PIONEER SC-LX501

The ‘LX’ range of home theatre receivers from Pioneer are the company’s premium models. Indeed, the US versions are marketed under the ‘Elite’ sub-brand. The SC-LX501 is the entry-level model among this premium range.

EQUIPMENT

The advantages of Class-D amplification, as used here, include relatively high power for low weight, thanks to the technology’s excellent efficiency, plus support for four-ohm loudspeakers without significant compromises, a relatively rare feat with modern home theatre receivers.

So the Pioneer SC-LX501 receiver offers seven channels of Class-D power. How much power? Normally we’d just dutifully copy the power claims from the manual into the specification box opposite and describe here, in text, any reservations we might have. But which to choose? The single claim that Pioneer makes in the box with the Australian version of receiver is so silly we couldn’t bring ourselves to do that. Someone might see it there and believe it. So we put it to you here and ask,