Pioneer VSX-524-K
Pioneer VSX-523-K
Highlights
- 5.1 channels
- 5.1 channel processing
- 80 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven)
- 4K Passthrough
- USB input
Highlights
- 5.1 channels
- 5.1 channel processing
- 80 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven)
- 4K Passthrough
- AirPlay, DLNA
- USB input
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Overview
Here we are comparing Pioneer VSX-524-K to Pioneer VSX-523-K 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 and equally powerful amplifiers.
We have evaluated both receivers. Pioneer VSX-523-K 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.
Pioneer VSX-524-K
Pioneer VSX-523-K
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...
Advantage of Pioneer VSX-524-K
This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Pioneer VSX-524-K over Pioneer VSX-523-K.
| Pioneer VSX-524-K | vs | Pioneer VSX-523-K | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video Signal Passthrough | up to 4K/60p/4:2:0/24-bit 4K/24p/4:4:4/24-bit 4K/24p/4:2:2/36-bit |
vs | up to 4K/30p |
Advantage of Pioneer VSX-523-K
This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Pioneer VSX-524-K over Pioneer VSX-523-K.
| Pioneer VSX-524-K | vs | Pioneer VSX-523-K | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DLNA 1.5 | vs | ||
| AirPlay | vs | AirPlay |
Common Strengths and Weaknesses
Here we list common strengths and weaknesses of both receivers.
PROS |
|---|
| 👍 Dolby TrueHD |
| 👍 Dolby Digital Plus |
| 👍 Dolby Pro Logic |
| 👍 DTS Neo |
| 👍 DTS-HD Master Audio |
| 👍 DTS 96/24 |
| 👍 DTS Express |
| 👍 DSD via HDMI |
| 👍 DTS Dialog Control |
| 👍 Sound Retriever |
| 👍 Compressed Music Enhancer |
| 👍 Auto Speaker Calibration System with Mic. |
| 👍 3-D Ready |
| 👍 4K or 8K Video Passthrough |
| 👍 USB Input |
| 👍 Composite Video Inputs |
| 👍 Composite Video Outputs |
| 👍 Zones |
| 👍 Analog Tuner |
CONS |
|---|
| 👍 Not Certified 4 Ω Performance |
| 👍 No Bi-amp Capability |
| 👍 Few Channel Processing |
| 👍 No Dolby Atmos |
| 👍 No Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization |
| 👍 No Dolby Surround Upmixer |
| 👍 No DTS:X |
| 👍 No DTS Neural:X |
| 👍 No DTS Virtual:X |
| 👍 No DTS-HD High Resolution Audio |
| 👍 No IMAX Enhanced |
| 👍 No Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixer |
| 👍 No High Resolution Music Playback via USB and/or Network |
| 👍 No Gapless Playback |
| 👍 No Sound Retriever AIR |
| 👍 No High-resolution Music Enhancer |
| 👍 No HDR10 |
| 👍 No HDR10+ |
| 👍 No BT.2020 color space |
| 👍 No Dolby Vision |
| 👍 No Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) |
| 👍 No 4K or 8K Video Upscaling |
| 👍 No Chromecast Built-In |
| 👍 Does not Work with Amazon Alexa |
| 👍 Does Not Work with SONOS |
| 👍 No Ethernet |
| 👍 No Wi-Fi |
| 👍 No Bluetooth |
| 👍 No eARC |
| 👍 Few HDMI Inputs |
| 👍 Few HDMI Outputs |
| 👍 Few Analog Audio Line Inputs |
| 👍 No Phono Input |
| 👍 No Component Video Inputs |
| 👍 No Multi-Channel Input |
| 👍 No Analog Pre-Outs |
| 👍 No Pandora |
| 👍 No Spotify |
| 👍 No Tidal |
| 👍 No Deezer |
| 👍 No Napster |
| 👍 No SiriusXM Internet Radio |
Amplifier
Pioneer VSX-524-K and Pioneer VSX-523-K have 5 channel amplifiers. They both deliver 80 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven)
Video Features
Pioneer VSX-524-K supports 4K passthrough up to 60p and Pioneer VSX-523-K supports 4K passthrough up to 30p.
