Customer Ratings & Reviews

My receivers. It one of best with my klipsch speaker I never feeling more happy than now I love ❤️ my 9.2 ch

Only 4 months old. Started getting error and would just shut down. Manual says to immediately unplug and return to Best Buy for repair. Best Buy sent it out to get fixed. After a month it came back where they said it’s been fixed but the Geek Squad employee said they didn’t get a chance to test it at the store. So I took it home and it would turn on only to immediately turn back off! Check on Pioneer’s website to go through their repair service. On their site it says they’re not accepting devices to get fixed. Even this model is nowhere to be found on their site! Go figure. Online I’ve noticed that there are a lot of complaints from consumers of Pioneer electronics. Seems like a common issue with this brand. Faulty devices, and non existent customer service. Best Buy isn’t helping either.

At the heart of the home theater experience, the main receiver will determine all of the sound features within your setup. Aside from your speakers, it is arguably the most important component that you will purchase. Recently, with the advent of object based codecs such as Dolby Atmos and DTS: X, new receivers are much more equip to handle a wide range of different audio and video sources. Thus, enter the VSX-LX303, one of three new models within Pioneer's prestigious Elite line of receivers. With support up to 9.2 channels as well as Dolby Atmos and 4K support , the VSX-LX303 is sure to attract audiophiles looking for a new receiver. As such, I was quite excited to see how the VSX-LX303 performs within an Atmos enabled environment. Upon opening the unit, the quality of VSX-LX303 is quite stunning. The brushed black appearance is elegant and it has a nice smooth texture. In addition, the overall unit has a strong construction and clocks in at roughly 24 pounds. Owners of past Pioneer receivers should feel right at home. Internally, the VSX-LX303 is powered by two DSPs: one quad core 32 Bit processor supplied by Cirrus Logic and an Aureus floating point processor handled by Texas Instruments. In addition, Pioneer lists two DACs: an AK4458 supplied by AKM and a PCM5101 supplied by Texas Instruments. On the back of the VSX-LX303, you will note a plethora of connections, starting with two HDMI outputs (one being ARC compatible). Moving on, you will also notice six HDMI inputs. All connections support 4K and are fully HDCP 2.2 compatible. In addition, they all support both Dolby Vision as well as HDR. All ports are based on the HDMI 1.4 specification. The HDMI on the front also adheres to the 1.4 revision and HDCP 2.2, but it does not support all of the color outputs that the back ones do. Specifically, it is limited to 8 Bit RGB/YCbCr 4:4:4 at 4K. In addition, the VSX-LX303 fully supports 3D at 1080p so you can still enjoy your 3D movies. Underneath the HDMI ports, you will note the nine speaker terminals each corresponding to your speakers. The VSX-LX303 supports standard configurations up to 9.2 channels. For Dolby Atmos, the VSX-LX303 supports only 5.2.4 and 7.2.2 configurations. Furthermore, if you are looking to Bi-Amp your front speakers, you will only be able to do this in standard 5.1 and 7.1 configurations or 5.2.2 for Dolby Atmos as it reduces the available terminals. I strongly recommend to plan accordingly! Below the terminals, you will see two pre-out jacks for your subwoofers. In addition, you will also notice several standard analog connections on the VSX-LX303. There are two composite inputs as well as one component input. There are also two digital optical inputs as well as one digital coaxial audio in. Lastly, there are four analog audio in ports. There is also a phono input for record players that lack one built in. These ports are all assignable within the receiver settings. In addition, you will also notice the antenna jack for radio connectivity. To the left of the HDMI inputs, you will also note an Ethernet jack. Additionally, the VSX-LX303 also supports internet connectivity through Wi-Fi (802.11n). There are also two USB 2.0 ports (one on the front and back) and a headphone jack. Lastly, the VSX-LSX303 supports audio playback through Bluetooth as well as over home network. For codec support, most should be quite familiar with most of them. Popular lossless codecs such as Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD-Master Audio, and Multi-Channel PCM are all supported. In addition, audiophiles will be pleased that audio formats such as WAV, FLAC, AIFF, Apple Lossless, and DSD are supported though there are some limitations. For USB playback, all of the aforementioned formats are supported, with most supporting up to 192 KHz/24 Bit (ALAC is capped at 96KHz). However, remote playback of FLAC and DSD are not supported. For DSD digital file playback, Pioneer has listed both 5.6 MHz and 2.8 MHz (.DSF/DFF containers) in their instruction manual. However, the specifications on their website mentions that only 2 channels can go up to 5.6 MHz and multichannel is capped at 2.8 MHz via SACD over HDMI (as long as your player can support this). Overall, the VSX-LX303 should support everything most people will need, though I strongly recommend you double check the specifications! In addition to the technical aspects, there are several features of the VSX-LX303 