Here we are comparing Denon AVR-X1200W to Pioneer VSX-1131 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 7 channel amplifiers with Denon AVR-X1200W's being less powerful.

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

We have evaluated both receivers. Pioneer VSX-1131 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-X1200W over Pioneer VSX-1131.

In video department only Denon AVR-X1200W supports Hybrid Log Gamma.

	Denon AVR-X1200W	Pioneer VSX-1131
Certified 4 Ω Performance	✔	✖
Dolby Digital EX	✔	✖
Audyssey Dynamic EQ	✔	✖
Audyssey Dynamic Volume	✔	✖
HLG	✔	✖
Auto Low Latency Mode Pass-through	✔	✖
DLNA 1.5	✔	✖
More Composite Video Outputs	1	✖
Detachable Power Cord	✔	✖
Analog Tuner	✔ FM/AM with RDS	✔ FM/AM
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-1131 over Denon AVR-X1200W.

Pioneer VSX-1131 has more power per channel, bigger power supply, higher signal to noise ratio, higher DSD sampling rate via USB, higher wi-fi standard and higher bluetooth standard. It supports DSD streaming via HDMI and Pandora. It has phono input.

	Denon AVR-X1200W	Pioneer VSX-1131
Multi-Channel Music File Playback via USB	✖	✔ up to 192 kHz/24 bit
DSD via HDMI	✖	✔ 2-ch/Multi-ch Input
Video Signal Upscaling	✖	✔ up to 4K
Analog To HDMI Upconversion	✖	✔ Component**, Composite
FireConnect	✖	✔
Chromecast Built-In	✖	✔
More HDMI Inputs	6 (1 front)	7 (1 front)
More HDMI Outputs	1	2 (simultaneous)
More Analog Audio Line Inputs	2	5 (1 front)
Phono Input	✖	✔
More Coaxial Inputs/Outputs	✖ / ✖	1 / No
More Component Video Inputs	✖	1
Front A/V Inputs	HDMI, USB	HDMI, USB, Mini-Jack
Zone 2 Outs	✖	Line Out
Pandora	✖	✔
More Speaker Terminals	7	9
More Large Speaker Terminals	7	9
Bigger Power Supply	430 W	580 W
Higher Power Output (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven, FTC)	80 W (0.08% THD)	100 W (0.08% THD)
Higher Power Output (6 Ω, 1 kHz, 1 channel driven, IEC)	145 W (1% THD)	160 W (1% THD)
Higher S/N Ratio (Line, IHF-A)	98 dB	106 dB
Higher DSD Sampling Rate via USB	2.8 MHz	5.6 MHz, 2.8 MHz
Wi-Fi Standard	IEEE 802.11 b/g/n	IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n
Wi-Fi Terminal Frequency	2.4 GHz	Dual band 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz
Newer Bluetooth Version	2.1 + EDR	4.1 + LE
Wider AM Frequency Range	522 kHz - 1611 kHz	530 kHz - 1710 kHz

Denon AVR-X1200W and Pioneer VSX-1131 share common strengths such as Dolby Atmos support, DTS:X support, HDR10, Dolby Vision, ethernet connection, wi-fi, bluetooth, internet radio and Spotify.

STRENGTHS	Denon AVR-X1200W	Pioneer VSX-1131
Dolby Atmos	✔	✔
DTS:X	✔	✔
DTS Neural:X	✔	✔
DSD via USB	✔ 2-ch Input	✔ 2-ch Input
HDR10	✔	✔
Dolby Vision	✔	✔
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)
Ethernet	✔	✔
Wi-Fi	✔	✔
Bluetooth	✔	✔
New HDCP Version	2.2	2.2
USB Input	1 (Front) for iPod/iPhone and USB memory	1 Front
Composite Video Inputs	2	2
Zones	2	2
Analog Tuner	✔ FM/AM with RDS	✔ FM/AM
Internet Radio	✔ vTuner	✔ TuneIn
Spotify	✔	✔

