Marantz SR7015 vs Onkyo TX-NR686

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Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

SR7015 vs TX-NR686 comparison chart

Marantz SR7015 vs Onkyo TX-NR686 review

Marantz SR7015
vs
Onkyo TX-NR686

Let's make the Marantz SR7015 versus Onkyo TX-NR686 comparison. According to the results of our review, Marantz SR7015 received 9.6 points out of 10 possible, and Onkyo TX-NR686 was rated 7.2 points. The release date of SR7015 is 2020, and TX-NR686 is 2018. After comparison, it will become clear that among these two devices, the SR7015 is more suitable for the role of the heart of home theater system.

Main advantages Marantz SR7015 over Onkyo TX-NR686

  • More channels, namely 9, makes this receiver more profitable than its 7-channel competitor.
  • Both receivers have a multi-room zone function, but SR7015 has 3 zones vs 2 on its competitor.
  • Include HDMI eARC function.
  • 8K/60Hz signal pass-through is available.

Main advantages Onkyo TX-NR686 over Marantz SR7015

  • We do not know advantages

Amplifiers

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

SR7015
9
TX-NR686
7

The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Marantz SR7015 supports 9.2-channels sound, but Onkyo TX-NR686 supports a 7.2-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 - 125/8, 165/6/6 W/Ohm.

SR7015 TX-NR686
Channels9.27.2
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm125/8, 165/6165/6
Output impedance, Ohm8, 66
Frequency response10Hz-100KHz10Hz-100KHz
THD in stereo, %0.050.08

Audio features

The score for audio features is 9 of 10 for both receivers.

SR7015
9
TX-NR686
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.

SR7015 TX-NR686
Digital to analog converter (DAC)N/AVLSC 384 KHz/32-bit
Bi-amping
Pure direct (straight)
Auto speaker calibrationAudyssey MultEQ XT32AccuEQ
Speaker A/B switching
Other audio featuresAudyssey Dynamic Volume, Audyssey Dynamic EQ, Audyssey LF, Compressed Audio Enhancer(MDAX2), Hi-Res audioAdvanced Music Optimizer, Theater-Dimensional, Hi-Res audio

Connectivity

The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Marantz SR7015 scored 10, and Onkyo TX-NR686 scored 8 out of 10.

SR7015
10
TX-NR686
8

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.

SR7015 TX-NR686
Wi-Fi2.4/5GHz2.4/5GHz
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.

SR7015 TX-NR686
Apple Music (AirPlay)AirPlay, AirPlay 2AirPlay
Amazon Music
Spotify
Other streaming servicesDeezer, TIDAL, Pandora, SiriusXM, Napster, SoundCloudDeezer, TIDAL, TuneIn Radio

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, Marantz SR7015 got 10 points, but Onkyo TX-NR686 received 8 points.

SR7015
10
TX-NR686
8

Marantz SR7015 is equipped with 8/3 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Onkyo TX-NR686 has 7/2 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 Marantz SR7015.

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 Marantz SR7015 in the HDCP 2.3 version, and Onkyo TX-NR686 has the HDCP 2.2 version.

SR7015 TX-NR686
HDMI input/output8/37/2
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel)
HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel)
HDMI CEC
Digital content protection (HDCP)HDCP 2.3HDCP 2.2
Subwoofer output (LFE)22
Headphone output1 x 6.31 x 6.3
Optical digital input22
Coaxial digital input21
Composite input42
Component input/output3/12/0
Phono (MM) input
Front panel connectorsUSB, HDMI, phones, setup mic, AUXHDMI, 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 SR7015 were rated 10 out of 10 against the 7 for the TX-NR686.

SR7015
10
TX-NR686
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 SR7015 works with the 4K/120Hz video, and the TX-NR686 has the 4K/60Hz.

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 only on Marantz SR7015.

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 Marantz SR7015.

SR7015 TX-NR686
HDR (High Dynamic Range)HDR10HDR10
4K signal pass-through4K/120Hz4K/60Hz
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 featuresHLG, BT.2020, Dynamic HDRDeepColor, x.v.Color

Additional features

In terms of evaluating additional features, the SR7015 got 10 points, but the TX-NR686 has 7.

SR7015
10
TX-NR686
7

Only the Marantz SR7015 has the ECO mode.

SR7015 TX-NR686
Voice controlAmazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AIGoogle Assistant
App controliPhone, iPad, iPod, AndroidiPhone, iPod, Android
Displaycolour OSDfluorescent
TunerAM, FMAM, FM
Sleep timer
Auto power off
ECO mode
Graphical user interface (GUI)
Setup assistant
Firmware updatenetwork, USBnetwork, USB
Other additional featuresIP Control, Web Control, RS-232 Control, App ControlIP 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.

SR7015 TX-NR686
Multi-room zones32
Zone audio outputspeaker, preoutspeaker, preout
Zone HDMI output
Multi-room controlMarantz 2016 AVR Remote, HEOS AppOnkyo Controller app, FlareConnect
RS-23210
Remote control input/output (IR)1/00/0
DC trigger output (12V)20

Multichannel surround

Marantz SR7015 got 10 points for the multichannel surround sound and Onkyo TX-NR686 got 7.

SR7015
10
TX-NR686
7

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

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 SR7015 licensed by IMAX.

SR7015 TX-NR686
Dolby Atmos
Dolby TrueHD
Dolby Surround
Dolby (other)Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos Height VirtualizationDolby Digital Plus
DTS:X
DTS HD Master
DTS Virtual:X
DTS Neural:X
DTS (other)DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESSDTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS
Auro-3D
IMAX Enhanced
Multichannel stereo
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