Yamaha RX-V685BL vs Denon AVR-X8500HSP

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Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

RX-V685BL vs AVR-X8500HSP comparison chart

Yamaha RX-V685BL vs Denon AVR-X8500HSP review

Yamaha RX-V685BL
vs
Denon AVR-X8500HSP

The Yamaha RX-V685BL versus Denon AVR-X8500HSP comparison makes clear all pros and cons of AV receivers. According to the results of our review, Yamaha RX-V685BL received 7.4 points out of 10 possible, and Denon AVR-X8500HSP was rated 9.6 points. Both AV receivers were introduced in 2018. Identified advantages have shown that AVR-X8500HSP is better over RX-V685BL mainly as a home theater processor.

Main advantages Yamaha RX-V685BL over Denon AVR-X8500HSP

  • We do not know advantages

Main advantages Denon AVR-X8500HSP over Yamaha RX-V685BL

  • More channels, namely 13, makes this receiver more profitable than its 7-channel competitor.
  • 150/8 W/Ohm RMS makes it more productive compared to 90/8 W/Ohm RMS in another receiver in the review.
  • Both receivers have a multi-room zone function, but AVR-X8500HSP has 3 zones vs 2 on its competitor.
  • The Spotify support is an exclusive advantage.

Amplifiers

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

RX-V685BL
8
AVR-X8500HSP
10

The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Yamaha RX-V685BL supports 7.2-channels sound, but Denon AVR-X8500HSP supports a 13.2-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 AVR-X8500HSP this value is 150/8 W/Ohm, and for the RX-V685BL it is 90/8 W/Ohm.

RX-V685BL AVR-X8500HSP
Channels7.213.2
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm90/8, 150/4150/8, 190/6
Output impedance, Ohm8, 48, 6
Frequency response10Hz-100KHz10Hz-100KHz
THD in stereo, %0.060.05

Audio features

After reviewing the audio features of each model, we can rate the RX-V685BL 9 out of 10, and the AVR-X8500HSP - 10.

RX-V685BL
9
AVR-X8500HSP
10

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-X8500HSP can work with the main and additional set of speakers - and switch between them.

RX-V685BL AVR-X8500HSP
Digital to analog converter (DAC)Burr-Brown 384 KHz/32-bitAK4490 384 KHz/32-bit
Bi-amping
Pure direct (straight)
Auto speaker calibrationYPAOAudyssey MultEQ XT32
Speaker A/B switching
Other audio featuresCINEMA DSP, Compressed Music Enhancer, Virtual CINEMA FRONTAudyssey Dynamic Volume, Audyssey Dynamic EQ, Compressed Audio Restorer, Hi-Res audio

Connectivity

The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Yamaha RX-V685BL scored 8, and Denon AVR-X8500HSP scored 9 out of 10.

RX-V685BL
8
AVR-X8500HSP
9

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

RX-V685BL AVR-X8500HSP
Wi-Fi2.4/5GHz2.4/5GHz
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.

RX-V685BL AVR-X8500HSP
Apple Music (AirPlay)AirPlayAirPlay, AirPlay 2
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, Yamaha RX-V685BL got 7 points, but Denon AVR-X8500HSP received 10 points.

RX-V685BL
7
AVR-X8500HSP
10

Yamaha RX-V685BL is equipped with 5/2 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Denon AVR-X8500HSP has 8/3 HDMI inputs and outputs.

RX-V685BL AVR-X8500HSP
HDMI input/output5/28/3
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)22
Headphone output1 x 6.31 x 6.3
Optical digital input22
Coaxial digital input22
Composite input14
Component input/output1/03/1
Phono (MM) input
Front panel connectorsUSB, phones, AUXUSB, HDMI, 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-V685BL were rated 8 out of 10 against the 9 for the AVR-X8500HSP.

RX-V685BL
8
AVR-X8500HSP
9

RX-V685BL AVR-X8500HSP
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 featuresBT.2020, HLGBT.2020, HLG

Additional features

In terms of evaluating additional features, the RX-V685BL got 7 points, but the AVR-X8500HSP has 10.

RX-V685BL
7
AVR-X8500HSP
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-X8500HSP can be controlled by voice via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI.

RX-V685BL AVR-X8500HSP
Voice controlAmazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI
App controliPhone, iPad, iPod, AndroidiPhone, iPad, iPod, Android, Amazon Kindle
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

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-V685BL AVR-X8500HSP
Multi-room zones23
Zone audio outputspeaker, preoutspeaker, preout
Zone HDMI output
Multi-room controlMusicCastHEOS App, Denon 2016 AVR Remote
RS-23201
Remote control input/output (IR)1/11/1
DC trigger output (12V)12

Multichannel surround

Yamaha RX-V685BL got 7 points for the multichannel surround sound and Denon AVR-X8500HSP got 9.

RX-V685BL
7
AVR-X8500HSP
9

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-X8500HSP 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-X8500HSP licensed by IMAX.

RX-V685BL AVR-X8500HSP
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 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS, DTS-Surround, DTS Neo:6DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS, DTS-Surround
Auro-3D
IMAX Enhanced
Multichannel stereo
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