Denon AVR-X1200W and Pioneer VSX-1131 share common weaknesses such as no front wide channel 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-X1200W	Pioneer VSX-1131
No Front Wide Channel Support	✖	✖
No Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization	✖	✖
No DTS Virtual:X	✖	✖
No IMAX Enhanced	✖	✖
No Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixer	✖	✖
No Audyssey LFC	✖	✖
No Audyssey Sub EQ HT	✖	✖
No HDR10+	✖	✖
No Dynamic HDR	✖	✖
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	✖	✖
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-X1200W and Pioneer VSX-1131 have 7 channel amplifiers. Denon AVR-X1200W delivers 80 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven) and Pioneer VSX-1131 delivers 100 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven) and they both have stable performance at 4 Ω load.

Video Features

Both receivers support 4K passthrough up to 60p. Pioneer VSX-1131 can do 4K upscaling up to 30p. The receivers support 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.

Dolby Atmos and Dolby Surround upmixer

Denon AVR-X1200W and Pioneer VSX-1131 support Dolby Atmos with its Dolby Surround upmixer. They can be configured upto 5.1.2 channels using internal amplifiers.

Dolby Atmos is the first cinematic audio format in which sounds exist as individual entities, called audio objects. In Dolby Atmos, any sound - the helicopter, a car screeching around a corner, a melodic bird call - can exist as an independent audio object, free of channel restrictions. They can be precisely placed and moved anywhere in your room, including overhead, to flow above and around you in three-dimensional space. Through the use of audio objects, overhead sound, and all the richness, clarity, and power of Dolby sound, Dolby Atmos turns your room into an amazing place for entertainment. You'll feel like you're inside the action, in ways you've never experienced before.

Dolby Atmos for the home represents every sound in the original cinema mix as an audio object. Extensions to the Dolby Audio™ codecs, along with an advanced scalable algorithm, allow Dolby Atmos to be delivered via Blu-ray Disc and streaming media. A spatially-coded substream is added to Dolby TrueHD or Dolby Digital Plus. A Dolby Atmos audio/video receiver (AVR) adapts the cinema experience to your home theater from seven speakers to as many as 34 in 24.1.10 configuration, recreating the original artistic concept. The format supports up to 128 simultaneous independent audio objects in a mix for rich, realistic, and breathtaking sound. It recreates the director's original concept through descriptive metadata to provide customized playback for home theater and delivers sounds above you through overhead speakers, special upward-firing Dolby Atmos speakers, or a Dolby Atmos enabled sound bar.

If the content is not mixed in Dolby Atmos then the Dolby surround upmixer will expand the audio to all channels including ceiling speakers. The upmixer has replaced the Dolby Pro Logic II family with improved upmixing algorithms.

DTS:X and Neural:X upmixer

Denon AVR-X1200W and Pioneer VSX-1131 support DTS:X with its Neural:X upmixer. Both of them can be configured upto 5.1.2 channels using internal amplifiers.

A technique used in DTS:X is similar to the one used in Dolby Atmos. Instead of a fixed number of channels, DTS:X defines object locations from the listener in polar coordinates. An a/v receiver then dynamically renders sound according to the current speaker configuration. The speaker layout employed by DTS:X is the sum of Dolby Atmos and Auro-3D. It has standard 7.1 channel base layer, a 5 channel height layer above the base layer on the front and side walls, and 3 rows of speakers on the ceiling.

DTS Neural:X is an upmixer that can take non DTS:X content and upmix it to the DTS:X speaker layout. It has replaced the DTS Neo family with improved flexibility.

Advanced Sound Retriever

Compressed music enhancement in Pioneer VSX-1131 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-X1200W

Denon AVR-X1200W 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.

Front panel has HDMI and USB inputs.

Pioneer VSX-1131

Pioneer VSX-1131 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 7 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 HDMI, 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-X1200W and here - Pioneer VSX-1131.

