Here we are comparing Denon AVR-X540BT to Pioneer VSX-831 to reveal their common strengths and weaknesses as well as the differences between them which will help you in making a correct decision before the purchase. Both receivers have 5 channel amplifiers with Denon AVR-X540BT's being less powerful.

Let us have a look at some highlights of the models.

We have evaluated both receivers. Pioneer VSX-831 gets higher overall score in our ranking system which is based on the amplifier specifications, audio and video features, connectivity, multizone capabilities, radio and many other details.

Amplifier score is based on power ratings, minimum impedance load, power supply, transformer type, total harmonic distortion, damping factor, signal to noise ratio and other small details. Audio score depends on the number of channels, front wide channel support, maximum channel processing, support of audio formats, DAC specifications, room calibration algorithm... Video score is based on HDR, Dolby Vision and 4K passthrough, upscaling, analog to HDMI upconversion. Connectivity score is defined from all wired and wireless inputs and outputs, internet and bluetooth connections, HEOS, SONOS and others. Multizone score depends on the number of zones with their outputs. Radio score is evaluated form digital radio support and analog tuner with its frequency range, signal to noise ratio, harmonic distortion...

This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Denon AVR-X540BT over Pioneer VSX-831.

	Denon AVR-X540BT	Pioneer VSX-831
More Optical Inputs	2	1
More Composite Video Outputs	1	✖
Detachable Power Cord	✔	✖
Color-Coded Speaker Terminals	✔	✖
Longer Warranty	3 Years	1 Year Parts & Labor

This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Pioneer VSX-831 over Denon AVR-X540BT.

Pioneer VSX-831 has more power per channel, bigger power supply, higher signal to noise ratio and higher bluetooth standard. It supports DSD streaming via HDMI and USB, gapless playback, internet radio, Pandora and Spotify. It has bi-amp capability and phono input. In video department only Pioneer VSX-831 supports Dolby Vision.

	Denon AVR-X540BT	Pioneer VSX-831
Bi-amp capability	✖	✔
Music Playback via USB	MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, FLAC	MP3, WMA, AAC, Apple Lossless, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, DSD
Higher Resolution Music Playback via USB	✔ up to 96 kHz	✔ 64, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz/24 bit
High Resolution Audio Formats via USB	FLAC	Apple Lossless, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, DSD
Multi-Channel Music File Playback via USB	✖	✔ up to 192 kHz/24 bit
Gapless Playback	✖	✔
DSD via HDMI	✖	✔ 2-ch/Multi-ch Input
DSD via USB	✖	✔ 2-ch Input
Pure Direct Mode	✖	✔
Dolby Vision	✖	✔
Video Signal Upscaling	✖	✔ up to 4K
Analog To HDMI Upconversion	✖	✔ Composite
FireConnect	✖	✔
Chromecast Built-In	✖	✔
AirPlay	✖	✔ AirPlay
Ethernet	✖	✔
Wi-Fi	✖	✔
More HDMI Inputs	5	6
More Analog Audio Line Inputs	2	3 (1 front)
Phono Input	✖	✔
Front A/V Inputs	USB	USB, Mini-Jack
Internet Radio	✖	✔ TuneIn
Pandora	✖	✔
Spotify	✖	✔
More Large Speaker Terminals	✖	5
Bigger Power Supply	310 W	390 W
Higher Power Output (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven, FTC)	70 W (0.08% THD)	80 W (0.08% THD)
Higher Power Output (6 Ω, 1 kHz, 1 channel driven, JEITA)	140 W (10% THD)	160 W (10% THD)
Higher S/N Ratio (Line, IHF-A)	98 dB	106 dB
Newer Bluetooth Version	2.1 + EDR	4.1 + LE
Wider AM Frequency Range	522 kHz - 1611 kHz	522/530 kHz - 1611/1710 kHz

Denon AVR-X540BT and Pioneer VSX-831 share common strengths such as HDR10 and bluetooth.

STRENGTHS	Denon AVR-X540BT	Pioneer VSX-831
HDR10	✔	✔
4K or 8K Video Passthrough	up to 4K 50/60Hz 4:4:4	up to 4K/60p (4:4:4 24-bit) 4K/60p (4:2:0 36-bit) 4K/24p (4:4:4 36-bit)
Bluetooth	✔ SBC, AAC	✔
New HDCP Version	2.2	2.2
USB Input	1 (Front) for USB memory	1 Front
Composite Video Inputs	2	2
Zones	1	1
Analog Tuner	✔ FM/AM with RDS	✔ FM/AM with RDS

Denon AVR-X540BT and Pioneer VSX-831 share common weaknesses such as no Dolby Atmos support, no DTS:X support, no Auro3D support, no MHL input, no DTS Play-Fi, no Amazon Alexa, no SONOS, no analog multi-channel input, no analog pre-outs, no Tidal, no Deezer, no Napster and no SiriusXM.

