Pioneer VSX-522-K

    60
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    USA

    Highlights

    • 5.1 Channels
    • 7.1 Channel Processing
    • 80 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven)
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    Overview

    Pioneer VSX-522-K was introduced in 2012. It is equipped with 5 channel amplifier with 80 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven) power per channel and is capable of 7.1 maximum channel processing. It passes 1080/60p video signal.

    We evaluated the a/v receiver and gave 60 overall score out of 100. Our ranking system is based on the amplifier specifications, audio and video features, connectivity, multizone capabilities, radio and many other details.

    Table of Contents
    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. 2012 Lineup
    4. Successor
    5. Audio Section
    6. Video Section
    7. Multi-zone Playback
    8. Inputs and Outputs
    9. Evaluation
    10. Specifications  

    Pros and Cons

    In this section we present pros and cons of Pioneer VSX-522-K.

    PROs

    •   DSD via HDMI
    •   Auto Speaker Calibration System with Mic.
    •   New HDCP Version
    •   USB Input
    •   RCA Pre-Outs
    •   Composite Video Inputs
    •   Analog Tuner

    CONs

    •   Few Channels - 5.1
    •   Low Power Output - 80 W
    •   No Dolby Atmos
    •   No Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization
    •   No DTS:X
    •   No IMAX Enhanced
    •   No Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixer
    •   No HDR10
    •   No HDR10+
    •   No Dolby Vision
    •   No eARC
    •   No 8K Passthrough
    •   No Wi-Fi
    •   No Bluetooth
    •   Does not Work with Amazon Alexa
    •   4 HDMI Inputs
    •   1 HDMI Outputs
    •   0 8K Input
    •   Few RCA Line Inputs
    •   No Phono Input
    •   No Ethernet
    •   No Zones
    •   No Digital Radio
    •   No Pandora
    •   No Spotify
    •   No Tidal

    And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

    AVERAGE

    •   7.1 Channel Processing

    Pioneer 2012 Lineup

    In 2012 Pioneer released 13 new receivers. Here is the lineup:

    Pioneer 2012 Lineup
    ModelChannelsPowerMax. Ch. Proc.Pre OutsRoom Corr.Video Pass.Zones Price
    SC-68 Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		9.2140 W9.111.2 Advanced MCACC4K4
    SC-67 Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		9.2140 W9.111.2 Advanced MCACC4K4
    SC-65 Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		9.2130 W9.111.2 Advanced MCACC4K3
    SC-63 Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		7.2125 W7.19.2 Advanced MCACC1080p3
    SC-61 Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		7.2125 W7.19.2 Advanced MCACC1080p3
    VSX-60 Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		7.290 W7.1 Advanced MCACC1080p2
    VSX-42 Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		7.180 W7.11080p2
    SC-1522-K Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		9.2130 W9.111.2 Advanced MCACC1080p3
    SC-1222-K Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		7.2120 W7.19.2 Advanced MCACC1080p3
    VSX-1122-K Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		7.290 W7.1 Advanced MCACC1080p3
    VSX-1022-K Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		7.180 W7.1 MCACC Auto1080p1
    VSX-822-K Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		5.180 W7.12.1 MCACC Auto1080p1
    VSX-522-K Image cannot be found 5.180 W7.12.1 MCACC Auto1080p1

    You can view their side-by-side comparison here: Pioneer SC-68 vs SC-67 vs SC-65 vs SC-63 vs SC-61 vs VSX-60.

    Successor

    In 2013 Pioneer VSX-522-K was replaced by Pioneer VSX-523-K. Let us now have a look at some important differences between Pioneer VSX-522-K and its successor.

    UPGRADES Pioneer VSX-523-K vs Pioneer VSX-522-K
    Video Signal Passthrough up to 4K/30p vs up to 1080p
    DLNA 1.5 vs
    AirPlay AirPlay vs
    DOWNGRADES Pioneer VSX-523-K vs Pioneer VSX-522-K
    Less Channel Processing 5.1 vs 7.1
    Less RCA Pre-Outs 0.1 vs 2.1 (Surr Back/Front Height)

    For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Pioneer VSX-522-K vs VSX-523-K.

    Audio Section

    5 channel Direct Energy Amplifier

    Pioneer VSX-522-K features 5 channel power amplifier with Direct Energy design. It is rated at 80 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven).

      AMPLIFIER
      Channels5.1
      Power Output80 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven)
      Amplifier DesignDirect Energy
      THX™ Certification
      Continuous 6 Ω Rated
      Certified 4 Ω Performance
      Bi-amp Capability

      Speaker Configurations

      Pioneer VSX-522-K's 5 channel amplifier can be assigned for different speaker configurations.

      • Configurations: Available configurations are:
      • 5.1 with internal amplifier.
      Pioneer VSX-522-K
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      DECODING
      Dolby Atmos
      Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization
      Dolby Atmos Music
      Dolby TrueHD
      Dolby Digital Plus
      Dolby Surround Upmixer
      Dolby Pro Logic PLII
      Dolby Digital EX
      Surround EX
      DTS:X
      DTS Neural:X
      DTS Virtual:X
      DTS Neo 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

      Sound Processing

      • Advanced Sound Retriever: Compressed music enhancement in Pioneer VSX-522-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.

