Pioneer VSX-531 (North American version)
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Overview
Pioneer VSX-531 was introduced in 2016. It is equipped with 5 channel amplifier and is capable of 5.1 maximum channel processing.
We evaluated the Receiver and gave 65 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.
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 video signal passthrough and 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...
Pros and Cons
In this section we present pros and cons of Pioneer VSX-531.
PROS |
|---|
| 👍 Dolby TrueHD |
| 👍 Dolby Digital Plus |
| 👍 Dolby Pro Logic |
| 👍 DTS Neo |
| 👍 DTS-HD Master Audio |
| 👍 DTS-HD High Resolution Audio |
| 👍 DTS 96/24 |
| 👍 DSD via HDMI |
| 👍 Sound Retriever |
| 👍 Compressed Music Enhancer |
| 👍 HDR10 |
| 👍 3-D Ready |
| 👍 4K or 8K Video Passthrough |
| 👍 Bluetooth |
| 👍 New HDCP Version |
| 👍 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 IMAX Enhanced |
| 👎 No Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixer |
| 👎 No High Resolution Music Playback via USB and/or Network |
| 👎 No DSD via USB |
| 👎 No Sound Retriever AIR |
| 👎 No High-resolution Music Enhancer |
| 👎 No Auto Speaker Calibration System with Mic. |
| 👎 No HDR10+ |
| 👎 No BT.2020 color space |
| 👎 No Dolby Vision |
| 👎 No Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) |
| 👎 No 4K or 8K Video Upscaling |
| 👎 No DLNA 1.5 |
| 👎 No Chromecast Built-In |
| 👎 Does not Work with Amazon Alexa |
| 👎 Does Not Work with SONOS |
| 👎 No Ethernet |
| 👎 No Wi-Fi |
| 👎 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 |
| 👎 Old Bluetooth Version |
Major Changes from its predecessor
Here we are comparing Pioneer VSX-531 to its predecessor VSX-530-K and displaying the major changes.
| UPGRADES | Pioneer VSX-531 | vs | Pioneer VSX-530-K |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDR10 | vs |
| DOWNGRADES | Pioneer VSX-531 | vs | Pioneer VSX-530-K |
|---|---|---|---|
| MHL Input | vs | 1 Rear (Version 2.0) | |
| DLNA 1.5 | vs | ||
| AirPlay | vs | AirPlay | |
| Smaller Power Supply | 210 W | vs | 415 W |
For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Pioneer VSX-531 vs Pioneer VSX-530-K.
Amplifier
Pioneer VSX-531 has 5 channel amplifier and delivers 80 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven).
Video Features
The Receiver has 4K passthrough up to 60p. It can bypass 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 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 Correction
Pioneer VSX-531 does not come with room correction system.
Connectivity
Pioneer VSX-531 can also connect to bluetooth devices via built-in bluetooth adapter. It has 4 HDMI inputs and HDCP 2.2 copy protection.
Front panel has USB and Mini-Jack inputs.
Specifications
Here we list all the available features and specifications of Pioneer VSX-531.
| BASICS | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Pioneer |
| Model | VSX-531 |
| Type | A/V Receiver |
| Country | North America |
| Release Year | 2016 |
| AMPLIFIER | |
|---|---|
| Channels | 5.1 |
| Amplifier Design | Discrete Direct Energy |
| THX™ Certification | |
| Continuous 6 Ω Rated | |
| Certified 4 Ω Performance | |
| Bi-amp Capability | |
| AUDIO | |
|---|---|
| Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Engine | Texas Instruments Aureus |
| Maximum Channel Processing | 5.1 |
| Air Studios Monitor Certification | |
| Dolby Atmos | |
| Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization | |
| 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 | |
| PCM | 2-ch/Multi-ch Input |
| Music Playback via USB | 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 |
| DSD via USB | |
| DSD to PCM Converter | |
| USB DAC | |
| Jitter Reduction | |
| Auto Level Control | |
| Dialog Enhancement | |
| Dialogue Lift | |
| Sound Retriever | Advanced (2-Channel) |
| Sound Retriever AIR | |
| Digital Noise Reduction | |
| Tone Control | Front L/R Channels |
| 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 | |
| Auto Surround | |
| Optimum Surround | |
| Advanced Surround | 10 + 1 |
