Review of Marantz SR7012 versus Sony STRZA1100ES will reveal the best features offered by the devices. According to the results of our review, Marantz SR7012 received 9.4 points out of 10 possible, and Sony STRZA1100ES was rated 6.6 points. Both AV receivers were introduced in 2017. SR7012 is better suited for home theater use than the STRZA1100ES. Its sound profile is better balanced.
For the built-in amplifier, the devices received different marks - 10 and 7, respectively, on a 10-point scale.
The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Marantz SR7012 supports 11.2-channels sound, but Sony STRZA1100ES supports a 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 SR7012 this value is 125/8 W/Ohm, and for the STRZA1100ES it is 70/8 W/Ohm.
SR7012 | STRZA1100ES | |
---|---|---|
Channels | 11.2 | 7.2 |
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm | 125/8, 165/6 | 70/8, 90/6 |
Output impedance, Ohm | 8, 6 | 8, 6 |
Frequency response | 10Hz-100KHz | 10Hz-100KHz |
THD in stereo, % | 0.05 | 0.09 |
After reviewing the audio features of each model, we can rate the SR7012 9 out of 10, and the STRZA1100ES - 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.
Speaker A/B switching allows you to change between the main and sub speaker set. Marantz SR7012 can work with the main and additional set of speakers - and switch between them.
SR7012 | STRZA1100ES | |
---|---|---|
Digital to analog converter (DAC) | 192 KHz/24-bit | N/A |
Bi-amping | ✔ | ✔ |
Pure direct (straight) | ✔ | ✔ |
Auto speaker calibration | Audyssey MultEQ XT32 | DCAC EX |
Speaker A/B switching | ✔ | ✖ |
Other audio features | Hi-Res audio, Audyssey Dynamic Volume, Audyssey LFC | Sound Optimize |
The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Marantz SR7012 scored 9, and Sony STRZA1100ES scored 5 out of 10.
Bluetooth connection is now one of the main communication protocols for the receiver's control or even music broadcasting. Of the two receivers reviewed, only Marantz SR7012 has a built-in Bluetooth.
DLNA is the perfect way to use your local cloud storage to stream movies and music directly to a TV. You can use the DLNA protocol only with Marantz SR7012.
SR7012 | STRZA1100ES | |
---|---|---|
Wi-Fi | 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.
SR7012 | STRZA1100ES | |
---|---|---|
Apple Music (AirPlay) | AirPlay, AirPlay 2 | ✖ |
Amazon Music | ✖ | ✖ |
Spotify | ✔ | ✖ |
Other streaming services | Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora | 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, Marantz SR7012 got 10 points, but Sony STRZA1100ES received 6 points.
Marantz SR7012 is equipped with 8/3 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Sony STRZA1100ES has 5/2 HDMI inputs and outputs.
Connecting a vinyl player or phonograph is possible using a Phono input which is represented by mini-jack or RCA connectors. Only the SR7012 has a Phono interface.
SR7012 | STRZA1100ES | |
---|---|---|
HDMI input/output | 8/3 | 5/2 |
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI CEC | ✔ | ✔ |
Digital content protection (HDCP) | HDCP 2.2 | HDCP 2.2 |
Subwoofer output (LFE) | 2 | 2 |
Headphone output | 1 x 6.3 | 1 x 6.3 |
Optical digital input | 2 | 2 |
Coaxial digital input | 2 | 1 |
Composite input | 3 | 2 |
Component input/output | 3/1 | 2/0 |
Phono (MM) input | ✔ | ✖ |
Front panel connectors | USB, HDMI, phones, setup mic, AUX | USB, 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 SR7012 were rated 10 out of 10 against the 7 for the STRZA1100ES.
SR7012 | STRZA1100ES | |
---|---|---|
HDR (High Dynamic Range) | ✔ | HDR10 |
4K signal pass-through | 4K/60Hz | 4K/60Hz |
8K signal pass-through | ✖ | ✖ |
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 | HLG |
In terms of evaluating additional features, the SR7012 got 10 points, but the STRZA1100ES has 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 SR7012 can be controlled by voice via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI. Only the Marantz SR7012 has the ECO mode.
SR7012 | STRZA1100ES | |
---|---|---|
Voice control | 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 | 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.
SR7012 | STRZA1100ES | |
---|---|---|
Multi-room zones | 3 | 2 |
Zone audio output | speaker, preout | speaker, preout |
Zone HDMI output | ✔ | ✔ |
Multi-room control | Marantz 2016 AVR Remote App, HEOS App | has not |
RS-232 | 1 | 1 |
Remote control input/output (IR) | 1/0 | 1/2 |
DC trigger output (12V) | 2 | 1 |
Marantz SR7012 got 9 points for the multichannel surround sound and Sony STRZA1100ES got 7.
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 Marantz SR7012 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 STRZA1100ES licensed by IMAX.
SR7012 | STRZA1100ES | |
---|---|---|
Dolby Atmos | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby TrueHD | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby Surround | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby (other) | Dolby Digital Plus | Dolby Digital Plus |
DTS:X | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS HD Master | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS Virtual:X | ✖ | ✖ |
DTS Neural:X | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS (other) | has not | DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD |
Auro-3D | ✔ | ✖ |
IMAX Enhanced | ✖ | ✔ |
Multichannel stereo | ✔ | ✖ |