Pioneer Elite HTS-LX70 Home Theater System - Remote Control

Shown on this page is the wireless LCD Touchscreen Remote Control for the HTS-LX70. Although larger than some remotes, it houses an LCD touchscreen to make it easier to access the functions of the HTS-LX70. Since the LX70 does not have an onscreen display output for your TV, having an LCD screen on the remote really helps. In addition, when you access the functions via the LCD touchscreen, the results are displayed on the LED display control panel.

In other words, when you select an input source or surround sound processing function via the remote, the source is displayed on the LED control display. The remote can also control a variety of other components, such as Blu-ray Disc player, DVD player, or other source.

Final Take on the Pioneer Elite HTS-LX70 Home Theater System

The Pioneer Elite HTS-LX70 is a good effort in design and performance, but is expensive. It provides a very good surround sound experience, in tandem with a DVD or Blu-ray Disc player.

This system provides several input options, including three HDMI inputs. Although the HDMI connections are pass-through only for video, the LX70 has the ability to extract HDMI audio signals from a DVD or Blu-ray Disc player, and can also decode most surround sound formats, including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD master audio. The only drawback with its surround sound processing is that 7.1 channel signals have to be reproduced with the LX70's 5.1 channel configuration.

I found that the HTS-LX70 was easy to use, and provided a good, overall, listening experience, based on its design. However, if you are looking for something for a large room, you should consider a more traditional receiver-speaker-subwoofer approach than that offered by the LX70. Also, keep in mind that the price point for the HTS-LX70 is about $1,800, which is expensive for a home theater-in-a-box system.

On the other hand, with styling becoming more important in home theater installations, especially those that incorporate a flat panel LCD or Plasma Television, the HTS-LX70 may be a great choice, especially in comparison with some of the even more expensive compact "stylish" systems that are on the market.

Taking all factors into account: Audio Performance (especially in terms of surround sound staging), HDMI video pass-through/switching, Styling, and Price Point, I give the Pioneer Elite HTS-LX70 a rating of 3.5 Stars out of 5.