Pioneer Elite BDP-LX500

[JohnAV]

Comparisons to competition - DACS used

• The Oppo UDP-205 is considered best in its class for audiophiles. It's equipped with two ESS Technology ES9038PRO DACs for both stereo and 7.1 channel analog audio. The ES9038PRO is the flagship of the ESS PRO series. It sets a new benchmark for audio excellence with its best-in-class 140 dB of dynamic range, total harmonic distortion plus noise (THD+N) at -122dB in a 32-bit, 8-channel DAC.
• The Panasonic UB9000 model is using the AK4493 DAC - Dynamic range, S/N: 123dB, THD+N: -113dB
• The Pioneer UDP-LX500 will be using the AK4490EQ DAC - Dynamic range, S/N 120 db, THD+N -112 db
• The Sony x1000 model is using some high performance 32 bit DAC (DSD 11.2 MHz, LPCM 192kHz capable) are the only details I find.
• The Pioneer UDP-LX800 will be using the ES9026PRO DAC - Dynamic range, S/N 124 db, THD+N -110 db

So Pioneer for the $2200 did absolutely nothing in stepping up their DAC quality compared to the previous ES9018 used in the BDP-LX88 which offered dynamic range 129 dB and -120 dB THD.

About the only thing that might be a advantage is that the ES9026PRO might decode MQA only, otherwise it's a universal format tank player with so so DAC's.

IMHO Onkyo is not allowing Pioneer to be as progressive as in the past to save money, but its still $2200.

[Josh]

If Oppo exists, it difficult to make a case for a Pioneer Elite player. With Oppo gone, it may be the only choice. I’m surprised Marantz hasn’t tried to come out with a universal UHD player similar to the UD7007.

[Waboman]

While I appreciate build quality, the days of $2200 BD players is ovah. I remember way, way back buying the Pioneer Elite DV 09 player. And while it was built like a tank at nearly 35lbs, was it worth its $2000 price tag? Not imo. Got rid of it and have been happily with Oppo ever since. Had every '3' series player they've made. But I digress, not really sure what my point is. Lol. Is it 5 o'clock yet?

[gkolb]

Originally Posted by Waboman

While I appreciate build quality, the days of $2200 BD players is ovah. I remember way, way back buying the Pioneer Elite DV 09 player. And while it was built like a tank at nearly 35lbs, was it worth its $2000 price tag? Not imo. Got rid of it and have been happily with Oppo ever since. Had every '3' series player they've made. But I digress, not really sure what my point is. Lol. Is it 5 o'clock yet?

It’s 5:32 edt, Go for it!

[Tommy123]

https://intl.pioneer-audiovisual.com...cification.php

Looks like the LX800 uses 2x ES9026PRO DACs for stereo whereas the OPPO 205 uses 1x ES9038PRO for stereo and 1x for multi-channel?

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by Tommy123

https://intl.pioneer-audiovisual.com...cification.php

Looks like the LX800 uses 2x ES9026PRO DACs for stereo whereas the OPPO 205 uses 1x ES9038PRO for stereo and 1x for multi-channel?

From the AudioXpress review (quite technical)

In October 2016, ESS introduced its second- generation Sabre32 HyperStream DAC chips, the ES9028PRO and ES9038PRO, and many manufacturers that used the ES9018 have designed new products based on one of these chips. Benchmark Media Systems is using the ES9028PRO in its DAC3 HGC (which I reviewed in audioXpress, July 2017), and OPPO Digital selected the ES9038PRO for the UDP-205. As I discussed in my review of the Benchmark DAC3-HGC, the ES9038PRO and the ES9028PRO are both eight-channel chips and contain identical circuitry. The ES9038PRO has multiple paralleled DACs for each of the eight channels and requires a heatsink. Liao notes that ESS doesn’t recommend paralleling sections of the ES9038PRO externally with IC op-amp I/V converters because of excessive output current.

Among the virtues of these new chips is the inclusion of eight pre-set and programmable digital filters, improved power supply distribution, and total harmonic distortion compensation that can even reduce distortion caused by external components. The new ESS DACs also support DSD over PCM using the DoP protocol.

The player has completely separate analog/DAC PC boards for the 7.1-channel surround and two- channel stereo outputs. Each analog/DAC board has its own dedicated ES9038PRO DAC chip. Each of the eight channels is used for the surround outputs on the 7.1-channel board. On the two-channel stereo board, only six sections of the DAC chip are used—two for the stereo unbalanced outputs, two for the balanced outputs and two for the headphone amplifier. The clock for each ES9038PRO DAC chip is a precision crystal oscillator with low phase noise, covered with a metal shield.

