Yamaha RX-V385BL vs Denon AVR-A1H

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Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

RX-V385BL vs AVR-A1H comparison chart

Yamaha RX-V385BL vs Denon AVR-A1H review

Yamaha RX-V385BL
vs
Denon AVR-A1H

The Yamaha RX-V385BL vs Denon AVR-A1H comparison makes sense because it shows what devices in their segments can offer. According to the results of our review, Yamaha RX-V385BL received 4.7 points out of 10 possible, and Denon AVR-A1H was rated 9.7 points. The release date of RX-V385BL is 2018, and AVR-A1H is 2022. AVR-A1H is more suitable as the heart of home theater system than its opponent - RX-V385BL.

Main advantages Yamaha RX-V385BL over Denon AVR-A1H

  • We do not know advantages

Main advantages Denon AVR-A1H over Yamaha RX-V385BL

  • More channels, namely 15, makes this receiver more profitable than its 5-channel competitor.
  • 150/8 W/Ohm RMS makes it more productive compared to 70/8 W/Ohm RMS in another receiver in the review.
  • Thanks to 3 multi-room zones support, AVR-A1H bypasses its competitor without multizone support.
  • There is WI-Fi support.
  • The Spotify support is an exclusive advantage.
  • There is support for Apple AirPlay.
  • 8K/60Hz signal pass-through is available.
  • Surround sound ensures the availability of Dolby Atmos.
  • Object-oriented sound ensures the availability of DTS:X.

Amplifiers

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

RX-V385BL
6
AVR-A1H
10

The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Yamaha RX-V385BL supports 5.1-channels sound, but Denon AVR-A1H supports a 15.4-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-A1H this value is 150/8 W/Ohm, and for the RX-V385BL it is 70/8 W/Ohm.

RX-V385BL AVR-A1H
Channels5.115.4
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm70/8, 145/6150/8, 190/6
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 RX-V385BL 5 out of 10, and the AVR-A1H - 10.

RX-V385BL
5
AVR-A1H
10

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 AVR-A1H.

Pure Direct mode feeds sound directly to the amplifier and bypasses any DSP processing. Only Denon AVR-A1H 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.

Speaker A/B switching allows you to change between the main and sub speaker set. Denon AVR-A1H can work with the main and additional set of speakers - and switch between them.

RX-V385BL AVR-A1H
Digital to analog converter (DAC)Burr-Brown 384 KHz/32-bit192 KHz/32-bit
Bi-amping
Pure direct (straight)
Auto speaker calibrationAudyssey MultEQ
Speaker A/B switching
Other audio featuresCINEMA DSP 3D, Compressed Music Enhancer, Virtual CINEMA FRONTAudyssey Dynamic Volume, Audyssey Dynamic EQ, Audyssey Dynamic LFC, Compressed Audio Enhancer(MDAX2), Hi-Res audio, Dirac Live

Connectivity

The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Yamaha RX-V385BL scored 6, and Denon AVR-A1H scored 9 out of 10.

RX-V385BL
6
AVR-A1H
9

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

RX-V385BL AVR-A1H
Wi-Fi2.4/5GHz
USB1 (USB 2.0)2 (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.

RX-V385BL AVR-A1H
Apple Music (AirPlay)AirPlay, AirPlay 2
Amazon Music
Spotify
Other streaming serviceshas notDeezer, TIDAL, Pandora, SiriusXM, Napster, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, Amazon Music HD, MOOD:Mix

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, Yamaha RX-V385BL got 7 points, but Denon AVR-A1H received 9 points.

RX-V385BL
7
AVR-A1H
9

Yamaha RX-V385BL is equipped with 4/1 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Denon AVR-A1H has 7/3 HDMI inputs and outputs.

Connecting a vinyl player or phonograph is possible using a Phono input which is represented by mini-jack or RCA connectors. Only the AVR-A1H has a Phono interface.

RX-V385BL AVR-A1H
HDMI input/output4/17/3
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel)
HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel)
HDMI CEC
Digital content protection (HDCP)HDCP 2.3HDCP 2.3
Subwoofer output (LFE)14
Headphone output1 x 6.31 x 6.3
Optical digital input12
Coaxial digital input22
Composite input20
Component input/output0/00/0
Phono (MM) input
Front panel connectorsUSB, phones, AUXUSB, 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 RX-V385BL were rated 9 out of 10 against the 10 for the AVR-A1H.

RX-V385BL
9
AVR-A1H
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 RX-V385BL works with the 4K/60Hz video, and the AVR-A1H 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 Denon AVR-A1H.

RX-V385BL AVR-A1H
HDR (High Dynamic Range)HDR10HDR10+
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, the RX-V385BL got 5 points, but the AVR-A1H has 10.

RX-V385BL
5
AVR-A1H
10

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 AVR-A1H can be controlled by voice via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI.

RX-V385BL AVR-A1H
Voice controlAmazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI
App controliPhone, 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 featureshas notIP Control, Web Control, App Control, RS232 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.

RX-V385BL AVR-A1H
Multi-room zoneshas not3
Zone audio outputhas notspeaker, preout
Zone HDMI outputhas not
Multi-room controlhas notHEOS App, Denon 2016 AVR Remote
RS-23201
Remote control input/output (IR)0/01/1
DC trigger output (12V)02

Multichannel surround

Yamaha RX-V385BL got 5 points for the multichannel surround sound and Denon AVR-A1H got 10.

RX-V385BL
5
AVR-A1H
10

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. Denon AVR-A1H 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 AVR-A1H.

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. Denon AVR-A1H 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. The AVR-A1H licensed by IMAX.

RX-V385BL AVR-A1H
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 96/24, DTS-EXPRESSDTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS
Auro-3D
IMAX Enhanced
Multichannel stereo
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