Pioneer SC-LX501 vs Onkyo TX-RZ840

      Pioneer SC-LX501

      Onkyo TX-RZ840
      88
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      91
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      North America
      Europe
      Australia Asia
      North America
      Europe
      Australia and Asia
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      Table of Contents
      1. Overview
      2. Pros and Cons
      3. Advantage of Pioneer SC-LX501
      4. Advantage of Onkyo TX-RZ840
      5. Common Strengths and Weaknesses
      6. Inputs and Outputs
      7. Audio Section
      8. Video Section
      9. Evaluations
      10. Specifications

      Overview

      Here we are comparing Pioneer SC-LX501 to Onkyo TX-RZ840 to reveal their common strengths and weaknesses as well as the differences between them which will help you in making a correct decision before the purchase. The Pioneer SC-LX501 has 7 channel and the Onkyo TX-RZ840 has 9 channel amplifiers.


      Pioneer SC-LX501 Onkyo TX-RZ840

      Pioneer SC-LX501 was introduced in 2017. It is equipped with 7 channel amplifier with 120 W (8 Ω, 1 kHz, 2 channel driven) power per channel and is capable of 7.1 maximum channel processing. It supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, passes 4K/60Hz and upscales up to 4K/60p (YCbCr 4:4:4) video signal.

      Onkyo TX-RZ840 was introduced in 2019. It is equipped with 9 channel amplifier with 120 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven) power per channel and is capable of 11.2 maximum channel processing. It supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, passes 4K/60Hz and upscales 1080p to 4K video signal.

      Highlights

      • 7.2 Channels
      • 7.1 Channel Processing
      • 120 W (8 Ω, 1 kHz, 2 channel driven)
      • Dolby Atmos, DTS:X
      • HDR10, Dolby Vision
      • 4K/60Hz Passthrough, 4K/60Hz Upscaling
      • Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet
      • Phono Input

      Highlights

      • 9.2 Channels
      • 11.2 Channel Processing
      • 120 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven)
      • THX™Select™ Certified
      • Dolby Atmos, DTS:X
      • HDR10, Dolby Vision
      • 4K/60Hz Passthrough, 4K/30Hz Upscaling
      • Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet
      • Phono Input

      We evaluated Pioneer SC-LX501 and Onkyo TX-RZ840 and gave them scores of 88 and 91 out of 100 recpectively. Our ranking system is based on the amplifier specifications, audio and video features, connectivity, multizone capabilities, radio and many other details.

      Pioneer SC-LX501

      Onkyo TX-RZ840

      Amplifier
      90
      Amplifier
      91
      Audio Features
      86
      Audio Features
      91
      Video Features
      92
      Video Features
      95
      Connectivity
      83
      Connectivity
      88
      Zones
      85
      Zones
      91
      Radio
      90
      Radio
      90
      OVERALL
      88
      OVERALL
      91

      For more details about the ranking please go to    Evaluations page.

      Pros and Cons

      In this section we present pros and cons of Pioneer SC-LX501 and Onkyo TX-RZ840.

      PROS

      Pioneer SC-LX501

      Onkyo TX-RZ840

      •   High Power Output - 120 W
      •   Dolby Atmos
      •   DTS:X
      •   DSD via HDMI
      •   Auto Speaker Calibration System with Mic.
      •   HDR10
      •   Dolby Vision
      •   New HDCP Version
      •   Wi-Fi
      •   Bluetooth
      •   Chromecast Built-In
      •   7 HDMI Inputs
      •   USB Input
      •   Phono Input
      •   Composite Video Inputs
      •   Component Video Inputs
      •   Ethernet
      •   Analog Tuner
      •   Spotify
      •   Tidal
      •   High Power Output - 120 W
      •   THX™ Certification
      •   11.2 Channel Processing
      •   Dolby Atmos
      •   Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization
      •   DTS:X
      •   IMAX Enhanced
      •   DSD via HDMI
      •   Auto Speaker Calibration System with Mic.
      •   HDR10
      •   Dolby Vision
      •   New HDCP Version
      •   Analog To HDMI Upconversion
      •   Wi-Fi
      •   Bluetooth
      •   Chromecast Built-In
      •   7 HDMI Inputs
      •   USB Input
      •   Many RCA Line Inputs
      •   Phono Input
      •   RCA Pre-Outs
      •   Composite Video Inputs
      •   Component Video Inputs
      •   Ethernet
      •   3 Zones
      •   Analog Tuner
      •   Spotify
      •   Tidal