[Tommy123]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

From the AudioXpress review (quite technical)

Interesting. According to the review article:

First ES9038PRO DAC
- 1 channel per 7.1 channel for a total of 8 channels
Second ES9038PRO DAC
- 2 channels for unbalanced
- 2 channels for balanced
- 2 channels for headphone amp
- 2 channels unused.

If the LX800 utilizes all 8 channels on its dual ES9026PRO DACs, each unbalanced and balanced output will use 8 channels! That's 4x as many channels compared to the OPPO 205. This may offset the inferior DAC and may even exceed the 205 in terms of stereo performance. We'll have to wait and hear.

[LordoftheRings]

Lol, in the Oppo 205 thread comparisons are not welcome, but here in the Pioneer LX500 thread they are, because Robert is a universal man.

Yep, it's funny how things and some people work. How many times I have seen that, it makes me laugh. See that's the thing, we all know how the Oppo 205 is a great player with great features...all that jazz, they don't make them anymore, new players are coming, ...it makes me laugh, because one player is the best, all the rest they have no place, no say, no one can dare to compare. It becomes a wall.

I've seen the control, here and @ that other place, but it creates a wall.
Oppo doesn't make players anymore, it's dead, accept it or pay a big premium on eBay.
This is the Pioneer LX500 thread, Pioneer is alive, and nobody minds to compare with other players, not for one bit. Oppo, they do mind...they have a different mind, superior mind, above the rest.

It makes me laugh when you cannot compare in one thread, but you can compare in all other threads.
I like my 205, it makes me laugh too the 205/203 thread here, and over there.
I bet many others are having a good laugh too...Robert, HDTV1080P, Roger, Eli, Ron, ...a whole bunch of people here, and over there.

I'm looking forward to compare the pic quality between Pioneer LX500 and Panasonic 9000.
Oppo 205 is not being made no more, and other players are adding picture features that surpasses the non-made Oppo 203 and 205 players. This is evolution, this is a world of comparisons, this is not a wall.

[GiuseppeM]

Originally Posted by LordoftheRings

Lol, in the Oppo 205 thread comparisons are not welcome, but here in the Pioneer LX500 thread they are, because Robert is a universal man.

Yep, it's funny how things and some people work. How many times I have seen that, it makes me laugh. See that's the thing, we all know how the Oppo 205 is a great player with great features...all that jazz, they don't make them anymore, new players are coming, ...it makes me laugh, because one player is the best, all the rest they have no place, no say, no one can dare to compare. It becomes a wall.

I've seen the control, here and @ that other place, but it creates a wall.
Oppo doesn't make players anymore, it's dead, accept it or pay a big premium on eBay.
This is the Pioneer LX500 thread, Pioneer is alive, and nobody minds to compare with other players, not for one bit. Oppo, they do mind...they have a different mind, superior mind, above the rest.

It makes me laugh when you cannot compare in one thread, but you can compare in all other threads.
I like my 205, it makes me laugh too the 205/203 thread here, and over there.
I bet many others are having a good laugh too...Robert, HDTV1080P, Roger, Eli, Ron, IntelVol, ...a whole bunch of people here, and over there.

I'm looking forward to compare the pic quality between Pioneer LX500 and Panasonic 9000.
Oppo 205 is not being made no more, and other players are adding picture features that surpasses the non-made Oppo 203 and 205 players. This is evolution, this is a world of comparisons, this is not a wall.

I agree with you.

[IntelliVolume]

Originally Posted by LordoftheRings

Lol, in the Oppo 205 thread comparisons are not welcome, but here in the Pioneer LX500 thread they are, because Robert is a universal man.

Yep, it's funny how things and some people work. How many times I have seen that, it makes me laugh. See that's the thing, we all know how the Oppo 205 is a great player with great features...all that jazz, they don't make them anymore, new players are coming, ...it makes me laugh, because one player is the best, all the rest they have no place, no say, no one can dare to compare. It becomes a wall.

I've seen the control, here and @ that other place, but it creates a wall.
Oppo doesn't make players anymore, it's dead, accept it or pay a big premium on eBay.
This is the Pioneer LX500 thread, Pioneer is alive, and nobody minds to compare with other players, not for one bit. Oppo, they do mind...they have a different mind, superior mind, above the rest.

