Review of Cambridge Audio AXR100 versus Sony STR-DH190 will reveal the best features offered by the devices. According to the results of our review, Cambridge Audio AXR100 received 5.6 points out of 10 possible, and Sony STR-DH190 was rated 5 points. The release date of AXR100 is 2019, and STR-DH190 is 2018. AXR100 is better suited for home theater use than the STR-DH190. Its sound profile is better balanced.
For the built-in amplifier, the models have rated 7 points out of 10.
The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. Both receivers can handle the 2.0-channels configuration.
RMS stands for the actual power of the receiver. The higher this value, the louder the sound can be produced. In terms of RMS power, the models have the same characteristics - 100/8/8 W/Ohm.
AXR100 | STR-DH190 | |
---|---|---|
Channels | 2.0 | 2.0 |
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm | 100/8 | 100/8 |
Output impedance, Ohm | 8 | 8 |
Frequency response | 5Hz-50KHz | 10Hz-100KHz |
THD in stereo, % | 0.01 | 0.09 |
The score for audio features is 6 of 10 for both receivers.
Pure Direct mode feeds sound directly to the amplifier and bypasses any DSP processing. Only Sony STR-DH190 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.
AXR100 | STR-DH190 | |
---|---|---|
Digital to analog converter (DAC) | 192 KHz/32-bit | N/A |
Bi-amping | ✖ | ✖ |
Pure direct (straight) | ✖ | ✔ |
Auto speaker calibration | ✖ | ✖ |
Speaker A/B switching | ✔ | ✔ |
Other audio features | has not | Hi-Res audio |
The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Cambridge Audio AXR100 scored 6, and Sony STR-DH190 scored 5 out of 10.
Bluetooth connection is now one of the main communication protocols for the receiver's control or even music broadcasting.
Wired internet connection via RJ45 allows receiver faster connection than wireless or even use NAS storages. Neither the AXR100, nor the STR-DH190 has the RJ45 port.
AXR100 | STR-DH190 | |
---|---|---|
Wi-Fi | ✖ | ✖ |
USB | 1 (USB 2.0) | 1 (USB 2.0) |
Bluetooth | ✔ | ✔ |
Ethernet (RJ45) | ✖ | ✖ |
DLNA | ✖ | ✖ |
MHL | ✖ | ✖ |
Now music streaming services are gaining more and more popularity. They allow users to listen to millions of songs by subscription.
AXR100 | STR-DH190 | |
---|---|---|
Apple Music (AirPlay) | ✖ | ✖ |
Amazon Music | ✖ | ✖ |
Spotify | ✖ | ✖ |
Other streaming services | has not | 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, Cambridge Audio AXR100 got 5 points, but Sony STR-DH190 received 4 points.
Competitors in our review have 0/0 HDMI inputs and outputs.
AXR100 | STR-DH190 | |
---|---|---|
HDMI input/output | 0/0 | 0/0 |
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) | ✖ | ✖ |
HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) | ✖ | ✖ |
HDMI CEC | ✖ | ✖ |
Digital content protection (HDCP) | ✖ | ✖ |
Subwoofer output (LFE) | 1 | 0 |
Headphone output | 1 x 6.3 | 1 x 6.3 |
Optical digital input | 2 | 0 |
Coaxial digital input | 1 | 0 |
Composite input | 0 | 0 |
Component input/output | 0/0 | 0/0 |
Phono (MM) input | ✔ | ✔ |
Front panel connectors | phones, AUX | phones |
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.
AXR100 | STR-DH190 | |
---|---|---|
HDR (High Dynamic Range) | ✖ | ✖ |
4K signal pass-through | ✖ | ✖ |
8K signal pass-through | ✖ | ✖ |
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 features | has not | has not |
In terms of evaluating additional features, both receivers received a score of 4 out of 10.
AXR100 | STR-DH190 | |
---|---|---|
Voice control | ✖ | ✖ |
App control | ✖ | ✖ |
Display | fluorescent | colour OSD |
Tuner | AM, FM | AM, FM |
Sleep timer | ✖ | ✔ |
Auto power off | ✖ | ✖ |
ECO mode | ✖ | ✖ |
Graphical user interface (GUI) | ✖ | ✖ |
Setup assistant | ✖ | ✖ |
Firmware update | USB | ✖ |
Other additional features | has not | 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.
AXR100 | STR-DH190 | |
---|---|---|
Multi-room zones | has not | has not |
Zone audio output | has not | has not |
Zone HDMI output | has not | has not |
Multi-room control | has not | has not |
RS-232 | 0 | 0 |
Remote control input/output (IR) | 0/0 | 0/0 |
DC trigger output (12V) | 0 | 0 |
AXR100 | STR-DH190 | |
---|---|---|
Dolby Atmos | ✖ | ✖ |
Dolby TrueHD | ✖ | ✖ |
Dolby Surround | ✖ | ✖ |
Dolby (other) | has not | has not |
DTS:X | ✖ | ✖ |
DTS HD Master | ✖ | ✖ |
DTS Virtual:X | ✖ | ✖ |
DTS Neural:X | ✖ | ✖ |
DTS (other) | has not | has not |
Auro-3D | ✖ | ✖ |
IMAX Enhanced | ✖ | ✖ |
Multichannel stereo | ✖ | ✖ |