TV and Projector technology keeps getting better. 4K displays have become the default resolution and other visual aspects, such as brightness and HDR quality have improved greatly. Combined with extra-large screen sizes, there is a TV available to meet just about everyone’s needs.
However, although TVs and projectors can display big, bright images, they don’t deliver the sound quality to match. In our article: How To Improve Your TV’s Sound Don’t Settle For Less we discussed several ways to improve TV sound quality, and one option is to use a setup consisting of an Audio/Video Receiver (aka AVR) and your choice of speakers.
Pioneer VSX-535 & VSX-835
With that in mind, Pioneer has announced two new AVRs that might fill the bill without emptying your wallet, the VSX-535 ($379) and VSX-835 ($479).
Both receivers are designed to provide solid basics needed for a home theater setup but also include some advanced features not normally seen in their price range.
Flexible Speaker Setup
The VSX-535 can be configured with a 5.1 or 5.2-channel speaker setup. This means that you can have a setup with left, center, right, left surround, right surround, and either one or two subwoofers.
You can also configure the VSX-535 to run with a 3.2.2 channel configuration for Dolby Atmos. This means you can have a setup with left, center, right, left height, right height, and up to two subwoofer channels.
For the VSX-835 you can use a 7.1 or 7.2-channel speaker setup. This means that you can have a setup with left, center, right, left surround, right surround, left back, right back, and either one or two subwoofers. However, you can also configure the VSX-835 to run with a 5.2.2 channel configuration for Dolby Atmos. This means you can have a setup with left, center, right, left surround, right surround, left height, right height, and up to two subwoofer channels.
Video Capability
On the video side, 4K@120Hz/8K@60Hz Ultra HD resolution pass through is supported as well as HDR (High Dynamic Range) including HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision. The BT.2020 wide color gamut and 4:4:4 color space are also supported.
HDMI
The VSX-535 and VSX-835 provide four HDMI inputs. One HDMI output (ARC/eARC enabled) is provided that can pass 4K/60p and HDR video to a compatible TV or projector, and all HDMI connections are HDCP 2.2 compliant.
IMAX® Enhanced Certification (VSX-835)
In addition to core 4K/8K passthrough, HDR, and Wide Color Gamut support, IMAX Enhanced Mode is included in the VSX-835. This means that with compatible content this mode supports IMAX elevated color, brightness, contrast, and audio fidelity standards.
DTS:X and DTS Virtual:X (VSX-835)
The VSX-835 DTS:X automatically adapts audio to existing channels and speaker setups, so no specific speaker layout is required. Elevating this further, DTS Virtual:X adds nuanced, three-dimensional sound without height or rear speakers. Dolby Atmos Height Virtualizer also allows you to experience immersive sound without the additional speakers. So, no matter which format your media uses, you’ll get the enveloping sound experience.
Dolby Atmos Music
In addition to Dolby Atmos and Dolby Surround for movies and TV, Dolby Atmos Music allows creators to produce and mix with spatial audio elements for a more captivating experience. Pioneer AVRs are some of the first to play Dolby Atmos content via HDMI input from streaming devices.
Advanced Sound Retriever
This feature is designed to maximize the sound quality of digitally compressed audio sources (such as WMA, AAC, and MP3) to original lossless quality by creating new signals to restore the minor details left out during the compression process.
MCACC Auto Room Tuning Software
MCACC (Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration system) auto room tuning uses a custom microphone to automatically compensate for differences in speaker size, level, and distance and equalizes response that better matches the speakers with room acoustics.
Bluetooth
Whatever audio is playing on your phone, tablet, or PC app can be streamed to the receiver with Bluetooth wireless technology. Once the receiver has paired with and remembered your device, it will start playback automatically whenever it detects an incoming Bluetooth audio stream.
Comparison
| VSX-535 | VSX-835 | |
| $379 | $479 | |
| Number of Channels | 5.2 (configurable to 3.2.2) | 7.2 (configurable to 5.2.2) |
| Power Output | 150w (1kHz, 10% THD, 1ch @ 6 ohms) 80w (20-20kHz, 0.08% THD, 2ch @ 8 ohms – FTC) | 165w (1kHz, 10% THD, 1ch @ 6 ohms) 80w (20-20kHz, 0.08% THD, 2ch @ 8 ohms – FTC) |
| Amplifier Class | Class AB | Class AB |
| HDMI Connections | Ver 2.1, 4 In / 1 Out (eARC) | Ver 2.1, 4 In / 1 Out (eARC) |
| Resolution Compatibility | 8K/4K Ultra HD | 8K/4K Ultra HD |
| HDR | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG, Dynamic HDR | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG, Dynamic HDR |
| QFT (Quick Frame Transport) | Yes | Yes |
| VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) | Yes | Yes |
| ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) | Yes | Yes |
| DSC (Display Stream Compression) | Yes | Yes |
| SBTM (Source Based Tone Mapping) | Yes | Yes |
| Audio Inputs | 4 HDMI, 3 RCA, 1 Opt, 1 Coax | 4 HDMI, 3 RCA, 1 Opt, 1 Coax |
| Audio Outputs | Zone B Stereo RCA Lineout, 2 Preout subwoofer | Zone B Stereo RCA Lineout, 2 Preout Subwoofer, Power Zone B |
| Room Correction | MCACC Auto Room Tuning | MCACC Auto Room Tuning |
| Dolby | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualizer, Dolby Surround, Dolby Atmos Music | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualizer, Dolby Surround, Dolby Atmos Music |
| DTS | – | DTS:X, DTS Virtual:X, Neural:X |
| IMAX Enhanced | – | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Phase Control | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced Sound Retriever | Yes | Yes |
Pricing & Availability
- VSX-535 – $379 at Amazon
- VSX-835 – $479 at Amazon
Tip: Pioneer’s prior generation AVRs may be on sale for less while supplies last.
- VSX-534 – Check Amazon
- VSX-834 – Check Amazon
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