that I would like to highlight. The first is the Zone feature that will allow you to enjoy 2 channel audio in two different rooms while the room with the receiver can listen to a 5.1 channel sound source separately. You will notice on the back of the unit, the height and surround terminals are marked Zone 2 and 3 respectively for this feature. Another feature is the MCACC Auto Room Tuning. The receiver is bundled with a special microphone that will allow you to setup the acoustics of the room by detecting speaker sizes and distance from each other. The VSX-LX303 also supports various smart features such as Sonos Connect and Google Chromecast with Google assistant. It also supports various applications such as DTS Play-Fi, Flare Connect, and the Pioneer Remote application. Lastly, it also supports various audio subscription services. Personally, these features do not interest me nor do I stream anything so I cannot comment on how they work, but nonetheless they are there. Aside from the features, I would like to discuss the graphical interface. Overall, everything is straightforward and organized quite well. The first screen is organized into three categories: System Settings, MCACC, and Network/Bluetooth. Once you click on system settings, you will see familiar categories such as speaker configuration, where you can set the number of channels, the size of your speaker, and speaker impedance. For impedance, you can only set either 4 ohms or 6 ohms. My speakers were rated for 8 ohms so the setting was set to 6. Moving on, the crossover option will allow you to set the crossover frequency for the subwoofer. Moving on, the channel level setting will be used quite a bit as this will allow you to boost individual channels. For each speaker, you can reduce the output to -12.0 dB or increase to a max of +12.0 dB in 0.5 dB increments. Also, corresponding tones will be heard from each speaker that you highlight on screen so you can adjust accordingly. Under the input/output assign menu, you can customize your devices and assign the analog connections as well as the HDMI ports. Contrastingly, on the TV Out/OSD option, you will also be able to upscale 1080P content to 4K as well as control which HDMI will output Dolby Vision. Personally, the menu was quite easy to navigate. As for setup, the VSX-LX303 should be straightforward for most people. Personally, I did not encounter any issue with my new speakers. For my audio test, I wanted to see how the VSX-LX303 performed using a standard 5.1.2 Atmos configuration. For my speakers, I used two Klipsch RP-8000 as the front channels. For my Dolby Atmos speakers, I used two Klipsch RP-500SA speakers placed on top of the front speakers. I connected these to the height terminals on the back of the VSX-LX303. For my surround sound speakers, I used a pair of Klipsch RP-600M and for my subwoofer I used the Klipsch R-115SW. All speakers were connected to the receiver using Audioquest 14 AWG X2 speaker wire that was manually cut from a 100ft spool. The VSX-LX303 receiver was also plugged up to the wall using an Audioquest NRG-Y3 AC cable. Additionally, my R-115SW subwoofer was connected via an Audioquest Irish Red subwoofer cable. For movie playback, I used my Sony Ultra Bluray UBP-X800 player, with audio set to bit-stream directly to the receiver. Lastly, I set my speaker configuration to 5.1.2 and also set the height speakers to Dolby Front. I also tested each one in the channel level menu to make sure they were all working. Surprisingly, the VSX-LX303 immediately recognized all the speakers! Upon loading my first Atmos encoded title, John Wick 2, the VSX-LX303 immediately clicked and registered Dolby Atmos across its display. I was actually surprised it worked so flawlessly, as typically there is always some issue that arises. As for the sound, the VSX-LX303 powered everything without any issue. As for the movie, there are a couple of great examples that caught my attention, particularly at the 24:38 mark where explosions are heard with loud ferocity. In addition, the broken glass was isolated on the right speaker to correspond where Wick was propelled on screen. At 58:21, gunshots ring with accurate precision. In the glass exhibit, at 1:38:50, there is a loud barrage of breaking glass on the right speaker to match its placement on screen! Overall, I believe the VSX-LX303 performed exceptionally well and met expectations. Most people should be quite pleased with the sound quality. In conclusion, the Pioneer VSX-LX303 is an exceptional audio receiver that performed flawlessly and exceeded expectations. It was easy to setup and immediately powered my 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos setup with great finesse. In addition, with HDR and Dolby Vision 4K support through HDMI, the VSX-LX303 is ready to tackle the demands of high definition content. Furthermore, by adding Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support to existing codecs, Pioneer has solidified the new Elite models for the future. In addition, the VSX-LX303 can also support standard configurations up to 9.2 channels if you are not interested in the object based setups. For audiophiles, I believe most will be quite pleased with the features the VSX-LX303 has to offer. With a large selection of features and an attractive design, the Pioneer VSX-LX303 comes highly recommended.

