Onkyo vs. Yamaha: Amplify Your World
A home theater system is nothing without a receiver. The receiver is the heart of the system, amplifying the output from speakers, televisions, DVD players and all of the connected devices in your entertainment hub. Essentially, it’s what gives your home theater system the big, booming, movie-quality sound so when you choose your AV receiver, you want the perfect one. But how can you possibly choose? There are as many receivers out there as there are setups for your home theater system so picking one can be daunting. Today we will focus on two receivers in particular, the Onkyo TX-NR646 and Yamaha RX-V681BL. At first glance, these two AV receivers appear to be very similar. Both of them have bluetooth and wifi compatibility, both have sound optimization capabilities to make all your music sound like you are at a concert and both are at a similar price point. However, that is where the similarities end and this battle of Onkyo vs Yamaha can really begin.
The Onkyo
If you want your movies and music to sound extra crisp and clear, the Onkyo TX NR-646 comes with THX Select2TM plus certified for theater reference sound. This means that the reference volume is the exact same as what you will hear in a theater. The sound is crisp, clear and most importantly fills your entire room for that immersive audio experience. If you want to play music instead of watching a movie, the Onkyo has you covered there too. Its music optimizer technology means that your music will be just as crisp and clear as if the musicians were sitting in your living room playing you a private concert.
If you have a 4K compatible television that you would like to add, never fear. This receiver is 4K compatible as well as supporting HDCP 2.2 copyright protection. This means that you will be able to broadcast and stream content in the future, as well as receiving premium studio content. Furthermore, you will have no need to worry about your content being intercepted by unscrupulous parties.
The Onkyo retails for around $539.99, and for all the things it does, it is truly a remarkable deal that will make your home theater experience completely unforgettable.
The Yamaha
For those of you who prefer to stream content from online services, the Yamaha RX-V679BL might just be the perfect receiver for you. It offers connectivity to a number of online services including Pandora, Spottify, Rhapsody, Sirius XM Internet Radio and other well-known music services. It also comes with Airplay which will allow you to stream music and movies from your computer, phone or tablet. This receiver truly will be the heart of your home theater. And what’s even more special is that it comes packaged with multi-room audio technology. No more having to stay in the same room as your receiver. Now you can have audio no matter what you are doing.
Another great feature of this receiver is the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X surround sound processing. These decoders allow clear, crisp sound, no matter where in the room you might happen to be. You will feel as if you are inside the movie or music instead of just listening to it. Furthermore, the Yamaha receiver comes with reflected sound control and the speaker angle control mic. This means that it will match the sound output to the angle of your speakers for even better audio output.
The price of the Yamaha receiver is a bit higher at $649.95. However, if you would like a superior audio experience, this one is truly the way to go.
Onkyo vs Yamaha Bottom Line
With all that we have covered here, which receiver should you choose? The bottom line that is really it is a matter of personal preference. Both receivers are powerful and both would make an excellent addition to any home theater system. The Onkyo TX NR838 is a bit cheaper, and is designed more for HD streaming whereas the Yamaha RX-V681BL is designed more for amazing sound output and streaming of music from various Internet sites. Therefore, the one of these two great receivers that you choose is entirely up to you and what you want your receiver to be able to handle. Truly, in the battle of Onkyo vs Yamaha, there is no loser. The winner is you.
