Marantz NR1510 vs Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505

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Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

NR1510 vs Elite VSX-LX505 comparison chart

Marantz NR1510 vs Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505 review

Marantz NR1510
vs
Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505

The Marantz NR1510 vs Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505 comparison makes sense because it shows what devices in their segments can offer. According to the results of our review, Marantz NR1510 received 7 points out of 10 possible, and Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505 was rated 8.7 points. The release date of NR1510 is 2019, and Elite VSX-LX505 is 2021. Elite VSX-LX505 is more suitable as the heart of home theater system than its opponent - NR1510.

Main advantages Marantz NR1510 over Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505

  • HDMI CEC is present.

Main advantages Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505 over Marantz NR1510

  • More channels, namely 9, makes this receiver more profitable than its 5-channel competitor.
  • 120/8 W/Ohm RMS makes it more productive compared to 50/8 W/Ohm RMS in another receiver in the review.
  • Thanks to 2 multi-room zones support, Elite VSX-LX505 bypasses its competitor without multizone support.
  • 8K/60Hz signal pass-through is available.
  • Surround sound ensures the availability of Dolby Atmos.
  • Object-oriented sound ensures the availability of DTS:X.

Amplifiers

For the built-in amplifier, the devices received different marks - 6 and 9, respectively, on a 10-point scale.

NR1510
6
Elite VSX-LX505
9

The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Marantz NR1510 supports 5.2-channels sound, but Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505 supports a 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 Elite VSX-LX505 this value is 120/8 W/Ohm, and for the NR1510 it is 50/8 W/Ohm.

NR1510 Elite VSX-LX505
Channels5.29.2
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm50/8, 60/6120/8, 230/6
Output impedance, Ohm8, 68, 6
Frequency response10Hz-100KHz20Hz-20KHz
THD in stereo, %0.080.08

Audio features

After reviewing the audio features of each model, we can rate the NR1510 6 out of 10, and the Elite VSX-LX505 - 9.

NR1510
6
Elite VSX-LX505
9

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 on the Elite VSX-LX505.

Pure Direct mode feeds sound directly to the amplifier and bypasses any DSP processing. Only Marantz NR1510 has Pure Direct mode.

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.

NR1510 Elite VSX-LX505
Digital to analog converter (DAC)192 KHz/32-bit192 KHz/24-bit
Bi-amping
Pure direct (straight)
Auto speaker calibrationAudyssey MultEQMCACC
Speaker A/B switching
Other audio featuresAudyssey Dynamic Volume, Audyssey Dynamic EQ, Compressed Audio Enhancer, Hi-Res audioAdvanced Sound Retriever, Hi-Res audio, Dirac Live Room Correction

Connectivity

The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is equal and was rated 8 out of 10.

NR1510
8
Elite VSX-LX505
8

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

NR1510 Elite VSX-LX505
Wi-Fi2.4/5GHz2.4/5GHz
USB1 (USB 2.0)2 (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.

NR1510 Elite VSX-LX505
Apple Music (AirPlay)AirPlay, AirPlay 2AirPlay, AirPlay 2
Amazon Music
Spotify
Other streaming servicesDeezer, TIDAL, Pandora, Napster, SiriusXM, TuneIn RadioDeezer, 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, Marantz NR1510 got 9 points, but Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505 received 7 points.

NR1510
9
Elite VSX-LX505
7

Marantz NR1510 is equipped with 8/1 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505 has 7/2 HDMI inputs and outputs.

HDMI-CEC helps gadgets attached to your TV to link back and forth with your TV via HDMI ports. It is become possible to control all linked devices with one remote. The NR1510 features HDMI CEC.

NR1510 Elite VSX-LX505
HDMI input/output8/17/2
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel)
HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel)
HDMI CEC
Digital content protection (HDCP)HDCP 2.3HDCP 2.3
Subwoofer output (LFE)22
Headphone output1 x 6.31 x 6.3
Optical digital input11
Coaxial digital input11
Composite input32
Component input/output2/11
Phono (MM) input
Front panel connectorsUSB, HDMI, phones, setup micHDMI, USB, phones, setup mic
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 NR1510 were rated 6 out of 10 against the 8 for the Elite VSX-LX505.

NR1510
6
Elite VSX-LX505
8

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 NR1510 works with the 4K/60Hz video, and the Elite VSX-LX505 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 Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505.

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 with Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505.

NR1510 Elite VSX-LX505
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 conversion
Analog to HDMI scaling
HDMI to HDMI scaling
Dolby Vision
Other video featuresHLG, BT.2020DeepColor, x.v.Color, HLG, BT.2020, LipSync

Additional features

In terms of evaluating additional features, the NR1510 got 10 points, but the Elite VSX-LX505 has 9.

NR1510
10
Elite VSX-LX505
9

Only the Marantz NR1510 has the ECO mode.

NR1510 Elite VSX-LX505
Voice controlAmazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AIAmazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI
App controliPhone, iPad, iPod, Android, Amazon KindleiPhone, 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 featuresIP Control, Web ControlApp Control, Sonos Connect 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.

NR1510 Elite VSX-LX505
Multi-room zoneshas not2
Zone audio outputhas notspeaker, preout
Zone HDMI outputhas not
Multi-room controlhas notPioneer Control App
RS-23201
Remote control input/output (IR)1/01/1
DC trigger output (12V)12

Multichannel surround

Marantz NR1510 got 5 points for the multichannel surround sound and Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505 got 8.

NR1510
5
Elite VSX-LX505
8

Dolby Atmos' particularity is that this is the object-oriented sound format, that is, each audio signal object is independently sounded and connected to its spatial position. Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505 can create 3D sound due to the Dolby Atmos support.

DTS:X is an algorithm used by the processor to create sound scenes, where sounds connected directly to objects rather than channels, and to determine the optimum sound output distribution in space. Surround sound with DTS:X is available on the Elite VSX-LX505.

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. The Elite VSX-LX505 licensed by IMAX.

NR1510 Elite VSX-LX505
Dolby Atmos
Dolby TrueHD
Dolby Surround
Dolby (other)Dolby Digital PlusDolby 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-EXPRESS, DTS-Surround, DTS-Neo:6DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-EXPRESS
Auro-3D
IMAX Enhanced
Multichannel stereo
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