Denon AVR-X8500HA vs Sony STR-AZ5000ES review
The present review is aimed to compare two AV receivers - Denon AVR-X8500HA vs Sony STR-AZ5000ES that are meant to satisfy the needs of cinema and music lovers.
Amplifier
A significant difference between the receivers in the number of channels, Denon AVR-X8500HA has 13.2 versus 11.2 for Sony STR-AZ5000ES. Regarding power, then AVR-X8500HA has such a W/Ohm ratio - 150/8, 190/6 when STR-AZ5000ES has a power of 130/8. The THD is 0.08% for the AVR-X8500HA but 0.09% for the STR-AZ5000ES.
Audio features
Competitors' digital to analog converter (DAC) is identical to 192 KHz/32-bit. Both the AVR-X8500HA and the STR-AZ5000ES support Bi-amping. Each of the AV receivers can transmit an audio signal directly to the amplifier and bypasses any DSP processing. Rivals from our review have Bluetooth support. The Apple Music service is implemented on considered devices: AirPlay, AirPlay 2. Spotify can be used on each receiver. Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, SiriusXM, Napster, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, Amazon Music HD, MOOD:Mix - all of these streaming services have found application in each of the models.
Video features
Compared AV receivers retain the quality of 4K/120Hz signal when transmitting from a source to a TV or projector. HDMI signal transmission in standby mode is implemented in each of the devices. Both rivals can scale the resolution of the incoming HDMI signal. The HDR standard - Dolby Vision is supported by these receivers.
Extensive connections
The Denon AVR-X8500HA has 8/3 HDMI inputs/outputs versus 6/2 HDMI connectors of the Sony STR-AZ5000ES.
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 2.3. The AVR-X8500HA has a built-in phono stage for connecting a vinyl player.
Additional features
Each of the AV receivers from our review supports 3 Multi-room zones. Supported voice control technologies are identical - Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI. It is also worth noting that the ECO mode is presented in each of the receivers. Both AVR-X8500HA and STR-AZ5000ES can be configured using the Setup assistant.
Multichannel surround
Both devices have support for Dolby Atmos multichannel audio format. The surround sound technology DTS:X is supported by devices under review.