Yamaha RX-V385 vs Denon AVR-S940H

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Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

RX-V385 vs AVR-S940H comparison chart

Yamaha RX-V385 vs Denon AVR-S940H review

Yamaha RX-V385
vs
Denon AVR-S940H

Review of Yamaha RX-V385 versus Denon AVR-S940H will reveal the best features offered by the devices. According to the results of our review, Yamaha RX-V385 received 5 points out of 10 possible, and Denon AVR-S940H was rated 7.4 points. Both AV receivers were introduced in 2018. AVR-S940H is better suited for home theater use than the RX-V385. Its sound profile is better balanced.

Main advantages Yamaha RX-V385 over Denon AVR-S940H

  • Include HDMI eARC function.

Main advantages Denon AVR-S940H over Yamaha RX-V385

  • More channels, namely 7, makes this receiver more profitable than its 5-channel competitor.
  • Thanks to 2 multi-room zones support, AVR-S940H bypasses its competitor without multizone support.
  • There is WI-Fi support.
  • The Spotify support is an exclusive advantage.
  • Surround sound ensures the availability of Dolby Atmos.
  • Object-oriented sound ensures the availability of DTS:X.

Amplifiers

For the built-in amplifier, the devices received different marks - 5 and 7, respectively, on a 10-point scale.

RX-V385
5
AVR-S940H
7

The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Yamaha RX-V385 supports 5.1-channels sound, but Denon AVR-S940H supports a 7.2-channels configuration.

RMS stands for the actual power of the receiver. The higher this value, the louder the sound can be produced. The differences between the models in terms of RMS power are significant - for the AVR-S940H this value is 125/6 W/Ohm, and for the RX-V385 it is 70/6 W/Ohm.

RX-V385 AVR-S940H
Channels5.17.2
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm70/690/8, 125/6
Output impedance, Ohm68, 6
Frequency response10Hz-100KHz10Hz-100KHz
THD in stereo, %0.090.08

Audio features

After reviewing the audio features of each model, we can rate the RX-V385 6 out of 10, and the AVR-S940H - 7.

RX-V385
6
AVR-S940H
7

Most receivers now come with a microphone included. It is with the help of this microphone that the auto-calibration system functions, which adjusts the sound of the receiver to the room.

RX-V385 AVR-S940H
Digital to analog converter (DAC)Burr-Brown 384 KHz/32-bit192 KHz/32-bit
Bi-amping
Pure direct (straight)
Auto speaker calibrationYPAOAudyssey MultEQ
Speaker A/B switching
Other audio featuresCINEMA DSP, Compressed Music Enhancer, Virtual CINEMA FRONTAudyssey Dynamic Volume, Audyssey Dynamic EQ, Compressed Audio Restorer

Connectivity

The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Yamaha RX-V385 scored 5, and Denon AVR-S940H scored 7 out of 10.

RX-V385
5
AVR-S940H
7

Wireless connection via Wi-Fi is possible on the Denon AVR-S940H.

Bluetooth connection is now one of the main communication protocols for the receiver's control or even music broadcasting.

Wired internet connection via RJ45 allows receiver faster connection than wireless or even use NAS storages. Wired connection via RJ45 is possible in the AVR-S940H only.

RX-V385 AVR-S940H
Wi-Fi
USB1 (USB 2.0)1 (USB 2.0)
Bluetooth
Ethernet (RJ45)1
DLNA
MHL

Streaming services

Now music streaming services are gaining more and more popularity. They allow users to listen to millions of songs by subscription.

RX-V385 AVR-S940H
Apple Music (AirPlay)AirPlayAirPlay, AirPlay 2
Amazon Music
Spotify
Other streaming serviceshas notDeezer, TIDAL, Pandora, Napster, SiriusXM, TuneIn Radio, iHeart Radio, Sound Cloud

Extensive connections

The presence of many connectors makes the receiver more versatile. But there are also narrowly targeted models, the number of connectors which are limited to a certain area of use. And when choosing their own receiver, users need to consider exactly your goals for using the receiver. For extensive connection, Yamaha RX-V385 got 6 points, but Denon AVR-S940H received 9 points.

