Pioneer Elite SC-LX904 Review and Specs

According to the brand, the achievement of “the best-in-class home theater functionality in its class” and the latest addition to the prestigious Pioneer Elite series was the 11.2-channel flagship Pioneer SC-LX904 flagship AV receiver officially presented at CEDIA Expo 2019. See Pioneer Elite SC-LX904 specs in this Pioneer Elite SC-LX904 review.

Pioneer Elite SC-LX904 review

Features

Thanks to the sixth generation of Direct Energy HD amplifiers, the model is rated at 11 x 140 watts with 8-ohm speakers. The new product provides support for "simultaneous multi-channel amplification." The system is complemented by new power coils and special capacitors to reduce noise and improve sound.

Design and build

The system provides 32 bit / 384 kHz digital-to-analog conversion on all channels, and, of course, support for 24-bit / 192 kHz audio in FLAC, WAV, AIFF and ALAC file formats, as well as DSD 2.8, 5.6 and 11.2 MHz To improve the sound quality, model provided two so-called “audio-centric” modes: the first, Audio Exclusive, disconnects the HDMI video signal, and the second, AV Direct - network functions. The receiver supports Dolby Atmos, DTS: X and IMAX Enhanced Surround, as well as integrated Pioneer PRO MCACC (Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System) PRO. It is ready for 4K / 60 Hz transmission with HDCP 2.3 and support wide color gamut, 4K scaling for 1080p sources and three high dynamic range (HDR) formats: Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG (hybrid log gamma).

Connectivity

The model received seven HDMI inputs (including one on the front panel) and three outputs HDMI. At the same time, wireless communication is available through the built-in Chromecast, Apple AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, DTS Play-Fi, Wi-Fi and FlareConnect from Pioneer. Thanks to these functions, access to Internet radio and online music services is also provided - such as Tidal, Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Music, Deezer.

Setup

As for the management, in addition to the traditional options, you can use Google Assistant and Alexa (after updating the firmware). PQLS (Precision Quartz Lock System), which greatly improves the signal-to-noise ratio and achieves realistic sound and surround sound content.

Pros and Cons