Advanced Sound Retriever
Compressed music enhancement in Pioneer VSX-524-K and Pioneer VSX-523-K 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
Pioneer VSX-524-K
Pioneer VSX-524-K has 4 HDMI inputs.
Front panel has USB input.
Pioneer VSX-523-K
Pioneer VSX-523-K supports AirPlay. It has 4 HDMI inputs with HDCP 2.2 copy protection.
Front panel has USB input.
Side by Side Comparison
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 - Pioneer VSX-524-K and here - Pioneer VSX-523-K.
| BASICS | Pioneer VSX-524-K | vs | Pioneer VSX-523-K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Pioneer | vs | Pioneer |
| Model | VSX-524-K | vs | VSX-523-K |
| Type | A/V Receiver | vs | A/V Receiver |
| Country | USA | vs | USA |
| Release Year | 2014 | vs | 2013 |
| AMPLIFIER | Pioneer VSX-524-K | vs | Pioneer VSX-523-K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Channels | 5.1 | vs | 5.1 |
| Amplifier Design | Discrete Direct Energy | vs | Discrete Direct Energy |
| THX™ Certification | vs | ||
| Continuous 6 Ω Rated | vs | ||
| Certified 4 Ω Performance | vs | ||
| Bi-amp Capability | vs |
| AUDIO | Pioneer VSX-524-K | vs | Pioneer VSX-523-K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Engine | Texas Instruments Aureus | vs | Texas Instruments Aureus |
| Maximum Channel Processing | 5.1 | vs | 5.1 |
| Air Studios Monitor Certification | vs | ||
| Dolby Atmos | vs | ||
| Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization | vs | ||
| Dolby TrueHD | vs | ||
| Dolby Digital Plus | vs | ||
| Dolby Surround Upmixer | vs | ||
| Dolby Pro Logic | PLII | vs | PLII |
| Dolby Digital EX | vs | ||
| Surround EX | vs | ||
| DTS:X | vs | ||
| DTS Neural:X | vs | ||
| DTS Virtual:X | vs | ||
| DTS Neo | Neo:6 | vs | Neo:6 |
| DTS-HD Master Audio | vs | ||
| DTS-HD High Resolution Audio | vs | ||
| DTS 96/24 | vs | ||
| DTS Express | vs | ||
| DTS-ES | vs | ||
| IMAX Enhanced | vs | ||
| Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixer | vs | ||
| PCM | 2-ch/Multi-ch Input | vs | 2-ch/Multi-ch Input |
| Music Playback via USB | MP3, WMA, AAC | vs | MP3, WMA, AAC |
| High Resolution Music Playback via USB and/or Network | vs | 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz/24 bit | |
| High Resolution Audio Formats via USB | vs | ||
| Multi-Channel Music File Playback via USB | vs | ||
| Gapless Playback | vs | ||
| DSD via HDMI | 2-ch Input | vs | 2-ch Input |
| DSD to PCM Converter | vs | ||
| USB DAC | vs | ||
| Jitter Reduction | vs | ||
| Auto Level Control | 2 Channel | vs | 2 Channel |
| Dialog Enhancement | vs | ||
| Dialogue Lift | vs | ||
| Sound Retriever | Advanced (2-Channel) | vs | Advanced (2-Channel) |
| Sound Retriever AIR | vs | ||
| Digital Noise Reduction | vs | ||
| Tone Control | Front L/R Channels | vs | Front L/R Channels |
| Compressed Music Enhancer | Advanced Sound Retriever | vs | Advanced Sound Retriever |
| High-resolution Music Enhancer | vs | ||
| Audyssey Dynamic EQ | vs | ||
| Audyssey Dynamic Volume | vs | ||
| Audyssey LFC | vs | ||
| Audyssey Sub EQ HT | vs | ||
| Audyssey DSX | vs | ||
| Direct Mode | vs | ||
| Pure Direct Mode | vs | ||
| Auto Surround | vs | ||
| Optimum Surround | vs | ||
| Advanced Surround | 9+1 Mode DSP | vs | 9+1 Mode DSP |