WEAKNESSES	Denon AVR-X540BT	Pioneer VSX-831
Few Channel Processing	5.1	5.1
No Dolby Atmos	✖	✖
No Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization	✖	✖
No DTS:X	✖	✖
No DTS Neural:X	✖	✖
No DTS Virtual:X	✖	✖
No IMAX Enhanced	✖	✖
No Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixer	✖	✖
No Audyssey Dynamic EQ	✖	✖
No Audyssey Dynamic Volume	✖	✖
No Audyssey LFC	✖	✖
No Audyssey Sub EQ HT	✖	✖
No HDR10+	✖	✖
No Dynamic HDR	✖	✖
No Auto Low Latency Mode Pass-through	✖	✖
No VRR	✖	✖
No QFT	✖	✖
No MHL Input	✖	✖
No FlareConnect	✖	✖
No DTS Play-Fi	✖	✖
Does not Work with Amazon Alexa	✖	✖
Does Not Work with SONOS	✖	✖
No eARC	✖	✖
Few HDMI Outputs	1	1
Few Analog Audio Line Inputs	2	3 (1 front)
No Component Video Inputs	✖	✖
No Multi-Channel Input	✖	✖
No Analog Pre-Outs	0.2	0.2
No Tidal	✖	✖
No Deezer	✖	✖
No Napster	✖	✖
No SiriusXM Internet Radio	✖	✖

Amplifier

Denon AVR-X540BT and Pioneer VSX-831 have 5 channel amplifiers. Denon AVR-X540BT delivers 70 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven) and Pioneer VSX-831 delivers 80 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven)

Video Features

Both receivers support 4K passthrough up to 60p. Pioneer VSX-831 can do 4K upscaling up to 30p. Denon AVR-X540BT supports HDR10 and Pioneer VSX-831 supports HDR10, Dolby Vision.

HDR10

High-dynamic-range (HDR) video has greater dynamic range than standard-dynamic-range (SDR) video with brigter whites and deeper blacks. HDR10 was announced on August 27, 2015, by the Consumer Technology Association and uses the wide-gamut Rec. 2020 color space. It sends static metadata via video stream to the TV which calibrates its screen brightness and color according to that. HDR10 supports up to 1000 nits of brightness and 10-bit color which corresponds to 1024 shades of the primary RGB colors.

Dolby Vision

Dolby Vision is an update to HDR10 by adding dynamic metadata that can be used to more accurately adjust brightness levels up to 10,000 nits maximum brightness on a scene-by-scene or frame-by-frame basis and supports up to 12-bit color depth (4096 shades of RGB) and 8K resolution.

Advanced Sound Retriever

Compressed music enhancement in Pioneer VSX-831 is done by Pioneer’s Advanced Sound Retriever. Hear the detail, warmth and clarity, the way the artist intended it, from all of your highly compressed MP3 and WMA files stored on USB, Smartphone and portable media players. By restoring data that tend to get lost in the digital compression process, Pioneers Advanced Sound Retriever Technology enhances audio reproduction all the way upto 20 Khz frequencies.

Connectivity

Denon AVR-X540BT

Denon AVR-X540BT can also connect to bluetooth devices via built-in bluetooth adapter. It has 5 HDMI inputs with HDCP 2.2 copy protection.

Front panel has USB input.

Pioneer VSX-831

Pioneer VSX-831 can be connected to internet using ethernet cable or built-in wi-fi adapter. It can also connect to bluetooth devices via built-in bluetooth adapter. The Receiver supports AirPlay. It has 6 HDMI inputs with HDCP 2.2 copy protection. There is a phono input with built-in phono stage for connecting the cartridge output of the turntable directly to the Receiver.

Front panel has USB and Mini-Jack inputs.

And in the end let us list the detailed specifications of the receivers side-by-side.

Note: The following table shows only those details which are applicable for both models and excludes the ones that are applicable for only one model. If you want to see a full list of specs for each model please visit their individual pages here - Denon AVR-X540BT and here - Pioneer VSX-831.

