Yamaha RX-V685BL vs Yamaha RX-V4A

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Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

RX-V685BL vs RX-V4A comparison chart

Yamaha RX-V685BL vs Yamaha RX-V4A review

Yamaha RX-V685BL
vs
Yamaha RX-V4A

Review of Yamaha RX-V685BL versus Yamaha RX-V4A will reveal the best features offered by the devices. According to the results of our review, Yamaha RX-V685BL received 7.4 points out of 10 possible, and Yamaha RX-V4A was rated 6.5 points. The release date of RX-V685BL is 2018, and RX-V4A is 2020. RX-V685BL is better suited for home theater use than the RX-V4A. Its sound profile is better balanced.

Main advantages Yamaha RX-V685BL over Yamaha RX-V4A

  • More channels, namely 7, makes this receiver more profitable than its 5-channel competitor.
  • Thanks to 2 multi-room zones support, RX-V685BL bypasses its competitor without multizone support.
  • Surround sound ensures the availability of Dolby Atmos.
  • Object-oriented sound ensures the availability of DTS:X.

Main advantages Yamaha RX-V4A over Yamaha RX-V685BL

  • The Spotify support is an exclusive advantage.
  • 8K/60Hz signal pass-through is available.

Amplifiers

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

RX-V685BL
8
RX-V4A
6

The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Yamaha RX-V685BL supports 7.2-channels sound, but Yamaha RX-V4A supports a 5.2-channels configuration.

RMS stands for the actual power of the receiver. The higher this value, the louder the sound can be produced.

RX-V685BL RX-V4A
Channels7.25.2
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm90/8, 150/480/6
Output impedance, Ohm8, 46
Frequency response10Hz-100KHz10Hz-100KHz
THD in stereo, %0.060.06

Audio features

After reviewing the audio features of each model, we can rate the RX-V685BL 9 out of 10, and the RX-V4A - 7.

RX-V685BL
9
RX-V4A
7

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-V685BL RX-V4A
Digital to analog converter (DAC)Burr-Brown 384 KHz/32-bitN/A
Bi-amping
Pure direct (straight)
Auto speaker calibrationYPAOYPAO
Speaker A/B switching
Other audio featuresCINEMA DSP, Compressed Music Enhancer, Virtual CINEMA FRONTCINEMA DSP, Compressed Music Enhancer, Virtual CINEMA FRONT

Connectivity

The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Yamaha RX-V685BL scored 8, and Yamaha RX-V4A scored 9 out of 10.

RX-V685BL
8
RX-V4A
9

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

RX-V685BL RX-V4A
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 RX-V4A
Apple Music (AirPlay)AirPlayAirPlay, AirPlay 2
Amazon Music
Spotify
Other streaming serviceshas notDeezer, TIDAL, Pandora, SiriusXM, Qobuz

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 Yamaha RX-V4A received 5 points.

RX-V685BL
7
RX-V4A
5

Yamaha RX-V685BL is equipped with 5/2 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Yamaha RX-V4A 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-V685BL in the HDCP 2.2 version, and Yamaha RX-V4A has the HDCP 2.3 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-V685BL has a Phono interface.

RX-V685BL RX-V4A
HDMI input/output5/24/1
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel)
HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel)
HDMI CEC
Digital content protection (HDCP)HDCP 2.2HDCP 2.3
Subwoofer output (LFE)20
Headphone output1 x 6.31 x 6.3
Optical digital input21
Coaxial digital input21
Composite input10
Component input/output1/00/0
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-V685BL were rated 8 out of 10 against the 7 for the RX-V4A.

RX-V685BL
8
RX-V4A
7

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-V685BL works with the 4K/60Hz video, and the RX-V4A 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 Yamaha RX-V4A.

RX-V685BL RX-V4A
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 conversion
Analog to HDMI scaling
HDMI to HDMI scaling
Dolby Vision
Other video featuresBT.2020, HLGx.v.Color, HLG, BT.2020

Additional features

In terms of evaluating additional features, both receivers received a score of 7 out of 10.

RX-V685BL
7
RX-V4A
7

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 RX-V4A can be controlled by voice via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri.

RX-V685BL RX-V4A
Voice controlAmazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri
App controliPhone, iPad, iPod, AndroidiPhone, iPad, iPod, Android
Displaycolour OSDcolour OSD
TunerAM, FMFM
Sleep timer
Auto power off
ECO mode
Graphical user interface (GUI)N/A
Setup assistant
Firmware updatenetwork, USBnetwork, USB
Other additional featureshas notApp 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 RX-V4A
Multi-room zones2has not
Zone audio outputspeaker, preouthas not
Zone HDMI outputhas not
Multi-room controlMusicCastMusicCast
RS-23200
Remote control input/output (IR)1/10/0
DC trigger output (12V)10

Multichannel surround

Yamaha RX-V685BL got 7 points for the multichannel surround sound and Yamaha RX-V4A got 5.

RX-V685BL
7
RX-V4A
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-V685BL 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-V685BL.

RX-V685BL RX-V4A
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 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS
Auro-3D
IMAX Enhanced
Multichannel stereo
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