Sony STRZA1100ES vs Denon HEOS AVR

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Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

STRZA1100ES vs HEOS AVR comparison chart

Sony STRZA1100ES vs Denon HEOS AVR review

Sony STRZA1100ES
vs
Denon HEOS AVR

Let's compare Sony STRZA1100ES versus Denon HEOS AVR for an overview of all their pros and cons. According to the results of our review, Sony STRZA1100ES received 6.6 points out of 10 possible, and Denon HEOS AVR was rated 4.8 points. Both AV receivers were introduced in 2017. And as a result of the comparison, STRZA1100ES seems to be a better option for the role of a home theater center than HEOS AVR.

Main advantages Sony STRZA1100ES over Denon HEOS AVR

  • More channels, namely 7, makes this receiver more profitable than its 5-channel competitor.
  • 70/8 W/Ohm RMS makes it more productive compared to 50/8 W/Ohm RMS in another receiver in the review.
  • Thanks to 2 multi-room zones support, STRZA1100ES bypasses its competitor without multizone support.
  • Include HDMI eARC function.
  • Can process HDR video.
  • Surround sound ensures the availability of Dolby Atmos.
  • Object-oriented sound ensures the availability of DTS:X.

Main advantages Denon HEOS AVR over Sony STRZA1100ES

  • There is WI-Fi support.
  • Has the Bluetooth protocol.
  • The Spotify support is an exclusive advantage.

Amplifiers

For the built-in amplifier, the devices received different marks - 7 and 6, respectively, on a 10-point scale.

STRZA1100ES
7
HEOS AVR
6

The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Sony STRZA1100ES supports 7.2-channels sound, but Denon HEOS AVR supports a 5.1-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 STRZA1100ES this value is 70/8 W/Ohm, and for the HEOS AVR it is 50/8 W/Ohm.

STRZA1100ES HEOS AVR
Channels7.25.1
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm70/8, 90/650/8, 65/6
Output impedance, Ohm8, 68, 6
Frequency response10Hz-100KHz10Hz-100KHz
THD in stereo, %0.090.05

Audio features

After reviewing the audio features of each model, we can rate the STRZA1100ES 7 out of 10, and the HEOS AVR - 5.

STRZA1100ES
7
HEOS AVR
5

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 only on the STRZA1100ES.

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.

STRZA1100ES HEOS AVR
Digital to analog converter (DAC)N/AN/A
Bi-amping
Pure direct (straight)
Auto speaker calibrationDCAC EX
Speaker A/B switching
Other audio featuresSound Optimizehas not

Connectivity

The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Sony STRZA1100ES scored 5, and Denon HEOS AVR scored 7 out of 10.

STRZA1100ES
5
HEOS AVR
7

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

Bluetooth connection is now one of the main communication protocols for the receiver's control or even music broadcasting. Of the two receivers reviewed, only Denon HEOS AVR has a built-in Bluetooth.

STRZA1100ES HEOS AVR
Wi-Fi
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.

STRZA1100ES HEOS AVR
Apple Music (AirPlay)
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, Sony STRZA1100ES got 6 points, but Denon HEOS AVR received 5 points.

STRZA1100ES
6
HEOS AVR
5

Sony STRZA1100ES is equipped with 5/2 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Denon HEOS AVR has 4/1 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 Sony STRZA1100ES.

STRZA1100ES HEOS AVR
HDMI input/output5/24/1
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)21
Headphone output1 x 6.31 x 6.3
Optical digital input21
Coaxial digital input11
Composite input20
Component input/output2/00/0
Phono (MM) input
Front panel connectorsUSB, 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 STRZA1100ES were rated 7 out of 10 against the 5 for the HEOS AVR.

STRZA1100ES
7
HEOS AVR
5

HDR pass-through gives you the possibility to broadcast HDR content directly from source to TV without the processing of the receiver. HDR support is available only on the Sony STRZA1100ES.

Most of the AV receivers have a video scaling function, it is the process of reformatting the video signal to a higher resolution without losing the quality of the image. Upscaling the video signal resolution is possible only with Sony STRZA1100ES.

STRZA1100ES HEOS AVR
HDR (High Dynamic Range)HDR10
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 featuresHLGhas not

Additional features

In terms of evaluating additional features, the STRZA1100ES got 7 points, but the HEOS AVR has 4.

STRZA1100ES
7
HEOS AVR
4

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 HEOS AVR can be controlled by voice via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant.

STRZA1100ES HEOS AVR
Voice controlAmazon Alexa, Google Assistant
App controliPhone, iPad, iPod, AndroidiPhone, iPad, iPod, Android
Displaycolour OSD
TunerAM, FM
Sleep timer
Auto power off
ECO mode
Graphical user interface (GUI)
Setup assistant
Firmware updatenetwork, USBnetwork, 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.

STRZA1100ES HEOS AVR
Multi-room zones2has not
Zone audio outputspeaker, preouthas not
Zone HDMI outputhas not
Multi-room controlhas notHEOS App
RS-23210
Remote control input/output (IR)1/21/0
DC trigger output (12V)10

Multichannel surround

Sony STRZA1100ES got 7 points for the multichannel surround sound and Denon HEOS AVR got 5.

STRZA1100ES
7
HEOS AVR
5

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. Sony STRZA1100ES 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 only on the STRZA1100ES.

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 STRZA1100ES licensed by IMAX.

STRZA1100ES HEOS AVR
Dolby Atmos
Dolby TrueHD
Dolby Surround
Dolby (other)Dolby Digital PlusDolby Pro Logic
DTS:X
DTS HD Master
DTS Virtual:X
DTS Neural:X
DTS (other)DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HDhas not
Auro-3D
IMAX Enhanced
Multichannel stereo
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