✔ 2-ch Input
DSD to PCM Converter✔
USB DAC✖
Jitter Reduction✔ plus PQLS (HDMI Bitstream/ Multi)
Auto Level ControlMulti-Channel
Dialog Enhancement✔
Dialogue Lift✔ via Dialog Enhancement
Sound Retriever✔ Advanced (Multi-Channel / Auto with ARC)
Sound Retriever AIR✔
Digital Noise Reduction✔
Tone Control✔ Front L/R Channels
Compressed Music Enhancer✔ Advanced Sound Retriever
High-resolution Music Enhancer✔ Hi-bit24 Audio Processing
Audyssey Dynamic EQ✖
Audyssey Dynamic Volume✖
Audyssey LFC✖
Audyssey Sub EQ HT✖
Audyssey DSX✖
Direct Mode✔
Pure Direct Mode✔
Auto Surround✔
Optimum Surround✖
Advanced Surround11 + 1 Mode
Wide Surround✔
Front Stage Surround Advance✔
Headphone Surround✔
Virtual Speakers✔ (Surround Back/Height/Wide)
Virtual Depth✔
Independent Dual Subwoofer Output✖
CALIBRATION
Auto Speaker Calibration System with Mic.✔ MCACC Advanced
Manual MCACC✔
MCACC Memory6
Full Band Phase Control✖
Standing Wave Control✔
EQ Bands9-Band (Advanced)
Symmetric EQ✔
X-Curve✔
Distance Adjustment1/2 Inch
Precision Distance✖
Polarity Check✔
Auto Subwoofer Crossover✔
VIDEO
HDR10✖
HDR10+✖
Dynamic HDR✖
BT.2020 color space✖
Dolby Vision✖
Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG)✖
Quick Media Switching (QMS)✖
Auto Low Latency Mode Pass-through✖
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)✖
Quick Frame Transport (QFT)✖
3-D Ready✔
Video Signal Passthroughup to 4K/60p (4:4:4 24-bit)
4K/60p (4:2:2 36-bit)
4K/24p (4:4:4 36-bit)
Video Signal Upscaling✔ up to 4K/60p (Marvell Qdeo)
Analog To HDMI Upconversion✔ Component****, Composite
Component Video Upscaling✖
Analog to Analog Video conversion✖
Component Video Maximum Resolution1080p (1125p)
Stream Smoother✔
Pure Cinema✔
Video Parameter AdjustmentsYNR, CNR, BNR, MNR, Detail, Brightness, Contrast, Hue, Chroma, Black Level
Triple HD Noise Reduction✖
Super Resolution✖
isf Certified Calibration Control✖
CONNECTIVITY
MHL Input✔ 1 Rear (Version 2.0)
DLNA 1.5✔
FireConnect✖
FlareConnect✖
Chromecast Built-In✖
DTS Play-Fi✖
Works with Amazon Alexa✖
Works with SONOS✖
AirPlay✔ AirPlay
Apple Product Connection✔ iPod and iPhone via front USB
Remote App✔ iControlAV5 (for iOS and Android)
InstaPrevue Input Source Prevue✖
Ethernet✔
Ethernet Switch✖
Wi-Fi✔ via optional AS-WL300 adapter (sold separately)
Bluetooth✔ via optional AS-BT100 or AS-BT200 adapters (sold separately)
HDBaseT Compatible✖
Enhanced ARC✖
HDMI Input7 (1 front)
HDMI Output2 (1 for MAIN, 1 for MAIN/HDZONE)
USB Input1 Front
USB DC Out Port1 Rear for AS-WL300 (5 V, 0.6 A)
Analog Audio Line Input3
Analog Audio Line Output✖
Phono Input✖
Optical In1
Optical Out✖
Coaxial In/Out1 / ✖
Composite Video Input2
Composite Video Output1
S-Video Input✖
S-Video Output✖
Component Video Input2
Component Video Output1
PC In✖
Multi-Channel Input✖
Analog Pre-Outs2.2
XLR Inputs✖
XLR Pre-outs✖
Front A/V InputsHDMI, USB
