Pioneer VSX-831 (North American version)

Overview

Pioneer VSX-831 was introduced in 2017. It is equipped with 5 channel amplifier and is capable of 5.1 maximum channel processing.

We evaluated the Receiver and gave 77 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-831.

Major Changes from its predecessor

Here we are comparing Pioneer VSX-831 to its predecessor VSX-830-K and displaying the major changes.

UPGRADES	Pioneer VSX-831	vs	Pioneer VSX-830-K
HDR10		vs
BT.2020 color space		vs
Dolby Vision		vs
FireConnect		vs
Chromecast Built-In		vs
More Analog Audio Line Inputs	3 (1 front)	vs	2
Phono Input		vs
Higher DSD Sampling Rate via USB	5.6 MHz, 2.8 MHz	vs	2.8 MHz
Wi-Fi Standard	IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n	vs	IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
Newer Bluetooth Version	4.1 + LE	vs	2.1 + EDR

DOWNGRADES	Pioneer VSX-831	vs	Pioneer VSX-830-K
Sound Retriever	Advanced (2-Channel)	vs	Advanced (Multi-Channel / Auto with ARC)
Sound Retriever AIR		vs
MHL Input		vs	1 Rear (Version 2.0)
DLNA 1.5		vs
Less Composite Video Outputs		vs	1
Smaller Power Supply	380 W	vs	450 W

For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Pioneer VSX-831 vs Pioneer VSX-830-K.

Amplifier

Pioneer VSX-831 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 and 4K upscaling up to 30p. It can bypass 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.

Advanced Sound Retriever

Compressed music enhancement in Pioneer VSX-831 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-831 comes with MCACC room correction system and includes the calibration microphone.

Connectivity

Pioneer VSX-831 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 and 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 USB and Mini-Jack inputs.

Specifications

Here we list all the available features and specifications of Pioneer VSX-831.

BASICS
Brand	Pioneer
Model	VSX-831
Type	A/V Receiver
Country	North America
Release Year	2017

AMPLIFIER
Channels	5.2
Amplifier Design	Discrete Direct Energy
THX™ Certification
Continuous 6 Ω Rated
Certified 4 Ω Performance
Bi-amp Capability

AUDIO
Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Engine	Cirrus Logic (Quad Core) x 1
DAC	AKM AK4458
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, Apple Lossless, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, DSD
High Resolution Music Playback via USB and/or Network	64, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz/24 bit
High Resolution Audio Formats via USB	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
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	All 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	12
Wide Surround
Front Stage Surround Advance
Headphone Surround
Virtual Speakers
Virtual Depth
Independent Dual Subwoofer Output

CALIBRATION
Auto Speaker Calibration System with Mic.	MCACC
Manual MCACC
MCACC Memory	1
Phase Control
Full Band Phase Control
Standing Wave Control
EQ Bands	9-Band
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 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	Composite
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	AirPlay
Apple Product Connection	iPod, iPhone and iPad (Airplay only)
Remote App	iControlAV5 (for iOS and Android)
InstaPrevue Input Source Prevue
Ethernet
Ethernet Switch
Wi-Fi
Bluetooth
HDBaseT Compatible
Enhanced ARC
HDCP Version	2.2
HDMI Input	6
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
S-Video Input
S-Video Output
Component Video Input
Component Video Output
PC In
Multi-Channel Input
Analog Pre-Outs	0.2
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	Icon-based Graphical User Interface (GUI)
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	40
Digital Radio
Internet Radio	TuneIn
Pandora
Spotify
Tidal
Deezer
Napster
SiriusXM Internet Radio

CONSTRUCTION
Front Panel	Brushed
Solid Aluminum Front
Speaker Terminals	5
Large Speaker Terminals	5
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	380 W
No Sound Power	45 W
Standby Power	0.1 W

GENERAL
Auto Power off
Dimensions (W x H x D)	435 mm x 173 mm x 370.5 mm 17-1/8" x 6-13/16" x 14-9/16"
Weight	9.0 kg (19.8 lbs)
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)
Maximum Effective Power Output (6 Ω, 1 kHz, 1 channel driven, JEITA)	160 W (10% THD)
Rated Power Output (6 Ω, 1 kHz, 1 channel driven, IEC)	130 W (1% THD)
Dynamic Power per Channel (3 Ω, Front)	160 W
Dynamic Power per Channel (4 Ω, Front)	125 W
Dynamic Power per Channel (8 Ω, Front)	85 W
Input Sensitivity and Impedance (Line)	200 mV/47 kΩ
Input Sensitivity and Impedance (Phono MM)	3.5 mV/47 kΩ
Rated Headphone Jack Output Level and Impedance	330 Ω
Rated Headphone Power Output	85 mW (32 Ω, 1 kHz, 10% THD)
Phono Overload	70 mV (MM, 1 kHz, 0.5%)
S/N Ratio (Line, IHF-A)	106 dB
S/N Ratio (Phono MM, IHF-A)	80 dB
Frequency Response (Analog In)	10 Hz - 100 kHz/+1 dB, -3 dB (Pure Direct)
DSD Sampling Rates via HDMI	2.8 MHz
DSD Sampling Rates via USB	5.6 MHz, 2.8 MHz
Video Input Sensitivity/Output Level and Impedance	1 Vp-p/75 Ω (Composite)
Ethernet Standard	10BASE-T/100BASE-TX
Wi-Fi Standard	IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n
Wi-Fi Terminal Frequency	Dual band 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz
Bluetooth Version	4.1 + LE
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, 1 A
Extension Terminal
FM Frequency	87.5 MHz - 107.9 MHz
AM Frequency	530 kHz - 1710 kHz

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

Successor

In 2017 Pioneer VSX-831 was replaced by VSX-832. Let us now have a look at some important changes that the successor brought.

UPGRADES	Pioneer VSX-832	vs	Pioneer VSX-831
Certified 4 Ω Performance		vs
Dolby Atmos		vs
Dolby Surround Upmixer		vs
DTS:X		vs
DTS Neural:X		vs
HLG		vs
FlareConnect		vs
DTS Play-Fi		vs
USB Input	2 (1 Front)	vs	1 Front
Tidal		vs
Deezer		vs
Bigger Power Supply	400 W	vs	380 W

DOWNGRADES	Pioneer VSX-832	vs	Pioneer VSX-831
Less Channels	5.1	vs	5.2
Bi-amp capability		vs
Video Signal Upscaling	1080p to 4K	vs	up to 4K
FireConnect		vs
Less HDMI Inputs	4	vs	6
Phono Input		vs

For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Pioneer VSX-832 vs Pioneer VSX-831.