Along with the growing popularity of custom home theater builds, the comparison of Marantz SR7011 and Pioneer SC-LX901 takes place. According to the results of our review, Marantz SR7011 received 9 points out of 10 possible, and Pioneer SC-LX901 was rated 8.6 points. Both AV receivers were introduced in 2016. Based on the data on the characteristics and features of both models, we can conclude that SR7011 has better performance than SC-LX901.
For the built-in amplifier, the models have rated 9 points out of 10.
The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Marantz SR7011 supports 9.2-channels sound, but Pioneer SC-LX901 supports a 11.2-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 SC-LX901 this value is 140/8 W/Ohm, and for the SR7011 it is 125/8 W/Ohm.
SR7011 | SC-LX901 | |
---|---|---|
Channels | 9.2 | 11.2 |
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm | 125/8, 165/6 | 140/8, 200/6 |
Output impedance, Ohm | 8, 6 | 8, 6 |
Frequency response | 10Hz-100KHz | 20Hz-20KHz |
THD in stereo, % | 0.08 | 0.08 |
After reviewing the audio features of each model, we can rate the SR7011 9 out of 10, and the SC-LX901 - 10.
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.
SR7011 | SC-LX901 | |
---|---|---|
Digital to analog converter (DAC) | 192 KHz/32-bit | ESS SABRE32 Ultra 192 KHz/32-bit |
Bi-amping | ✔ | ✔ |
Pure direct (straight) | ✔ | ✔ |
Auto speaker calibration | Audyssey MultEQ XT32 | MCACC Pro |
Speaker A/B switching | ✔ | ✔ |
Other audio features | Hi-Res audio, Audyssey Dynamic Volume, Audyssey Dynamic EQ | Advanced Sound Retriever, Hi-Res audio |
The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is equal and was rated 8 out of 10.
Bluetooth connection is now one of the main communication protocols for the receiver's control or even music broadcasting.
SR7011 | SC-LX901 | |
---|---|---|
Wi-Fi | 2.4/5GHz | 2.4/5GHz |
USB | 1 (USB 2.0) | 1 (USB 2.0) |
Bluetooth | ✔ | ✔ |
Ethernet (RJ45) | 1 | 1 |
DLNA | ✖ | ✖ |
MHL | ✖ | ✖ |
Now music streaming services are gaining more and more popularity. They allow users to listen to millions of songs by subscription.
SR7011 | SC-LX901 | |
---|---|---|
Apple Music (AirPlay) | AirPlay, AirPlay 2 | AirPlay |
Amazon Music | ✔ | ✖ |
Spotify | ✔ | ✔ |
Other streaming services | Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, Napster, SiriusXM, TuneIn Radio, iHeart Radio, Sound Cloud | Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, TuneIn Radio |
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 9 points on our 10-point scale.
Marantz SR7011 is equipped with 8/3 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Pioneer SC-LX901 has 8/2 HDMI inputs and outputs.
SR7011 | SC-LX901 | |
---|---|---|
HDMI input/output | 8/3 | 8/2 |
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) | ✖ | ✖ |
HDMI CEC | ✔ | ✔ |
Digital content protection (HDCP) | HDCP 2.2 | HDCP 2.2 |
Subwoofer output (LFE) | 2 | 2 |
Headphone output | 1 x 6.3 | 1 x 6.3 |
Optical digital input | 2 | 3 |
Coaxial digital input | 2 | 2 |
Composite input | 3 | 2 |
Component input/output | 3/1 | 2/1 |
Phono (MM) input | ✔ | ✔ |
Front panel connectors | USB, HDMI, phones, setup mic, AUX | USB, HDMI, phones, setup mic |
Multi channel preamp output | ✔ | ✔ |
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 SR7011 were rated 9 out of 10 against the 10 for the SC-LX901.
SR7011 | SC-LX901 | |
---|---|---|
HDR (High Dynamic Range) | ✔ | ✔ |
4K signal pass-through | 4K/60Hz | 4K/60Hz |
8K signal pass-through | ✖ | ✖ |
HDMI signal pass-through | ✔ | ✔ |
3D signal pass-through | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI pass-through in standby mode | ✔ | ✔ |
Video conversion | analog to HDMI | analog to HDMI |
Analog to HDMI scaling | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI to HDMI scaling | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby Vision | ✔ | ✔ |
Other video features | x.v.Color, BT.2020 | DeepColor, x.v.Color, BT.2020 |
In terms of evaluating additional features, the SR7011 got 10 points, but the SC-LX901 has 8.
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 SR7011 can be controlled by voice via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI. Only the Marantz SR7011 has the ECO mode.
SR7011 | SC-LX901 | |
---|---|---|
Voice control | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI | ✖ |
App control | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android, Amazon Kindle | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android |
Display | colour OSD | colour OSD |
Tuner | AM, FM | AM, FM |
Sleep timer | ✔ | ✔ |
Auto power off | ✔ | ✔ |
ECO mode | ✔ | ✖ |
Graphical user interface (GUI) | ✔ | ✔ |
Setup assistant | ✔ | ✔ |
Firmware update | network, USB | network, USB |
Other additional features | IP Control | IP Control |
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.
SR7011 | SC-LX901 | |
---|---|---|
Multi-room zones | 3 | 3 |
Zone audio output | speaker, preout | speaker, preout |
Zone HDMI output | ✔ | ✔ |
Multi-room control | Marantz 2016 AVR Remote App, HEOS App | Pioneer Control App, FlareConnect |
RS-232 | 1 | 1 |
Remote control input/output (IR) | 1/0 | 2/1 |
DC trigger output (12V) | 2 | 2 |
Marantz SR7011 got 9 points for the multichannel surround sound and Pioneer SC-LX901 got 7.
Auro 3D gives a bit more versatility than Dolby Atmos or DTS:X and provides a hemispherical sound and enables a receiver to produce 3D sound stages. Only the Marantz SR7011 has Auro-3D on its feature list.
SR7011 | SC-LX901 | |
---|---|---|
Dolby Atmos | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby TrueHD | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby Surround | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby (other) | Dolby Digital Plus | Dolby Digital Plus |
DTS:X | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS HD Master | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS Virtual:X | ✖ | ✖ |
DTS Neural:X | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS (other) | DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-EXPRESS, DTS Digital Surround | DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-EXPRESS |
Auro-3D | ✔ | ✖ |
IMAX Enhanced | ✖ | ✖ |
Multichannel stereo | ✔ | ✖ |