BASICS	Denon AVR-X540BT	Pioneer VSX-831
Brand	Denon	Pioneer
Model	AVR-X540BT	VSX-831
Type	A/V Receiver	A/V Receiver
Country	UK	Asia
Release Year	2018	2017

AMPLIFIER	Denon AVR-X540BT	Pioneer VSX-831
Channels	5.2	5.2
THX™ Certification	✖	✖
Continuous 6 Ω Rated	✔	✔
Certified 4 Ω Performance	✖	✖
Bi-amp Capability	✖	✔

AUDIO	Denon AVR-X540BT	Pioneer VSX-831
Maximum Channel Processing	5.1	5.1
Air Studios Monitor Certification	✖	✖
Dolby Atmos	✖	✖
Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization	✖	✖
Dolby TrueHD	✔	✔
Dolby Digital Plus	✔	✔
Dolby Surround Upmixer	✖	✖
Dolby Pro Logic	✔ PLII	✔ PLII
Dolby Digital EX	✖	✖
Surround EX	✖	✖
DTS:X	✖	✖
DTS Neural:X	✖	✖
DTS Virtual:X	✖	✖
DTS Neo	✔ Neo:6	✔ Neo:6
DTS-HD Master Audio	✔	✔
DTS-HD High Resolution Audio	✔	✔
DTS 96/24	✔	✔
DTS Express	✔	✔
DTS-ES	✖	✖
IMAX Enhanced	✖	✖
Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixer	✖	✖
PCM	✔ 2-ch/Multi-ch Input	✔ 2-ch/Multi-ch Input
Music Playback via USB	MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, FLAC	MP3, WMA, AAC, Apple Lossless, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, DSD
High Resolution Music Playback via USB and/or Network	✔ up to 96 kHz	✔ 64, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz/24 bit
High Resolution Audio Formats via USB	FLAC	Apple Lossless, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, DSD
Multi-Channel Music File Playback via USB	✖	✔ up to 192 kHz/24 bit
Gapless Playback	✖	✔
DSD via HDMI	✖	✔ 2-ch/Multi-ch Input
DSD via USB	✖	✔ 2-ch Input
DSD to PCM Converter	✖	✖
USB DAC	✖	✖
Jitter Reduction	✖	✖
Dialog Enhancement	✖	✖
Dialogue Lift	✖	✖
Compressed Music Enhancer	✔	✔ Advanced Sound Retriever
High-resolution Music Enhancer	✖	✖
Audyssey Dynamic EQ	✖	✖
Audyssey Dynamic Volume	✖	✖
Audyssey LFC	✖	✖
Audyssey Sub EQ HT	✖	✖
Audyssey DSX	✖	✖
Direct Mode	✔	✔
Pure Direct Mode	✖	✔
Independent Dual Subwoofer Output	✖	✖

CALIBRATION	Denon AVR-X540BT	Pioneer VSX-831
Auto Speaker Calibration System with Mic.	✔	✔ MCACC

VIDEO	Denon AVR-X540BT	Pioneer VSX-831
HDR10	✔	✔
HDR10+	✖	✖
Dynamic HDR	✖	✖
BT.2020 color space	✔	✔
Dolby Vision	✖	✔
Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG)	✖	✖
Quick Media Switching (QMS)	✖	✖
Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)	✖	✖
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)	✖	✖
Quick Frame Transport (QFT)	✖	✖
3-D Ready	✔	✔
Video Signal Passthrough	up to 4K 50/60Hz 4:4:4	up to 4K/60p (4:4:4 24-bit) 4K/60p (4:2:0 36-bit) 4K/24p (4:4:4 36-bit)
Video Signal Upscaling	✖	✔ up to 4K
Analog To HDMI Upconversion	✖	✔ Composite
Analog to Analog Video conversion	✖	✖
isf Certified Calibration Control	✖	✖

