Here we are comparing Pioneer VSX-531 to Pioneer VSX-530-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.

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

We have evaluated both receivers. Pioneer VSX-531 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 Pioneer VSX-531 over Pioneer VSX-530-K.

In video department only Pioneer VSX-531 supports HDR10.

	Pioneer VSX-531	Pioneer VSX-530-K
Auto Level Control	✔	✖
HDR10	✔	✖
Front A/V Inputs	USB, Mini-Jack	USB

This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Pioneer VSX-530-K over Pioneer VSX-531.

Pioneer VSX-530-K has bigger power supply.

	Pioneer VSX-531	Pioneer VSX-530-K
Front Stage Surround Advance	✖	✔
Headphone Surround	✖	✔
Super Resolution	✖	✔
MHL Input	✖	✔ 1 Rear (Version 2.0)
DLNA 1.5	✖	✔
AirPlay	✖	✔ AirPlay
Remote Controll App	✖	✔ iControlAV5 (for iOS and Android)
Bigger Power Supply	210 W	415 W

Pioneer VSX-531 and Pioneer VSX-530-K share common strengths such as bluetooth.

STRENGTHS	Pioneer VSX-531	Pioneer VSX-530-K
DSD via HDMI	✔ 2-ch Input	✔ 2-ch Input
4K or 8K Video Passthrough	up to 4K/60p (4:4:4)	up to 4K/60p (4:2:0 24-bit) 4K/24p (4:4:4 24-bit) 4K/24p (4:2:2 36-bit)
Bluetooth	✔ SBC, AAC	✔ SBC, AAC
New HDCP Version	2.2	2.2
USB Input	1 Front	1 Front
Composite Video Inputs	2	2
Zones	1	1
Analog Tuner	✔ FM/AM	✔ FM/AM

Pioneer VSX-531 and Pioneer VSX-530-K share common weaknesses such as no Dolby Atmos support, no DTS:X support, no Auro3D support, no Dolby Vision, no ChromeCast, no DTS Play-Fi, no Amazon Alexa, no SONOS, no ethernet connection, no wi-fi, no phono input, no analog multi-channel input, no analog pre-outs, no internet radio, no Pandora, no Spotify, no Tidal, no Deezer, no Napster and no SiriusXM.

WEAKNESSES	Pioneer VSX-531	Pioneer VSX-530-K
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 DSD via USB	✖	✖
No Audyssey Dynamic EQ	✖	✖
No Audyssey Dynamic Volume	✖	✖
No Audyssey LFC	✖	✖
No Audyssey Sub EQ HT	✖	✖
No HDR10+	✖	✖
No Dynamic HDR	✖	✖
No Dolby Vision	✖	✖
No Auto Low Latency Mode Pass-through	✖	✖
No VRR	✖	✖
No QFT	✖	✖
No 4K or 8K Video Upscaling	✖	✖
No FireConnect	✖	✖
No FlareConnect	✖	✖
No Chromecast Built-In	✖	✖
No DTS Play-Fi	✖	✖
Does not Work with Amazon Alexa	✖	✖
Does Not Work with SONOS	✖	✖
No Ethernet	✖	✖
No Wi-Fi	✖	✖
No eARC	✖	✖
Few HDMI Inputs	4	4
Few HDMI Outputs	1	1
Few Analog Audio Line Inputs	3 (1 front)	3
No Phono Input	✖	✖
No Component Video Inputs	✖	✖
No Multi-Channel Input	✖	✖
No Analog Pre-Outs	0.1	0.1
No Internet Radio	✖	✖
No Pandora	✖	✖
No Spotify	✖	✖
No Tidal	✖	✖
No Deezer	✖	✖
No Napster	✖	✖
No SiriusXM Internet Radio	✖	✖
Old Bluetooth Version	3.0	3.0

Amplifier

Pioneer VSX-531 and Pioneer VSX-530-K have 5 channel amplifiers. They both deliver 80 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven)

Video Features

Both receivers support 4K passthrough up to 60p. Pioneer VSX-531 supports HDR10.

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.

Advanced Sound Retriever

Compressed music enhancement in Pioneer VSX-531 and Pioneer VSX-530-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-531

Pioneer VSX-531 can also connect to bluetooth devices via built-in bluetooth adapter. It has 4 HDMI inputs with HDCP 2.2 copy protection.

Front panel has USB and Mini-Jack inputs.

