To get informed with the specs of the receivers, we suggest you read the Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 and Denon AVR-S740H review. According to the results of our review, Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 received 8.5 points out of 10 possible, and Denon AVR-S740H was rated 7.1 points. The release date of Elite VSX-LX304 is 2019, and AVR-S740H is 2018. This review shows us that the Elite VSX-LX304 is a better choice as a home AV receiver than the AVR-S740H.
For the built-in amplifier, the devices received different marks - 9 and 8, respectively, on a 10-point scale.
The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 supports 9.2-channels sound, but Denon AVR-S740H supports a 7.2-channels configuration.
RMS stands for the actual power of the receiver. The higher this value, the louder the sound can be produced. The differences between the models in terms of RMS power are significant - for the Elite VSX-LX304 this value is 100/8 W/Ohm, and for the AVR-S740H it is 75/8 W/Ohm.
Elite VSX-LX304 | AVR-S740H | |
---|---|---|
Channels | 9.2 | 7.2 |
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm | 100/8, 225/6 | 75/8, 110/6 |
Output impedance, Ohm | 8, 6 | 8, 6 |
Frequency response | 5Hz-100KHz | 10Hz-100KHz |
THD in stereo, % | 0.08 | 0.08 |
After reviewing the audio features of each model, we can rate the Elite VSX-LX304 9 out of 10, and the AVR-S740H - 6.
Bi-amping is the amplification of one speaker with two amplifiers. This amplification method has a positive effect on sound quality. Bi-amping is possible only on the Elite VSX-LX304.
Most receivers now come with a microphone included. It is with the help of this microphone that the auto-calibration system functions, which adjusts the sound of the receiver to the room.
Elite VSX-LX304 | AVR-S740H | |
---|---|---|
Digital to analog converter (DAC) | AK4458 384 KHz/32-bit | 192 KHz/32-bit |
Bi-amping | ✔ | ✖ |
Pure direct (straight) | ✔ | ✔ |
Auto speaker calibration | MCACC | Audyssey MultEQ |
Speaker A/B switching | ✖ | ✖ |
Other audio features | Advanced Sound Retriever, Hi-Res audio | Audyssey Dynamic Volume, Audyssey Dynamic EQ, Compressed Audio Restorer, Hi-Res audio |
The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 scored 8, and Denon AVR-S740H scored 7 out of 10.
Bluetooth connection is now one of the main communication protocols for the receiver's control or even music broadcasting.
Elite VSX-LX304 | AVR-S740H | |
---|---|---|
Wi-Fi | ✔ | ✔ |
USB | 1 (USB 2.0) | 1 (USB 2.0) |
Bluetooth | ✔ | ✔ |
Ethernet (RJ45) | 1 | 1 |
DLNA | ✖ | ✖ |
MHL | ✖ | ✖ |
Now music streaming services are gaining more and more popularity. They allow users to listen to millions of songs by subscription.
Elite VSX-LX304 | AVR-S740H | |
---|---|---|
Apple Music (AirPlay) | AirPlay, AirPlay 2 | AirPlay, AirPlay 2 |
Amazon Music | ✔ | ✔ |
Spotify | ✔ | ✔ |
Other streaming services | Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora | Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, Napster, SiriusXM, TuneIn Radio, iHeart Radio, Sound Cloud |
The presence of many connectors makes the receiver more versatile. But there are also narrowly targeted models, the number of connectors which are limited to a certain area of use. And when choosing their own receiver, users need to consider exactly your goals for using the receiver. For extensive connection, Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 got 7 points, but Denon AVR-S740H received 6 points.
Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 is equipped with 7/2 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Denon AVR-S740H has 6/1 HDMI inputs and outputs.
Elite VSX-LX304 | AVR-S740H | |
---|---|---|
HDMI input/output | 7/2 | 6/1 |
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) | ✖ | ✖ |
HDMI CEC | ✔ | ✔ |
Digital content protection (HDCP) | HDCP 2.2 | HDCP 2.2 |
Subwoofer output (LFE) | 2 | 2 |
Headphone output | 1 x 6.3 | 1 x 6.3 |
Optical digital input | 1 | 2 |
Coaxial digital input | 1 | 1 |
Composite input | 0 | 2 |
Component input/output | 0/0 | 0/0 |
Phono (MM) input | ✔ | ✔ |
Front panel connectors | USB, HDMI, phones, setup mic, AUX | USB, HDMI, phones, setup mic |
Multi channel preamp output | ✔ | ✔ |
The AV receiver is the heart of the home theater. And in this case, support for all current video formats ensures the best user experience, so it is very important to consider this when choosing a device. Video features of the Elite VSX-LX304 were rated 8 out of 10 against the 6 for the AVR-S740H.
Most of the AV receivers have a video scaling function, it is the process of reformatting the video signal to a higher resolution without losing the quality of the image. Upscaling the video signal resolution is possible only with Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304.
Elite VSX-LX304 | AVR-S740H | |
---|---|---|
HDR (High Dynamic Range) | HDR10 | ✔ |
4K signal pass-through | 4K/60Hz | 4K/60Hz |
8K signal pass-through | ✖ | ✖ |
HDMI signal pass-through | ✔ | ✔ |
3D signal pass-through | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI pass-through in standby mode | ✔ | ✔ |
Video conversion | ✖ | ✖ |
Analog to HDMI scaling | ✖ | ✖ |
HDMI to HDMI scaling | ✔ | ✖ |
Dolby Vision | ✔ | ✔ |
Other video features | DeepColor, x.v.Color, HLG, BT.2020 | BT.2020, HLG |
In terms of evaluating additional features, the Elite VSX-LX304 got 9 points, but the AVR-S740H has 10.
Denon AVR-S740H has the ECO mode.
Elite VSX-LX304 | AVR-S740H | |
---|---|---|
Voice control | Amazon Alexa | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI |
App control | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android |
Display | colour OSD | colour OSD |
Tuner | AM, FM | AM, FM |
Sleep timer | ✔ | ✔ |
Auto power off | ✔ | ✔ |
ECO mode | ✖ | ✔ |
Graphical user interface (GUI) | ✔ | ✔ |
Setup assistant | ✔ | ✔ |
Firmware update | network, USB | network, USB |
Other additional features | has not | IP Control, Web Control |
As the center of a home media system, each multichannel receiver has an additional set of terminals for connecting the second set of speakers to create additional audio space in Zone 2 or even Zone 3 where audio can have the separate source.
Elite VSX-LX304 | AVR-S740H | |
---|---|---|
Multi-room zones | 3 | 2 |
Zone audio output | speaker, preout | speaker |
Zone HDMI output | ✔ | ✖ |
Multi-room control | Pioneer Control App, FlareConnect | HEOS App |
RS-232 | 1 | 0 |
Remote control input/output (IR) | 1/1 | 0/0 |
DC trigger output (12V) | 2 | 0 |
Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 got 8 points for the multichannel surround sound and Denon AVR-S740H got 7.
IMAX Enhanced is a licensing and certification program under which home theater devices deliver crisp 4K HDR pictures and powerful sound as it was designed by the IMAX engineers. Only the Elite VSX-LX304 licensed by IMAX.
Elite VSX-LX304 | AVR-S740H | |
---|---|---|
Dolby Atmos | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby TrueHD | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby Surround | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby (other) | Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization | Dolby Digital Plus |
DTS:X | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS HD Master | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS Virtual:X | ✖ | ✔ |
DTS Neural:X | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS (other) | DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS | DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS, DTS-Surround |
Auro-3D | ✖ | ✖ |
IMAX Enhanced | ✔ | ✖ |
Multichannel stereo | ✖ | ✔ |