Sony STR-ZA3100ES vs Yamaha RX-V383BL

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Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

STR-ZA3100ES vs RX-V383BL comparison chart

Sony STR-ZA3100ES vs Yamaha RX-V383BL review

Sony STR-ZA3100ES
vs
Yamaha RX-V383BL

Being able to compare Sony STR-ZA3100ES and Yamaha RX-V383BL gave us an insight into what of them would be better for home theater configuration. According to the results of our review, Sony STR-ZA3100ES received 6.3 points out of 10 possible, and Yamaha RX-V383BL was rated 5 points. Both AV receivers were introduced in 2017. STR-ZA3100ES is more performable in terms of audio broadcast than the RX-V383BL.

Main advantages Sony STR-ZA3100ES over Yamaha RX-V383BL

  • More channels, namely 7, makes this receiver more profitable than its 5-channel competitor.
  • Thanks to 2 multi-room zones support, STR-ZA3100ES bypasses its competitor without multizone support.
  • Include HDMI eARC function.
  • Surround sound ensures the availability of Dolby Atmos.
  • Object-oriented sound ensures the availability of DTS:X.

Main advantages Yamaha RX-V383BL over Sony STR-ZA3100ES

  • We do not know advantages

Amplifiers

For the built-in amplifier, the devices received different marks - 7 and 5, respectively, on a 10-point scale.

STR-ZA3100ES
7
RX-V383BL
5

The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Sony STR-ZA3100ES supports 7.2-channels sound, but Yamaha RX-V383BL 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 STR-ZA3100ES this value is 90/6 W/Ohm, and for the RX-V383BL it is 70/6 W/Ohm.

STR-ZA3100ES RX-V383BL
Channels7.25.1
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm70/8, 90/670/6
Output impedance, Ohm8, 66
Frequency response10Hz-100KHz10Hz-100KHz
THD in stereo, %0.090.09

Audio features

After reviewing the audio features of each model, we can rate the STR-ZA3100ES 7 out of 10, and the RX-V383BL - 5.

STR-ZA3100ES
7
RX-V383BL
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 STR-ZA3100ES.

Pure Direct mode feeds sound directly to the amplifier and bypasses any DSP processing. Only Sony STR-ZA3100ES 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.

STR-ZA3100ES RX-V383BL
Digital to analog converter (DAC)N/ABurr-Brown 192 KHz/24-bit
Bi-amping
Pure direct (straight)
Auto speaker calibrationDCAC EXYPAO
Speaker A/B switching
Other audio featuresSound OptimizerCINEMA DSP, Compressed Music Enhancer, Virtual CINEMA FRONT

Connectivity

The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Sony STR-ZA3100ES scored 6, and Yamaha RX-V383BL scored 5 out of 10.

STR-ZA3100ES
6
RX-V383BL
5

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

Wired internet connection via RJ45 allows receiver faster connection than wireless or even use NAS storages. Wired connection via RJ45 is possible in the STR-ZA3100ES only.

STR-ZA3100ES RX-V383BL
Wi-Fi
USB1 (USB 2.0)1 (USB 2.0)
Bluetooth
Ethernet (RJ45)1
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.

STR-ZA3100ES RX-V383BL
Apple Music (AirPlay)
Amazon Music
Spotify
Other streaming serviceshas nothas not

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 STR-ZA3100ES got 9 points, but Yamaha RX-V383BL received 5 points.

STR-ZA3100ES
9
RX-V383BL
5

Sony STR-ZA3100ES is equipped with 6/2 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Yamaha RX-V383BL 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 STR-ZA3100ES.

STR-ZA3100ES RX-V383BL
HDMI input/output6/24/1
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 output01 x 6.3
Optical digital input21
Coaxial digital input11
Composite input22
Component input/output2/00/0
Phono (MM) input
Front panel connectorsUSB, HDMI, setup micUSB, phones, setup mic, AUX
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 STR-ZA3100ES were rated 7 out of 10 against the 9 for the RX-V383BL.

STR-ZA3100ES
7
RX-V383BL
9

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 with Yamaha RX-V383BL.

STR-ZA3100ES RX-V383BL
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 conversionanalog to HDMI
Analog to HDMI scaling
HDMI to HDMI scaling
Dolby Vision
Other video featuresHLGDeepColor, x.v.Color

Additional features

In terms of evaluating additional features, the STR-ZA3100ES got 6 points, but the RX-V383BL has 5.

STR-ZA3100ES
6
RX-V383BL
5

Yamaha RX-V383BL has the ECO mode.

STR-ZA3100ES RX-V383BL
Voice control
App controliPhone, iPad, iPod, Android
Displaycolour OSDfluorescent
TunerAM, FMAM, FM
Sleep timer
Auto power off
ECO mode
Graphical user interface (GUI)
Setup assistant
Firmware updatenetwork, USBUSB
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.

STR-ZA3100ES RX-V383BL
Multi-room zones2has not
Zone audio outputspeaker, preouthas not
Zone HDMI outputhas not
Multi-room controlhas nothas not
RS-23210
Remote control input/output (IR)1/20/0
DC trigger output (12V)30

Multichannel surround

Sony STR-ZA3100ES got 7 points for the multichannel surround sound and Yamaha RX-V383BL got 5.

STR-ZA3100ES
7
RX-V383BL
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 STR-ZA3100ES 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 STR-ZA3100ES.

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 STR-ZA3100ES licensed by IMAX.

STR-ZA3100ES RX-V383BL
Dolby Atmos
Dolby TrueHD
Dolby Surround
Dolby (other)Dolby Digital PlusDolby Digital Plus
DTS:X
DTS HD Master
DTS Virtual:X
DTS Neural:X
DTS (other)DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HDDTS-EXPRESS
Auro-3D
IMAX Enhanced
Multichannel stereo
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