Denon AVR-X2600H vs Pioneer VSX-S520 review

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An affordable AV receiver is always a good option to consider, so Denon AVR-X2600H vs Pioneer VSX-S520 comparison definitely makes sense.

Amplifier

A significant difference between the receivers in the number of channels, Denon AVR-X2600H has 7.2 versus 5.1 for Pioneer VSX-S520. Regarding power, then AVR-X2600H has such a W/Ohm ratio - 95/8, 125/6 when VSX-S520 has a power of 50/4. The THD is 0.08% for the AVR-X2600H but 0.09% for the VSX-S520.

Audio features

Characteristics of digital to analog converter (DAC) are different, 192 KHz/32-bit for AVR-X2600H and 192 KHz/24-bit for the VSX-S520. Only the AVR-X2600H 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. The Denon AVR-X2600H has support for AirPlay, AirPlay 2, and its competitor in our comparison - AirPlay. Spotify can be used on each receiver. The AVR-X2600H can work with the audio stream from Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, Napster, SiriusXM, TuneIn Radio, iHeart Radio, Sound Cloud, Mood Mix, and the VSX-S520 can receive a content from Deezer, TIDAL, TuneIn Radio. 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. Both rivals can scale the resolution of the incoming HDMI signal. The HDR standard - Dolby Vision is supported by these receivers.

Extensive connections

The Denon AVR-X2600H has 8/2 HDMI inputs/outputs versus 4/1 HDMI connectors of the Pioneer VSX-S520. The HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) feature supports both devices. The HDMI eARC is available only on the AVR-X2600H. The Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) feature is present in most modern AV receivers and the models in our comparison are no exception. The AVR-X2600H supports the protection of digital content of the standard HDCP 2.3, versus HDCP 2.2 in the VSX-S520. These compared receivers have a built-in phono stage for connecting a vinyl player. An ECO mode is only available for the AVR-X2600H. Both AVR-X2600H and VSX-S520 can be configured using the Setup assistant.

Multichannel surround

Both devices have support for Dolby Atmos multichannel audio format. The surround sound technology DTS:X is supported by devices under review.