Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 vs Yamaha RX-A880

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Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

Elite VSX-LX304 vs RX-A880 comparison chart

Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 vs Yamaha RX-A880 review

Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304
vs
Yamaha RX-A880

The Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 vs Yamaha RX-A880 comparison makes sense because it shows what devices in their segments can offer. According to the results of our review, Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 received 8.5 points out of 10 possible, and Yamaha RX-A880 was rated 8.3 points. The release date of Elite VSX-LX304 is 2019, and RX-A880 is 2018. Elite VSX-LX304 is more suitable as the heart of home theater system than its opponent - RX-A880.

Main advantages Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 over Yamaha RX-A880

  • More channels, namely 9, makes this receiver more profitable than its 7-channel competitor.
  • Both receivers have a multi-room zone function, but Elite VSX-LX304 has 3 zones vs 2 on its competitor.

Main advantages Yamaha RX-A880 over Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304

  • Include HDMI eARC function.

Amplifiers

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

Elite VSX-LX304
9
RX-A880
8

The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 supports 9.2-channels sound, but Yamaha RX-A880 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. In terms of RMS power, the models have the same characteristics - 100/8, 225/6/8 W/Ohm.

Elite VSX-LX304 RX-A880
Channels9.27.2
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm100/8, 225/6100/8, 160/4
Output impedance, Ohm8, 68, 4
Frequency response5Hz-100KHz10Hz-100KHz
THD in stereo, %0.080.06

Audio features

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

Elite VSX-LX304
9
RX-A880
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.

Elite VSX-LX304 RX-A880
Digital to analog converter (DAC)AK4458 384 KHz/32-bitBurr-Brown 384 KHz/32-bit
Bi-amping
Pure direct (straight)
Auto speaker calibrationMCACCYPAO
Speaker A/B switching
Other audio featuresAdvanced Sound Retriever, Hi-Res audioCINEMA DSP 3D, Compressed Music Enhancer, Virtual CINEMA FRONT

Connectivity

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

Elite VSX-LX304
8
RX-A880
8

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

Elite VSX-LX304 RX-A880
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 RX-A880
Apple Music (AirPlay)AirPlay, AirPlay 2AirPlay, AirPlay 2
Amazon Music
Spotify
Other streaming servicesDeezer, TIDAL, PandoraDeezer, TIDAL, Pandora, Napster, SiriusXM, Qobuz

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 Yamaha RX-A880 received 9 points.

Elite VSX-LX304
7
RX-A880
9

Competitors in our review have 7/2 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 Yamaha RX-A880.

Elite VSX-LX304 RX-A880
HDMI input/output7/27/2
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel)
HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel)
HDMI CEC
Digital content protection (HDCP)HDCP 2.2HDCP 2.2
Subwoofer output (LFE)22
Headphone output1 x 6.31 x 6.3
Optical digital input12
Coaxial digital input12
Composite input01
Component input/output0/01/0
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 rivals in our comparison were rated 8 out of 10.

Elite VSX-LX304
8
RX-A880
8

Elite VSX-LX304 RX-A880
HDR (High Dynamic Range)HDR10HDR10
4K signal pass-through4K/60Hz4K/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 featuresDeepColor, x.v.Color, HLG, BT.2020DeepColor, x.v.Color, HLG, BT.2020

Additional features

In terms of evaluating additional features, the Elite VSX-LX304 got 9 points, but the RX-A880 has 10.

Elite VSX-LX304
9
RX-A880
10

Yamaha RX-A880 has the ECO mode.

Elite VSX-LX304 RX-A880
Voice controlAmazon AlexaAmazon Alexa, Google Assistant
App controliPhone, iPad, iPod, AndroidiPhone, 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 nothas not

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 RX-A880
Multi-room zones32
Zone audio outputspeaker, preoutspeaker, preout
Zone HDMI output
Multi-room controlPioneer Control App, FlareConnectMusicCast
RS-23211
Remote control input/output (IR)1/11/1
DC trigger output (12V)21

Multichannel surround

Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 got 8 points for the multichannel surround sound and Yamaha RX-A880 got 7.

Elite VSX-LX304
8
RX-A880
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 RX-A880
Dolby Atmos
Dolby TrueHD
Dolby Surround
Dolby (other)Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos Height VirtualizationDolby Digital Plus
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, DTS-Neo:6
Auro-3D
IMAX Enhanced
Multichannel stereo
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