Speaker A/B✔
Headphone Out✔ 6.3 mm
ZONES
Zones3
Powered Zones2 and HDZone
Zone 2RCA Pre/Line Out
Zone 4 OutsHDMI
RS-232✔
+12V Trigger Output1 (Main, Zone2, HDZone)
Remote (IR) Input/Output1 / 1
MISC
On-Screen DisplayGraphical User Interface (GUI) with Album Artwork (HDMI only)
Multi-Zone On-Screen Display✖
AVNavigator✔ Built-in
IP Control for CI✔
PreAmp Mode✖
Versatile Speaker ConfigurationSurround Back/ Front Height/ Front Wide/ Front Bi-Amp/ Zone 2/ B-Speaker/ Powered HD Zone
FL Dimmer✔
Function Rename✔
Remote ControllerLearning Remote Control
Detachable Power Cord✔
adapterport✔
RADIO
Analog Tuner✔ FM/AM
Presets63
Digital Radio✖
Internet Radio✔ vTuner
Pandora✔
Spotify✔
Tidal✖
Deezer✖
Napster✖
SiriusXM Internet Radio✖
CONSTRUCTION
Front PanelBrushed
Solid Aluminum Front✖
Speaker Terminals9
Large Speaker Terminals9
Color-Coded Speaker Terminals✖
3D Space Frame Construction✖
Gold plated RCA terminals✖
POWER
Power SupplyAC 120 V, 60 Hz
Low Leakage Flux Power Transformer✖
Transformer Stabilizer✖
Power Consumption550 W
Standby Power0.1 W
GENERAL
ECO Mode / Hybrid Standby Function✔
Auto Power Standby✔
Dimensions (W x H x D)435 mm x 168 mm x 363 mm
17-3/16" x 6-5/8" x 14-5/16"
Weight9.8 kg (21 lb 10 oz)
Warranty2 Years Parts & Labor
SPECS
Power Output (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 290 W (0.08% THD)
Power Output (6 Ω, 1 kHz, 1 channel driven, FTC)165 W (1% THD)
Input Sensitivity and Impedance (Line)315 mV/47 kΩ (Line)
S/N Ratio (Line, IHF-A)100 dB
S/N Ratio (Line, EIA, at 1 W (1 kHz))81 dB
DSD Sampling Rates via HDMI2.8 MHz
DSD Sampling Rates via USB2.8 MHz
Video Input Sensitivity/Output Level and Impedance1 Vp-p/75 Ω (Component Y)
0.7 Vp-p/75 Ω (Component PB/CB, PR/CR)
1 Vp-p/75 Ω (Composite)
Ethernet Standard10BASE-T/100BASE-TX
HDMI Terminal19-pin (not DVI)
HDMI Output Type5 V, 100 mA
HDMI Input/MHL Terminal5 V, 900 mA
USB TerminalUSB2.0 (Type A) 5 V, 1 A
adapterport Terminal5 V, 100 mA
Extension Terminal✖
FM Frequency87.5 MHz - 108 MHz
AM Frequency530 kHz - 1700 kHz

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

Successor

In 2015 Pioneer Elite VSX-80 was replaced by VSX-90. Let us now have a look at some important changes that the successor brought.


UPGRADES Pioneer Elite VSX-90 Pioneer Elite VSX-80
Dolby Atmos ✔ ✖
More Advanced Auto Speaker Calibration System ✔ MCACC Pro ✔ MCACC Advanced
Wi-Fi ✔ ✔ via optional AS-WL300 adapter (sold separately)
Bluetooth ✔ ✔ via optional AS-BT100 or AS-BT200 adapters (sold separately)

DOWNGRADES Pioneer Elite VSX-90 Pioneer Elite VSX-80
Surround EX ✖ ✔
Less Component Video Inputs 1 2
Less Component Video Outputs ✖ 1
Less Analog Pre-Outs 0.2 2.2

For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Pioneer Elite VSX-90 vs Pioneer Elite VSX-80.

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