Pioneer VSX-S520 vs Yamaha RX-V485BL review

Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

AV receivers comparison chart

Pioneer VSX-S520 vs Yamaha RX-V485BL review

Pioneer VSX-S520
vs
Yamaha RX-V485BL

The present review is aimed to compare two AV receivers - Pioneer VSX-S520 vs Yamaha RX-V485BL that are meant to satisfy the needs of cinema and music lovers.

Amplifier

Considered AV receivers have the same number of channels 5.1. Regarding power, then VSX-S520 has such a W/Ohm ratio - 50/4 when RX-V485BL has a power of 80/6. The THD is the same and is 0.09%.

Audio features

Characteristics of digital to analog converter (DAC) are different, 192 KHz/24-bit for VSX-S520 and Burr-Brown 384 KHz/32-bit for the RX-V485BL. Only the RX-V485BL supports Bi-amping feature. Each of the AV receivers can transmit an audio signal directly to the amplifier and bypasses any DSP processing.

Connectivity

WI-FI modules have the same characteristics: 2.4/5GHz. Rivals from our review have Bluetooth support. The Pioneer VSX-S520 has support for AirPlay, and its competitor in our comparison - AirPlay, AirPlay 2. Spotify can be used on each receiver. 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

Each receiver has 4/1 HDMI inputs/outputs.Pioneer VSX-S520 connectionsYamaha RX-V485BL connections The HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) feature supports both devices. The HDMI eARC is available only on the RX-V485BL. 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. An ECO mode is only available for the RX-V485BL. Both VSX-S520 and RX-V485BL can be configured using the Setup assistant.

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.

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General

Item

Pioneer VSX-S520
Yamaha RX-V485BL

Model

VSX-S520
RX-V485BL

Brand

Pioneer
Yamaha

Reviews

77
331

Amplifier

Channels

5.1
5.1

Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm

50/4
80/6

Output impedance, Ohm

4
6

Frequency response

10Hz-100KHz
10Hz-100KHz

THD in stereo, %

0.09
0.09

Audio features

Digital to analog converter (DAC)

192 KHz/24-bit
Burr-Brown 384 KHz/32-bit

Bi-amping

Pure direct (straight)

Auto speaker calibration

MCACC
YPAO

Speaker A/B switching

Other audio features

Advanced Sound Retriever, Hi-Res audio
CINEMA DSP, Compressed Music Enhancer, Virtual CINEMA FRONT

Connectivity

Wi-Fi

2.4/5GHz
2.4/5GHz

USB

1 (USB 2.0)
1 (USB 2.0)

Bluetooth

Ethernet (RJ45)

1
1

DLNA

MHL

Streaming services

Apple Music (AirPlay)

AirPlay
AirPlay, AirPlay 2

Amazon Music

Spotify

Other streaming services

Deezer, TIDAL, TuneIn Radio
has not

Extensive connection

HDMI input/output

4/1
4/1

HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel)

HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel)

HDMI CEC

Digital content protection (HDCP)

HDCP 2.2
HDCP 2.2

Subwoofer output (LFE)

1
1

Headphone output

1 x 6.3
1 x 6.3

Optical digital input

1
2

Coaxial digital input

1
1

Composite input

0
2

Component input/output

0/0
0/0

Phono (MM) input

Front panel connectors

USB, phones, setup mic
USB, phones, setup mic, AUX

Multi channel preamp output

Video features

HDR (High Dynamic Range)

HDR10

4K signal pass-through

4K/60Hz
4K/60Hz

8K signal pass-through

HDMI signal pass-through

3D signal pass-through

HDMI pass-through in standby mode

Video conversion

Analog to HDMI scaling

HDMI to HDMI scaling

Dolby Vision

Other video features

DeepColor, x.v.Color
BT.2020, HLG

Additional features

Voice control

Google Assistant

App control

iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android
iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android

Display

colour OSD
colour OSD

Tuner

AM, FM
AM, FM

Sleep timer

Auto power off

ECO mode

Graphical user interface (GUI)

Setup assistant

Firmware update

network, USB
network, USB

Other additional features

has not
has not

Multi-room

Multi-room zones

has not
2

Zone audio output

has not
speaker

Zone HDMI output

has not

Multi-room control

has not
MusicCast

RS-232

0
0

Remote control input/output (IR)

0/0
0/0

DC trigger output (12V)

0
0

Multichannel surround

Dolby Atmos

Dolby TrueHD

Dolby Surround

Dolby (other)

Dolby Digital Plus
Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Pro Logic

DTS:X

DTS HD Master

DTS Virtual:X

DTS Neural:X

DTS (other)

DTS-ES, DTS 96/24
DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS, DTS-Surround, DTS Neo:6

Auro-3D

IMAX Enhanced

Multichannel stereo

Audio file formats

MP3

WMA

AAC

WAV

FLAC

ALAC

Other audio file formats

AIFF
AIFF

Power

Operational power consumption, W

60
260

Standby consumption, W

0.2
0.1

Removable power cord

User manual

Manual

Dimensions

Size W x H x D, cm/inches

43.5 x 7 x 32.5/17x 2.7 x 12.6
43.5 x 23.4 x 32.7/ 17 x 9 x 12.6

Weight, kg/lbs

4/8.8
7.8/17.2

Other

Release year

2016
2018
Pioneer VSX-S520
Yamaha RX-V485BL
Pioneer VSX-S520
Yamaha RX-V485BL

AV receivers SoundInspiration comparison rating

  • better
  • worse
  • 6
  • 6.6
  • 6Pioneer VSX-S520
  • 6.6Yamaha RX-V485BL