Yamaha RX-V385BL vs Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505

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Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

RX-V385BL vs Elite VSX-LX505 comparison chart

Yamaha RX-V385BL vs Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505 review

Yamaha RX-V385BL
vs
Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505

The Yamaha RX-V385BL 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, Yamaha RX-V385BL received 4.7 points out of 10 possible, and Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505 was rated 8.7 points. The release date of RX-V385BL is 2018, and Elite VSX-LX505 is 2021. Elite VSX-LX505 is more suitable as the heart of home theater system than its opponent - RX-V385BL.

Main advantages Yamaha RX-V385BL over Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505

  • HDMI CEC is present.

Main advantages Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505 over Yamaha RX-V385BL

  • 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 70/8 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.
  • There is WI-Fi support.
  • The Spotify support is an exclusive advantage.
  • There is support for Apple AirPlay.
  • 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.

RX-V385BL
6
Elite VSX-LX505
9

The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Yamaha RX-V385BL supports 5.1-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 RX-V385BL it is 70/8 W/Ohm.

RX-V385BL Elite VSX-LX505
Channels5.19.2
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm70/8, 145/6120/8, 230/6
Output impedance, Ohm8, 68, 6
Frequency response10Hz-100KHz20Hz-20KHz
THD in stereo, %0.090.08

Audio features

After reviewing the audio features of each model, we can rate the RX-V385BL 5 out of 10, and the Elite VSX-LX505 - 9.

RX-V385BL
5
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.

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-V385BL Elite VSX-LX505
Digital to analog converter (DAC)Burr-Brown 384 KHz/32-bit192 KHz/24-bit
Bi-amping
Pure direct (straight)
Auto speaker calibrationMCACC
Speaker A/B switching
Other audio featuresCINEMA DSP 3D, Compressed Music Enhancer, Virtual CINEMA FRONTAdvanced Sound Retriever, Hi-Res audio, Dirac Live Room Correction

Connectivity

The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Yamaha RX-V385BL scored 6, and Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505 scored 8 out of 10.

RX-V385BL
6
Elite VSX-LX505
8

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

RX-V385BL Elite VSX-LX505
Wi-Fi2.4/5GHz
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.

RX-V385BL Elite VSX-LX505
Apple Music (AirPlay)AirPlay, AirPlay 2
Amazon Music
Spotify
Other streaming serviceshas notDeezer, 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, both receivers got 7 points on our 10-point scale.

RX-V385BL
7
Elite VSX-LX505
7

Yamaha RX-V385BL is equipped with 4/1 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 RX-V385BL features HDMI CEC.

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-LX505 has a Phono interface.

RX-V385BL Elite VSX-LX505
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 2.3
Subwoofer output (LFE)12
Headphone output1 x 6.31 x 6.3
Optical digital input11
Coaxial digital input21
Composite input22
Component input/output0/01
Phono (MM) input
Front panel connectorsUSB, phones, AUXHDMI, 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 RX-V385BL were rated 9 out of 10 against the 8 for the Elite VSX-LX505.

RX-V385BL
9
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 RX-V385BL 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.

RX-V385BL 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 RX-V385BL got 5 points, but the Elite VSX-LX505 has 9.

RX-V385BL
5
Elite VSX-LX505
9

Voice control allows you to control the basic functions of the receiver through a smartphone, smart speaker or using the microphone that comes with the kit. The Elite VSX-LX505 can be controlled by voice via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI. Only the Yamaha RX-V385BL has the ECO mode.

RX-V385BL Elite VSX-LX505
Voice controlAmazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI
App controliPhone, 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 notApp 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.

RX-V385BL 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)0/01/1
DC trigger output (12V)02

Multichannel surround

Yamaha RX-V385BL got 5 points for the multichannel surround sound and Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505 got 8.

RX-V385BL
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.

RX-V385BL 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 96/24, DTS-EXPRESSDTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-EXPRESS
Auro-3D
IMAX Enhanced
Multichannel stereo
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