BASICS	Denon AVR-X1200W	Pioneer VSX-1131
Brand	Denon	Pioneer
Model	AVR-X1200W	VSX-1131
Type	A/V Receiver	A/V Receiver
Country	UK	North America
Release Year	2015	2017

AMPLIFIER	Denon AVR-X1200W	Pioneer VSX-1131
Channels	7.2	7.2
Front Wide Channel Support	✖	✖
THX™ Certification	✖	✖
Continuous 6 Ω Rated	✔	✔
Certified 4 Ω Performance	✔	✖
Bi-amp Capability	✔ assignable	✔

AUDIO	Denon AVR-X1200W	Pioneer VSX-1131
Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Engine	Advanced quad-core 32-bit DSP processors	Cirrus Logic (Quad Core) x 1
Maximum Channel Processing	7.1	7.1
Air Studios Monitor Certification	✖	✖
Dolby Atmos	✔	✔
Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization	✖	✖
Dolby TrueHD	✔	✔
Dolby Digital Plus	✔	✔
Dolby Surround Upmixer	✔	✔
Dolby Pro Logic	✖	✖
Dolby Digital EX	✔	✖
Surround EX	✖	✖
DTS:X	✔	✔
DTS Neural:X	✔	✔
DTS Virtual:X	✖	✖
DTS Neo	✖	✖
DTS-HD Master Audio	✔	✔
DTS-HD High Resolution Audio	✔	✔
DTS 96/24	✔	✔
DTS Express	✔	✔
DTS-ES	✔ Discrete 6.1, Matrix 6.1	✔ Discrete 6.1, Matrix 6.1
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, Apple Lossless, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, DSD	MP3, WMA, AAC, Apple Lossless, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, DSD
High Resolution Music Playback via USB and/or Network	✔ up to 192 kHz	✔ 64, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz/24 bit
High Resolution Audio Formats via USB	Apple Lossless, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, DSD	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	✔ 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-X1200W	Pioneer VSX-1131
Auto Speaker Calibration System with Mic.	✔ Audyssey MultEQ XT	✔ MCACC

VIDEO	Denon AVR-X1200W	Pioneer VSX-1131
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	✖	✔ Component**, Composite
Component Video Upscaling	✖	✖
Analog to Analog Video conversion	✖	✖
isf Certified Calibration Control	✖	✖

CONNECTIVITY	Denon AVR-X1200W	Pioneer VSX-1131
MHL Input	✖	✖
DLNA 1.5	✔	✖
FireConnect	✖	✔
FlareConnect	✖	✖
Chromecast Built-In	✖	✔
DTS Play-Fi	✖	✖
Works with Amazon Alexa	✖	✖
Works with SONOS	✖	✖
AirPlay	✔ AirPlay	✔ AirPlay
Apple Product Connection	✔ iPod, iPhone and iPad	✔ iPod, iPhone and iPad (Airplay only)
Remote App	✔ Denon Remote App for iOS and Android devices	✔ iControlAV5 (for iOS and Android)
InstaPrevue Input Source Prevue	✖	✖
Ethernet	✔	✔
Ethernet Switch	✖	✖
Wi-Fi	✔	✔
Bluetooth	✔	✔
HDBaseT Compatible	✖	✖
Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC)	✖	✖
HDCP Version	2.2	2.2
HDMI Inputs	6 (1 front)	7 (1 front)
HDMI Outputs	1	2 (simultaneous)
USB Input	1 (Front) for iPod/iPhone and USB memory	1 Front
USB DC Out Port	✖	✖
Analog Audio Line Inputs	2	5 (1 front)
Analog Audio Line Outputs	✖	✖
Phono Input	✖	✔
Optical Inputs	2	2
Optical Outputs	✖	✖
Coaxial Inputs/Outputs	✖ / ✖	1 / No
Composite Video Inputs	2	2
Composite Video Outputs	1	✖
S-Video Inputs	✖	✖
S-Video Outputs	✖	✖
Component Video Inputs	✖	1
Component Video Outputs	✖	✖
PC In	✖	✖
Multi-Channel Input	✖	✖
Analog Pre-Outs	0.2	0.2
XLR Inputs	✖	✖
XLR Pre-outs	✖	✖
Front A/V Inputs	HDMI, USB	HDMI, USB, Mini-Jack
Speaker A/B	✔ assignable	✔
Headphone Out	✔ 6.3 mm	✔ 6.3 mm