      CONS

      Pioneer SC-LX501

      Onkyo TX-RZ840

      •   No Front Wide Channel Support
      •   No Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization
      •   No IMAX Enhanced
      •   No Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixer
      •   No HDR10+
      •   No eARC
      •   No 8K Passthrough
      •   Does not Work with Amazon Alexa
      •   0 8K Input
      •   No RCA Pre-Outs
      •   No Digital Radio
      •   No Pandora
      •   No Front Wide Channel Support
      •   No Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixer
      •   No HDR10+
      •   No eARC
      •   No 8K Passthrough
      •   Does not Work with Amazon Alexa
      •   0 8K Input
      •   No Digital Radio
      •   No Pandora


      And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

      AVERAGE

      Pioneer SC-LX501

      Onkyo TX-RZ840

      •   7.2 Channels
      •   7.1 Channel Processing
      •   3 HDMI Outputs
      •   RCA Line Inputs
      •   2 Zones
      •   Bluetooth 4․1 + LE
      •   9.2 Channels
      •   3 HDMI Outputs
      •   Bluetooth 4․2

      Advantage of Pioneer SC-LX501

      Pioneer SC-LX501
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      This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Pioneer SC-LX501 over Onkyo TX-RZ840.

      Pioneer SC-LX501 vs Onkyo TX-RZ840
      DTS Neo Neo:6 vs
      Video Signal Upscaling up to 4K/60p (YCbCr 4:4:4) vs 1080p to 4K
      More Optical Inputs 2 vs 1
      Front A/V Inputs HDMI, USB vs HDMI
      Speaker A/B vs
      +12V Trigger Output 2 (A: 100 mA, B: 25 mA) vs 1 (MAIN, 100 mA)
      Remote (IR) Input/Output 1 / 1 vs 1 / 0
      Lower THD 0.05% (1 kHz, 100 W) vs 0.08% (20 Hz - 20 kHz, Half power)

      Check out other receivers which are frequently compared to Pioneer SC-LX501.

      Pioneer SC-LX701
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      9.2 channel

      135 W

      Pioneer SC-LX901
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      11.2 channel

      140 W

      Yamaha RX-A3080
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      9.2 channel

      150 W

      Onkyo TX-RZ900
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      7.2 channel

      140 W

      Pioneer VSX-1131
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      7.2 channel

      100 W

      Pioneer SC-LX502
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      7.2 channel

      120 W

      Pioneer VSX-LX302
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      7.2 channel

      100 W

      Pioneer VSX-831
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      5.2 channel

      80 W

      Pioneer VSX-LX304
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      9.2 channel

      100 W

      Yamaha RX-V485
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      5.1 channel

      80 W

      Pioneer VSX-LX505
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      9.2 channel

      120 W

      Yamaha RX-A3070
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      9.2 channel

      150 W

      Advantage of Onkyo TX-RZ840

      Onkyo TX-RZ840
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      This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Onkyo TX-RZ840 over Pioneer SC-LX501.

      Pioneer SC-LX501 vs Onkyo TX-RZ840
      More Channels 7.2 vs 9.2
      THX™ Certification vs Select™ (previously known as Select2)
      More Channel Processing 7.1 vs 11.2
      Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization vs
      IMAX Enhanced vs
      Jitter Reduction vs PLL (Phase Locked Loop) Jitter-Cleaning Circuit Technology for S/PDIF Audio
      Virtual Speakers vs T-D (Theater-Dimensional)
      Independent Subwoofer Outputs vs
      HLG vs
      Newer HDCP Version 2.2 vs 2.3
      Analog To HDMI Upconversion Component**, Composite vs Component**, Composite
      Works with SONOS vs
      DTS Play-Fi vs via Onkyo Music Control app
      AirPlay AirPlay vs AirPlay 2 after firmware update
      More RCA Line Inputs 4 vs 6
      More RCA Pre-Outs 0.2 vs 11.2 (barter to Zone 3 Pre/Line Out)
      More Zones 2 vs 3
      More Powered Zones 2 vs 2 and 3
      Solid Aluminum Front vs
      Bigger Power Supply 250 W vs 870 W
      Higher Rated Headphone Power Output 57 mW (32 Ω, 1 kHz, 10% THD) vs 85 mW (32 Ω, 1 kHz, 10% THD)
      Higher S/N Ratio (Line, IHF-A) 105 dB vs 106 dB
      Newer Bluetooth Version 4․1 + LE vs 4․2

      Check out other receivers which are frequently compared to Onkyo TX-RZ840.

