Yamaha RX-A8A vs Yamaha RX-A4A review

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An affordable AV receiver is always a good option to consider, so Yamaha RX-A8A vs Yamaha RX-A4A comparison definitely makes sense.

Amplifier

A significant difference between the receivers in the number of channels, Yamaha RX-A8A has 11.2 versus 7.2 for Yamaha RX-A4A. Regarding power, then RX-A8A has such a W/Ohm ratio - 150/8 when RX-A4A has a power of 110/8. The THD is the same and is 0.06%.

Audio features

Competitors' digital to analog converter (DAC) is identical to 384 KHz/32-bit. Both the RX-A8A and the RX-A4A support Bi-amping. Each of the AV receivers can transmit an audio signal directly to the amplifier and bypasses any DSP processing.

Connectivity

WI-FI modules have the same characteristics: 2.4/5GHz. 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 - all of these streaming services have found application in each of the models.

Video features

Both AV receivers support HDR10+ technology (High dynamic range). 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

Each receiver has 7/3 HDMI inputs/outputs. 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. These compared receivers have a built-in phono stage for connecting a vinyl player.

Additional features

The RX-A8A supports 3 Multi-room zones, versus 2 for the RX-A4A. 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 RX-A8A and RX-A4A 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.