Pros Offers with nearly every streaming service available 3 Zone capable Sensitive IR for a receiver Six HDMI inputs and two outputs Integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Can be controlled via app App format is appealing Can be controlled or control via 12v trigger Compatible with the latest HDCP 2.2 4K60p with HDR10 passthrough HDMI-ARC compatible Supports Dolby Atmos Bi-Amp capable Auto calibrates via MCACC with included microphone Cons Complicated Doesn’t include remote IR receiver Instructions don’t tell you which Pioneer app to use Instructions don’t tell you Remote App isn’t made by Pioneer App can be confusing to use Pioneer has been a staple brand in home audio equipment for over 50 years. They have a proven track record of producing quality products that last a long time while offering a well-rounded feature set. The Pioneer Elite VSX-LX303 is 9.2 channel network capable AV receiver with notable features including Dolby Atmos, 3 Zones, 4K HDR10, integrated Wi-Fi, and Google Chromecast capability. Having such a large feature set presents one challenge. Unless you install and configure audio equipment professionally, the large feature set has a learning curve. Anything more than a 7.2 setup will likely warrant time spent reading the user manual. This leads to another downside of the VSX-LX303. The manual is not included and you have to locate it via their website to download. Unlike some other receivers in this category, there is no app that assist with guiding you through your setup. Fortunately, changes are infrequent and once everything is setup things improve as you could probably get away with leaving settings on auto. A remote is included and IR sensitivity is above average for AV receivers, but after trying out the app the remote might stay in a drawer. Nowhere does it say on the box or instructions but the Pioneer Remote App is actually not made by Pioneer but rather a third party. The app provides a more intuitive way to control the receiver with descriptions of advanced features and buttons that change based on the labels assigned. Even though it could still use work on organization, the app is still more intuitive than the remote and it works even if the receiver is closed in a cabinet. You can incorporate remote IR control via an IR input jack on the back, but strangely the remote IR receiver is not included in the price. If you decide to incorporate a remote IR receiver into your setup it must be separately powered which adds to the cost. By the time you pay for a self-powered IR receiver you are more than half way to the cost of a full featured smart controller which offers far more features. Beyond IR and app control the VSX-LX303 also offers HDMI-CEC control. The only option given in the system menu is if you want it on or off. For those who have had more than one receiver such quirks come as no surprise as it seems each brand contains some proprietary controls or standard options with certain changes. Thankfully such quirks are limited in the VSX-LX303. Once you get past customizing the options to your liking, the best thing you can do to optimize your sounds is to calibrate the receiver using an option called MCACC. A similar feature is in other receivers under a different name but it boils down to plugging in the included microphone which launches a speaker calibration tool. You place the microphone at up to three of your primary listening locations, tell it your speaker configuration, and run the calibration. The receiver will play various sounds over the speakers to measure distance and speaker range. After you are done the level, delay, and crossover is automatically set to create the best sound based on your primary listening location and your exact speakers and subs. This calibration has become very common on higher end stereos but one difference from others is how thorough the calibration is. Most brands play a short series of sounds to calibrate. This receiver goes through a broad range of different tones as if it is trying to more thoroughly determine the exact capabilities of your setup. Although very subjective, the process did seem better as no tweaks were needed to levels or EQ after calibration. If you are the type who likes to tweak every setting, you will likely find VSX-LX303 sits in the middle of the pack as far as options. The remote offers some predefined sound modes to suite you the type of music so if you want to try them out they are exclusive to the IR remote. Within the app the adjustments are limited to Direct, Auto, and a few other options such as Stereo and Surround. You can adjust each speaker level manually, change treble and bass, phase control, or adjust a 9 band EQ. You can save your EQ settings but unfortunately you can’t save different EQ profiles but rather just one. Hopefully a future update will allow multiple EQ profiles as that could really appeal to those who like to change the EQ based on the type of music. For others, the calibration should do a very nice job of setting EQ as the best place based on the setup to reproduce the original sound as faithfully as possible so later adjustments will be unnecessary. Overall it might sound like the VSX-LX303 is a mixed bag but it really isn’t. For power users who love to tweak every last feature there might be better options and that is why the quirks are provided. For everyone else who wants to set it and forget it this receiver does a very nice job and optimizing your listening experience for your setup regardless of content. Where it shines is in the sheer number of formats, connections, and streaming services it supports. It supports so many it’s just not practical to list here. The other area where the VSX-LX303 really shines is in stability. Where certain brands tend to get extremely hot, distort, lock up, or corrupt the HDMI passthrough signal regularly requiring restarts this receiver just keeps on working without complaint. With a probe sitting on of the receiver with a properly vented cabinet with proper air gap, casual music listening with a large speaker system produced no significant difference in heat above the ambient room temps. Spirited listening at higher levels were still very good with a rise in temps directly above the receiver of just over 30 degrees above ambient with a max temperature of 112 degrees Fahrenheit. That might sound like a lot to some but for stereo equipment that is quite good, particularly in a home built enclosure. That should equate to a long, stable life as well as clean, undistorted sound. Without specialized tools to measure it’s hard to say but by the ear this unit after two weeks of use has produced excellent, distortion free sound while being used for 6-10 hours each day. That can’t be said of all brands. Overall, the Pioneer Elite VSX-LX303 is a strong offering if a little dated with the somewhat old fashioned style setup ,manual, and complications but once it is set up there is little need to mess with it. This seems like Pioneer’s goal with this unit was to keep adjustment options modest and focus on a balanced setup that needs little adjustment. If you’ve been a Pioneer fan for years you can still see the DNA of Pioneer from 30 years ago wrapped in a more modern setup. In some ways it brings back memories of the days when all receiver options where changed via the screen directly on the unit with Pioneer’s signature gold toned LCD display on the front. Although subjective, the appearance of the display gives a richer, warmer feeling to the experience than others. If you’re in the market for a AV receiver with a full feature set, particularly if you need modern streaming support and the latest movie formats then the Pioneer Elite VSX-LX303 should be on your short list.

