Marantz NR1504 vs Denon AVR-S950H review

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AV receivers comparison chart

Marantz NR1504 vs Denon AVR-S950H review

Marantz NR1504
vs
Denon AVR-S950H

It makes sense comparing Marantz NR1504 vs Denon AVR-S950H because they both are able to give some premium features.

Amplifier

A significant difference between the receivers in the number of channels, Marantz NR1504 has 5.1 versus 7.2 for Denon AVR-S950H. Regarding power, then NR1504 has such a W/Ohm ratio - 50/8, 60/6 when AVR-S950H has a power of 90/8, 125/6. The THD is the same and is 0.08%.

Audio features

Characteristics of digital to analog converter (DAC) are different, 192 KHz/24-bit for NR1504 and AKM 192 KHz/32-bit for the AVR-S950H. None of the models support Bi-amping. Each of the AV receivers can transmit an audio signal directly to the amplifier and bypasses any DSP processing.

Connectivity

Only the Denon AVR-S950H can connect to the Internet via WI-FI. Rivals from our review have Bluetooth support. The Marantz NR1504 has support for AirPlay, and its competitor in our comparison - AirPlay, AirPlay 2. Spotify can be used on each receiver. The NR1504 can work with the audio stream from Pandora, SiriusXM, and the AVR-S950H can receive a content from Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, Napster, SiriusXM, TuneIn Radio, iHeart Radio, Sound Cloud, Mood Mix. HDMI signal transmission in standby mode is implemented in each of the devices. The AVR-S950H can scale the input HDMI signal, unlike the NR1504. Dolby Vision technology found support only on the AVR-S950H.

Extensive connections

The Marantz NR1504 has 6/1 HDMI inputs/outputs versus 8/2 HDMI connectors of the Denon AVR-S950H.Marantz NR1504 connectionsDenon AVR-S950H connections The HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) feature supports both devices. The HDMI eARC is available only on the AVR-S950H. The Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) feature is present in most modern AV receivers and the models in our comparison are no exception. The NR1504 supports the protection of digital content of the standard HDCP 2.2, versus HDCP 2.3 in the AVR-S950H. The AVR-S950H has a built-in phono stage for connecting a vinyl player. An ECO mode is only available for the AVR-S950H. Both NR1504 and AVR-S950H can be configured using the Setup assistant.

Multichannel surround

Only the AVR-S950H has a Dolby Atmos multichannel audio format support. A surround technology DTS:X is supported only by the AVR-S950H.

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General

Item

Marantz NR1504
Denon AVR-S950H

Model

NR1504
AVR-S950H

Brand

Marantz
Denon

Reviews

106
763

Amplifier

Channels

5.1
7.2

Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm

50/8, 60/6
90/8, 125/6

Output impedance, Ohm

8, 6
8, 6

Frequency response

10Hz-100KHz
10Hz-100KHz

THD in stereo, %

0.08
0.08

Audio features

Digital to analog converter (DAC)

192 KHz/24-bit
AKM 192 KHz/32-bit

Bi-amping

Pure direct (straight)

Auto speaker calibration

Audyssey MultEQ
Audyssey MultEQ

Speaker A/B switching

Other audio features

Audyssey Dynamic Volume, Audyssey Dynamic EQ
Audyssey Dynamic Volume, Audyssey Dynamic EQ, Compressed Audio Restorer, Hi-Res audio

Connectivity

Wi-Fi

USB

1 (USB 2.0)
1 (USB 2.0)

Bluetooth

Ethernet (RJ45)

1
1

DLNA

MHL

Streaming services

Apple Music (AirPlay)

AirPlay
AirPlay, AirPlay 2

Amazon Music

Spotify

Other streaming services

Pandora, SiriusXM
Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, Napster, SiriusXM, TuneIn Radio, iHeart Radio, Sound Cloud, Mood Mix

Extensive connection

HDMI input/output

6/1
8/2

HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel)

HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel)

HDMI CEC

Digital content protection (HDCP)

HDCP 2.2
HDCP 2.3

Subwoofer output (LFE)

1
2

Headphone output

1 x 6.3
1 x 6.3

Optical digital input

1
2

Coaxial digital input

1
1

Composite input

3
2

Component input/output

0/0
2/1

Phono (MM) input

Front panel connectors

USB, HDMI, phones, setup mic
USB, HDMI, phones, setup mic

Multi channel preamp output

Video features

HDR (High Dynamic Range)

HDR10

4K signal pass-through

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

DeepColor, x.v.Color
HLG, BT.2020

Additional features

Voice control

Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI

App control

iPhone, iPod, Android
iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android, Amazon Kindle

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
IP Control, Web Control

Multi-room

Multi-room zones

has not
2

Zone audio output

has not
speaker

Zone HDMI output

has not

Multi-room control

has not
HEOS App

RS-232

0
0

Remote control input/output (IR)

0/0
0/0

DC trigger output (12V)

0
0

Multichannel surround

Dolby Atmos

Dolby TrueHD

Dolby Surround

Dolby (other)

Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Pro Logic
Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization

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, DTS-EXPRESS

Auro-3D

IMAX Enhanced

Multichannel stereo

Audio file formats

MP3

WMA

AAC

WAV

FLAC

ALAC

Other audio file formats

has not
AIFF

Power

Operational power consumption, W

180
550

Standby consumption, W

0.2
0.1

Removable power cord

User manual

Manual

Dimensions

Size W x H x D, cm/inches

43.1 x 10.1 x 35.5 /17.3 x 4.1 x 14.8
43.5 x 15.2 x 33/17 x 6.6 x 13.4

Weight, kg/lbs

8.1/17.3
9.4/20.7

Other

Release year

2013
2019
Marantz NR1504
Denon AVR-S950H
Marantz NR1504
Denon AVR-S950H

AV receivers SoundInspiration comparison rating

  • better
  • worse
  • 5.3
  • 7.3
  • 5.3Marantz NR1504
  • 7.3Denon AVR-S950H