The Denon AVR-X8500H versus Onkyo TX-RZ820 comparison makes clear all pros and cons of AV receivers. According to the results of our review, Denon AVR-X8500H received 9.5 points out of 10 possible, and Onkyo TX-RZ820 was rated 7.7 points. The release date of AVR-X8500H is 2018, and TX-RZ820 is 2017. Identified advantages have shown that AVR-X8500H is better over TX-RZ820 mainly as a home theater processor.
For the built-in amplifier, the devices received different marks - 10 and 9, respectively, on a 10-point scale.
The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Denon AVR-X8500H supports 13.2-channels sound, but Onkyo TX-RZ820 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. The differences between the models in terms of RMS power are significant - for the TX-RZ820 this value is 160/8 W/Ohm, and for the AVR-X8500H it is 150/8 W/Ohm.
AVR-X8500H | TX-RZ820 | |
---|---|---|
Channels | 13.2 | 7.2 |
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm | 150/8, 250/6 | 160/8 |
Output impedance, Ohm | 8, 6 | 8 |
Frequency response | 10Hz-100KHz | 5Hz-100KHz |
THD in stereo, % | 0.05 | 0.08 |
After reviewing the audio features of each model, we can rate the AVR-X8500H 10 out of 10, and the TX-RZ820 - 8.
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. Denon AVR-X8500H can work with the main and additional set of speakers - and switch between them.
AVR-X8500H | TX-RZ820 | |
---|---|---|
Digital to analog converter (DAC) | AK4490EQ 768 KHz/32-bit | AK4458 384 KHz/32-bit |
Bi-amping | ✔ | ✔ |
Pure direct (straight) | ✔ | ✔ |
Auto speaker calibration | Audyssey MultEQ XT32 | AccuEQ |
Speaker A/B switching | ✔ | ✖ |
Other audio features | Audyssey Dynamic Volume, Audyssey Dynamic EQ, Audyssey LFC | has not |
The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is equal and was rated 8 out of 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 Denon AVR-X8500H.
AVR-X8500H | TX-RZ820 | |
---|---|---|
Wi-Fi | ✔ | 2.4/5GHz |
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.
AVR-X8500H | TX-RZ820 | |
---|---|---|
Apple Music (AirPlay) | AirPlay, AirPlay 2 | AirPlay |
Amazon Music | ✔ | ✖ |
Spotify | ✔ | ✔ |
Other streaming services | Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, Napster, SiriusXM, TuneIn Radio, iHeart Radio, Sound Cloud | Deezer, TIDAL |
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, Denon AVR-X8500H got 10 points, but Onkyo TX-RZ820 received 8 points.
Denon AVR-X8500H is equipped with 8/3 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Onkyo TX-RZ820 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 Denon AVR-X8500H.
AVR-X8500H | TX-RZ820 | |
---|---|---|
HDMI input/output | 8/3 | 7/2 |
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 | 1 x 6.3 | 1 x 6.3 |
Optical digital input | 2 | 2 |
Coaxial digital input | 2 | 1 |
Composite input | 4 | 2 |
Component input/output | 3/1 | 2/0 |
Phono (MM) input | ✔ | ✔ |
Front panel connectors | USB, HDMI, phones, setup mic | HDMI, phones, 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 AVR-X8500H were rated 9 out of 10 against the 7 for the TX-RZ820.
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 Denon AVR-X8500H.
AVR-X8500H | TX-RZ820 | |
---|---|---|
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 | ✖ |
Analog to HDMI scaling | ✔ | ✖ |
HDMI to HDMI scaling | ✔ | ✖ |
Dolby Vision | ✔ | ✔ |
Other video features | HLG, BT.2020 | HLG, BT.2020 |
In terms of evaluating additional features, the AVR-X8500H got 10 points, but the TX-RZ820 has 8.
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 AVR-X8500H can be controlled by voice via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI.
AVR-X8500H | TX-RZ820 | |
---|---|---|
Voice control | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI | ✖ |
App control | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android, Amazon Kindle | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android |
Display | colour OSD | fluorescent |
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 | IP Control, Web Control | IP Control |
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.
AVR-X8500H | TX-RZ820 | |
---|---|---|
Multi-room zones | 3 | 2 |
Zone audio output | speaker, preout | speaker, preout |
Zone HDMI output | ✔ | ✔ |
Multi-room control | HEOS App | FlareConnect |
RS-232 | 1 | 1 |
Remote control input/output (IR) | 1/1 | 1/0 |
DC trigger output (12V) | 2 | 1 |
Denon AVR-X8500H got 10 points for the multichannel surround sound and Onkyo TX-RZ820 got 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 Denon AVR-X8500H 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 AVR-X8500H licensed by IMAX.
AVR-X8500H | TX-RZ820 | |
---|---|---|
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-EXPRESS, DTS-Surround | has not |
Auro-3D | ✔ | ✖ |
IMAX Enhanced | ✔ | ✖ |
Multichannel stereo | ✔ | ✖ |