The present review is aimed to compare two AV receivers - Denon AVR-X8500H vs Sony STR-DH790 that are meant to satisfy the needs of cinema and music lovers.
A significant difference between the receivers in the number of channels, Denon AVR-X8500H has 13.2 versus 7.2 for Sony STR-DH790. Regarding power, then AVR-X8500H has such a W/Ohm ratio - 150/8, 250/6 when STR-DH790 has a power of 90/6. The THD is 0.05% for the AVR-X8500H but 0.09% for the STR-DH790.
Characteristics of digital to analog converter (DAC) are different, AK4490EQ 768 KHz/32-bit for AVR-X8500H and 192 KHz/24-bit for the STR-DH790. Both the AVR-X8500H and the STR-DH790 support Bi-amping. Each of the AV receivers can transmit an audio signal directly to the amplifier and bypasses any DSP processing.
Only the Denon AVR-X8500H can connect to the Internet via WI-FI. Rivals from our review have Bluetooth support. Only the AVR-X8500H supports Spotify. Compared AV receivers retain the quality of 4K/60Hz signal when transmitting from a source to a TV or projector. HDMI signal transmission in standby mode is implemented in each of the devices. The AVR-X8500H can scale the input HDMI signal, unlike the STR-DH790. The HDR standard - Dolby Vision is supported by these receivers.
The Denon AVR-X8500H has 8/3 HDMI inputs/outputs versus 4/1 HDMI connectors of the Sony STR-DH790. The HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) feature supports both devices. HDMI eARC is available in each model. The Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) feature is present in most modern AV receivers and the models in our comparison are no exception. Both models support the standard HDCP 2.2. The AVR-X8500H has a built-in phono stage for connecting a vinyl player. An ECO mode is only available for the AVR-X8500H. Both AVR-X8500H and STR-DH790 can be configured using the Setup assistant.
Both devices have support for Dolby Atmos multichannel audio format. The surround sound technology DTS:X is supported by devices under review.