Let's make the Pioneer VSX-LX503 versus Denon AVR-X3400H comparison. According to the results of our review, Pioneer VSX-LX503 received 8.6 points out of 10 possible, and Denon AVR-X3400H was rated 8.5 points. The release date of VSX-LX503 is 2018, and AVR-X3400H is 2017. After comparison, it will become clear that among these two devices, the VSX-LX503 is more suitable for the role of the heart of home theater system.
For the built-in amplifier, the devices received different marks - 9 and 7, respectively, on a 10-point scale.
The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Pioneer VSX-LX503 supports 9.2-channels sound, but Denon AVR-X3400H 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 VSX-LX503 this value is 120/8 W/Ohm, and for the AVR-X3400H it is 105/8 W/Ohm.
VSX-LX503 | AVR-X3400H | |
---|---|---|
Channels | 9.2 | 7.2 |
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm | 120/8, 230/6 | 105/8, 135/6 |
Output impedance, Ohm | 8, 6 | 8, 6 |
Frequency response | 10Hz-100KHz | 10Hz-100KHz |
THD in stereo, % | 0.08 | 0.08 |
The score for audio features is 9 of 10 for both receivers.
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.
Speaker A/B switching allows you to change between the main and sub speaker set. Denon AVR-X3400H can work with the main and additional set of speakers - and switch between them.
VSX-LX503 | AVR-X3400H | |
---|---|---|
Digital to analog converter (DAC) | AK4458 384 KHz/32-bit | 192 KHz/24-bit |
Bi-amping | ✔ | ✔ |
Pure direct (straight) | ✔ | ✔ |
Auto speaker calibration | MCACC | Audyssey MultEQ XT32 |
Speaker A/B switching | ✖ | ✔ |
Other audio features | Advanced Sound Retriever, Hi-Res audio, Reflex Optimizer | Hi-Res audio, Audyssey LFC |
The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Pioneer VSX-LX503 scored 8, and Denon AVR-X3400H scored 7 out of 10.
Bluetooth connection is now one of the main communication protocols for the receiver's control or even music broadcasting.
VSX-LX503 | AVR-X3400H | |
---|---|---|
Wi-Fi | 2.4/5GHz | ✔ |
USB | 2 (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.
VSX-LX503 | AVR-X3400H | |
---|---|---|
Apple Music (AirPlay) | AirPlay | AirPlay, AirPlay 2 |
Amazon Music | ✔ | ✔ |
Spotify | ✔ | ✔ |
Other streaming services | Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, TuneIn Radio | Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora,iHeart Radio, Sirius XM, Sound Cloud, Napster |
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 VSX-LX503 got 8 points, but Denon AVR-X3400H received 9 points.
Pioneer VSX-LX503 is equipped with 7/2 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Denon AVR-X3400H has 8/3 HDMI inputs and outputs.
VSX-LX503 | AVR-X3400H | |
---|---|---|
HDMI input/output | 7/2 | 8/3 |
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 | 2 | 2 |
Coaxial digital input | 1 | 2 |
Composite input | 2 | 3 |
Component input/output | 1/0 | 2/1 |
Phono (MM) input | ✔ | ✔ |
Front panel connectors | USB, HDMI, phones, setup mic | 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 rivals in our comparison were rated 10 out of 10.
VSX-LX503 | AVR-X3400H | |
---|---|---|
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 | analog to HDMI |
Analog to HDMI scaling | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI to HDMI scaling | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby Vision | ✔ | ✔ |
Other video features | DeepColor, x.v.Color, HLG, BT.2020 | DeepColor, x.v.Color |
In terms of evaluating additional features, the VSX-LX503 got 8 points, but the AVR-X3400H has 10.
Denon AVR-X3400H has the ECO mode.
VSX-LX503 | AVR-X3400H | |
---|---|---|
Voice control | Google Assistant | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI |
App control | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android |
Display | colour OSD | fluorescent |
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 | IP Control | IP 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.
VSX-LX503 | AVR-X3400H | |
---|---|---|
Multi-room zones | 3 | 2 |
Zone audio output | speaker, preout | speaker, preout |
Zone HDMI output | ✔ | ✔ |
Multi-room control | FlareConnect | HEOS App, Denon 2016 AVR Remote |
RS-232 | 1 | 1 |
Remote control input/output (IR) | 1/1 | 1/1 |
DC trigger output (12V) | 2 | 2 |
For the ability to create multichannel surround sound, each of the receivers received 7 points out of 10.
VSX-LX503 | AVR-X3400H | |
---|---|---|
Dolby Atmos | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby TrueHD | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby Surround | ✖ | ✖ |
Dolby (other) | Dolby Digital Plus | has not |
DTS:X | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS HD Master | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS Virtual:X | ✖ | ✔ |
DTS Neural:X | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS (other) | DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS | has not |
Auro-3D | ✖ | ✖ |
IMAX Enhanced | ✖ | ✖ |
Multichannel stereo | ✖ | ✔ |