Pioneer VSX-532 Review and Specs

The Pioneer VSX-532 is impressive because it provides enough options to demonstrate how much its small black box and low cost can deliver. A subwoofer preamp output provides a connection to a powered subwoofer. See other Pioneer VSX-532 specs in this Pioneer VSX-532 review.

Pioneer VSX-532 review

Features

It boasts 80W power at 8 ohms and Dolby TrueHD/ DTS-HD Master Audio. Pioneer designed the VSX-532 to support both DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD. It’s an opportunity to experience quality HD entertainment from Blu-ray discs and surround soundtracks. The studio master and lossless codecs are bit-for-bit identical to ensure flawless delivery. Ready with Next Generation Video Standard. The video standard High Dynamic Range (HDR) adopted by Ultra HD Blu-ray addresses a higher contrast with light and dark images by expanding the brightness peak.

Design and build

The receiver looks really very compact and classically strict. A brushed front panel is an aesthetic advantage. As the device doesn’t take up much space (12.6 x 17.1 x 6.6 inches) and weighs only 19.9 pounds, I placed it as a part of the home theater and this small unit perfectly fitted it.

Connectivity

I hooked up 4 HDMI inputs: VHS using an RCA to HDMI converter, a DVD player, the TV Cable, and the Fire stick. Oh, one more thing, the Bluetooth connects perfectly. I was connected to my iPad and playing from 36 feet away. Of course it will come with Pioneer’s FireConnect whole home audio and DTS Play-Fi (with a future firmware update), as well as tremendous streaming options like Chromecast built-in (also with a future firmware update) and Apple AirPlay. These join built-in dual band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, along with a host of Internet streaming service such as Spotify, Pandora, Deezer and TIDAL.

Setup

The 531 has no automatic calibration system. It’s a challenge to get the receiver close to or at its optimum performance quickly unless it’s something a person does on a regular basis. If I were in a hurry to watch a movie or listen to my favorite sounds, it would be tempting to bring the sound up to par over a week or so. The VSX-532 rectifies this situation perfectly with Pioneer’s addition of Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System (MCACC).

Pros and Cons