Like me , you probably have you own brand preferences - maybe Sony for your TV, some other brand for your speakers and cables, and other components in your setup. I've been a lifelong Denon fan when it comes to amplifiers - both regular and surround, but this Pioneer certainly impressed me. As with most premium AVR's these days it has all the regular features (HDCP2.2 / 3D / 4K passthrough etc) as well as some additional extras (4K upscaling of older content - which you can disable and let your TV or source device do it) that make it a breeze to setup. The one that caught my attention was the Reflex Optimizer - I've been trying to get a resonable Atmos setup without having to pull down and re-wire my ceiling. The upfiring speakers I have are a reasonable compromise, but until I met the LX303 I had no real way to affect the effect (if you'll excuse the phrase). Its little features like this and the multi-zone, built-in chromecast and support for HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision that all add up to make this an impressive package. Is it impressive enough to displace your current brand? I think you should definitely take a serious look at the LX303. With configurations ranging from standard 5:1 all the way up to 9.2 (and a variety of Atmos options in between) , I think you would be hard pushed to find anything that had all of the configuration flexibility , married with the full feature set that you get in this one product. The only reason I didnt give it a full 5 stars was the lack of intuitive interface to find some of the nitty gritty settings - but I guess thats just an artifact of cramming so many features in a menu system that still have to be easy to operate for most people. I received this product at no charge for evaluation, but the opinions expressed on here are my own based on installation and operation in my own environment

