Yamaha RX-S602 vs Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304

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Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

RX-S602 vs Elite VSX-LX304 comparison chart

Yamaha RX-S602 vs Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 review

Yamaha RX-S602
vs
Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304

Let's compare Yamaha RX-S602 versus Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 for an overview of all their pros and cons. According to the results of our review, Yamaha RX-S602 received 6.5 points out of 10 possible, and Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 was rated 8.5 points. The release date of RX-S602 is 2018, and Elite VSX-LX304 is 2019. And as a result of the comparison, Elite VSX-LX304 seems to be a better option for the role of a home theater center than RX-S602.

Main advantages Yamaha RX-S602 over Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304

  • We do not know advantages

Main advantages Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 over Yamaha RX-S602

  • More channels, namely 9, makes this receiver more profitable than its 5-channel competitor.
  • 100/8 W/Ohm RMS makes it more productive compared to 80/8 W/Ohm RMS in another receiver in the review.
  • Both receivers have a multi-room zone function, but Elite VSX-LX304 has 3 zones vs 2 on its competitor.
  • 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.

RX-S602
6
Elite VSX-LX304
9

The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Yamaha RX-S602 supports 5.1-channels sound, but Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 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-LX304 this value is 100/8 W/Ohm, and for the RX-S602 it is 80/8 W/Ohm.

RX-S602 Elite VSX-LX304
Channels5.19.2
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm80/8, 125/6100/8, 225/6
Output impedance, Ohm8, 68, 6
Frequency response10Hz-100KHz5Hz-100KHz
THD in stereo, %0.080.08

Audio features

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

RX-S602
9
Elite VSX-LX304
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.

RX-S602 Elite VSX-LX304
Digital to analog converter (DAC)Burr-Brown 384 KHz/32-bitAK4458 384 KHz/32-bit
Bi-amping
Pure direct (straight)
Auto speaker calibrationYPAOMCACC
Speaker A/B switching
Other audio featuresCINEMA DSP 3D, Compressed Music Enhancer, Virtual CINEMA FRONTAdvanced Sound Retriever, Hi-Res audio

Connectivity

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

RX-S602
8
Elite VSX-LX304
8

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

RX-S602 Elite VSX-LX304
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.

RX-S602 Elite VSX-LX304
Apple Music (AirPlay)AirPlay, AirPlay 2AirPlay, AirPlay 2
Amazon Music
Spotify
Other streaming servicesDeezer, TIDAL, Pandora, Napster, SiriusXM, QobuzDeezer, TIDAL, Pandora

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, Yamaha RX-S602 got 6 points, but Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 received 7 points.

RX-S602
6
Elite VSX-LX304
7

Yamaha RX-S602 is equipped with 4/1 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 has 7/2 HDMI inputs and outputs.

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 Yamaha RX-S602 in the HDCP 2.3 version, and Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 has the HDCP 2.2 version.

Connecting a vinyl player or phonograph is possible using a Phono input which is represented by mini-jack or RCA connectors. Only the Elite VSX-LX304 has a Phono interface.

RX-S602 Elite VSX-LX304
HDMI input/output4/17/2
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel)
HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel)
HDMI CEC
Digital content protection (HDCP)HDCP 2.3HDCP 2.2
Subwoofer output (LFE)12
Headphone output1 x 6.31 x 6.3
Optical digital input11
Coaxial digital input21
Composite input30
Component input/output0/00/0
Phono (MM) input
Front panel connectorsUSB, phones, setup mic, AUXUSB, HDMI, 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 RX-S602 were rated 6 out of 10 against the 8 for the Elite VSX-LX304.

RX-S602
6
Elite VSX-LX304
8

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-LX304.

RX-S602 Elite VSX-LX304
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 RX-S602 got 8 points, but the Elite VSX-LX304 has 9.

RX-S602
8
Elite VSX-LX304
9

Only the Yamaha RX-S602 has the ECO mode.

RX-S602 Elite VSX-LX304
Voice controlAmazon Alexa, Google AssistantAmazon Alexa
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 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.

RX-S602 Elite VSX-LX304
Multi-room zones23
Zone audio outputspeakerspeaker, preout
Zone HDMI output
Multi-room controlMusicCastPioneer Control App, FlareConnect
RS-23201
Remote control input/output (IR)0/01/1
DC trigger output (12V)02

Multichannel surround

Yamaha RX-S602 got 5 points for the multichannel surround sound and Pioneer Elite VSX-LX304 got 8.

RX-S602
5
Elite VSX-LX304
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-LX304 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-LX304.

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-LX304 licensed by IMAX.

RX-S602 Elite VSX-LX304
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-EXPRESSDTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS
Auro-3D
IMAX Enhanced
Multichannel stereo
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