Pioneer Announces Its First AV Receivers of 2017 (VSX-832, VSX-532)
Pioneer Home Entertainment (April 7, 2017) Pioneer Home Entertainment has announced two new AV receivers, marking the company’s first official entries into the 2017 receiver marketplace. The VSX-832 ($479) and VSX-532 ($379) are both budget options that offer quite a few interesting technologies, including full 4K support.
The VSX-832 is a full sized model designed to deliver 5.1-channel performance. Its Discrete Direct Energy amplifier design is capable of delivering a healthy 80-Watts per channel (8 ohm, 2 channel driven) across multiple speaker configurations. With onboard decoding of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, the VSX-832 can playback sound on a 3.1.2 speaker layout for a limited immersive sound experience. The addition of Dolby Atmos Sound Enhancer virtually expands the constraints of a 3.1.2 channel experience by expanding perceived playback to 5.1.2 levels, which is particularly interesting for users deploying their equipment in rooms with limited space.
Further sound enhancement for individuals using Atmos speaker modules is achieved using the VSX-832’s Reflex Optimizer technology, which helps to control phase shift issues introduced by reflecting sound off the ceiling. The result is a presentation that delivers improved localization. Owners can also tap the power of Pioneer’s proprietary MCACC room correction suite, which applies equalization for a room customized sound performance.
Pioneer endowed the VSX-836 with all the modern technologies necessary to handle 4K video, including pass-through for both HDR10 and Dolby Vision. The inclusion of the latter makes the receiver one of the first Dolby Vision compatible AVRs on the market (which is especially interesting considering its generous price point). Owners will also find the VSX-832 compatible with the BT.2020 color space and HDCP 2.2, making it fully compatible with all currently manufactured 4K UHD Blu-ray players.
On the music front, the VSX 832 presents quite a few wireless connectivity options, including FireConnect, DTS Play-Fi, Bluetooth, and direct streaming via built-in Chromecast and Apple Airplay. In addition, owners can configure built-in Wi-Fi to stream services such as Spotify, Pandora, Deezer, and TIDAL.
The VSX-532 is an entry-level receiver designed for users that don’t need advanced networking capabilities. Its amp section is similar to that found on the VSX-832, power-wise, but its 5.1 output is limited to standard surround sound codecs (such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio). It also is only capable of 4K video pass-through with HDR10, and can only stream music via Bluetooth.
The VSX-532 is scheduled to begin shipping during early April 2017, while the VSX-832 will appear on the market later in the month. For more information, visit Pioneer by clicking here.
VSX-832 Key Specifications
- Weight: 19 lbs
- Dimensions: 17.13” W x 6.81” H x 12.63” D
- Power Output: 80 Watts per Channel (20Hz-20kHz,.08%THD@8ohm 2ch Driven)
- HDMI Input / Output: 4 In / 1 Out
- Front USB: Yes
- Analog Inputs: 2 Inputs
- Digital Audio Inputs: 1 Optical, 1 Coaxial
- Channels: 5
- Audio DACs: 384 kHz/32-bit DAC (AK4438)
- Music File Playback: 192 kHz/24-bit ALAC, AIFF, FLAC, WAV Via USB
- Dolby Atmos: Yes
- DTS:X: Yes
VSX-532 Key Specifications
- Weight: 17.6 lbs
- Dimensions: 17.13” W x 6.81” H x 12.63” D
- Power Output: Watts per Channel (20Hz-20kHz,.08%THD@8ohm 2ch Driven)
- HDMI Input / Output: 4 In / 1 Out
- Front USB: Yes
- Analog Inputs: 3 Inputs
- Digital Audio Inputs: 1 Optical, 1 Coaxial
- Channels: 5
- Audio DACs: 192 kHz/24-bit
- Music File Playback: 48kHz / 16-Bit MP3, WMA, ACC Via USB
- Dolby Atmos: No
- DTS:X: No
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