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Pioneer VSX-D514 vs Pioneer VSX-522-K (1 Viewer)

BokaLike

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Hi,

As the title says, Which one is better?? VSX-D514 or VSX-522-K ??

I'm NOT talking about the Hardware differences(HDMI, USB Input...etc), But the Quality of sound.

I already got VSX-D514 and local shopkeeper suggesting me to upgrade it to VSX-522-K.

I don't know the performance of VSX-522-K & blindly I don't want to upgrade.

So, I request the people who already came across with these 2 models, Please advice me.

Thanks in-advance.

BoKa
 

schan1269

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Only your ears can tell you. 95% of your audio quality...is your speakers.Pioneer moved to class D, which was barely making inroads in car audio when your current one was new.There is absolutely no direct comparison...at all.
 

BokaLike

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Thanks SCHAN, I got your point. But without buying it It's NOT possible for me to compare the audio quality on my existing speakers.

Currently I'm using VSX-D514 with 2 Pioneer Tower Speakers(Front) & 2 Pioneer Satellites(Rear) and 1 Pioneer in Front Center.

I'm in need of feedbacks from the users who (might have) upgraded from VSX-D514 to VSX-522 by keeping their existing speakers. Thats all.

BoKa
 

Jason Charlton

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But what Sam is saying is that the receiver has at most a negligible effect on your sound quality. Your speakers dictate at least 95% of the "sound quality" of a system.

Assuming you're listening to the same source material (i.e. DVD) connected in the same manner (digital coax or digital optical) to the same speakers only through a different receiver, the results will be for all intents and purposes identical.

In your post, you specifically downplayed hardware differences (HDMI, etc.). Hardware differences are the PRIMARY REASON why one should consider upgrading/replacing a receiver - not improving sound quality.

The presence of HDMI and the support of lossless audio formats such as DTS-MA and Dolby HD on the newer model WILL make it possible for you to hear an audible difference from your older receiver (even if you're using the multichannel inputs on the older model and letting the player decode, you will have more fine control over the lossless audio by letting the receiver handle the decoding and adding better bass management).

Making your decision to upgrade a receiver based on a vague sense of improving "sound quality" and explicitly ignoring hardware advances is exactly the opposite of what one ought to do.

Just my two cents.
 

gene c

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The biggest difference between the two is the 522 has Pioneer's MCACC EQ which can improve the sound quality by adjusting the 5 band equalizer to your rooms acoustics. The 514 doesn't have an EQ at all. I believe the 514's big brother, the 1014, was the first receiver with both an automatic eq and video up-conversion. Quite a coup back then.

It would be pretty tough to find someone who went from a 514 to a 522. That's an 8 year difference. The only way to tell which is better for you is to buy the 522, compare the two and deside for yourself. Same thing with speakers. If you don't think the 522 is worth it then return it.

The 522 is currently on sale on Pioneers website for $139 + shipping.
 

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