Marantz CINEMA 60 vs Pioneer VSX-LX503

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Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

CINEMA 60 vs VSX-LX503 comparison chart

Marantz CINEMA 60 vs Pioneer VSX-LX503 review

Marantz CINEMA 60
vs
Pioneer VSX-LX503

Being able to compare Marantz CINEMA 60 and Pioneer VSX-LX503 gave us an insight into what of them would be better for home theater configuration. According to the results of our review, Marantz CINEMA 60 received 8.3 points out of 10 possible, and Pioneer VSX-LX503 was rated 8.6 points. The release date of CINEMA 60 is 2022, and VSX-LX503 is 2018. VSX-LX503 is more performable in terms of audio broadcast than the CINEMA 60.

Main advantages Marantz CINEMA 60 over Pioneer VSX-LX503

  • Include HDMI eARC function.
  • 8K/60Hz signal pass-through is available.

Main advantages Pioneer VSX-LX503 over Marantz CINEMA 60

  • More channels, namely 9, makes this receiver more profitable than its 7-channel competitor.
  • 120/8 W/Ohm RMS makes it more productive compared to 100/8 W/Ohm RMS in another receiver in the review.
  • Both receivers have a multi-room zone function, but VSX-LX503 has 3 zones vs 2 on its competitor.

Amplifiers

For the built-in amplifier, the devices received different marks - 7 and 9, respectively, on a 10-point scale.

CINEMA 60
7
VSX-LX503
9

The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Marantz CINEMA 60 supports 7.2-channels sound, but Pioneer VSX-LX503 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 VSX-LX503 this value is 120/8 W/Ohm, and for the CINEMA 60 it is 100/8 W/Ohm.

CINEMA 60 VSX-LX503
Channels7.29.2
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm100/8, 140/6120/8, 230/6
Output impedance, Ohm8, 68, 6
Frequency response5Hz-100KHz10Hz-100KHz
THD in stereo, %0.080.08

Audio features

After reviewing the audio features of each model, we can rate the CINEMA 60 7 out of 10, and the VSX-LX503 - 9.

CINEMA 60
7
VSX-LX503
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.

Speaker A/B switching allows you to change between the main and sub speaker set. Marantz CINEMA 60 can work with the main and additional set of speakers - and switch between them.

CINEMA 60 VSX-LX503
Digital to analog converter (DAC)192 KHz/32-bitAK4458 384 KHz/32-bit
Bi-amping
Pure direct (straight)
Auto speaker calibrationAudyssey MultEQ XTMCACC
Speaker A/B switching
Other audio featuresAudyssey Dynamic Volume, Audyssey Dynamic EQ, Compressed Audio Enhancer(MDAX2), Hi-Res audioAdvanced Sound Retriever, Hi-Res audio, Reflex Optimizer

Connectivity

The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Marantz CINEMA 60 scored 9, and Pioneer VSX-LX503 scored 8 out of 10.

CINEMA 60
9
VSX-LX503
8

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

DLNA is the perfect way to use your local cloud storage to stream movies and music directly to a TV. You can use the DLNA protocol only with Marantz CINEMA 60.

CINEMA 60 VSX-LX503
Wi-Fi2.4/5GHz2.4/5GHz
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.

CINEMA 60 VSX-LX503
Apple Music (AirPlay)AirPlay, AirPlay 2AirPlay
Amazon Music
Spotify
Other streaming servicesDeezer, TIDAL, Pandora, SiriusXM, Napster, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, Amazon Music HD, MOOD:MixDeezer, TIDAL, Pandora, TuneIn Radio

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 8 points on our 10-point scale.

CINEMA 60
8
VSX-LX503
8

Marantz CINEMA 60 is equipped with 6/3 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Pioneer VSX-LX503 has 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 only on Marantz CINEMA 60.

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 Marantz CINEMA 60 in the HDCP 2.3 version, and Pioneer VSX-LX503 has the HDCP 2.2 version.

CINEMA 60 VSX-LX503
HDMI input/output6/37/2
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)22
Headphone output1 x 6.31 x 6.3
Optical digital input22
Coaxial digital input21
Composite input02
Component input/output0/01/0
Phono (MM) input
Front panel connectorsUSB, phones, 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 the CINEMA 60 were rated 8 out of 10 against the 10 for the VSX-LX503.

CINEMA 60
8
VSX-LX503
10

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 CINEMA 60 works with the 4K/120Hz video, and the VSX-LX503 has the 4K/60Hz.

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 only on Marantz CINEMA 60.

CINEMA 60 VSX-LX503
HDR (High Dynamic Range)HDR10+HDR10
4K signal pass-through4K/120Hz4K/60Hz
8K signal pass-through8K/60Hz
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 featuresHLG, BT.2020, Dynamic HDRDeepColor, x.v.Color, HLG, BT.2020

Additional features

In terms of evaluating additional features, the CINEMA 60 got 10 points, but the VSX-LX503 has 8.

CINEMA 60
10
VSX-LX503
8

Only the Marantz CINEMA 60 has the ECO mode.

CINEMA 60 VSX-LX503
Voice controlAmazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AIGoogle Assistant
App controliPhone, iPad, iPod, AndroidiPhone, iPad, iPod, Android
Displayport hole OLEDcolour OSD
TunerAM, FMAM, FM
Sleep timer
Auto power off
ECO mode
Graphical user interface (GUI)
Setup assistant
Firmware updatenetwork, USBnetwork, USB
Other additional featuresIP Control, Web Control, App Control, RS232 ControlIP 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.

CINEMA 60 VSX-LX503
Multi-room zones23
Zone audio outputspeaker, preoutspeaker, preout
Zone HDMI output
Multi-room controlMarantz 2016 AVR Remote, HEOS AppFlareConnect
RS-23211
Remote control input/output (IR)1/01/1
DC trigger output (12V)12

Multichannel surround

Marantz CINEMA 60 got 8 points for the multichannel surround sound and Pioneer VSX-LX503 got 7.

CINEMA 60
8
VSX-LX503
7

CINEMA 60 VSX-LX503
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-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS
Auro-3D
IMAX Enhanced
Multichannel stereo
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