An overview of Marantz SR6014 and Yamaha RX-A8A will help us understand the many features that the devices are equipped with. According to the results of our review, Marantz SR6014 received 9.2 points out of 10 possible, and Yamaha RX-A8A was rated 9.4 points. The release date of SR6014 is 2019, and RX-A8A is 2021. And as a result of the review, it becomes clear that SR6014 is inferior in audio processing features to RX-A8A.
For the built-in amplifier, the devices received different marks - 9 and 10, respectively, on a 10-point scale.
The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Marantz SR6014 supports 9.2-channels sound, but Yamaha RX-A8A supports a 11.2-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-A8A this value is 150/8 W/Ohm, and for the SR6014 it is 110/8 W/Ohm.
SR6014 | RX-A8A | |
---|---|---|
Channels | 9.2 | 11.2 |
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm | 110/8, 185/6 | 150/8 |
Output impedance, Ohm | 8, 6 | 8 |
Frequency response | 10Hz-100KHz | 10Hz-100KHz |
THD in stereo, % | 0.08 | 0.06 |
After reviewing the audio features of each model, we can rate the SR6014 10 out of 10, and the RX-A8A - 9.
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. Marantz SR6014 can work with the main and additional set of speakers - and switch between them.
SR6014 | RX-A8A | |
---|---|---|
Digital to analog converter (DAC) | AK4458 384 KHz/32-bit | 384 KHz/32-bit |
Bi-amping | ✔ | ✔ |
Pure direct (straight) | ✔ | ✔ |
Auto speaker calibration | Audyssey MultEQ XT32 | YPAO |
Speaker A/B switching | ✔ | ✖ |
Other audio features | Audyssey Dynamic Volume, Audyssey Dynamic EQ, Compressed Audio Enhancer(MDAX2), Hi-Res audio | CINEMA DSP 3D, Compressed Music Enhancer, Virtual CINEMA FRONT |
The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Marantz SR6014 scored 8, and Yamaha RX-A8A scored 9 out of 10.
Bluetooth connection is now one of the main communication protocols for the receiver's control or even music broadcasting.
SR6014 | RX-A8A | |
---|---|---|
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.
SR6014 | RX-A8A | |
---|---|---|
Apple Music (AirPlay) | AirPlay, AirPlay 2 | AirPlay, AirPlay 2 |
Amazon Music | ✔ | ✔ |
Spotify | ✔ | ✔ |
Other streaming services | Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, iHeart Radio | Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, SiriusXM, Napster, SoundCloud |
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 10 points on our 10-point scale.
Marantz SR6014 is equipped with 8/3 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Yamaha RX-A8A has 7/3 HDMI inputs and outputs.
SR6014 | RX-A8A | |
---|---|---|
HDMI input/output | 8/3 | 7/3 |
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI CEC | ✔ | ✔ |
Digital content protection (HDCP) | HDCP 2.3 | HDCP 2.3 |
Subwoofer output (LFE) | 2 | 2 |
Headphone output | 1 x 6.3 | 1 x 6.3 |
Optical digital input | 2 | 3 |
Coaxial digital input | 2 | 2 |
Composite input | 3 | 2 |
Component input/output | 2/1 | 1 |
Phono (MM) input | ✔ | ✔ |
Front panel connectors | USB, HDMI, phones, setup mic, AUX | USB, phones, setup mic |
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 SR6014 were rated 10 out of 10 against the 9 for the RX-A8A.
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 SR6014 works with the 4K/60Hz video, and the RX-A8A 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-A8A.
SR6014 | RX-A8A | |
---|---|---|
HDR (High Dynamic Range) | HDR10 | HDR10+ |
4K signal pass-through | 4K/60Hz | 4K/120Hz |
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 |
Analog to HDMI scaling | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI to HDMI scaling | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby Vision | ✔ | ✔ |
Other video features | HLG | x.v.Color, HLG, BT.2020, LipSync |
In terms of evaluating additional features, both receivers received a score of 10 out of 10.
SR6014 | RX-A8A | |
---|---|---|
Voice control | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI |
App control | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android, Amazon Kindle | 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 | IP Control, Web Control | Web Control, App Control |
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.
SR6014 | RX-A8A | |
---|---|---|
Multi-room zones | 2 | 3 |
Zone audio output | speaker, preout | preout |
Zone HDMI output | ✔ | ✔ |
Multi-room control | Marantz AVR Remote App, HEOS App | MusicCast |
RS-232 | 1 | 0 |
Remote control input/output (IR) | 1/0 | 1/1 |
DC trigger output (12V) | 1 | 2 |
Marantz SR6014 got 9 points for the multichannel surround sound and Yamaha RX-A8A got 8.
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. Yamaha RX-A8A 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. Only the SR6014 licensed by IMAX.
SR6014 | RX-A8A | |
---|---|---|
Dolby Atmos | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby TrueHD | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby Surround | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby (other) | Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization | Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization |
DTS:X | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS HD Master | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS Virtual:X | ✔ | ✖ |
DTS Neural:X | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS (other) | DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS | DTS-ES, DTS-HD |
Auro-3D | ✖ | ✔ |
IMAX Enhanced | ✔ | ✖ |
Multichannel stereo | ✔ | ✖ |