Denon AVR-S960H vs Marantz CINEMA 50

vs

Being able to compare Denon AVR-S960H and Marantz CINEMA 50 gave us an insight into what of them would be better for home theater configuration. According to the results of our review, Denon AVR-S960H received 7.8 points out of 10 possible, and Marantz CINEMA 50 was rated 8.6 points. The release date of AVR-S960H is 2020, and CINEMA 50 is 2022. CINEMA 50 is more performable in terms of audio broadcast than the AVR-S960H.

Main advantages Denon AVR-S960H over Marantz CINEMA 50

Main advantages Marantz CINEMA 50 over Denon AVR-S960H

Amplifiers

For the built-in amplifier, the devices received different marks - 7 and 8, respectively, on a 10-point scale.

The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Denon AVR-S960H supports 7.2-channels sound, but Marantz CINEMA 50 supports a 9.4-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 CINEMA 50 this value is 110/8 W/Ohm, and for the AVR-S960H it is 90/8 W/Ohm.

Audio features

After reviewing the audio features of each model, we can rate the AVR-S960H 6 out of 10, and the CINEMA 50 - 7.

Bi-amping is the amplification of one speaker with two amplifiers. This amplification method has a positive effect on sound quality. Bi-amping is possible on the CINEMA 50.

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.

Speaker A/B switching allows you to change between the main and sub speaker set. Marantz CINEMA 50 can work with the main and additional set of speakers - and switch between them.

Connectivity

The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Denon AVR-S960H scored 10, and Marantz CINEMA 50 scored 9 out of 10.

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

Streaming services

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

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.

Denon AVR-S960H is equipped with 6/2 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Marantz CINEMA 50 has 6/3 HDMI inputs and outputs.

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.

Additional features

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

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.

Multichannel surround

Denon AVR-S960H got 7 points for the multichannel surround sound and Marantz CINEMA 50 got 10.

Auro 3D gives a bit more versatility than Dolby Atmos or DTS:X and provides a hemispherical sound and enables a receiver to produce 3D sound stages. Marantz CINEMA 50 has Auro-3D on its feature list.

IMAX Enhanced is a licensing and certification program under which home theater devices deliver crisp 4K HDR pictures and powerful sound as it was designed by the IMAX engineers. The CINEMA 50 licensed by IMAX.