Let's make the Sony STR-ZA3100ES versus Sony STR-ZA2100ES comparison. According to the results of our review, Sony STR-ZA3100ES received 6.3 points out of 10 possible, and Sony STR-ZA2100ES was rated 6.5 points. Both AV receivers were introduced in 2017. After comparison, it will become clear that among these two devices, the STR-ZA2100ES is more suitable for the role of the heart of home theater system.
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 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 STR-ZA2100ES this value is 75/8 W/Ohm, and for the STR-ZA3100ES it is 70/8 W/Ohm.
STR-ZA3100ES | STR-ZA2100ES | |
---|---|---|
Channels | 7.2 | 7.2 |
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm | 70/8, 90/6 | 75/8, 95/6 |
Output impedance, Ohm | 8, 6 | 8, 6 |
Frequency response | 10Hz-100KHz | 10Hz-100KHz |
THD in stereo, % | 0.09 | 0.09 |
The score for audio features is 7 of 10 for both receivers.
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 | STR-ZA2100ES | |
---|---|---|
Digital to analog converter (DAC) | N/A | N/A |
Bi-amping | ✔ | ✔ |
Pure direct (straight) | ✔ | ✔ |
Auto speaker calibration | DCAC EX | DCAC EX |
Speaker A/B switching | ✖ | ✖ |
Other audio features | Sound Optimizer | Digital Legato Linear, Sound Optimizer |
The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is equal and was rated 6 out of 10.
Bluetooth connection is now one of the main communication protocols for the receiver's control or even music broadcasting.
STR-ZA3100ES | STR-ZA2100ES | |
---|---|---|
Wi-Fi | ✖ | ✖ |
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.
STR-ZA3100ES | STR-ZA2100ES | |
---|---|---|
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, Sony STR-ZA3100ES got 9 points, but Sony STR-ZA2100ES received 7 points.
Competitors in our review have 6/2 HDMI inputs and outputs.
STR-ZA3100ES | STR-ZA2100ES | |
---|---|---|
HDMI input/output | 6/2 | 6/2 |
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 | 0 | 0 |
Optical digital input | 2 | 2 |
Coaxial digital input | 1 | 1 |
Composite input | 2 | 2 |
Component input/output | 2/0 | 2/0 |
Phono (MM) input | ✖ | ✖ |
Front panel connectors | USB, HDMI, setup mic | USB, HDMI, 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 STR-ZA3100ES were rated 7 out of 10 against the 10 for the STR-ZA2100ES.
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 Sony STR-ZA2100ES.
STR-ZA3100ES | STR-ZA2100ES | |
---|---|---|
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 scaling | ✖ | ✔ |
HDMI to HDMI scaling | ✖ | ✔ |
Dolby Vision | ✔ | ✔ |
Other video features | HLG | HLG |
In terms of evaluating additional features, the STR-ZA3100ES got 6 points, but the STR-ZA2100ES has 7.
STR-ZA3100ES | STR-ZA2100ES | |
---|---|---|
Voice control | ✖ | ✖ |
App control | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android | 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 | 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.
STR-ZA3100ES | STR-ZA2100ES | |
---|---|---|
Multi-room zones | 2 | 2 |
Zone audio output | speaker, preout | speaker, preout |
Zone HDMI output | ✔ | ✔ |
Multi-room control | has not | has not |
RS-232 | 1 | 1 |
Remote control input/output (IR) | 1/2 | 1/2 |
DC trigger output (12V) | 3 | 3 |
For the ability to create multichannel surround sound, each of the receivers received 7 points out of 10.
Rivals in this competition licensed by IMAX.
STR-ZA3100ES | STR-ZA2100ES | |
---|---|---|
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) | DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD | DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD |
Auro-3D | ✖ | ✖ |
IMAX Enhanced | ✔ | ✔ |
Multichannel stereo | ✔ | ✔ |