Sony STR-ZA3100ES vs Yamaha RX-V4A

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STR-ZA3100ES vs RX-V4A comparison chart

Sony STR-ZA3100ES vs Yamaha RX-V4A review

Sony STR-ZA3100ES
vs
Yamaha RX-V4A

Review of Sony STR-ZA3100ES versus Yamaha RX-V4A will reveal the best features offered by the devices. According to the results of our review, Sony STR-ZA3100ES received 6.3 points out of 10 possible, and Yamaha RX-V4A was rated 6.5 points. The release date of STR-ZA3100ES is 2017, and RX-V4A is 2020. RX-V4A is better suited for home theater use than the STR-ZA3100ES. Its sound profile is better balanced.

Main advantages Sony STR-ZA3100ES over Yamaha RX-V4A

  • More channels, namely 7, makes this receiver more profitable than its 5-channel competitor.
  • Thanks to 2 multi-room zones support, STR-ZA3100ES bypasses its competitor without multizone support.
  • Surround sound ensures the availability of Dolby Atmos.
  • Object-oriented sound ensures the availability of DTS:X.

Main advantages Yamaha RX-V4A over Sony STR-ZA3100ES

  • 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 6, respectively, on a 10-point scale.

STR-ZA3100ES
7
RX-V4A
6

The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Sony STR-ZA3100ES supports 7.2-channels sound, but Yamaha RX-V4A 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-ZA3100ES this value is 90/6 W/Ohm, and for the RX-V4A it is 80/6 W/Ohm.

STR-ZA3100ES RX-V4A
Channels7.25.2
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm70/8, 90/680/6
Output impedance, Ohm8, 66
Frequency response10Hz-100KHz10Hz-100KHz
THD in stereo, %0.090.06

Audio features

The score for audio features is 7 of 10 for both receivers.

STR-ZA3100ES
7
RX-V4A
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.

STR-ZA3100ES RX-V4A
Digital to analog converter (DAC)N/AN/A
Bi-amping
Pure direct (straight)
Auto speaker calibrationDCAC EXYPAO
Speaker A/B switching
Other audio featuresSound OptimizerCINEMA DSP, Compressed Music Enhancer, Virtual CINEMA FRONT

Connectivity

The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Sony STR-ZA3100ES scored 6, and Yamaha RX-V4A scored 9 out of 10.

STR-ZA3100ES
6
RX-V4A
9

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

STR-ZA3100ES RX-V4A
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-ZA3100ES RX-V4A
Apple Music (AirPlay)AirPlay, AirPlay 2
Amazon Music
Spotify
Other streaming serviceshas notDeezer, TIDAL, Pandora, SiriusXM, Qobuz

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-ZA3100ES got 9 points, but Yamaha RX-V4A received 5 points.

STR-ZA3100ES
9
RX-V4A
5

Sony STR-ZA3100ES is equipped with 6/2 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Yamaha RX-V4A has 4/1 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-ZA3100ES in the HDCP 2.2 version, and Yamaha RX-V4A has the HDCP 2.3 version.

STR-ZA3100ES RX-V4A
HDMI input/output6/24/1
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)20
Headphone output01 x 6.3
Optical digital input21
Coaxial digital input11
Composite input20
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 rivals in our comparison were rated 7 out of 10.

STR-ZA3100ES
7
RX-V4A
7

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-ZA3100ES works with the 4K/60Hz video, and the RX-V4A 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-V4A.

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 with Yamaha RX-V4A.

STR-ZA3100ES RX-V4A
HDR (High Dynamic Range)HDR10
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 conversion
Analog to HDMI scaling
HDMI to HDMI scaling
Dolby Vision
Other video featuresHLGx.v.Color, HLG, BT.2020

Additional features

In terms of evaluating additional features, the STR-ZA3100ES got 6 points, but the RX-V4A has 7.

STR-ZA3100ES
6
RX-V4A
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 RX-V4A can be controlled by voice via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri. Yamaha RX-V4A has the ECO mode.

STR-ZA3100ES RX-V4A
Voice controlAmazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri
App controliPhone, iPad, iPod, AndroidiPhone, iPad, iPod, Android
Displaycolour OSDcolour OSD
TunerAM, FMFM
Sleep timer
Auto power off
ECO mode
Graphical user interface (GUI)N/A
Setup assistant
Firmware updatenetwork, USBnetwork, USB
Other additional featureshas notApp 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-ZA3100ES RX-V4A
Multi-room zones2has not
Zone audio outputspeaker, preouthas not
Zone HDMI outputhas not
Multi-room controlhas notMusicCast
RS-23210
Remote control input/output (IR)1/20/0
DC trigger output (12V)30

Multichannel surround

Sony STR-ZA3100ES got 7 points for the multichannel surround sound and Yamaha RX-V4A got 5.

STR-ZA3100ES
7
RX-V4A
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-ZA3100ES 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-ZA3100ES.

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-ZA3100ES licensed by IMAX.

STR-ZA3100ES RX-V4A
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 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS
Auro-3D
IMAX Enhanced
Multichannel stereo
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