Sony STR-DH590 vs Pioneer VSX-S520 review

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An affordable AV receiver is always a good option to consider, so Sony STR-DH590 vs Pioneer VSX-S520 comparison definitely makes sense.

Amplifier

A significant difference between the receivers in the number of channels, Sony STR-DH590 has 5.2 versus 5.1 for Pioneer VSX-S520. Regarding power, then STR-DH590 has such a W/Ohm ratio - 145/6 when VSX-S520 has a power of 50/4. The THD is the same and is 0.09%.

Audio features

Characteristics of digital to analog converter (DAC) are different, 192 KHz/32-bit for STR-DH590 and 192 KHz/24-bit for the VSX-S520. None of the models support Bi-amping. Each of the AV receivers can transmit an audio signal directly to the amplifier and bypasses any DSP processing. Rivals from our review have Bluetooth support. Only the VSX-S520 supports Spotify. Compared AV receivers retain the quality of 4K/60Hz signal when transmitting from a source to a TV or projector. HDMI signal transmission in standby mode is implemented in each of the devices. The VSX-S520 can scale the input HDMI signal, unlike the STR-DH590. The HDR standard - Dolby Vision is supported by these receivers.

Extensive connections

Each receiver has 4/1 HDMI inputs/outputs. The HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) feature supports both devices. Unfortunately, HDMI eARC is not available on monitored devices. The Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) feature is present in most modern AV receivers and the models in our comparison are no exception. Both models support the standard HDCP 2.2. The VSX-S520 has a built-in phono stage for connecting a vinyl player. A voice control is not available. An ECO mode is not present in each of the AV receivers. The setup assistant will help you configure Pioneer VSX-S520.

Multichannel surround

Only the VSX-S520 has a Dolby Atmos multichannel audio format support. A surround technology DTS:X is supported only by the VSX-S520.