It makes me laugh when you cannot compare in one thread, but you can compare in all other threads.
I like my 205, it makes me laugh too the 205/203 thread here, and over there.
I bet many others are having a good laugh too...Robert, HDTV1080P, Roger, Eli, Ron, IntelVol, ...a whole bunch of people here, and over there.

I'm looking forward to compare the pic quality between Pioneer LX500 and Panasonic 9000.
Oppo 205 is not being made no more, and other players are adding picture features that surpasses the non-made Oppo 203 and 205 players. This is evolution, this is a world of comparisons, this is not a wall.

[LordoftheRings]

Fixed that especially for ya.

[Josh]

Originally Posted by Tommy123

Interesting. According to the review article:

First ES9038PRO DAC
- 1 channel per 7.1 channel for a total of 8 channels
Second ES9038PRO DAC
- 2 channels for unbalanced
- 2 channels for balanced
- 2 channels for headphone amp
- 2 channels unused.

If the LX800 utilizes all 8 channels on its dual ES9026PRO DACs, each unbalanced and balanced output will use 8 channels! That's 4x as many channels compared to the OPPO 205. This may offset the inferior DAC and may even exceed the 205 in terms of stereo performance. We'll have to wait and hear.

If I remember correctly, the stereo section of the 205 (and 95 and 105) is quad balanced, so it uses all 8 channels.

[LordoftheRings]

Oppo 205

"On the two-channel stereo board, only six sections of the DAC chip (ES9038PRO) are used---two for the stereo unbalanced outputs, two for the balanced outputs and two for the headphone amplifier."

[HDTV1080P]

I hope the Pioneer UDP-LX500 with its current list price of $1099 already has the 25% tariffs calculated into the list price. If not we could see a 25% increase in price next year.


https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...45&postcount=1

[Robert Zohn]

For now we're at $999, list is $1,099. 1st allocation due this week!

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

For now we're at $999, list is $1,099. 1st allocation due this week!

Robert I am glad to hear that Value Electronics is going to sale the Pioneer UDP-LX500 at $100 cheaper than the official list price. If I did not already own an OPPO UDP-203 I would be interested in this Pioneer Blu-ray player. Hopefully Pioneer well come out with a HDR10+ firmware update that would make the UDP-LX500 more attractive. HDR10+ is not needed until the studios officially launch Blu-ray discs with HDR10+.

I am looking forward to a fair and balanced in-depth review from either Sound and Vision magazine and/or Widescreen Review magazine on this Pioneer UDP-LX500.

Robert the 2016 Pioneer Elite SC-LX901 flagship A/V receiver with a list price of $3,000 only has 11.2 channels. I am hoping that a 2018 Pioneer Elite A/V receiver flagship model well be released in October-December to replace the 2016 Pioneer Elite SC-LX901. It would be ideal if it had 13.2 channels like the Denon AVR-X8500H that lists for $3,999.

[Robert Zohn]

They just released three new models that are all 7.2 and 9.2 Dolby Atmos ready receivers, the VSX-LX-103, LX303 and LX503

It's common for all manufacturers to launch the higher end series later.

We'll be putting one UDP-LX500 in our showroom and I'll take two home for my primary a/v systems.

[elwaylite]

Originally Posted by Kewl

No ExFAT support? No MKV playback? I'll keep my Oppo 203...

That is the main reason I put myself on the list for a 205 and got one. I was late to the game with NAS file playback, and ultimately figured out the Oppo is one of the better ones at that. If I had known it earlier I would have stopped using UHD discs, which were problematic in a couple of my 203's, and just went mkv/bdmv...

I use my 205 for NAS files, and the 820 for Netflix and Amazon.

[Jodi]

Originally Posted by Josh

If Oppo exists, it difficult to make a case for a Pioneer Elite player. With Oppo gone, it may be the only choice. I’m surprised Marantz hasn’t tried to come out with a universal UHD player similar to the UD7007.

Here's an even cooler idea than Marantz. I think Ayre Acoustics should step up to the plate with a universal 4KBD/BD/DVD-V/DVD-A/SACD/CD that would be........uh, add 2 and 2.....uh, carry the 1......and it would be.......uh.......

$7,000!!!!!!!!!! Bua ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaaaaa!!!!!

Just kidding, but I thought that was funny!

[wxman2003]

For those interesting buying this in US, you can get $400 off if you order through Mass Drop. So you can get it for $699. Offer ends the 25th.

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/pioneer...mode=shop_open