Denon AVR-X8500H vs Yamaha RX-A4A

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Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

AVR-X8500H vs RX-A4A comparison chart

Denon AVR-X8500H vs Yamaha RX-A4A review

Denon AVR-X8500H
vs
Yamaha RX-A4A

To get informed with the specs of the receivers, we suggest you read the Denon AVR-X8500H and Yamaha RX-A4A review. According to the results of our review, Denon AVR-X8500H received 9.5 points out of 10 possible, and Yamaha RX-A4A was rated 8.7 points. The release date of AVR-X8500H is 2018, and RX-A4A is 2021. This review shows us that the AVR-X8500H is a better choice as a home AV receiver than the RX-A4A.

Main advantages Denon AVR-X8500H over Yamaha RX-A4A

  • More channels, namely 13, makes this receiver more profitable than its 7-channel competitor.
  • 150/8 W/Ohm RMS makes it more productive compared to 110/8 W/Ohm RMS in another receiver in the review.
  • Both receivers have a multi-room zone function, but AVR-X8500H has 3 zones vs 2 on its competitor.

Main advantages Yamaha RX-A4A over Denon AVR-X8500H

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

Amplifiers

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

AVR-X8500H
10
RX-A4A
8

The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Denon AVR-X8500H supports 13.2-channels sound, but Yamaha RX-A4A 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-X8500H this value is 150/8 W/Ohm, and for the RX-A4A it is 110/8 W/Ohm.

AVR-X8500H RX-A4A
Channels13.27.2
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm150/8, 250/6110/8
Output impedance, Ohm8, 68
Frequency response10Hz-100KHz10Hz-100KHz
THD in stereo, %0.050.06

Audio features

After reviewing the audio features of each model, we can rate the AVR-X8500H 10 out of 10, and the RX-A4A - 9.

AVR-X8500H
10
RX-A4A
9

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. Denon AVR-X8500H can work with the main and additional set of speakers - and switch between them.

AVR-X8500H RX-A4A
Digital to analog converter (DAC)AK4490EQ 768 KHz/32-bit384 KHz/32-bit
Bi-amping
Pure direct (straight)
Auto speaker calibrationAudyssey MultEQ XT32YPAO
Speaker A/B switching
Other audio featuresAudyssey Dynamic Volume, Audyssey Dynamic EQ, Audyssey LFCCINEMA DSP 3D, Compressed Music Enhancer, Virtual CINEMA FRONT

Connectivity

The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Denon AVR-X8500H scored 8, and Yamaha RX-A4A scored 9 out of 10.

AVR-X8500H
8
RX-A4A
9

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-X8500H.

AVR-X8500H RX-A4A
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-X8500H RX-A4A
Apple Music (AirPlay)AirPlay, AirPlay 2AirPlay, AirPlay 2
Amazon Music
Spotify
Other streaming servicesDeezer, TIDAL, Pandora, Napster, SiriusXM, TuneIn Radio, iHeart Radio, Sound CloudDeezer, TIDAL, Pandora, SiriusXM, Napster, SoundCloud

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, Denon AVR-X8500H got 10 points, but Yamaha RX-A4A received 8 points.

AVR-X8500H
10
RX-A4A
8

Denon AVR-X8500H is equipped with 8/3 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Yamaha RX-A4A has 7/3 HDMI inputs and outputs.

The HDCP encryption protocol is now mandatory for most media devices. This security technology encrypts digital signals from one product to another. HDCP content-encryption protocol is present on Denon AVR-X8500H in the HDCP 2.2 version, and Yamaha RX-A4A has the HDCP 2.3 version.

AVR-X8500H RX-A4A
HDMI input/output8/37/3
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel)
HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel)
HDMI CEC
Digital content protection (HDCP)HDCP 2.2HDCP 2.3
Subwoofer output (LFE)22
Headphone output1 x 6.31 x 6.3
Optical digital input22
Coaxial digital input21
Composite input40
Component input/output3/10
Phono (MM) input
Front panel connectorsUSB, HDMI, phones, setup micUSB, 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 AVR-X8500H were rated 9 out of 10 against the 8 for the RX-A4A.

AVR-X8500H
9
RX-A4A
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-X8500H works with the 4K/60Hz video, and the RX-A4A has the 4K/120Hz.

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 on Yamaha RX-A4A.

AVR-X8500H RX-A4A
HDR (High Dynamic Range)HDR10+
4K signal pass-through4K/60Hz4K/120Hz
8K signal pass-through8K/60Hz
HDMI signal pass-through
3D signal pass-through
HDMI pass-through in standby mode
Video conversionanalog to HDMI
Analog to HDMI scaling
HDMI to HDMI scaling
Dolby Vision
Other video featuresHLG, BT.2020x.v.Color, HLG, BT.2020, LipSync

Additional features

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

AVR-X8500H
10
RX-A4A
10

AVR-X8500H RX-A4A
Voice controlAmazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AIAmazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI
App controliPhone, iPad, iPod, Android, Amazon KindleiPhone, iPad, iPod, Android
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 ControlWeb Control, App 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-X8500H RX-A4A
Multi-room zones32
Zone audio outputspeaker, preoutpreout
Zone HDMI output
Multi-room controlHEOS AppMusicCast
RS-23210
Remote control input/output (IR)1/11/1
DC trigger output (12V)22

Multichannel surround

Denon AVR-X8500H got 10 points for the multichannel surround sound and Yamaha RX-A4A got 7.

AVR-X8500H
10
RX-A4A
7

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. Only the Denon AVR-X8500H 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. Only the AVR-X8500H licensed by IMAX.

AVR-X8500H RX-A4A
Dolby Atmos
Dolby TrueHD
Dolby Surround
Dolby (other)Dolby Digital PlusDolby 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-EXPRESS, DTS-SurroundDTS-ES, DTS-HD
Auro-3D
IMAX Enhanced
Multichannel stereo
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