Yamaha RX-V685BL vs Pioneer VSX-935

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Let's compare Yamaha RX-V685BL versus Pioneer VSX-935 for an overview of all their pros and cons. According to the results of our review, Yamaha RX-V685BL received 7.4 points out of 10 possible, and Pioneer VSX-935 was rated 7.6 points. The release date of RX-V685BL is 2018, and VSX-935 is 2021. And as a result of the comparison, VSX-935 seems to be a better option for the role of a home theater center than RX-V685BL.

Main advantages Yamaha RX-V685BL over Pioneer VSX-935

Main advantages Pioneer VSX-935 over Yamaha RX-V685BL

Amplifiers

For the built-in amplifier, the devices received different marks - 8 and 7, respectively, on a 10-point scale.

The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. Both receivers can handle the 7.2-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 RX-V685BL this value is 90/8 W/Ohm, and for the VSX-935 it is 80/8 W/Ohm.

Audio features

The score for audio features is 9 of 10 for both receivers.

Pure Direct mode feeds sound directly to the amplifier and bypasses any DSP processing. Only Yamaha RX-V685BL 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.

Connectivity

The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is equal and was rated 8 out of 10.

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

Streaming services

Now music streaming services are gaining more and more popularity. They allow users to listen to millions of songs by subscription.

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, both receivers got 7 points on our 10-point scale.

Yamaha RX-V685BL is equipped with 5/2 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Pioneer VSX-935 has 6/2 HDMI inputs and outputs.

HDMI-CEC helps gadgets attached to your TV to link back and forth with your TV via HDMI ports. It is become possible to control all linked devices with one remote. The RX-V685BL features HDMI CEC.

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 Pioneer VSX-935 has the HDCP 2.3 version.

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 rivals in our comparison were rated 8 out of 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-V685BL works with the 4K/60Hz video, and the VSX-935 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 Pioneer VSX-935.

Additional features

In terms of evaluating additional features, the RX-V685BL got 7 points, but the VSX-935 has 9.

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 VSX-935 can be controlled by voice via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI. Only the Yamaha RX-V685BL has the ECO mode.

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.

Multichannel surround

For the ability to create multichannel surround sound, each of the receivers received 7 points out of 10.