Review of Denon AVR-X8500HSP versus Onkyo TX-RZ920 will reveal the best features offered by the devices. According to the results of our review, Denon AVR-X8500HSP received 9.6 points out of 10 possible, and Onkyo TX-RZ920 was rated 8.4 points. The release date of AVR-X8500HSP is 2018, and TX-RZ920 is 2017. AVR-X8500HSP is better suited for home theater use than the TX-RZ920. Its sound profile is better balanced.
For the built-in amplifier, the devices received different marks - 10 and 9, respectively, on a 10-point scale.
The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Denon AVR-X8500HSP supports 13.2-channels sound, but Onkyo TX-RZ920 supports a 9.2-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-X8500HSP this value is 150/8 W/Ohm, and for the TX-RZ920 it is 135/8 W/Ohm.
AVR-X8500HSP | TX-RZ920 | |
---|---|---|
Channels | 13.2 | 9.2 |
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm | 150/8, 190/6 | 135/8, 175/6 |
Output impedance, Ohm | 8, 6 | 8, 6 |
Frequency response | 10Hz-100KHz | 5Hz-100KHz |
THD in stereo, % | 0.05 | 0.04 |
After reviewing the audio features of each model, we can rate the AVR-X8500HSP 10 out of 10, and the TX-RZ920 - 8.
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-X8500HSP can work with the main and additional set of speakers - and switch between them.
AVR-X8500HSP | TX-RZ920 | |
---|---|---|
Digital to analog converter (DAC) | AK4490 384 KHz/32-bit | AK4490 384 KHz/32-bit |
Bi-amping | ✔ | ✔ |
Pure direct (straight) | ✔ | ✔ |
Auto speaker calibration | Audyssey MultEQ XT32 | AccuEQ |
Speaker A/B switching | ✔ | ✖ |
Other audio features | Audyssey Dynamic Volume, Audyssey Dynamic EQ, Compressed Audio Restorer, Hi-Res audio | Theater-Dimensional, Hi-Res audio, Dynamic Audio Amplification |
The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Denon AVR-X8500HSP scored 9, and Onkyo TX-RZ920 scored 8 out of 10.
Bluetooth connection is now one of the main communication protocols for the receiver's control or even music broadcasting.
AVR-X8500HSP | TX-RZ920 | |
---|---|---|
Wi-Fi | 2.4/5GHz | 2.4/5GHz |
USB | 1 (USB 2.0) | 1 (USB 2.0) |
Bluetooth | ✔ | ✔ |
Ethernet (RJ45) | 1 | 1 |
DLNA | ✖ | ✖ |
MHL | ✖ | ✖ |
Now music streaming services are gaining more and more popularity. They allow users to listen to millions of songs by subscription.
AVR-X8500HSP | TX-RZ920 | |
---|---|---|
Apple Music (AirPlay) | AirPlay, AirPlay 2 | AirPlay, AirPlay 2 |
Amazon Music | ✔ | ✖ |
Spotify | ✔ | ✔ |
Other streaming services | Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, Napster, SiriusXM, TuneIn Radio, iHeart Radio, Sound Cloud | Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, TuneIn Radio |
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-X8500HSP got 10 points, but Onkyo TX-RZ920 received 9 points.
Denon AVR-X8500HSP is equipped with 8/3 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Onkyo TX-RZ920 has 8/2 HDMI inputs and outputs.
AVR-X8500HSP | TX-RZ920 | |
---|---|---|
HDMI input/output | 8/3 | 8/2 |
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI CEC | ✔ | ✔ |
Digital content protection (HDCP) | HDCP 2.2 | HDCP 2.2 |
Subwoofer output (LFE) | 2 | 2 |
Headphone output | 1 x 6.3 | 1 x 6.3 |
Optical digital input | 2 | 2 |
Coaxial digital input | 2 | 2 |
Composite input | 4 | 2 |
Component input/output | 3/1 | 2/0 |
Phono (MM) input | ✔ | ✔ |
Front panel connectors | USB, HDMI, phones, setup mic | HDMI, phones, setup mic |
Multi channel preamp output | ✔ | ✔ |
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-X8500HSP were rated 9 out of 10 against the 10 for the TX-RZ920.
AVR-X8500HSP | TX-RZ920 | |
---|---|---|
HDR (High Dynamic Range) | ✔ | HDR10 |
4K signal pass-through | 4K/60Hz | 4K/60Hz |
8K signal pass-through | ✖ | ✖ |
HDMI signal pass-through | ✔ | ✔ |
3D signal pass-through | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI pass-through in standby mode | ✔ | ✔ |
Video conversion | analog to HDMI | analog to HDMI |
Analog to HDMI scaling | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI to HDMI scaling | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby Vision | ✔ | ✔ |
Other video features | BT.2020, HLG | HLG, BT.2020 |
In terms of evaluating additional features, the AVR-X8500HSP got 10 points, but the TX-RZ920 has 8.
Only the Denon AVR-X8500HSP has the ECO mode.
AVR-X8500HSP | TX-RZ920 | |
---|---|---|
Voice control | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI | Google Assistant |
App control | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android, Amazon Kindle | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android |
Display | colour OSD | colour OSD |
Tuner | AM, FM | AM, FM |
Sleep timer | ✔ | ✔ |
Auto power off | ✔ | ✔ |
ECO mode | ✔ | ✖ |
Graphical user interface (GUI) | ✔ | ✖ |
Setup assistant | ✔ | ✔ |
Firmware update | network, USB | network, USB |
Other additional features | IP Control, Web Control | has not |
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-X8500HSP | TX-RZ920 | |
---|---|---|
Multi-room zones | 3 | 3 |
Zone audio output | speaker, preout | speaker, preout |
Zone HDMI output | ✔ | ✔ |
Multi-room control | HEOS App, Denon 2016 AVR Remote | Onkyo Controller app, FlareConnect |
RS-232 | 1 | 1 |
Remote control input/output (IR) | 1/1 | 1/0 |
DC trigger output (12V) | 2 | 2 |
Denon AVR-X8500HSP got 9 points for the multichannel surround sound and Onkyo TX-RZ920 got 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-X8500HSP 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-X8500HSP licensed by IMAX.
AVR-X8500HSP | TX-RZ920 | |
---|---|---|
Dolby Atmos | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby TrueHD | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby Surround | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby (other) | Dolby Digital Plus | Dolby Digital Plus |
DTS:X | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS HD Master | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS Virtual:X | ✖ | ✖ |
DTS Neural:X | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS (other) | DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS, DTS-Surround | DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS |
Auro-3D | ✔ | ✖ |
IMAX Enhanced | ✔ | ✖ |
Multichannel stereo | ✔ | ✔ |