ZONES	Denon AVR-X1200W	Pioneer VSX-1131
Zones	2	2
Powered Zones	✔ 2	✔ 2
Zone 2 Outs	✖	Line Out
RS-232 Interface	✖	✖
+12V Trigger Output	✖	✖
Remote (IR) Input/Output	0 / 0	0 / 0

MISC	Denon AVR-X1200W	Pioneer VSX-1131
On-Screen Display	✔ Hybrid Graphic User Interface	Icon-based Graphical User Interface (GUI)
Remote Controller	RC-1189	✔
Detachable Power Cord	✔	✖

RADIO	Denon AVR-X1200W	Pioneer VSX-1131
Analog Tuner	✔ FM/AM with RDS	✔ FM/AM
Digital Radio	✖	✖
Internet Radio	✔ vTuner	✔ TuneIn
Pandora	✖	✔
Spotify	✔	✔
Tidal	✖	✖
Deezer	✖	✖
Napster	✖	✖
SiriusXM Internet Radio	✖	✖

CONSTRUCTION	Denon AVR-X1200W	Pioneer VSX-1131
Front Panel	Brushed hairline metalized finish	Brushed
Speaker Terminals	7	9
Large Speaker Terminals	7	9
Color-Coded Speaker Terminals	✔	✖
Transparent High-Grade Speaker Terminals	✖	✖
Gold plated RCA terminals	✖	✖

POWER	Denon AVR-X1200W	Pioneer VSX-1131
Power Supply	AC 230 V, 50/60 Hz	AC 120 V, 60 Hz
Power Consumption	430 W	580 W
No Sound Power	ECO On/Off: 30 W/45 W	65 W
Standby Power	0.1 W	0.1 W

GENERAL	Denon AVR-X1200W	Pioneer VSX-1131
Auto Power off	✔	✔
Dimensions (W x H x D)	434 mm x 151 mm x 339 mm (with antenna: 434 mm x 215 mm x 339 mm) 17-1/16" x 5-15/16" x 13-3/8" (with antenna up: 17-1/16" x 8-7/16" x 13-3/8")	435 mm x 173 mm x 370.5 mm 17-1/8" x 6-13/16" x 14-9/16"
Weight	8.5 kg (18 lbs 12 oz)	10.0 kg (22 lbs)
Warranty	3 Years	1 Year Parts & Labor

SPECS	Denon AVR-X1200W	Pioneer VSX-1131
Power Output (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven, FTC)	80 W (0.08% THD)	100 W (0.08% THD)
Maximum Effective Power Output (6 Ω, 1 kHz, 1 channel driven, JEITA or IEC)	175 W (10% THD)	175 W (10% THD)
Rated Power Output (6 Ω, 1 kHz, 1 channel driven, IEC)	145 W (1% THD)	160 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)
DSD Sampling Rates via USB	2.8 MHz	5.6 MHz, 2.8 MHz
Video Input Sensitivity/Output Level and Impedance	1 Vp-p/75 Ω (Composite)	1 Vp-p/75 Ω (Component Y) 0.7 Vp-p/75 Ω (Component PB/CB, PR/CR) 1 Vp-p/75 Ω (Composite)
Ethernet Standard	100BASE-TX	10BASE-T/100BASE-TX
Wi-Fi Standard	IEEE 802.11 b/g/n	IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n
Wi-Fi Terminal Frequency	2.4 GHz	Dual band 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz
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 - 107.9 MHz
AM Frequency	522 kHz - 1611 kHz	530 kHz - 1710 kHz

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