Pioneer VSX-530-K

Pioneer VSX-530-K can also connect to bluetooth devices via built-in bluetooth adapter. The Receiver supports AirPlay. It has 4 HDMI inputs with HDCP 2.2 copy protection.

Front panel has USB input.

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-531 and here - Pioneer VSX-530-K.

BASICS	Pioneer VSX-531	Pioneer VSX-530-K
Brand	Pioneer	Pioneer
Model	VSX-531	VSX-530-K
Type	A/V Receiver	A/V Receiver
Country	North America	USA
Release Year	2016	2015

AMPLIFIER	Pioneer VSX-531	Pioneer VSX-530-K
Channels	5.1	5.1
Amplifier Design	Discrete Direct Energy	Discrete Direct Energy
THX™ Certification	✖	✖
Continuous 6 Ω Rated	✔	✔
Certified 4 Ω Performance	✖	✖
Bi-amp Capability	✖	✖

AUDIO	Pioneer VSX-531	Pioneer VSX-530-K
Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Engine	Texas Instruments Aureus	Texas Instruments Aureus
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	✔
Music Playback via USB	MP3, WMA, AAC	MP3, WMA, AAC
High Resolution Music Playback via USB and/or Network	✖	✖
Multi-Channel Music File Playback via USB	✖	✖
DSD via HDMI	✔ 2-ch Input	✔ 2-ch Input
DSD via USB	✖	✖
DSD to PCM Converter	✖	✖
USB DAC	✖	✖
Jitter Reduction	✖	✖
Auto Level Control	✔	✖
Dialog Enhancement	✖	✖
Dialogue Lift	✖	✖
Sound Retriever	✔ Advanced (2-Channel)	✔ Advanced (2-Channel)
Sound Retriever AIR	✖	✖
Digital Noise Reduction	✖	✖
Tone Control	✔ Front L/R Channels	✔ Front L/R Channels
Compressed Music Enhancer	✔ Advanced Sound Retriever	✔ 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	✔	✔
Auto Surround	✔	✔
Optimum Surround	✖	✖
Advanced Surround	10 + 1	10 + 1 Mode
Wide Surround	✖	✖
Front Stage Surround Advance	✖	✔
Headphone Surround	✖	✔
Virtual Speakers	✖	✖
Virtual Depth	✖	✖
Independent Dual Subwoofer Output	✖	✖

CALIBRATION	Pioneer VSX-531	Pioneer VSX-530-K
Auto Speaker Calibration System with Mic.	✖	✖
Manual MCACC	✖	✖
Phase Control	✔	✔
Full Band Phase Control	✖	✖
Standing Wave Control	✖	✖
EQ Bands	✖	✖
Symmetric EQ	✖	✖
X-Curve	✖	✖
Distance Adjustment	0.1 feet	0.1 feet
Precision Distance	✖	✖
Polarity Check	✖	✖
Auto Subwoofer Crossover	✖	✖

VIDEO	Pioneer VSX-531	Pioneer VSX-530-K
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/60p (4:4:4)	up to 4K/60p (4:2:0 24-bit) 4K/24p (4:4:4 24-bit) 4K/24p (4:2:2 36-bit)
Video Signal Upscaling	✖	✖
Analog To HDMI Upconversion	✖	✖
Analog to Analog Video conversion	✖	✖
Stream Smoother	✖	✖
Pure Cinema	✖	✖
Video Parameter Adjustments	✖	✖
Triple HD Noise Reduction	✖	✖
Super Resolution	✖	✔
isf Certified Calibration Control	✖	✖

CONNECTIVITY	Pioneer VSX-531	Pioneer VSX-530-K
MHL Input	✖	✔ 1 Rear (Version 2.0)
DLNA 1.5	✖	✔
FireConnect	✖	✖
FlareConnect	✖	✖
Chromecast Built-In	✖	✖
DTS Play-Fi	✖	✖
Works with Amazon Alexa	✖	✖
Works with SONOS	✖	✖
AirPlay	✖	✔ AirPlay
Apple Product Connection	✖	✖
Remote App	✖	✔ iControlAV5 (for iOS and Android)
InstaPrevue Input Source Prevue	✖	✖
Ethernet	✖	✖
Ethernet Switch	✖	✖
Wi-Fi	✖	✖
Bluetooth	✔ SBC, AAC	✔ SBC, AAC
HDBaseT Compatible	✖	✖
Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC)	✖	✖
HDCP Version	2.2	2.2
HDMI Inputs	4	4
HDMI Outputs	1	1
USB Input	1 Front	1 Front
USB DC Out Port	✖	✖
Analog Audio Line Inputs	3 (1 front)	3
Analog Audio Line Outputs	✖	✖
Phono Input	✖	✖
Optical Inputs	1	1
Optical Outputs	✖	✖
Coaxial Inputs/Outputs	1 / No	1 / No
Composite Video Inputs	2	2
Composite Video Outputs	1	1
S-Video Inputs	✖	✖
S-Video Outputs	✖	✖
Component Video Inputs	✖	✖
Component Video Outputs	✖	✖
PC In	✖	✖
Multi-Channel Input	✖	✖
Analog Pre-Outs	0.1	0.1
XLR Inputs	✖	✖
XLR Pre-outs	✖	✖
Front A/V Inputs	USB, Mini-Jack	USB
Speaker A/B	✖	✖
Headphone Out	✔ 6.3 mm	✔ 6.3 mm

