Sony STR-ZA2100ES vs Pioneer Elite SC-LX704

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Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

STR-ZA2100ES vs Elite SC-LX704 comparison chart

Overall
Sony STR-ZA2100ES
6.5
Pioneer Elite SC-LX704
8.8
7
8
8
10

Sony STR-ZA2100ES vs Pioneer Elite SC-LX704 review

Sony STR-ZA2100ES
vs
Pioneer Elite SC-LX704

Choosing an AV receiver is not an easy task and the Sony STR-ZA2100ES versus Pioneer Elite SC-LX704 comparison is meant to help you with this. According to the results of our review, Sony STR-ZA2100ES received 6.5 points out of 10 possible, and Pioneer Elite SC-LX704 was rated 8.8 points. The release date of STR-ZA2100ES is 2017, and Elite SC-LX704 is 2019. As a result, it becomes clear that Elite SC-LX704 is a better option for home theater than STR-ZA2100ES.

Main advantages Sony STR-ZA2100ES over Pioneer Elite SC-LX704

  • Include HDMI eARC function.

Main advantages Pioneer Elite SC-LX704 over Sony STR-ZA2100ES

  • More channels, namely 9, makes this receiver more profitable than its 7-channel competitor.
  • 135/8 W/Ohm RMS makes it more productive compared to 75/8 W/Ohm RMS in another receiver in the review.
  • Both receivers have a multi-room zone function, but Elite SC-LX704 has 3 zones vs 2 on its competitor.
  • There is WI-Fi support.
  • The Spotify support is an exclusive advantage.
  • There is support for Apple AirPlay.

Amplifiers

For the built-in amplifier, the devices received different marks - 7 and 8, respectively, on a 10-point scale.

STR-ZA2100ES
7
Elite SC-LX704
8

The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Sony STR-ZA2100ES supports 7.2-channels sound, but Pioneer Elite SC-LX704 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 SC-LX704 this value is 135/8 W/Ohm, and for the STR-ZA2100ES it is 75/8 W/Ohm.

STR-ZA2100ES Elite SC-LX704
Channels7.29.2
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm75/8, 95/6135/8
Output impedance, Ohm8, 68
Frequency response10Hz-100KHz10Hz-100KHz
THD in stereo, %0.090.08

Audio features

After reviewing the audio features of each model, we can rate the STR-ZA2100ES 7 out of 10, and the Elite SC-LX704 - 10.

STR-ZA2100ES
7
Elite SC-LX704
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.

Speaker A/B switching allows you to change between the main and sub speaker set. Pioneer Elite SC-LX704 can work with the main and additional set of speakers - and switch between them.

STR-ZA2100ES Elite SC-LX704
Digital to analog converter (DAC)N/AES9026PRO 384 KHz/32-bit
Bi-amping
Pure direct (straight)
Auto speaker calibrationDCAC EXMCACC
Speaker A/B switching
Other audio featuresDigital Legato Linear, Sound OptimizerAdvanced Sound Retriever, Hi-Res audio

Connectivity

The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Sony STR-ZA2100ES scored 6, and Pioneer Elite SC-LX704 scored 8 out of 10.

STR-ZA2100ES
6
Elite SC-LX704
8

Wireless connection via Wi-Fi is possible on the Pioneer Elite SC-LX704.

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

STR-ZA2100ES Elite SC-LX704
Wi-Fi
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.

STR-ZA2100ES Elite SC-LX704
Apple Music (AirPlay)AirPlay, AirPlay 2
Amazon Music
Spotify
Other streaming serviceshas notDeezer, 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, Sony STR-ZA2100ES got 7 points, but Pioneer Elite SC-LX704 received 8 points.

STR-ZA2100ES
7
Elite SC-LX704
8

Sony STR-ZA2100ES is equipped with 6/2 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Pioneer Elite SC-LX704 has 7/3 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 only on Sony STR-ZA2100ES.

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 Sony STR-ZA2100ES in the HDCP 2.2 version, and Pioneer Elite SC-LX704 has the HDCP 2.3 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 SC-LX704 has a Phono interface.

STR-ZA2100ES Elite SC-LX704
HDMI input/output6/27/3
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel)
HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel)
HDMI CEC
Digital content protection (HDCP)HDCP 2.2HDCP 2.3
Subwoofer output (LFE)22
Headphone output01 x 6.3
Optical digital input23
Coaxial digital input12
Composite input22
Component input/output2/02/0
Phono (MM) input
Front panel connectorsUSB, HDMI, setup micUSB, HDMI, 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 rivals in our comparison were rated 10 out of 10.

STR-ZA2100ES
10
Elite SC-LX704
10

STR-ZA2100ES Elite SC-LX704
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 conversionanalog to HDMI
Analog to HDMI scaling
HDMI to HDMI scaling
Dolby Vision
Other video featuresHLGx.v.Color, HLG, BT.2020

Additional features

In terms of evaluating additional features, the STR-ZA2100ES got 7 points, but the Elite SC-LX704 has 9.

STR-ZA2100ES
7
Elite SC-LX704
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 SC-LX704 can be controlled by voice via Amazon Alexa.

STR-ZA2100ES Elite SC-LX704
Voice controlAmazon 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.

STR-ZA2100ES Elite SC-LX704
Multi-room zones23
Zone audio outputspeaker, preoutspeaker, preout
Zone HDMI output
Multi-room controlhas notPioneer Control App, FlareConnect
RS-23211
Remote control input/output (IR)1/21/1
DC trigger output (12V)32

Multichannel surround

Sony STR-ZA2100ES got 7 points for the multichannel surround sound and Pioneer Elite SC-LX704 got 8.

STR-ZA2100ES
7
Elite SC-LX704
8

Rivals in this competition licensed by IMAX.

STR-ZA2100ES Elite SC-LX704
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-HDDTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS
Auro-3D
IMAX Enhanced
Multichannel stereo
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