RX-V385
6
AVR-S940H
9

Yamaha RX-V385 is equipped with 4/1 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Denon AVR-S940H has 8/2 HDMI inputs and outputs.

HDMI eARC is the next step in the development of audio return channel technology, which works in conjunction with HDMI 2.1. Using eARC provides the highest sound quality for home audio systems. HDMI eARC is available only on Yamaha RX-V385.

Connecting a vinyl player or phonograph is possible using a Phono input which is represented by mini-jack or RCA connectors. Only the AVR-S940H has a Phono interface.

RX-V385 AVR-S940H
HDMI input/output4/18/2
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel)
HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel)
HDMI CEC
Digital content protection (HDCP)HDCP 2.2HDCP 2.2
Subwoofer output (LFE)12
Headphone output1 x 6.31 x 6.3
Optical digital input12
Coaxial digital input21
Composite input22
Component input/output0/02/1
Phono (MM) input
Front panel connectorsUSB, phones, setup mic, AUXUSB, HDMI, phones, setup mic
Multi channel preamp output

Video features

The AV receiver is the heart of the home theater. And in this case, support for all current video formats ensures the best user experience, so it is very important to consider this when choosing a device. Video features of the RX-V385 were rated 8 out of 10 against the 6 for the AVR-S940H.

RX-V385
8
AVR-S940H
6

RX-V385 AVR-S940H
HDR (High Dynamic Range)HDR10HDR10
4K signal pass-through4K/60Hz4K/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 featuresDeepColor, x.v.ColorBT.2020, HLG

Additional features

In terms of evaluating additional features, the RX-V385 got 6 points, but the AVR-S940H has 10.

RX-V385
6
AVR-S940H
10

Voice control allows you to control the basic functions of the receiver through a smartphone, smart speaker or using the microphone that comes with the kit. The AVR-S940H can be controlled by voice via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI.

RX-V385 AVR-S940H
Voice controlAmazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI
App controliPhone, iPod, AndroidiPhone, iPad, iPod, Android, Amazon Kindle
Displayfluorescentcolour OSD
TunerAM, FMAM, FM
Sleep timer
Auto power off
ECO mode
Graphical user interface (GUI)
Setup assistant
Firmware updateUSBnetwork, USB
Other additional featureshas nothas not

Multi-room

As the center of a home media system, each multichannel receiver has an additional set of terminals for connecting the second set of speakers to create additional audio space in Zone 2 or even Zone 3 where audio can have the separate source.

RX-V385 AVR-S940H
Multi-room zoneshas not2
Zone audio outputhas notspeaker
Zone HDMI outputhas not
Multi-room controlhas notHEOS App
RS-23200
Remote control input/output (IR)0/00/0
DC trigger output (12V)00

Multichannel surround

Yamaha RX-V385 got 5 points for the multichannel surround sound and Denon AVR-S940H got 7.

RX-V385
5
AVR-S940H
7

Dolby Atmos' particularity is that this is the object-oriented sound format, that is, each audio signal object is independently sounded and connected to its spatial position. Denon AVR-S940H can create 3D sound due to the Dolby Atmos support.

DTS:X is an algorithm used by the processor to create sound scenes, where sounds connected directly to objects rather than channels, and to determine the optimum sound output distribution in space. Surround sound with DTS:X is available on the AVR-S940H.

RX-V385 AVR-S940H
Dolby Atmos
Dolby TrueHD
Dolby Surround
Dolby (other)Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Pro LogicDolby Digital Plus
DTS:X
DTS HD Master
DTS Virtual:X
DTS Neural:X
DTS (other)DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS, DTS-Surround, DTS-Neo:6DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS, DTS-Surround
Auro-3D
IMAX Enhanced
Multichannel stereo
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