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Regarding the Pioneer SC-LX85 review

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Priyantha Bleeker
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Hi all,

 

I've read the review of the SC-LX85, but I did read also in the review:

"Drives up to 11 speakers… yes, 11
In fact, thanks to its array of preout sockets and the latest DTS Neo X processing mode, the Pioneer can feed 11 speakers with the use of another power amp: the 5.1 set-up most folk use, plus additional pairs of surround-back, front-height and front-width speakers."

 

But if I read the manual correctly I can't see the possibility to process up to 11 speakers with the processing inside of the Pioneer SC-LX85. Could you please tell me how you did this in the review ? Maybe some use-cases ?

Thanks!

Andrew Everard
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RE: Regarding the Pioneer SC-LX85 review

The default set-up for the Pioneer is 9.1-channel, with the option of using two subwoofers, hence 11 speakers. See manual pp 19 and 87 onwards

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Priyantha Bleeker
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RE: Regarding the Pioneer SC-LX85 review

Ah so the subwoofers are seen as 'speakers', I thought that the the subwoofers are always mentioned as .1 or .2 in the speaker configurations.

And why is there a need for a additional amplifier for the 2 subwoofers ? The LFE output is just a 'splitter' and is not amplified so using active-subwoofers are needed just like any other A/V receiver.

 

Because there are 11 speaker terminals, but only 9 are amplified.

Andrew Everard
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RE: Regarding the Pioneer SC-LX85 review

You don't need an extra amplifier for the subwoofers, provided they're active subs.

The extra amp is used if you want to give each speaker in an extended set-up its own amp channel: as you say, the Pioneer has only nine channels of power amplification onboard, so without an extra amp some of the 'extra' channels share a single onboard amp channel.

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Priyantha Bleeker
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RE: Regarding the Pioneer SC-LX85 review

So what you mean is the following:

 

- 9.2 channels are amplified by the SC-LX85 by itself, which was know already

- 11.2 channels are possible but only 9 channels are amplified by the Pioneer and the 2 extra channels need an extra amplifier

Could you explain me then, how the processing is done ? Is the processing done by the Pioneer ?

Andrew Everard
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RE: Regarding the Pioneer SC-LX85 review

Yes, the processing is done by the Pioneer. If you think of it in terms of 11.2 speakers, with each speaker powered by its own amplifier channel, it makes sense.

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Priyantha Bleeker
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RE: Regarding the Pioneer SC-LX85 review

Okay.

But I can't any information about that in the manual.

Did you test it with the test model ? And could you please give us some examples ?

Andrew Everard
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RE: Regarding the Pioneer SC-LX85 review

If you check out the pages I referred to above, you will see they explain it.

But I am really not sure what 'give some examples' means: there's no content available with this configuration on it in discrete form, so it's a matter of the amp processing the extra width/height information from the channels available on the disc.

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Priyantha Bleeker
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RE: Regarding the Pioneer SC-LX85 review

Andrew, thanks for your respons !
But I think there is a lot lost in translation from my side, just because English is not my native language.
So I've tried to compute a new question maybe this is a bit more clear:

How is it possible that in the review of What Hi-Fi on the Pioneer SC-LX85 will discuss the possibility of a 11.2 speaker configuration?
I started a forum topic on the forum he of What Hi-Fi which you can find here: http://www.whathifi.com/forum/av-receivers/regarding-the-pioneer-sc-lx85-review
I see no references to the manual a 11.2 speaker configuration. And also at various forums. AVForums.com is AVSforum and as I believe strongly argued that it is not possible to 11.2 speaker configuration control via the Pioneer SC-LX85 also not an additional amplifier.
I hope I by writing in Dutch, and comforting a Google-translation to make it a little clearer what I mean. Maybe a Dutchman who reads this message can explain in better English so my question is very clear.
[b]Dutch original[/b]
Quote:
Hoe is het mogelijk dat er in de review van What-HiFi over de Pioneer SC-LX85 wordt gesproken over de mogelijkheid van een 11.2 speaker configuratie?
Ik heb een Forum onderwerp gestart op he forum van What-HiFi welke je hier kunt vinden: http://www.whathifi.com/forum/av-receivers/regarding-the-pioneer-sc-lx85-review
Ik zie in de handleiding geen enkele referenties naar een 11.2 speaker configuratie. En tevens op verschillende forums. zoals AVForums.com en AVSforum wordt er volgens mij stellig beweerd dat het niet mogelijk is om 11.2 speaker configuraties aan te sturen via de Pioneer SC-LX85 óók niet met een extra versterker aangesloten.
Ik hoop dat ik het door het in het Nederlands te schrijven, en een Google vertraling bij te doen het enigzins duidelijker is wat ik bedoel. Misschien dat een Nederlander die dit bericht leest kan uitleggen in beter Engels zodat mijn vraag écht duidelijk is.

How is it possible that in the review of What Hi-Fi on the Pioneer SC-LX85 will discuss the possibility of a 11.2 speaker configuration?

I see no references to the manual a 11.2 speaker configuration. And also at various forums. AVForums.com is AVSforum and as I believe strongly argued that it is not possible to 11.2 speaker configuration control via the Pioneer SC-LX85 also not an additional amplifier.
I hope I by writing in Dutch, and comforting a Google-translation to make it a little clearer what I mean. Maybe a Dutchman who reads this message can explain in better English so my question is very clear.

