Pioneer SC-LX83

Anybody has subwoofer handling problems with lx-83?becouse MCACC operates in range 200hz-20khz?sorry for my English language

I've had this amp for 6 months now and was blown away by the performance for surround sound. It's coupled to KEF eggs and a B&W 601 sub which is equally pure joy. I had a Denon amp and Yamaha sub before and the difference now is amazing. The sound is so rich and the channels well balanced. The sub is beautifully crisp and yet still rocks. My only grip abouit the SC-LX83 is that it does not support streaming movie files from a network. I feel somewhat mislead by the statement that it can stream files from a network. Yes it can, but only music and photos. I had to invest in a network streamer from WD instead. Which is very good. I love that I can use the SC-LX83 to output to my TV and my Projector and input from the WD, DVD, and CableTVbox. Also that I can now control my Panasonic TV and DVD player using the LX83 remote.

by the way, I've tried listening to mp3 files through the amp from the network, but I don't find the sound enjoyable.

Will be listining to the LX73 & LX83 this morning.Great reviews, but,... 1 have blue ray player,Sony BDP-S760..and speakers, Monitor Audio, Radius 270 front & rear 225 or 180 i think, with 720 sub....QUESTION... WILL THE LX83 BE TOO OVERWHELMING for my old faithfulls.

DandyCobalt,

Given that the Pioneer only has seven channels of amplification, it is impossible for it to deliver 9.1 sound.

Fascinated to hear how a single amp channel can be used to send two different signals to two different speakers. Hmmm...

Indeed, but then it's running the front heights from one amp channel and the rear surrounds from another, and relying on phase effects to do the rest.

Yes, I am sure you would benefit from just such a speaker upgrade.

Is this better than the Arcam AVR600?

Especially for Music??

In regards to the 9.1 processing is'nt it a matrixed signal like the way DOLBY PRO-LOG2 works off a proper 2-ch/stereo signal?For discrete front heights one would have to use F/H surround pre-outs of the reciever.But seemingly just connect your 2 F/H speakers & switch to PRO-LOG-2Z processing.Heard it works pretty good too.

Pio always bags this award since the SC-LX81 & deservingly so.Sound,build quality & looks,they go the extra mile for which i happily pay but...why did it take so long for 1 of the co's LX midrange recievers to get noticed,when they were building these since 2007 in the LX50?I actually bought it & once i got to know how MCACC worked,i could make it sing:brilliant machine & they hold a price on resale too.Aahh who knows why,but you cant buy better synergy at the money...i have the LX61hdd & BDP320 rigged up to a VSX-LX70 & SONY 46" W5500 incl JAMO C607/SUB650,C60SURS & C60 CTR.The sound & picture (esp bluray) is fantastic & was with the LX50 AVR,so its about time they bagged a gong for a mid-avr but to put this baby on your shelf will cost 1300stg??How did it take so long when they were selling LX50/1/2s @ 800stg with the same freescale processer & power amp,i cant imagine how badly they were regarded they were compared to the competition the passed few years.

Yes,great review esp. when you say it deserves the best kit to partner with,Thats where the BDP-LX91 player is so very versatile,it easily goes with this baby,or as far as the SC-LX90 AVR.Oh to be rich hmmmmmm......

I recently updated to this from the LX72 and I'm very impressed with the sound quality with a variety of sources. I thought the 72 was good. But this is in a different league. I also got the Bdp-lx54 bluray at the same time.....gone are the complaints of a slow load!

I always used to be an Arcam fan, but not anymore. This receiver is better and cheaper than Arcam IMHO.

It's hooked up to the Pioneer D9 sacd/cd player and B&W CM7s and it really works well.

Highly recommended

I've just upgraded my B&W CM7s to the CM8s. And I have to say the sound quality is brilliant. The new speakers really make a difference with this receiver.

It's about time B&W offered a slightly smaller version of the CM9 suitable for smaller UK houses.So well done for bringing out the CM8!

Congrats on pioneer lx83 winning the award I have been tracking this baby for a long time.

I own a Bose Accostimass 15 package these are 200w speakers. Would i see a benefit in moving to say a monitor audio silver package as these speakers offer less wattage. P.s I have also noticed the demise of the premium blu-ray player and am unsure whether to upgrade the bdp 51 to the 91.

Thanks for the advice the awards issue recommends the MK 950's these are a bit pricey though might go for a cheaper amp/speaker combo

Like i said before any PIONEER equipment especially this SC-LX83 is made to the highest of quality and it simply blow's the competition away clean. Time after time PIONEER come's up trumpt's with 5 star award's galore. I disagree with WHSV in that i would say that this receiver look's very nice indeed compared to other's, that's one of the reason's that i bought it obviously the quality of the sound and picture that it produced mattered more and all i can say is that i am not dissapointed in the least and i am well over the moon. If your budget stretche's to this then trust me and do not hesitate in the least and buy one asap and it will definatly put a big, big smile on your face. PIONEER ARE THE BEST FULLSTOP.

ok, how good is this receiver for music? will the naim xs or uniti make much difference in the sound quality over the LX83?

thanks

A Question for What Hi-Fi about your review of the LX83 and the LX53 which I own already. You state in your reviews "front height or width speakers are available with the addition of a power amplifier". I've just checked with Pioneer and they say you don't need an extra power amp, and that they will output 9.1 without extra amp - why do you think it needs an extra amp to get 9.1 sound? (as I'm rigging two front height speakers for my LX53 this weekend)

Thanks.

Hi Andrew, Concerning 9.1 sound and needing an additional amp, here is reply from Pioneer:

"The VSX-LX53 has 7 individual amps on board to create the standard 7.1 surround sound system.  Front Height channels are created by Dolby Pro Logic IIz out of the front left and right channels and thefore do not need their own amps as the front left and right amps are used to effectively split the left and right channel in to parts that are sent in different directions to create the height effect of non-directional ambient effects like rain and wind ect.

A full 9.1 surround sound system would require 9 individual amps with a source signal that itself contains 9.1 individual channels.  The front height channels are not individual discrete channels themselves as they are created from the existing front left and right channels."

Just rigged up the 9.1 direct from my lx53 (no need for extra amp)and works fine with Dolby IIz, and the MCACC auto setup detected and calibrated all 9.1.

This is an amazing machine, got it two months ago to replace a 1 year old Yamaha RX-V1900, loved the RX-V1900 but this beast blew it out of the water, it's of course in a totally different league and my new AV grail, I have it rigged up to a KRP-500A 50" plasma TV & MA Silver RX with RX8 Front Speakers & two additional IC C265-FX 'In Ceiling' Surround Speakers to get the full 7.1 setup. This baby is the real deal and is really that good and more, highly recommended & a definite worthy award winner.

Can't wait to see what Pioneer have in store for their high-end bluray players in the next couple of weeks

Bought this lx83. Very impressed works well with my new set of monitor audios apex. Highly recommend this as it is easy to use and has so many different variations to use. Hdmi in puts are plenty. No complaints. Will be purchasing a second one for my spare room, love it.