Sony STR-ZA2100ES vs Denon AVR-S540BT

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Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

STR-ZA2100ES vs AVR-S540BT comparison chart

Sony STR-ZA2100ES vs Denon AVR-S540BT review

Sony STR-ZA2100ES
vs
Denon AVR-S540BT

Along with the growing popularity of custom home theater builds, the comparison of Sony STR-ZA2100ES and Denon AVR-S540BT takes place. According to the results of our review, Sony STR-ZA2100ES received 6.5 points out of 10 possible, and Denon AVR-S540BT was rated 5.5 points. The release date of STR-ZA2100ES is 2017, and AVR-S540BT is 2018. Based on the data on the characteristics and features of both models, we can conclude that STR-ZA2100ES has better performance than AVR-S540BT.

Main advantages Sony STR-ZA2100ES over Denon AVR-S540BT

  • More channels, namely 7, makes this receiver more profitable than its 5-channel competitor.
  • 75/8 W/Ohm RMS makes it more productive compared to 70/8 W/Ohm RMS in another receiver in the review.
  • Thanks to 2 multi-room zones support, STR-ZA2100ES bypasses its competitor without multizone support.
  • Include HDMI eARC function.
  • Surround sound ensures the availability of Dolby Atmos.
  • Object-oriented sound ensures the availability of DTS:X.

Main advantages Denon AVR-S540BT over Sony STR-ZA2100ES

  • The Spotify support is an exclusive advantage.

Amplifiers

For the built-in amplifier, the devices received different marks - 7 and 6, respectively, on a 10-point scale.

STR-ZA2100ES
7
AVR-S540BT
6

The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Sony STR-ZA2100ES supports 7.2-channels sound, but Denon AVR-S540BT 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. The differences between the models in terms of RMS power are significant - for the STR-ZA2100ES this value is 75/8 W/Ohm, and for the AVR-S540BT it is 70/8 W/Ohm.

STR-ZA2100ES AVR-S540BT
Channels7.25.2
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm75/8, 95/670/8, 90/6
Output impedance, Ohm8, 68, 6
Frequency response10Hz-100KHz10Hz-100KHz
THD in stereo, %0.090.08

Audio features

After reviewing the audio features of each model, we can rate the STR-ZA2100ES 7 out of 10, and the AVR-S540BT - 6.

STR-ZA2100ES
7
AVR-S540BT
6

Bi-amping is the amplification of one speaker with two amplifiers. This amplification method has a positive effect on sound quality. Bi-amping is possible only on the STR-ZA2100ES.

Pure Direct mode feeds sound directly to the amplifier and bypasses any DSP processing. Only Sony STR-ZA2100ES 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.

STR-ZA2100ES AVR-S540BT
Digital to analog converter (DAC)N/A192 KHz/32-bit
Bi-amping
Pure direct (straight)
Auto speaker calibrationDCAC EXAudyssey MultEQ
Speaker A/B switching
Other audio featuresDigital Legato Linear, Sound OptimizerCompressed Audio Restorer

Connectivity

The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Sony STR-ZA2100ES scored 6, and Denon AVR-S540BT scored 5 out of 10.

STR-ZA2100ES
6
AVR-S540BT
5

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. Wired connection via RJ45 is possible in the STR-ZA2100ES only.

STR-ZA2100ES AVR-S540BT
Wi-Fi
USB1 (USB 2.0)1 (USB 2.0)
Bluetooth
Ethernet (RJ45)1
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.

STR-ZA2100ES AVR-S540BT
Apple Music (AirPlay)
Amazon Music
Spotify
Other streaming serviceshas notTIDAL, Pandora

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, Sony STR-ZA2100ES got 7 points, but Denon AVR-S540BT received 6 points.

STR-ZA2100ES
7
AVR-S540BT
6

Sony STR-ZA2100ES is equipped with 6/2 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Denon AVR-S540BT has 5/1 HDMI inputs and outputs.

HDMI eARC is the next step in the development of audio return channel technology, which works in conjunction with HDMI 2.1. Using eARC provides the highest sound quality for home audio systems. HDMI eARC is available only on Sony STR-ZA2100ES.

STR-ZA2100ES AVR-S540BT
HDMI input/output6/25/1
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel)
HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel)
HDMI CEC
Digital content protection (HDCP)HDCP 2.2HDCP 2.2
Subwoofer output (LFE)22
Headphone output01 x 6.3
Optical digital input22
Coaxial digital input11
Composite input22
Component input/output2/00/0
Phono (MM) input
Front panel connectorsUSB, HDMI, setup micUSB, 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 STR-ZA2100ES were rated 10 out of 10 against the 6 for the AVR-S540BT.

STR-ZA2100ES
10
AVR-S540BT
6

Most of the AV receivers have a video scaling function, it is the process of reformatting the video signal to a higher resolution without losing the quality of the image. Upscaling the video signal resolution is possible only with Sony STR-ZA2100ES.

STR-ZA2100ES AVR-S540BT
HDR (High Dynamic Range)HDR10
4K signal pass-through4K/60Hz4K/60Hz
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 featuresHLGHLG, BT.2020

Additional features

In terms of evaluating additional features, the STR-ZA2100ES got 7 points, but the AVR-S540BT has 8.

STR-ZA2100ES
7
AVR-S540BT
8

Denon AVR-S540BT has the ECO mode.

STR-ZA2100ES AVR-S540BT
Voice control
App controliPhone, iPad, iPod, AndroidiPhone, iPad, iPod, Android, Amazon Kindle
Displaycolour OSDcolour OSD
TunerAM, FMAM, FM
Sleep timer
Auto power off
ECO mode
Graphical user interface (GUI)
Setup assistant
Firmware updatenetwork, USBUSB
Other additional featureshas nothas not

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.

STR-ZA2100ES AVR-S540BT
Multi-room zones2has not
Zone audio outputspeaker, preouthas not
Zone HDMI outputhas not
Multi-room controlhas nothas not
RS-23210
Remote control input/output (IR)1/20/0
DC trigger output (12V)30

Multichannel surround

Sony STR-ZA2100ES got 7 points for the multichannel surround sound and Denon AVR-S540BT got 5.

STR-ZA2100ES
7
AVR-S540BT
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. Sony STR-ZA2100ES 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 STR-ZA2100ES.

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 STR-ZA2100ES licensed by IMAX.

STR-ZA2100ES AVR-S540BT
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-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HDDTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS
Auro-3D
IMAX Enhanced
Multichannel stereo
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