Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 vs Marantz SR6015

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Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

Elite VSX-LX304 vs SR6015 comparison chart

Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 vs Marantz SR6015 review

Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304
vs
Marantz SR6015

Let's make the Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 versus Marantz SR6015 comparison. According to the results of our review, Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 received 8.5 points out of 10 possible, and Marantz SR6015 was rated 9.1 points. The release date of Elite VSX-LX304 is 2019, and SR6015 is 2020. After comparison, it will become clear that among these two devices, the SR6015 is more suitable for the role of the heart of home theater system.

Main advantages Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 over Marantz SR6015

  • Both receivers have a multi-room zone function, but Elite VSX-LX304 has 3 zones vs 2 on its competitor.

Main advantages Marantz SR6015 over Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304

  • 110/8 W/Ohm RMS makes it more productive compared to 100/8 W/Ohm RMS in another receiver in the review.
  • Include HDMI eARC function.
  • 8K/60Hz signal pass-through is available.

Amplifiers

For the built-in amplifier, the devices received different marks - 9 and 8, respectively, on a 10-point scale.

Elite VSX-LX304
9
SR6015
8

The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. Both receivers can handle the 9.2-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 SR6015 this value is 110/8 W/Ohm, and for the Elite VSX-LX304 it is 100/8 W/Ohm.

Elite VSX-LX304 SR6015
Channels9.29.2
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm100/8, 225/6110/8, 150/6
Output impedance, Ohm8, 68, 6
Frequency response5Hz-100KHz10Hz-100KHz
THD in stereo, %0.080.08

Audio features

The score for audio features is 9 of 10 for both receivers.

Elite VSX-LX304
9
SR6015
9

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. Marantz SR6015 can work with the main and additional set of speakers - and switch between them.

Elite VSX-LX304 SR6015
Digital to analog converter (DAC)AK4458 384 KHz/32-bitN/A
Bi-amping
Pure direct (straight)
Auto speaker calibrationMCACCAudyssey MultEQ XT32
Speaker A/B switching
Other audio featuresAdvanced Sound Retriever, Hi-Res audioAudyssey Dynamic Volume, Audyssey Dynamic EQ, Audyssey LF, Compressed Audio Enhancer(MDAX2), Hi-Res audio

Connectivity

The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 scored 8, and Marantz SR6015 scored 10 out of 10.

Elite VSX-LX304
8
SR6015
10

Bluetooth connection is now one of the main communication protocols for the receiver's control or even music broadcasting.

DLNA is the perfect way to use your local cloud storage to stream movies and music directly to a TV. You can use the DLNA protocol only with Marantz SR6015.

Elite VSX-LX304 SR6015
Wi-Fi2.4/5GHz
USB1 (USB 2.0)1 (USB 2.0)
Bluetooth
Ethernet (RJ45)11
DLNA
MHL

Streaming services

Now music streaming services are gaining more and more popularity. They allow users to listen to millions of songs by subscription.

Elite VSX-LX304 SR6015
Apple Music (AirPlay)AirPlay, AirPlay 2AirPlay, AirPlay 2
Amazon Music
Spotify
Other streaming servicesDeezer, TIDAL, PandoraDeezer, TIDAL, Pandora, SiriusXM, Napster, SoundCloud

Extensive connections

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 Marantz SR6015 received 9 points.

Elite VSX-LX304
7
SR6015
9

Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 is equipped with 7/2 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Marantz SR6015 has 7/3 HDMI inputs and outputs.

HDMI eARC is the next step in the development of audio return channel technology, which works in conjunction with HDMI 2.1. Using eARC provides the highest sound quality for home audio systems. HDMI eARC is available on Marantz SR6015.

The HDCP encryption protocol is now mandatory for most media devices. This security technology encrypts digital signals from one product to another. HDCP content-encryption protocol is present on Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 in the HDCP 2.2 version, and Marantz SR6015 has the HDCP 2.3 version.

Elite VSX-LX304 SR6015
HDMI input/output7/27/3
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel)
HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel)
HDMI CEC
Digital content protection (HDCP)HDCP 2.2HDCP 2.3
Subwoofer output (LFE)22
Headphone output1 x 6.31 x 6.3
Optical digital input12
Coaxial digital input12
Composite input04
Component input/output0/02/1
Phono (MM) input
Front panel connectorsUSB, HDMI, phones, setup mic, AUXUSB, phones, setup mic, AUX
Multi channel preamp output

Video features

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 10 for the SR6015.

Elite VSX-LX304
8
SR6015
10

With the 4K pass-through feature, the AV receiver sends "native" 4K signals to a 4K TV from a video source without any processing. The Elite VSX-LX304 works with the 4K/60Hz video, and the SR6015 has the 4K/120Hz.

The AV receiver passes "native" 8K signals from a video source to 8K TV without any encoding, with the 8k pass-through features. The 8K path-through is available on Marantz SR6015.

Elite VSX-LX304 SR6015
HDR (High Dynamic Range)HDR10HDR10
4K signal pass-through4K/60Hz4K/120Hz
8K signal pass-through8K/60Hz
HDMI signal pass-through
3D signal pass-through
HDMI pass-through in standby mode
Video conversionanalog to HDMI
Analog to HDMI scaling
HDMI to HDMI scaling
Dolby Vision
Other video featuresDeepColor, x.v.Color, HLG, BT.2020HLG, BT.2020, Dynamic HDR

Additional features

In terms of evaluating additional features, the Elite VSX-LX304 got 9 points, but the SR6015 has 10.

Elite VSX-LX304
9
SR6015
10

Marantz SR6015 has the ECO mode.

Elite VSX-LX304 SR6015
Voice controlAmazon AlexaAmazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI
App controliPhone, iPad, iPod, AndroidiPhone, iPad, iPod, Android
Displaycolour OSDcolour OSD
TunerAM, FMAM, FM
Sleep timer
Auto power off
ECO mode
Graphical user interface (GUI)
Setup assistant
Firmware updatenetwork, USBnetwork, USB
Other additional featureshas notIP Control, Web Control, RS-232 Control, App Control

Multi-room

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 SR6015
Multi-room zones32
Zone audio outputspeaker, preoutspeaker, preout
Zone HDMI output
Multi-room controlPioneer Control App, FlareConnectMarantz 2016 AVR Remote, HEOS App
RS-23211
Remote control input/output (IR)1/11/0
DC trigger output (12V)21

Multichannel surround

For the ability to create multichannel surround sound, each of the receivers received 8 points out of 10.

Elite VSX-LX304
8
SR6015
8

Rivals in this competition licensed by IMAX.

Elite VSX-LX304 SR6015
Dolby Atmos
Dolby TrueHD
Dolby Surround
Dolby (other)Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos Height VirtualizationDolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization
DTS:X
DTS HD Master
DTS Virtual:X
DTS Neural:X
DTS (other)DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESSDTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS
Auro-3D
IMAX Enhanced
Multichannel stereo
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