Onkyo TX-8140 vs Yamaha R-N602BL review

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Having had an opportunity to test Onkyo TX-8140 vs Yamaha R-N602BL, I’d like to share my impression here to facilitate your choice of a new AV receiver.

Amplifier

AV receivers under review have the same number of channels. In terms of power, there are differences, the TX-8140 has such a ratio W/Ohm - 80/8, 110/6, while the R-N602BL has a power of 115/8, 105/4. The value of total harmonic distortion is also different, and for the TX-8140 it is 0.08%, but for the R-N602BL it is 0.01%.

Audio features

The manufacturer installed different DACs, the TX-8140 received the model AK4458 384 KHz/32-bit, but the R-N602BL is equipped with Burr-Brown 192 KHz/24-bit. None of the compared opponents supports Bi-amping. Both Onkyo TX-8140 and Yamaha R-N602BL can transmit an audio signal directly to the amplifier and bypasses any DSP processing. None of the AV receivers have an auto speaker calibration support.

Connectivity

Wireless Internet access via WIFI is possible on both units. Each of the receivers has a Bluetooth connector. Access to the Spotify service is on each of the competitors. The number of available streaming services varies for receivers, the Onkyo TX-8140 works with SiriusXM, but the Yamaha R-N602BL works with Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, Napster, SiriusXM, Qobuz.

Video features

Oddly enough, the support for the HDR function is not implemented in these units. Based on these AV receivers, it is not possible to transmit a 4K signal from the source to the TV or projector. HDMI signal transmission in standby mode is not possible with these models. None of the devices can increase the resolution of the incoming video signal. Review participants do not have the Dolby Vision feature. HDMI Audio Return Channel is not supported by either the Onkyo TX-8140 nor the Yamaha R-N602BL. HDMI eARC is not supported by the TX-8140 and the R-N602BL. When comparing receivers, it becomes clear that HDMI CEC support is not implemented. Like most receivers, our models have a built-in phono stage for connecting a vinyl player. Voice control of the basic functions of the receiver is not realized in both models. There is an ECO mode in R-N602BL. The Onkyo TX-8140 can be properly configured using the setup assistant.

Multichannel surround

Generally no support for a Dolby Atmos multichannel audio format. A DTS:X surround technology is not supported by devices from our comparison.