| Wide Surround | vs | ||
| Front Stage Surround Advance | vs | ||
| Headphone Surround | vs | ||
| Virtual Speakers | vs | ||
| Virtual Depth | vs | ||
| Independent Dual Subwoofer Output | vs |
| CALIBRATION | Pioneer VSX-524-K | vs | Pioneer VSX-523-K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto Speaker Calibration System with Mic. | MCACC Auto | vs | MCACC Auto |
| Manual MCACC | vs | ||
| MCACC Memory | 1 | vs | 1 |
| Phase Control | vs | ||
| Full Band Phase Control | vs | ||
| Standing Wave Control | vs | ||
| EQ Bands | 5-Band | vs | 5-Band |
| Symmetric EQ | vs | ||
| X-Curve | vs | ||
| Distance Adjustment | 0.1 Feet | vs | 0.1 Feet |
| Precision Distance | vs | ||
| Polarity Check | vs | ||
| Auto Subwoofer Crossover | vs |
| VIDEO | Pioneer VSX-524-K | vs | Pioneer VSX-523-K |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDR10 | vs | ||
| HDR10+ | vs | ||
| BT.2020 color space | vs | ||
| Dolby Vision | vs | ||
| HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma) | vs | ||
| QMS (Quick Media Switching) | vs | ||
| ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) | vs | ||
| VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) | vs | ||
| QFT (Quick Frame transport) | vs | ||
| 3-D Ready | vs | ||
| Video Signal Passthrough | up to 4K/60p/4:2:0/24-bit 4K/24p/4:4:4/24-bit 4K/24p/4:2:2/36-bit | vs | up to 4K/30p |
| Video Signal Upscaling | vs | ||
| Analog To HDMI Upconversion | vs | ||
| Component Video Upscaling | vs | ||
| Analog to Analog Video conversion | vs | ||
| Stream Smoother | vs | ||
| Pure Cinema | vs | ||
| Video Parameter Adjustments | vs | ||
| Triple HD Noise Reduction | vs | ||
| Super Resolution | vs | ||
| isf Certified Calibration Control | vs |
| CONNECTIVITY | Pioneer VSX-524-K | vs | Pioneer VSX-523-K |
|---|---|---|---|
| MHL Input | vs | ||
| DLNA 1.5 | vs | ||
| FireConnect | vs | ||
| FlareConnect | vs | ||
| Chromecast Built-In | vs | ||
| DTS Play-Fi | vs | ||
| Works with Amazon Alexa | vs | ||
| Works with SONOS | vs | ||
| AirPlay | vs | AirPlay | |
| Apple Product Connection | iPod and iPhone via front USB | vs | iPod and iPhone via front USB |
| Remote App | vs | ||
| InstaPrevue Input Source Prevue | vs | ||
| Ethernet | vs | ||
| Ethernet Switch | vs | ||
| Wi-Fi | vs | ||
| Bluetooth | vs | ||
| HDBaseT Compatible | vs | ||
| Enhanced ARC | vs | ||
| HDMI Input | 4 | vs | 4 |
| HDMI Output | 1 | vs | 1 |
| USB Input | 1 Front | vs | 1 Front |
| USB DC Out Port | vs | ||
| Analog Audio Line Input | 3 | vs | 3 |
| Analog Audio Line Output | vs | ||
| Phono Input | vs | ||
| Optical In | 1 | vs | 1 |
| Optical Out | vs | ||
| Coaxial In/Out | 1 / | vs | 1 / |
| Composite Video Input | 2 | vs | 2 |
| Composite Video Output | 1 | vs | 1 |
| S-Video Input | vs | ||
| S-Video Output | vs | ||
| Component Video Input | vs | ||
| Component Video Output | vs | ||
| PC In | vs | ||
| Multi-Channel Input | vs | ||
| Analog Pre-Outs | 0.1 | vs | 0.1 |
| XLR Inputs | vs | ||
| XLR Pre-outs | vs | ||
| Front A/V Inputs | USB | vs | USB |
| Speaker A/B | vs | ||
| Headphone Out | 6.3 mm | vs | 6.3 mm |
| ZONES | Pioneer VSX-524-K | vs | Pioneer VSX-523-K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zones | 1 | vs | 1 |
