An affordable AV receiver is always a good option to consider, so Sony STR-DH790 vs Pioneer VSX-S520 comparison definitely makes sense.
A significant difference between the receivers in the number of channels, Sony STR-DH790 has 7.2 versus 5.1 for Pioneer VSX-S520. Regarding power, then STR-DH790 has such a W/Ohm ratio - 90/6 when VSX-S520 has a power of 50/4. The THD is the same and is 0.09%.
Competitors' digital to analog converter (DAC) is identical to 192 KHz/24-bit. Only the STR-DH790 supports Bi-amping feature. 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-DH790. The HDR standard - Dolby Vision is supported by these receivers.
Each receiver has 4/1 HDMI inputs/outputs. The HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) feature supports both devices. The HDMI eARC is available only on the STR-DH790. 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. Both STR-DH790 and VSX-S520 can be configured using the Setup assistant.
Both devices have support for Dolby Atmos multichannel audio format. The surround sound technology DTS:X is supported by devices under review.