Yamaha CX-A5200 vs Yamaha RX-V485BL review

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The present review is aimed to compare two AV receivers - Yamaha CX-A5200 vs Yamaha RX-V485BL that are meant to satisfy the needs of cinema and music lovers.

Amplifier

A significant difference between the receivers in the number of channels, Yamaha CX-A5200 has 11.2 versus 5.1 for Yamaha RX-V485BL. The THD is 0.06% for the CX-A5200 but 0.09% for the RX-V485BL.

Audio features

Characteristics of digital to analog converter (DAC) are different, ESS SABRE PRO (ES9026) 384 KHz/32-bit for CX-A5200 and Burr-Brown 384 KHz/32-bit for the RX-V485BL. Only the RX-V485BL supports Bi-amping feature. 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.

Video features

Both AV receivers support HDR10 technology (High dynamic range). 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. Both rivals can scale the resolution of the incoming HDMI signal. The HDR standard - Dolby Vision is supported by these receivers.

Extensive connections

The Yamaha CX-A5200 has 7/3 HDMI inputs/outputs versus 4/1 HDMI connectors of the Yamaha RX-V485BL. The HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) feature supports both devices. The HDMI eARC is available only on the RX-V485BL. 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 CX-A5200 has a built-in phono stage for connecting a vinyl player.

Additional features

The CX-A5200 supports 3 Multi-room zones, versus 2 for the RX-V485BL. The CX-A5200 supports voice control via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and the RX-V485BL - Google Assistant. It is also worth noting that the ECO mode is presented in each of the receivers. Both CX-A5200 and RX-V485BL can be configured using the Setup assistant.

Multichannel surround

Only the CX-A5200 has a Dolby Atmos multichannel audio format support. A surround technology DTS:X is supported only by the CX-A5200.