Sony STR-AZ7000ES vs Sony STR-AZ3000ES review

vs

An affordable AV receiver is always a good option to consider, so Sony STR-AZ7000ES vs Sony STR-AZ3000ES comparison definitely makes sense.

Amplifier

A significant difference between the receivers in the number of channels, Sony STR-AZ7000ES has 13.2 versus 9.2 for Sony STR-AZ3000ES. Regarding power, then STR-AZ7000ES has such a W/Ohm ratio - 150/8 when STR-AZ3000ES has a power of 120/8. The THD is the same and is 0.09%.

Audio features

Competitors' digital to analog converter (DAC) is identical to 192 KHz/32-bit. Both the STR-AZ7000ES and the STR-AZ3000ES support Bi-amping. Each of the AV receivers can transmit an audio signal directly to the amplifier and bypasses any DSP processing.

Connectivity

Both models have the ability to connect to the Internet via WI-FI. 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

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 6/2 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. Receivers do not have 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 STR-AZ7000ES and STR-AZ3000ES 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.