Onkyo TX-NR7100 vs Sony STR-AZ7000ES review

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It makes sense comparing Onkyo TX-NR7100 vs Sony STR-AZ7000ES because they both are able to give some premium features.

Amplifier

A significant difference between the receivers in the number of channels, Onkyo TX-NR7100 has 9.2 versus 13.2 for Sony STR-AZ7000ES. Regarding power, then TX-NR7100 has such a W/Ohm ratio - 100/8, 220/6 when STR-AZ7000ES has a power of 150/8. The THD is 0.08% for the TX-NR7100 but 0.09% for the STR-AZ7000ES.

Audio features

Characteristics of digital to analog converter (DAC) are different, 384 KHz/32-bit for TX-NR7100 and 192 KHz/32-bit for the STR-AZ7000ES. Both the TX-NR7100 and the STR-AZ7000ES support Bi-amping. Each of the AV receivers can transmit an audio signal directly to the amplifier and bypasses any DSP processing. 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. The TX-NR7100 can work with the audio stream from Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, SiriusXM, Napster, SoundCloud, and the STR-AZ7000ES can receive a content from Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, SiriusXM, Napster, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, Amazon Music HD, MOOD:Mix.

Video features

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

The Onkyo TX-NR7100 has 7/2 HDMI inputs/outputs versus 6/2 HDMI connectors of the Sony STR-AZ7000ES. 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. The TX-NR7100 has a built-in phono stage for connecting a vinyl player.

Additional features

The TX-NR7100 supports 2 Multi-room zones, versus 3 for the STR-AZ7000ES. 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 TX-NR7100 and STR-AZ7000ES 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.