PioneerElite VSX-LX105 7.2 Channel Network AV Receiver

I purchased this Pioneer Elite VSX-LX105 7.2 Channel Receiver to replace a failed 16 year old Onkyo unit. My decision was based on features and the reviews from others. If their product gets a 4.4 rating, Pioneer must be doing something right. I have one Klipsch sub-woofer and seven other speakers, so I only needed 7.1 channels. After setting the system up, here's what I like: Alexa compatibility, sound quality, value for the money, a front panel knob for changing inputs, easy to read display, and the simple setup including automatic sound calibration in my listening room. Things I didn't like: speaker terminal layout on the back panel.Setting up Alexa was as easy as logging into my Amazon account. The receiver displayed a QR code on the TV and I used my phone to complete the login. I gave it the original sounding name "Receiver," and that was it. The first time I used my voice to tell Alexa to stream (name of song) on the "Receiver," I was amazed! I'm convinced the Pioneer surround sound quality is better than my old receiver. The price was reasonable compared to other similar receivers. The controls are definitely better than my old Onkyo. It had buttons with very small labels for changing inputs. These labels and the display were difficult to read. If I used the front panel for changing inputs it was through trial and error. By contrast, the Pioneer receiver makes it easy to change inputs from the front panel with a large knob and a bright display. If the display is too bright, it can be adjusted. The automatic sound calibration procedure begins by simply plugging in the microphone on the front panel. There's also an option to set up the speakers manually.The most difficult part of the setup was attaching speaker wires to the terminals on the back. Most of my speakers have banana plugs, which are easy to attach, but three speakers have bare wires. These were hard for me to attach using the screw terminals. Each pair is arranged over/under, not side by side like the Denon receivers. I had trouble getting my fingers in the tight space. Side by side would be better. However, once the speakers are connected, you shouldn't have to touch the terminals again unless you relocate the receiver. It's not a show stopper.

My Pioneer Elite AVR gave up the ghost after eleven or twelve years and I purchased an Onkyo - TX-NR6100 based on the CNET review but had multiple problems with it. The Onkyo had issues with the on screen menu which I found out via many chat rooms after I purchased it. After fighting with the Onkyo for a few weeks getting it to hook up with my TV I thought to myself "I have had a Pioneer Elite for the last twelve years and it was great" so I purchased this AVR and I am highly satisfied. I waited a few months to post this to be sure that everything was fine. It's all good. Sounds great. No issues with it.

Bought this to replace an Onkyo system that was getting flaky.It is so much better. I like having an app that I can use instead of the remote, for controlling surround sound modes. Some movies seem picky and it is easier to find the right mode using the app.It is a little bigger than the Onkyo. So measure your cabinet before purchasing. Mine fit ok.

The audio sounds great, the hook up and calibration was fine, the app is fine, but when playing music from iPhone through Apple Music or Spotify, the Bluetooth connectivity keeps popping and distorting and shutting off, making this receiver worthless to me. Amazing that Pioneer can’t figure out bluetooth in 2024. Very sad. I’m switching back to a Denon with HEOS which actually works.

My old Yamaha that had an EQ hooked up to it sounded a hell of a lot better then this thing.Granted with the surround sound of the Pioneer you can really here all the speakers now.I don't no why they can't put knobs on anything anymore there is no Bass and treble except on the remote and it don't do much anyway.I had to buy a 12 inch sub just to get some bass out of the thing but it doesn't compare to my old Yamaha.I have large Cerwin Vega speakers that sounded great with my Yamaha and it put out 90watts a channel i bought it in 1996.I have been through all the settings to check everything but unless you crank the hell out of the thing it just sounds mediocre.I never needed a sub before.I guess to sum it up everything you buy these days is crap and they always want to much money for the crap that is being sold.I have an old SONY receiver i bought in the 70's you can barely lift it it's so heavy and it put out 85 watts a channel.These days the more technology the crappier it will be. OK so after weeks of fooling around with this thing, i finally figured out that the internal EQ has 3 settings and of course it was on the wrong one i don't no why there is 3 but there is.So now it sounds great lots of base even at a low volume so all is good.I guess at 64 i'm going to have to go back to school to get my PHD in stereoanomics as there is just way to many variables to set up the sound. Well i have come to the conclusion that this thing is a piece of crap.We had a power failure so now it does stupid things.I have done a reset and also unplugged it for a few hours to no avail.It used to if you just wanted to watch the TV without the surround sound and just the tv speakers all you did was turn the the TV on.Now when you just turn the tv on the receiver will power up on it's own and then you have to turn the receiver off just to watch the tv with it's own speakers.I do this in the morning when my wife is sleeping.If you want to listen to music with one of it's music apps you could listen to music and shut the TV off.Now you can't listen to a music app with out the TV being on.The blue tooth is pretty crappy to.Now i'm listening to music with my phone through the auxilliary cable connected to my phone and it likes to shut off by itself.