      Onkyo TX-RZ810
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      7.2 channel

      130 W

      Yamaha RX-A880
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      7.2 channel

      100 W

      Onkyo TX-RZ830
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      9.2 channel

      120 W

      Onkyo TX-RZ50
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      9.2 channel

      120 W

      Denon AVR-X3800H
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      9.4 channel

      105 W

      Yamaha RX-A660
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      7.2 channel

      80 W

      Onkyo TX-NR696
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      7.2 channel

      100 W

      Yamaha RX-A3080
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      9.2 channel

      150 W

      Yamaha RX-A3010
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      9.2 channel

      150 W

      Denon AVC-X3700H
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      9.2 channel

      105 W

      Onkyo TX-RZ740
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      9.2 channel

      100 W

      Yamaha RX-A3040
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      9.2 channel

      150 W

      Common Strengths and Weaknesses

      We already listed pros and cons of each model. However, you may also find useful to look at their common strengths and weaknesses shown side-by-side.

      STRENGTHS Pioneer SC-LX501 Onkyo TX-RZ840
        High Power Output120 W (8 Ω, 1 kHz, 2 channel driven)120 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven)
        Dolby Atmos
        DTS:X
        DSD via HDMI 2-ch/Multi-ch Input 2-ch/Multi-ch Input
        Auto Speaker Calibration System with Mic. MCACC AccuEQ Advance with AccuReflex™
        HDR10
        Dolby Vision
        New HDCP Version2.22.3
        Wi-Fi
        Bluetooth SBC, AAC SBC, AAC
        Chromecast Built-In
        Many HDMI Inputs7 (1 front)7 (1 front)
        USB Input1 Front1 (Rear)
        Phono Input
        Composite Video Inputs22
        Component Video Inputs11
        Ethernet
        Analog Tuner FM/AM with RDS FM/AM with RDS
        Spotify
        Tidal
      WEAKNESSES Pioneer SC-LX501 Onkyo TX-RZ840
        No Front Wide Channel Support
        No Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixer
        No HDR10+
        No eARC
        No 8K Passthroughup to 4K/60p (YCbCr 4:4:4)up to 4K/60p (RGB/YCbCr4:4:4)
        Does not Work with Amazon Alexa
        Few 8K Inputs
        No Digital Radio
        No Pandora

      Inputs and Outputs

      Audio

      • Phono Input: There is an MM phono input on Pioneer SC-LX501 and Onkyo TX-RZ840 with built-in phono stage for connecting the moving magnet cartridge output of the turntable directly to the receiver.
      • Analog Pre-Outs: Onkyo TX-RZ840 has 11.2 preamplifier outputs which allows you to connect the receiver to the external power amplifier. You may want to use a high quality external amplifier for certain channels, usually for front L/R and center, and use the receiver to power the rest. Also, Onkyo TX-RZ840 has 11 channel processing but has only 7 channel amplifier, so it needs external amplifier connected to the analog pre-outs in order to reach its maximum speaker configuration.
      • Analog Line Inputs: There are 4 pair of line inputs on Pioneer SC-LX501 and 6 pair of line inputs on Onkyo TX-RZ840 for connecting sources with analog outputs.
      • Digital Inputs: 2 optical inputs and 1 coaxial input are available on Pioneer SC-LX501 and 1 optical input and 1 coaxial input are available on Onkyo TX-RZ840 for digital audio connections.
      • Headphone Output: There is a 6.3 mm (1/4") headphone output jack on the front panel of each receiver.

      Video

      • HDMI:
      • Pioneer SC-LX501
        Inputs:         7 (1 front)   Outputs: 2 (1 MAIN, 1 SUB/ZONE 2)
        8K Inputs: 0.
      • Onkyo TX-RZ840
        Inputs:         7 (1 front)   Outputs: 2 (1 Main, 1 Sub/Zone2)
        8K Inputs: 0.
      • Composite Video: Connect you VCR, Laserdisc player and other old video equipment with composite video cables.
      • Pioneer SC-LX501
        Inputs:         2   Outputs: 0.
      • Onkyo TX-RZ840
        Inputs:         2   Outputs: 0.
      • Component Video: Component video connection gives you the higher quality video compared to the composite video connection. So in case your old DVD player and other equipment do not have an HDMI output but have Component video output use this connection over the composite one. Both receivers support up to 480i/576i resolution on Component video connectors.
      • Pioneer SC-LX501
        Inputs:         1   Outputs: 0.
      • Onkyo TX-RZ840
        Inputs:         1   Outputs: 0.

      Front A/V Inputs

      • Pioneer SC-LX501: HDMI, USB
      • Onkyo TX-RZ840: HDMI

      Pioneer SC-LX501

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      Onkyo TX-RZ840

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