I purchased this receiver for the Atmos and it does a FANTASTIC job ! Setup is a very easy walks you through the process, you attach the Provided Mic place it in the center of your listening area and it runs a 6 min sound adjustment test that sets the speakers almost 100% perfect. you can tweak them after as you like. The one Gripe I have is the iOS app its not laid out well and not real user friendly and honestly bland looking. Once you figure out where stuff is on the app you can make it work but unlike Yamahas App that is Very user friendly this is just ok! Honestly that's my only Beef with this. Other then that the sound is Amazing using a 7.1.2 setup. Its an easy buy for the Price and the sound ! The Other Pioneer - Elite 9.2-Ch amp they sell is a bout a 100 dollars more and I think that get you Amazon Alexa but specs are the same as this .. I hope that helps you with your choice.

We purchased a new Sony 4k 950G TV. The TV handles EARC on its HMDI and my old receiver did not. Why is this important? eARC allows me to use the Sony Apps (Netflix, Amazon Prime, VUDU) and watch the programs in 4k...the eARC allows for the full Dolby Atmos sound to be passed and processed. Full theater experience.....I haven't even touched on the sound quality -- blows my old Pioneer receiver vx 823 out of the water. Sound is fuller, music has much more detail, and set-up was so much better. So far loving the Marantz.

Good sound, set up easy. And plenty of inputs if you have a few audio pieces to hook up. Well pleased with the product which was recommended by Phillip at the Whitehall,PA store.

I purchased a more expensive unit before this one and had fits trying to understand the operation. Nothing worked like the manual indicated so I returned it and bought this unit. Connected it in a few hours, went through the setup and have been very happy with it since. The manual is easy to read, the onscreen setup works well has plenty of power for the surround sound under each environment.

Overall this receiver is great. The only complaint I have is the associate told me I could use any audio source in zone 2 and 3. but I cannot use any source that also uses video. so no Cable/Sat, Game or Blue Ray. this would be very helpful for bronco games. otherwise the inputs are easy to operate and the sound quality good for this price range. I would recommend this for most people as it blows away any sound bar with a good set of speakers and the many different audio sources you can stream is awesome.

Purchased this to replace an old Yamaha. The sound is great, nice and crisp. Currently have a 5.1 setup but soon a 5.1.2. Plenty of inputs. My only concern is I wish I could use HIDI CEC and turn on the TV/Satellite box and NOT have the receiver turn on (using ARC). Also, make sure you setup your speakers in the receiver setup before you try and use them! Otherwise not sound.

Picked up this receiver to replace my old Yamaha. Setup was easy and straight forward, still going through all features. This a good receiver for futerproofing. I wouldnt hesitate to purchasing this as I've had no issues in the almost 2 months I've owned it.

Receiver was easy to set up. I am still new to the full AV thing - using this in a home theater setting. The 9 channels were the key to this purchase in order to do 5.1.4 with Atmos eventually. Still learning about all the settings and tweaking things but so far it has met all expectations. The price was the best around for a full 9 channel receiver.

Good sound and easy setup with a simple to use remote. Excellent FM reception. Good software. The only con is that you have go Pioneer's website to download the user manual but manual is terrific. It does come with a good setup guide

Number 1 easy to operate.Easy to install. Make sure you update the receive and follow step by step instructions on your TV screen. Bluetooth works well with my I-pad. Movies sound and look great. I love my new Pioneer Elite!

This is a great receiver! Setup is easy, sound is great, and the remote is much improved over previous Pioneer -- no longer 400 buttons! No issues pushing Klipsch reference speakers. I would buy again if I needed another one.

Amazing Receiver owned this for 2 years and it has never let me down the sound is crisp and the bass is thundering. Extremely Powerful.

Fabulous unit, works as advertised. Installation n setup was a piece of cake. Good sound quality.

I was in the market for a complete home theater system. I leveraged the Best Buy in-home consulting service (for free) and this was recommended. After hours of research I had selected a different product, but soon realized this one would serve us better. It's been a few weeks, and I'm quite impressed. I only have 5.1 configured so far, but the auto-calibration feature was very cool, and I have plenty of power to drive the speakers, and room for additional channels in the future. Straightforward buttons/dials without looking like a sound board. I love it!

This is our first surround sound system and we find this exceptionally easy to use with great sound and options for use.