Denon AVR-S960H vs Denon AVR-S950H

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Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

AVR-S960H vs AVR-S950H comparison chart

Denon AVR-S960H vs Denon AVR-S950H review

Denon AVR-S960H
vs
Denon AVR-S950H

An overview of Denon AVR-S960H and Denon AVR-S950H will help us understand the many features that the devices are equipped with. According to the results of our review, Denon AVR-S960H received 7.8 points out of 10 possible, and Denon AVR-S950H was rated 7.3 points. The release date of AVR-S960H is 2020, and AVR-S950H is 2019. And as a result of the review, it becomes clear that AVR-S950H is inferior in audio processing features to AVR-S960H.

Main advantages Denon AVR-S960H over Denon AVR-S950H

  • 8K/60Hz signal pass-through is available.

Main advantages Denon AVR-S950H over Denon AVR-S960H

  • We do not know advantages

Amplifiers

For the built-in amplifier, the models have rated 7 points out of 10.

AVR-S960H
7
AVR-S950H
7

The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. Both receivers can handle the 7.2-channels configuration.

RMS stands for the actual power of the receiver. The higher this value, the louder the sound can be produced. In terms of RMS power, the models have the same characteristics - 90/8, 125/6/8 W/Ohm.

AVR-S960H AVR-S950H
Channels7.27.2
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm90/8, 125/690/8, 125/6
Output impedance, Ohm8, 68, 6
Frequency response10Hz-100KHz10Hz-100KHz
THD in stereo, %0.080.08

Audio features

The score for audio features is 6 of 10 for both receivers.

AVR-S960H
6
AVR-S950H
6

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.

AVR-S960H AVR-S950H
Digital to analog converter (DAC)N/AAKM 192 KHz/32-bit
Bi-amping
Pure direct (straight)
Auto speaker calibrationAudyssey MultEQAudyssey MultEQ
Speaker A/B switching
Other audio featuresAudyssey Dynamic Volume, Audyssey Dynamic EQ, Hi-Res audioAudyssey Dynamic Volume, Audyssey Dynamic EQ, Compressed Audio Restorer, Hi-Res audio

Connectivity

The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Denon AVR-S960H scored 10, and Denon AVR-S950H scored 7 out of 10.

AVR-S960H
10
AVR-S950H
7

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

DLNA is the perfect way to use your local cloud storage to stream movies and music directly to a TV. You can use the DLNA protocol only with Denon AVR-S960H.

AVR-S960H AVR-S950H
Wi-Fi2.4/5GHz
USB1 (USB 2.0)1 (USB 2.0)
Bluetooth
Ethernet (RJ45)11
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.

AVR-S960H AVR-S950H
Apple Music (AirPlay)AirPlay, AirPlay 2AirPlay, AirPlay 2
Amazon Music
Spotify
Other streaming servicesDeezer, TIDAL, Pandora, SiriusXM, Qobuz, TuneIn RadioDeezer, TIDAL, Pandora, Napster, SiriusXM, TuneIn Radio, iHeart Radio, Sound Cloud, Mood Mix

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, both receivers got 8 points on our 10-point scale.

AVR-S960H
8
AVR-S950H
8

Denon AVR-S960H is equipped with 6/2 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Denon AVR-S950H has 8/2 HDMI inputs and outputs.

AVR-S960H AVR-S950H
HDMI input/output6/28/2
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel)
HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel)
HDMI CEC
Digital content protection (HDCP)HDCP 2.3HDCP 2.3
Subwoofer output (LFE)22
Headphone output1 x 6.31 x 6.3
Optical digital input22
Coaxial digital input11
Composite input22
Component input/output2/22/1
Phono (MM) input
Front panel connectorsUSB, phones, setup micUSB, 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 rivals in our comparison were rated 8 out of 10.

AVR-S960H
8
AVR-S950H
8

With the 4K pass-through feature, the AV receiver sends "native" 4K signals to a 4K TV from a video source without any processing. The AVR-S960H works with the 4K/120Hz video, and the AVR-S950H has the 4K/60Hz.

The AV receiver passes "native" 8K signals from a video source to 8K TV without any encoding, with the 8k pass-through features. The 8K path-through is available only on Denon AVR-S960H.

AVR-S960H AVR-S950H
HDR (High Dynamic Range)HDR10HDR10
4K signal pass-through4K/120Hz4K/60Hz
8K signal pass-through8K/60Hz
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 featuresHLG, BT.2020HLG, BT.2020

Additional features

In terms of evaluating additional features, both receivers received a score of 10 out of 10.

AVR-S960H
10
AVR-S950H
10

AVR-S960H AVR-S950H
Voice controlAmazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AIAmazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI
App controliPhone, iPad, iPod, AndroidiPhone, iPad, iPod, Android, Amazon Kindle
Displaycolour OSDcolour OSD
TunerAM, FMAM, FM
Sleep timer
Auto power off
ECO mode
Graphical user interface (GUI)
Setup assistant
Firmware updatenetwork, USBnetwork, USB
Other additional featuresIP Control, Web Control, RS-232 Control, App ControlIP Control, Web Control

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.

AVR-S960H AVR-S950H
Multi-room zones22
Zone audio outputspeakerspeaker
Zone HDMI output
Multi-room controlHEOS App, Denon 2016 AVR RemoteHEOS App
RS-23200
Remote control input/output (IR)0/00/0
DC trigger output (12V)00

Multichannel surround

For the ability to create multichannel surround sound, each of the receivers received 7 points out of 10.

AVR-S960H
7
AVR-S950H
7

AVR-S960H AVR-S950H
Dolby Atmos
Dolby TrueHD
Dolby Surround
Dolby (other)Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos Height VirtualizationDolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization
DTS:X
DTS HD Master
DTS Virtual:X
DTS Neural:X
DTS (other)DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESSDTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS
Auro-3D
IMAX Enhanced
Multichannel stereo
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