Sony STR-ZA2100ES vs Marantz SR7015

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Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

STR-ZA2100ES vs SR7015 comparison chart

Sony STR-ZA2100ES vs Marantz SR7015 review

Sony STR-ZA2100ES
vs
Marantz SR7015

An overview of Sony STR-ZA2100ES and Marantz SR7015 will help us understand the many features that the devices are equipped with. According to the results of our review, Sony STR-ZA2100ES received 6.5 points out of 10 possible, and Marantz SR7015 was rated 9.6 points. The release date of STR-ZA2100ES is 2017, and SR7015 is 2020. And as a result of the review, it becomes clear that STR-ZA2100ES is inferior in audio processing features to SR7015.

Main advantages Sony STR-ZA2100ES over Marantz SR7015

  • We do not know advantages

Main advantages Marantz SR7015 over Sony STR-ZA2100ES

  • More channels, namely 9, makes this receiver more profitable than its 7-channel competitor.
  • 125/8 W/Ohm RMS makes it more productive compared to 75/8 W/Ohm RMS in another receiver in the review.
  • Both receivers have a multi-room zone function, but SR7015 has 3 zones vs 2 on its competitor.
  • There is WI-Fi support.
  • The Spotify support is an exclusive advantage.
  • There is support for Apple AirPlay.
  • 8K/60Hz signal pass-through is available.

Amplifiers

For the built-in amplifier, the devices received different marks - 7 and 9, respectively, on a 10-point scale.

STR-ZA2100ES
7
SR7015
9

The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Sony STR-ZA2100ES supports 7.2-channels sound, but Marantz SR7015 supports a 9.2-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 SR7015 this value is 125/8 W/Ohm, and for the STR-ZA2100ES it is 75/8 W/Ohm.

STR-ZA2100ES SR7015
Channels7.29.2
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm75/8, 95/6125/8, 165/6
Output impedance, Ohm8, 68, 6
Frequency response10Hz-100KHz10Hz-100KHz
THD in stereo, %0.090.05

Audio features

After reviewing the audio features of each model, we can rate the STR-ZA2100ES 7 out of 10, and the SR7015 - 9.

STR-ZA2100ES
7
SR7015
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 SR7015 can work with the main and additional set of speakers - and switch between them.

STR-ZA2100ES SR7015
Digital to analog converter (DAC)N/AN/A
Bi-amping
Pure direct (straight)
Auto speaker calibrationDCAC EXAudyssey MultEQ XT32
Speaker A/B switching
Other audio featuresDigital Legato Linear, Sound OptimizerAudyssey Dynamic Volume, Audyssey Dynamic EQ, Audyssey LF, Compressed Audio Enhancer(MDAX2), Hi-Res audio

Connectivity

The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Sony STR-ZA2100ES scored 6, and Marantz SR7015 scored 10 out of 10.

STR-ZA2100ES
6
SR7015
10

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

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 SR7015.

STR-ZA2100ES SR7015
Wi-Fi2.4/5GHz
USB1 (USB 2.0)1 (USB 2.0)
Bluetooth
Ethernet (RJ45)11
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 SR7015
Apple Music (AirPlay)AirPlay, AirPlay 2
Amazon Music
Spotify
Other streaming serviceshas notDeezer, TIDAL, Pandora, SiriusXM, Napster, SoundCloud

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 Marantz SR7015 received 10 points.

STR-ZA2100ES
7
SR7015
10

Sony STR-ZA2100ES is equipped with 6/2 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Marantz SR7015 has 8/3 HDMI inputs and outputs.

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 Sony STR-ZA2100ES in the HDCP 2.2 version, and Marantz SR7015 has the HDCP 2.3 version.

Connecting a vinyl player or phonograph is possible using a Phono input which is represented by mini-jack or RCA connectors. Only the SR7015 has a Phono interface.

STR-ZA2100ES SR7015
HDMI input/output6/28/3
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel)
HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel)
HDMI CEC
Digital content protection (HDCP)HDCP 2.2HDCP 2.3
Subwoofer output (LFE)22
Headphone output01 x 6.3
Optical digital input22
Coaxial digital input12
Composite input24
Component input/output2/03/1
Phono (MM) input
Front panel connectorsUSB, HDMI, setup micUSB, HDMI, phones, setup mic, AUX
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 rivals in our comparison were rated 10 out of 10.

STR-ZA2100ES
10
SR7015
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 STR-ZA2100ES works with the 4K/60Hz video, and the SR7015 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 Marantz SR7015.

STR-ZA2100ES SR7015
HDR (High Dynamic Range)HDR10HDR10
4K signal pass-through4K/60Hz4K/120Hz
8K signal pass-through8K/60Hz
HDMI signal pass-through
3D signal pass-through
HDMI pass-through in standby mode
Video conversionanalog to HDMI
Analog to HDMI scaling
HDMI to HDMI scaling
Dolby Vision
Other video featuresHLGHLG, BT.2020, Dynamic HDR

Additional features

In terms of evaluating additional features, the STR-ZA2100ES got 7 points, but the SR7015 has 10.

STR-ZA2100ES
7
SR7015
10

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 SR7015 can be controlled by voice via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI. Marantz SR7015 has the ECO mode.

STR-ZA2100ES SR7015
Voice controlAmazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI
App controliPhone, iPad, iPod, AndroidiPhone, iPad, iPod, Android
Displaycolour OSDcolour OSD
TunerAM, FMAM, FM
Sleep timer
Auto power off
ECO mode
Graphical user interface (GUI)
Setup assistant
Firmware updatenetwork, USBnetwork, USB
Other additional featureshas notIP Control, Web Control, RS-232 Control, App Control

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 SR7015
Multi-room zones23
Zone audio outputspeaker, preoutspeaker, preout
Zone HDMI output
Multi-room controlhas notMarantz 2016 AVR Remote, HEOS App
RS-23211
Remote control input/output (IR)1/21/0
DC trigger output (12V)32

Multichannel surround

Sony STR-ZA2100ES got 7 points for the multichannel surround sound and Marantz SR7015 got 10.

STR-ZA2100ES
7
SR7015
10

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. Marantz SR7015 has Auro-3D on its feature list.

Rivals in this competition licensed by IMAX.

STR-ZA2100ES SR7015
Dolby Atmos
Dolby TrueHD
Dolby Surround
Dolby (other)Dolby Digital PlusDolby 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-HDDTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS
Auro-3D
IMAX Enhanced
Multichannel stereo
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