| RS-232 | vs | ||
| +12V Trigger Output | vs | ||
| Remote (IR) Input/Output | 0 / 0 | vs | 0 / 0 |
| MISC | Pioneer VSX-524-K | vs | Pioneer VSX-523-K |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-Screen Display | Analog Only | vs | Composite Video Only |
| AVNavigator | vs | ||
| IP Control for CI | vs | ||
| PreAmp Mode | vs | ||
| Versatile Speaker Configuration | vs | ||
| FL Dimmer | vs | ||
| Function Rename | vs | ||
| Remote Controller | System Remote Control | vs | System Remote Control |
| Detachable Power Cord | vs | ||
| adapterport | vs |
| RADIO | Pioneer VSX-524-K | vs | Pioneer VSX-523-K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analog Tuner | FM/AM | vs | FM/AM |
| Presets | 30 | vs | 30 |
| Digital Radio | vs | ||
| Internet Radio | vs | ||
| Pandora | vs | ||
| Spotify | vs | ||
| Tidal | vs | ||
| Deezer | vs | ||
| Napster | vs | ||
| SiriusXM Internet Radio | vs |
| CONSTRUCTION | Pioneer VSX-524-K | vs | Pioneer VSX-523-K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front Panel | Brushed | vs | Brushed |
| Solid Aluminum Front | vs | ||
| Speaker Terminals | 5 | vs | 5 |
| Large Speaker Terminals | 2 | vs | 2 |
| Color-Coded Speaker Terminals | vs | ||
| 3D Space Frame Construction | vs | ||
| Gold plated RCA terminals | vs |
| POWER | Pioneer VSX-524-K | vs | Pioneer VSX-523-K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Supply | AC 120 V, 60 Hz | vs | AC 120 V, 60 Hz |
| Low Leakage Flux Power Transformer | vs | ||
| Transformer Stabilizer | vs | ||
| Power Consumption | 415 W | vs | 415 W |
| Standby Power | 0.1 W | vs | 0.1 W |
| GENERAL | Pioneer VSX-524-K | vs | Pioneer VSX-523-K |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECO Mode / Hybrid Standby Function | vs | ||
| Auto Power Standby | vs | ||
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 435 mm x 168 mm x 331..5 mm 17-1/8" x 6-5/8" x 13-1/16" | vs | 435 mm x 168 mm x 331.5 mm 17-1/8" x 6-5/8" x 13-1/16" |
| Weight | 8.3 kg (18 lb 5 oz) | vs | 8.3 kg (18 lb 5 oz) |
| Warranty | 1 Year | vs | 1 Year |
| SPECS | Pioneer VSX-524-K | vs | Pioneer VSX-523-K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Output (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 | 80 W (0.08% THD) | vs | 80 W (0.08% THD) |
| Power Output (6 Ω, 1 kHz, 1 channel driven, FTC) | 140 W (1% THD) | vs | 140 W (1% THD) |
| Input Sensitivity and Impedance (Line) | 200 mV/47 kΩ (Line) | vs | 200 mV/47 kΩ (Line) |
| S/N Ratio (Line, IHF-A) | 98 dB | vs | 98 dB |
| S/N Ratio (Line, EIA, at 1 W (1 kHz)) | 79 dB | vs | 79 dB |
| DSD Sampling Rates via HDMI | 2.8 MHz | vs | 2.8 MHz |
| Video Input Sensitivity/Output Level and Impedance | 1 Vp-p/75 Ω (Composite) | vs | 1 Vp-p/75 Ω (Composite) |
| Ethernet Standard | vs | ||
| HDMI Terminal | Type A (19-pin) | vs | Type A (19-pin) |
| HDMI Output Type | 5 V, 100 mA | vs | 5 V, 100 mA |
| USB Terminal | USB2.0 (Type A) 5 V, 1 A | vs | USB2.0 (Type A) 5 V, 1 A |
| Extension Terminal | vs | ||
| FM Frequency | 87.5 MHz - 108 MHz | vs | 87.5 MHz - 108 MHz |
| AM Frequency | 530 kHz - 1700 kHz | vs | 530 kHz - 1700 kHz |
* - 480i/576i and 480p/576p only
** - 480i/576i only
*** - no 1080p/24 upconversion
**** - 1080p signal is not converted