ZONES	Pioneer VSX-531	Pioneer VSX-530-K
Zones	1	1
RS-232 Interface	✖	✖
+12V Trigger Output	✖	✖
Remote (IR) Input/Output	0 / 0	0 / 0

MISC	Pioneer VSX-531	Pioneer VSX-530-K
On-Screen Display	✔ HDMI only	✔ HDMI only
AVNavigator	✖	✖
IP Control	✖	✖
PreAmp Mode	✖	✖
Versatile Speaker Configuration	✖	✖
FL Dimmer	✔	✔
Function Rename	✖	✖
Remote Controller	✔	System Remote Control
Detachable Power Cord	✖	✖
adapterport	✖	✖

RADIO	Pioneer VSX-531	Pioneer VSX-530-K
Analog Tuner	✔ FM/AM	✔ FM/AM
Presets	30	30
Digital Radio	✖	✖
Internet Radio	✖	✖
Pandora	✖	✖
Spotify	✖	✖
Tidal	✖	✖
Deezer	✖	✖
Napster	✖	✖
SiriusXM Internet Radio	✖	✖

CONSTRUCTION	Pioneer VSX-531	Pioneer VSX-530-K
Front Panel	Brushed	Brushed
Solid Aluminum Front	✖	✖
Speaker Terminals	5	5
Large Speaker Terminals	2	2
Color-Coded Speaker Terminals	✖	✖
Transparent High-Grade Speaker Terminals	✖	✖
Ceramic Speaker Terminals	✖	✖
3D Space Frame Construction	✖	✖
Gold plated RCA terminals	✖	✖

POWER	Pioneer VSX-531	Pioneer VSX-530-K
Power Supply	AC 120 V, 60 Hz	AC 120 V, 60 Hz
Low Leakage Flux Power Transformer	✖	✖
Transformer Stabilizer	✖	✖
Power Consumption	210 W	415 W
Standby Power	0.45 W	0.1 W

GENERAL	Pioneer VSX-531	Pioneer VSX-530-K
Auto Power off	✔	✔
Dimensions (W x H x D)	435 mm x 168 mm x 320.5 mm 17-1/8" x 6-5/8" x 12-5/8"	435 mm x 168 mm x 331.5 mm 17-1/8" x 6-5/8" x 13-1/16"
Weight	8.0 kg (17 lb 10 oz)	8.3 kg (18 lb 5 oz)
Warranty	1 Year Parts & Labor	1 Year Parts & Labor

SPECS	Pioneer VSX-531	Pioneer VSX-530-K
Power Output (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven, FTC)	80 W (0.08% THD)	80 W (0.08% THD)
Power Output (6 Ω, 1 kHz, 1 channel driven, FTC)	140 W (1% THD)	140 W (1% THD)
DSD Sampling Rates via HDMI	2.8 MHz	2.8 MHz
Video Input Sensitivity/Output Level and Impedance	1 Vp-p/75 Ω (Composite)	1 Vp-p/75 Ω (Composite)
Bluetooth Version	3.0	3.0
Bluetooth Frequency	2.4 GHz	2.4 GHz
HDMI Terminal	Type A (19-pin)	Type A (19-pin)
HDMI Output Type	5 V, 55 mA	5 V, 55 mA
USB Terminal	USB2.0 (Type A) 5 V, 0.5 A	USB2.0 (Type A) 5 V, 0.5 A
Extension Terminal	✖	✖
FM Frequency	87.5 MHz - 108 MHz	87.5 MHz - 108 MHz
AM Frequency	530 kHz - 1700 kHz	530 kHz - 1700 kHz

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