      Room Calibration

      Pioneer VSX-522-K comes with MCACC Auto room correction system and includes the calibration microphone.

      • MCACC: Pioneer’s exclusive Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System (MCACC) delivers an easy-to-use, automatic sound adjustment system to precision-tune your Pioneer and Pioneer Elite receivers with minimal effort. Every MCACC system comes with a microphone to measure and analyze reverb characteristics. The equalizer optimally adjusts sound parameters to fit the size and shape of your home environment while maintaining the integrity of high-resolution playback without any degradation to the quality of your music.

      Video Section

      HDMI

      Pioneer VSX-522-K features 4 HDMI inputs. It has 1 output.

      • 1080/60p Passthrough: All inputs pass up to 1080p video signal.
      • HDCP 2.2 Copy Protection: All inputs and outputs are HDCP 2.2 compliant which is a requirement for 4K/HDR copy-protected content transmission.
      • 3D Ready: Pioneer VSX-522-K is able to pass 3D video through HDMI.
      Pioneer VSX-522-K
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      VIDEO FEATURES
      HDR10
      HDR10+
      Dynamic HDR
      BT.2020 color space
      Dolby Vision
      HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma)
      HDBaseT Compatible
      Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC)
      HDCP Version2.2
      QMS (Quick Media Switching)
      ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode)
      VRR (Variable Refresh Rate)
      QFT (Quick Frame transport)
      3-D Ready
      Video Signal Passthroughup to 1080p
      Video Signal Upscaling

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      9.2 Channels

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      5.1 Channels

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      7.2 Channels

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      9.2 Channels

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      7.2 Channels

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      9.2 Channels

      >

      Inputs and Outputs

      Audio

      • Analog Pre-Outs: Pioneer VSX-522-K has 2.1 preamplifier outputs which allow you to connect the a/v receiver to the external power amplifier. You may want to use a high quality external amplifier for certain channels, usually for front L/R and center, and use the a/v receiver to power the rest. Also, Pioneer VSX-522-K has 7 channel processing but has only 5 channel amplifier, so it needs the external amplifier connected to the analog pre-outs in order to reach the maximum speaker configuration.
      • Analog Line Inputs: There are 3 line inputs for analog audio connection.
      • Digital Inputs: 1 optical input and 1 coaxial input are available for digital audio connection.
      • Headphone Output: There is a 6.3 mm (1/4") headphone output jack on the front panel.

      Video

      • HDMI:
      • Inputs: 4   Outputs: 1
        8K Inputs: 0
      • Composite Video: Connect you VCR, Laserdisc player and other old video equipment with composite video cables.
      • Inputs: 2   Outputs: 1

      Front A/V Inputs

      • USB
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      TERMINALS
      HDMI Inputs4
      HDMI Outputs1
      8K Inputs
      USB Input1 Front
      USB DC Out Port
      Optical Inputs1
      Optical Outputs
      Coaxial Inputs1
      RCA Line Inputs3
      RCA Line Outputs
      XLR Line Inputs
      Phono Input
      Multi-Channel Input
      RCA Pre-Outs2.1 (Surr Back/Front Height)
      XLR Pre-outs
      Composite Video Inputs2
      Composite Video Outputs1
      S-Video Inputs
      S-Video Outputs
      Component Video Inputs
      Component Video Outputs

      Pioneer VSX-522-K Evaluation

      We evaluate Pioneer VSX-522-K and give score of 60 out of 100. We also give separate scores for 6 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new receiver is added to the database.


      OVERALL
      60

      Amplifier

      GOOD
      71

      We give Pioneer VSX-522-K a score of 71 for Amplifier features.

      •   Few Channels - 5.1
      •   Low Power Output - 80 W

      Audio Features

      AVERAGE
      64

      We give Pioneer VSX-522-K a score of 64 for Audio Features features.

      •   Few Channels - 5.1
      •   7.1 Channel Processing
      •   No Dolby Atmos
      •   No Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization
      •   No DTS:X
      •   No IMAX Enhanced
      •   No Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixer
      •   DSD via HDMI

      Video Features

      POOR
      46

      We give Pioneer VSX-522-K a score of 46 for Video Features features.

      •   No HDR10
      •   No HDR10+
      •   No Dolby Vision
      •   No 8K Passthrough

      Connectivity

      AVERAGE
      57

      We give Pioneer VSX-522-K a score of 57 for Connectivity features.

      •   No eARC
      •   New HDCP Version
      •   No Wi-Fi
      •   No Bluetooth
      •   Does not Work with Amazon Alexa
      •   4 HDMI Inputs
      •   1 HDMI Outputs
      •   0 8K Input
      •   USB Input
      •   Few RCA Line Inputs
      •   No Phono Input
      •   RCA Pre-Outs
      •   Composite Video Inputs
      •   No Ethernet

      Zones

      AVERAGE
      55

      We give Pioneer VSX-522-K a score of 55 for Zones features.

      •   No Zones

      Radio

      AVERAGE
      59

      We give Pioneer VSX-522-K a score of 59 for Radio features.

      •   Analog Tuner
      •   No Pandora
      •   No Spotify
      •   No Tidal


      For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

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