Denon AVR-S660H vs Yamaha RX-A880

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The Denon AVR-S660H vs Yamaha RX-A880 comparison makes sense because it shows what devices in their segments can offer. According to the results of our review, Denon AVR-S660H received 6.7 points out of 10 possible, and Yamaha RX-A880 was rated 8.3 points. The release date of AVR-S660H is 2021, and RX-A880 is 2018. RX-A880 is more suitable as the heart of home theater system than its opponent - AVR-S660H.

Main advantages Denon AVR-S660H over Yamaha RX-A880

Main advantages Yamaha RX-A880 over Denon AVR-S660H

Amplifiers

For the built-in amplifier, the devices received different marks - 6 and 8, respectively, on a 10-point scale.

The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Denon AVR-S660H supports 5.2-channels sound, but Yamaha RX-A880 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 RX-A880 this value is 100/8 W/Ohm, and for the AVR-S660H it is 75/8 W/Ohm.

Audio features

After reviewing the audio features of each model, we can rate the AVR-S660H 6 out of 10, and the RX-A880 - 9.

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 RX-A880.

Pure Direct mode feeds sound directly to the amplifier and bypasses any DSP processing. Only Yamaha RX-A880 has Pure Direct mode.

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.

Connectivity

The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Denon AVR-S660H scored 7, and Yamaha RX-A880 scored 8 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, Denon AVR-S660H got 7 points, but Yamaha RX-A880 received 9 points.

Denon AVR-S660H is equipped with 6/1 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Yamaha RX-A880 has 7/2 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-S660H in the HDCP 2.3 version, and Yamaha RX-A880 has the HDCP 2.2 version.

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.

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-S660H works with the 4K/120Hz video, and the RX-A880 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-S660H.

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-S660H got 8 points for the multichannel surround sound and Yamaha RX-A880 got 7.

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. Yamaha RX-A880 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 on the RX-A880.