Let's make the Yamaha RX-A6A versus Yamaha RX-V485BL comparison. According to the results of our review, Yamaha RX-A6A received 9.3 points out of 10 possible, and Yamaha RX-V485BL was rated 6.6 points. The release date of RX-A6A is 2021, and RX-V485BL is 2018. After comparison, it will become clear that among these two devices, the RX-A6A is more suitable for the role of the heart of home theater system.
For the built-in amplifier, the devices received different marks - 9 and 5, respectively, on a 10-point scale.
The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Yamaha RX-A6A supports 9.2-channels sound, but Yamaha RX-V485BL 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.
RX-A6A | RX-V485BL | |
---|---|---|
Channels | 9.2 | 5.1 |
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm | 150/8 | 80/6 |
Output impedance, Ohm | 8 | 6 |
Frequency response | 10Hz-100KHz | 10Hz-100KHz |
THD in stereo, % | 0.06 | 0.09 |
The score for audio features is 9 of 10 for both receivers.
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.
RX-A6A | RX-V485BL | |
---|---|---|
Digital to analog converter (DAC) | 384 KHz/32-bit | Burr-Brown 384 KHz/32-bit |
Bi-amping | ✔ | ✔ |
Pure direct (straight) | ✔ | ✔ |
Auto speaker calibration | YPAO | YPAO |
Speaker A/B switching | ✖ | ✖ |
Other audio features | CINEMA DSP 3D, Compressed Music Enhancer, Virtual CINEMA FRONT | CINEMA DSP, Compressed Music Enhancer, Virtual CINEMA FRONT |
The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Yamaha RX-A6A scored 9, and Yamaha RX-V485BL scored 8 out of 10.
Bluetooth connection is now one of the main communication protocols for the receiver's control or even music broadcasting.
RX-A6A | RX-V485BL | |
---|---|---|
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.
RX-A6A | RX-V485BL | |
---|---|---|
Apple Music (AirPlay) | AirPlay, AirPlay 2 | AirPlay, AirPlay 2 |
Amazon Music | ✔ | ✔ |
Spotify | ✔ | ✔ |
Other streaming services | Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, SiriusXM, Napster, SoundCloud | has not |
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-A6A got 10 points, but Yamaha RX-V485BL received 6 points.
Yamaha RX-A6A is equipped with 7/3 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Yamaha RX-V485BL has 4/1 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 Yamaha RX-A6A in the HDCP 2.3 version, and Yamaha RX-V485BL has the HDCP 2.2 version.
Connecting a vinyl player or phonograph is possible using a Phono input which is represented by mini-jack or RCA connectors. Only the RX-A6A has a Phono interface.
RX-A6A | RX-V485BL | |
---|---|---|
HDMI input/output | 7/3 | 4/1 |
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI CEC | ✔ | ✔ |
Digital content protection (HDCP) | HDCP 2.3 | HDCP 2.2 |
Subwoofer output (LFE) | 2 | 1 |
Headphone output | 1 x 6.3 | 1 x 6.3 |
Optical digital input | 3 | 2 |
Coaxial digital input | 2 | 1 |
Composite input | 2 | 2 |
Component input/output | 1 | 0/0 |
Phono (MM) input | ✔ | ✖ |
Front panel connectors | USB, phones, setup mic | USB, phones, setup mic, AUX |
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 RX-A6A were rated 9 out of 10 against the 8 for the RX-V485BL.
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-A6A works with the 4K/120Hz video, and the RX-V485BL 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 Yamaha RX-A6A.
RX-A6A | RX-V485BL | |
---|---|---|
HDR (High Dynamic Range) | HDR10+ | HDR10 |
4K signal pass-through | 4K/120Hz | 4K/60Hz |
8K signal pass-through | 8K/60Hz | ✖ |
HDMI signal pass-through | ✔ | ✔ |
3D signal pass-through | ✖ | ✔ |
HDMI pass-through in standby mode | ✔ | ✔ |
Video conversion | analog to HDMI | ✖ |
Analog to HDMI scaling | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI to HDMI scaling | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby Vision | ✔ | ✔ |
Other video features | x.v.Color, HLG, BT.2020, LipSync | BT.2020, HLG |
In terms of evaluating additional features, the RX-A6A got 10 points, but the RX-V485BL has 8.
RX-A6A | RX-V485BL | |
---|---|---|
Voice control | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI | Google Assistant |
App control | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android | 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 | Web Control, App 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.
RX-A6A | RX-V485BL | |
---|---|---|
Multi-room zones | 3 | 2 |
Zone audio output | preout | speaker |
Zone HDMI output | ✔ | ✖ |
Multi-room control | MusicCast | MusicCast |
RS-232 | 0 | 0 |
Remote control input/output (IR) | 1/1 | 0/0 |
DC trigger output (12V) | 2 | 0 |
Yamaha RX-A6A got 8 points for the multichannel surround sound and Yamaha RX-V485BL got 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. Yamaha RX-A6A 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 RX-A6A.
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 Yamaha RX-A6A has Auro-3D on its feature list.
RX-A6A | RX-V485BL | |
---|---|---|
Dolby Atmos | ✔ | ✖ |
Dolby TrueHD | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby Surround | ✔ | ✖ |
Dolby (other) | Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization | Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Pro Logic |
DTS:X | ✔ | ✖ |
DTS HD Master | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS Virtual:X | ✖ | ✖ |
DTS Neural:X | ✔ | ✖ |
DTS (other) | DTS-ES, DTS-HD | DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS, DTS-Surround, DTS Neo:6 |
Auro-3D | ✔ | ✖ |
IMAX Enhanced | ✖ | ✖ |
Multichannel stereo | ✖ | ✖ |