Dutch original:

Quote:
Hoe is het mogelijk dat er in de review van What-HiFi over de Pioneer SC-LX85 wordt gesproken over de mogelijkheid van een 11.2 speaker configuratie?

Ik zie in de handleiding geen enkele referenties naar een 11.2 speaker configuratie. En tevens op verschillende forums. zoals AVForums.com en AVSforum wordt er volgens mij stellig beweerd dat het niet mogelijk is om 11.2 speaker configuraties aan te sturen via de Pioneer SC-LX85 óók niet met een extra versterker aangesloten.

Ik hoop dat ik het door het in het Nederlands te schrijven, en een Google vertraling bij te doen het enigzins duidelijker is wat ik bedoel. Misschien dat een Nederlander die dit bericht leest kan uitleggen in beter Engels zodat mijn vraag écht duidelijk is.

 

bigboss
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RE: Regarding the Pioneer SC-LX85 review

From what I can understand is, 11 speakers means 9.2 configuration, not 11.2. The 2 subwoofers (.2) are counted as individual speakers.

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michael hoy
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RE: Regarding the Pioneer SC-LX85 review

I have just purchased one, but will not be able to set it up until the weekend plus I have a new Sky 1TB box to install as well.

 

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AV System -  Panasonic 42VT30 ¦ MA Apex 5.1- 4xA10 1xA40+ AW-12 Sub ¦ Van Damme UP LCOFC Speaker Cable ¦ Pioneer SC-LX85 ¦ OPPO 95 ¦ Mark Grant G1500HD Precision audio cable ¦ Sky+ HD(1TB) ¦ Chord Active HDMI ¦ Belkin PF50 mains conditioner.

Bedroom - Sony KDL-40W2000 + Archos 7 streaming from Windows Home Server 2011, Altec Lansing inAir 5000.

Dining Room - Sonos S5.

Music - HP Proliant Server running WHS 2011 ¦ streaming FLAC to Sonos ZP90 and OPPO 95 via SC-LX85.

Hi Fi - Cyrus 8 XPd QX amp ¦ Cyrus PSX-R power supply acting as Pre Amp ¦ Quad 909 Power Amp ¦ Speakers - Spendor A3 ¦ Logitech Squeezebox Touch upgrade by Fidelity Audio ¦ power supply upgrade by Mains Cables R Us ¦ Power Plant Premier mains regenerator.

Controlled by – iPad2 and Harmony 1100.

 

v1c
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RE: Regarding the Pioneer SC-LX85 review

michael hoy wrote:

I have just purchased one, but will not be able to set it up until the weekend plus I have a new Sky 1TB box to install as well.

 

Hi Michael , when you've set up and had a chance to listen ..... i would appreciate your thoughts as to how it compares overall to the LX72...... am thinking about the upgrade but still unsure about what route i want to take ,so any feedback would be very useful.

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michael hoy
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RE: Regarding the Pioneer SC-LX85 review

Hi V1c,

As soon as I have set it up I will post back any observasions, I just hope it is a big step up from my 72.

I do think the 72 is an excellent amp and the sound with my Apex is the best I have had in a long time.

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AV System -  Panasonic 42VT30 ¦ MA Apex 5.1- 4xA10 1xA40+ AW-12 Sub ¦ Van Damme UP LCOFC Speaker Cable ¦ Pioneer SC-LX85 ¦ OPPO 95 ¦ Mark Grant G1500HD Precision audio cable ¦ Sky+ HD(1TB) ¦ Chord Active HDMI ¦ Belkin PF50 mains conditioner.

Bedroom - Sony KDL-40W2000 + Archos 7 streaming from Windows Home Server 2011, Altec Lansing inAir 5000.

Dining Room - Sonos S5.

Music - HP Proliant Server running WHS 2011 ¦ streaming FLAC to Sonos ZP90 and OPPO 95 via SC-LX85.

Hi Fi - Cyrus 8 XPd QX amp ¦ Cyrus PSX-R power supply acting as Pre Amp ¦ Quad 909 Power Amp ¦ Speakers - Spendor A3 ¦ Logitech Squeezebox Touch upgrade by Fidelity Audio ¦ power supply upgrade by Mains Cables R Us ¦ Power Plant Premier mains regenerator.

Controlled by – iPad2 and Harmony 1100.

 

Mestizo
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RE: Regarding the Pioneer SC-LX85 review

Hi

Great reading, the review. I agree that LX85 sounds very good and Pioneer did take a step in the right direction with this receiver.

But I do not think it is a HUGE upgrade from LX83 which I also own when it comes to how it sounds, it's a upgrade, but not that big.

When it comes to pure power, it is a downgrade from previous models with it's B&O ICEpower amps.

LX83 had far more control over my speaker elements then LX85, so I'm pretty sure LX83 was far more powerful then LX85.

I run a 5.1 B&W CM-series system, CM9 frontspeakers, CMC centerspeaker, CM1 surroundspeakers and ASW10CM subwoofer.

Anyway, if you dont have to difficult speakers, dipping very low in impedance, this receiver is great and should drive your system great without the need of a poweramp. And at last, it sounds GREAT in stereo to !