CONNECTIVITY	Denon AVR-X540BT	Pioneer VSX-831
MHL Input	✖	✖
FireConnect	✖	✔
FlareConnect	✖	✖
Chromecast Built-In	✖	✔
DTS Play-Fi	✖	✖
Works with Amazon Alexa	✖	✖
Works with SONOS	✖	✖
AirPlay	✖	✔ AirPlay
Apple Product Connection	✔ iPod, iPhone and iPad	✔ iPod, iPhone and iPad (Airplay only)
Remote App	✔ Denon 500 Series Bluetooth Remote App for iOS and Android devices and Amazon Kindle	✔ iControlAV5 (for iOS and Android)
InstaPrevue Input Source Prevue	✖	✖
Ethernet	✖	✔
Ethernet Switch	✖	✖
Wi-Fi	✖	✔
Bluetooth	✔ SBC, AAC	✔
HDBaseT Compatible	✖	✖
Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC)	✖	✖
HDCP Version	2.2	2.2
HDMI Inputs	5	6
HDMI Outputs	1	1
USB Input	1 (Front) for USB memory	1 Front
USB DC Out Port	✖	✖
Analog Audio Line Inputs	2	3 (1 front)
Analog Audio Line Outputs	✖	✖
Phono Input	✖	✔
Optical Inputs	2	1
Optical Outputs	✖	✖
Coaxial Inputs/Outputs	1 / No	1 / No
Composite Video Inputs	2	2
Composite Video Outputs	1	✖
S-Video Inputs	✖	✖
S-Video Outputs	✖	✖
Component Video Inputs	✖	✖
Component Video Outputs	✖	✖
PC In	✖	✖
Multi-Channel Input	✖	✖
Analog Pre-Outs	0.2	0.2
XLR Inputs	✖	✖
XLR Pre-outs	✖	✖
Front A/V Inputs	USB	USB, Mini-Jack
Speaker A/B	✖	✖
Headphone Out	✔ 6.3 mm	✔ 6.3 mm

ZONES	Denon AVR-X540BT	Pioneer VSX-831
Zones	1	1
RS-232 Interface	✖	✖
+12V Trigger Output	✖	✖
Remote (IR) Input/Output	0 / 0	0 / 0

MISC	Denon AVR-X540BT	Pioneer VSX-831
On-Screen Display	✔	Icon-based Graphical User Interface (GUI)
Remote Controller	RC-1216	✔
Detachable Power Cord	✔	✖

RADIO	Denon AVR-X540BT	Pioneer VSX-831
Analog Tuner	✔ FM/AM with RDS	✔ FM/AM with RDS
Digital Radio	✖	✖
Internet Radio	✖	✔ TuneIn
Pandora	✖	✔
Spotify	✖	✔
Tidal	✖	✖
Deezer	✖	✖
Napster	✖	✖
SiriusXM Internet Radio	✖	✖

CONSTRUCTION	Denon AVR-X540BT	Pioneer VSX-831
Front Panel	Not Metal	Brushed
Speaker Terminals	5	5
Large Speaker Terminals	✖	5
Color-Coded Speaker Terminals	✔	✖
Transparent High-Grade Speaker Terminals	✖	✖
Gold plated RCA terminals	✖	✖

POWER	Denon AVR-X540BT	Pioneer VSX-831
Power Supply	AC 230 V, 50/60 Hz	AC 220-240 V, 50/60 Hz
Power Consumption	310 W	390 W
No Sound Power	ECO On/Off: 26 W/35 W	45 W
Standby Power	0.1 W	0.15 W

GENERAL	Denon AVR-X540BT	Pioneer VSX-831
Auto Power off	✔	✔
Dimensions (W x H x D)	434 mm x 151 mm x 319mm 17 1/8" x 6" x 12 5/8"	435 mm x 173 mm x 370.5 mm 17-1/8" x 6-13/16" x 14-9/16"
Weight	7.5 kg	9.2 kg (20.3 lbs)
Warranty	3 Years	1 Year Parts & Labor

SPECS	Denon AVR-X540BT	Pioneer VSX-831
Power Output (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven, FTC)	70 W (0.08% THD)	80 W (0.08% THD)
Maximum Effective Power Output (6 Ω, 1 kHz, 1 channel driven, JEITA or IEC)	140 W (10% THD)	160 W (10% THD)
Rated Power Output (6 Ω, 1 kHz, 1 channel driven, IEC)	130 W (1% THD)	130 W (1% THD)
Input Sensitivity and Impedance (Line)	200 mV/47 kΩ	200 mV/47 kΩ
S/N Ratio (Line, IHF-A)	98 dB	106 dB
Frequency Response (Analog In)	+1/-3 dB (10 Hz to 100 kHz, Direct mode)	10 Hz - 100 kHz/+1 dB, -3 dB (Pure Direct)
Bluetooth Version	2.1 + EDR	4.1 + LE
Bluetooth Frequency	2.4 GHz	2.4 GHz
USB Terminal	USB2.0 5V, 1 A	USB2.0 (Type A) 5 V, 1 A
FM Frequency	87.5 MHz - 108.0 MHz	87.5 MHz - 108.0 MHz
AM Frequency	522 kHz - 1611 kHz	522/530 kHz - 1611/1710 kHz

* - 480i/576i and 480p/576p only
** - 480i/576i only
*** - no 1080p/24 upconversion
**** - 1080p signal is not converted