| Wide Surround | |
| Front Stage Surround Advance | |
| Headphone Surround | |
| Virtual Speakers | |
| Virtual Depth | |
| Independent Dual Subwoofer Output | |
| CALIBRATION | |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Precision Distance | |
| Polarity Check | |
| Auto Subwoofer Crossover | |
| VIDEO | |
|---|---|
| HDR10 | |
| HDR10+ | |
| BT.2020 color space | |
| Dolby Vision | |
| HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma) | |
| QMS (Quick Media Switching) | |
| ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) | |
| VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) | |
| QFT (Quick Frame transport) | |
| 3-D Ready | |
| Video Signal Passthrough | up to 4K/60p (4:4:4) |
| 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 | |
|---|---|
| MHL Input | |
| DLNA 1.5 | |
| FireConnect | |
| FlareConnect | |
| Chromecast Built-In | |
| DTS Play-Fi | |
| Works with Amazon Alexa | |
| Works with SONOS | |
| AirPlay | |
| Apple Product Connection | |
| Remote App | |
| InstaPrevue Input Source Prevue | |
| Ethernet | |
| Ethernet Switch | |
| Wi-Fi | |
| Bluetooth | SBC, AAC |
| HDBaseT Compatible | |
| Enhanced ARC | |
| HDCP Version | 2.2 |
| HDMI Input | 4 |
| HDMI Output | 1 |
| USB Input | 1 Front |
| USB DC Out Port | |
| Analog Audio Line Input | 3 (1 front) |
| Analog Audio Line Output | |
| Phono Input | |
| Optical In | 1 |
| Optical Out | |
| Coaxial In/Out | 1 / |
| Composite Video Input | 2 |
| Composite Video Output | 1 |
| S-Video Input | |
| S-Video Output | |
| Component Video Input | |
| Component Video Output | |
| PC In | |
| Multi-Channel Input | |
| Analog Pre-Outs | 0.1 |
| XLR Inputs | |
| XLR Pre-outs | |
| Front A/V Inputs | USB, Mini-Jack |
| Speaker A/B | |
| Headphone Out | 6.3 mm |
| ZONES | |
|---|---|
| Zones | 1 |
| RS-232 | |
| +12V Trigger Output | |
| Remote (IR) Input/Output | 0 / 0 |
| MISC | |
|---|---|
| On-Screen Display | HDMI only |
| AVNavigator | |
| IP Control for CI | |
| PreAmp Mode | |
| Versatile Speaker Configuration | |
| FL Dimmer | |
| Function Rename | |
| Remote Controller | |
| Detachable Power Cord | |
| adapterport | |
| RADIO | |
|---|---|
| Analog Tuner | FM/AM |
| Presets | 30 |
| Digital Radio | |
| Internet Radio | |
| Pandora | |
| Spotify | |
| Tidal | |
| Deezer | |
| Napster | |
| SiriusXM Internet Radio | |
| CONSTRUCTION | |
|---|---|
| Front Panel | Brushed |
| Solid Aluminum Front | |
| Speaker Terminals | 5 |
| Large Speaker Terminals | 2 |
| Color-Coded Speaker Terminals | |
| Transparent High-Grade Speaker Terminals | |
| Ceramic Speaker Terminals | |
| 3D Space Frame Construction | |
| Gold plated RCA terminals | |
| POWER | |
|---|---|
| Power Supply | AC 120 V, 60 Hz |
| Low Leakage Flux Power Transformer | |
| Transformer Stabilizer | |
| Power Consumption | 210 W |
| Standby Power | 0.45 W |
| GENERAL | |
|---|---|
| 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" |
| Weight | 8.0 kg (17 lb 10 oz) |
| Warranty | 1 Year Parts & Labor |
| SPECS | |
|---|---|
| Power Output (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 | 80 W (0.08% THD) |
| Power Output (6 Ω, 1 kHz, 1 channel driven, FTC) | 140 W (1% THD) |
| DSD Sampling Rates via HDMI | 2.8 MHz |
| Video Input Sensitivity/Output Level and Impedance | 1 Vp-p/75 Ω (Composite) |
| Bluetooth Version | 3.0 |
| Bluetooth Frequency | 2.4 GHz |
| HDMI Terminal | Type A (19-pin) |
| HDMI Output Type | 5 V, 55 mA |
| USB Terminal | USB2.0 (Type A) 5 V, 0.5 A |
| Extension Terminal | |
| FM Frequency | 87.5 MHz - 108 MHz |
| AM Frequency | 530 kHz - 1700 kHz |
* - 480i/576i and 480p/576p only
** - 480i/576i only
*** - no 1080p/24 upconversion
**** - 1080p signal is not converted
Successor
In 2017 Pioneer VSX-531 was replaced by VSX-532. Let us now have a look at some important changes that the successor brought.
| UPGRADES | Pioneer VSX-532 | vs | Pioneer VSX-531 |
|---|---|---|---|
| More Advanced Auto Speaker Calibration System | MCACC | vs |
For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Pioneer VSX-532 vs Pioneer VSX-531.
