Denon AVR-S960H vs Yamaha RX-V6A

Denon AVR-S960H

The Denon AVR-S960H is the perfect amplifier for your home theater system. With Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization and DTS Virtual:X technology, you'll enjoy an immersive surround sound experience with incredible 3D realism.

And with advanced video processing, 8K/60Hz pass-through, and 4K/120Hz gaming support, you'll get the most out of your 4K TV. Plus, the AVR-S960H is 8K ready, so you can enjoy the highest quality 3D audio and video when you're ready.

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The Denon AVR-S960H is a 7.2 channel receiver that supports the latest video technologies, including Dynamic HDR and HDR10+. It delivers clear, contrast and color with Quick Media Switching to eliminate video delay.

The 8 HDMI ports (6 In/ 2 Out) with HDCP 2.3 processing are compatible with a range of HD and Ultra HD TVs, Blu-ray players, and turntables for incredible stereo sound. You can extend the reach of your music to any room in the house via Wi-Fi, Airplay 2, or Bluetooth with HEOS multichannel wireless speakers from Denon.

Yamaha RX-V6A

The Yamaha RX-V6A is a top-of-the-line receiver that supports the latest HDMI with HDCP 2.3 and eARC technology. It also features 4K/60, 4K/120AB, 8K/60B, and HDMI 2.1 (via future update) for stunning visuals and audio quality.

With Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Voice Control, and MusicCast multi-room capabilities, the RX-V6A lets you enjoy your favorite music in any room of your home. And thanks to MusicCast Surround capabilities, you can easily expand your setup to include wireless surround speakers.

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The Yamaha RX-V6A is a powerhouse AV receiver with voice control. With Alexa and Google Assistant devices or Siri via AirPlay 2, you can easily control your receiver hands-free.

Whether you're streaming music from Pandora, Spotify, Napster, SiriusXM, TIDAL, Deezer, Qobuz, Amazon Music, or watching movies in Dolby Atmos or DTS:X sound quality, the RX-V6A will create an unforgettable entertainment experience.

Design

Both the Denon AVR-S960H and Yamaha RX-V6A receivers are housed in sleek, black boxes. However, the Denon receiver is a bit larger than the Yamaha. The front panels of both units feature large, clear displays and well-labeled buttons and knobs.

The Denon AVR-S960H has a few more ports on the back panel than the Yamaha RX-V6A. The Denon has an extra HDMI port, an Ethernet port, and two digital audio inputs (compared to the one digital audio input on the Yamaha).

Features

The Denon AVR-S960H is packed with features, including Dolby Atmos, Dolby Surround, and DTS:X. Users can also take advantage of built-in Bluetooth for wireless music streaming.

The Yamaha RX-V6A has all the features you need to enjoy 5.1-channel surround sound at home. It comes equipped with DTS Neo:6 Surround using psychoacoustic technology that creates multiple virtual speakers from a single speaker system.

The Air Surround Xtreme feature adds two additional sound beams to widen the listening area by up to 7.2 channels. This receiver is compatible with DTS Virtual:X to give users an enhanced, three-dimensional experience without extra speakers or receivers. With Spotify and TIDAL built-in, users can enjoy their favorite streaming music services.

Sound Quality

Both receivers deliver clear and realistic sound at moderate volumes. However, it is evident that the Denon AVR-S960H has more power than the Yamaha RX-V6A to fill larger rooms with rich sound. The volume output of both units is very close when set at equal volume levels; however, the RD-960H delivers a cleaner and crisper surround sound experience than its competitor.

Both receivers produce some background noise even at low volume settings but neither receiver distorts sounds or clips audio files during playback. When listening to these receivers side by side, we noticed that dialogue is easier to understand on the RD-960H. In fact, the clarity of dialogue on this receiver is so impressive that it makes surround sound more immersive.

Performance

The Denon AVR-960H is compatible with low pass filter, auto-setup/room calibration programs. It has a frequency response of 10 Hz to 100 kHz. The Yamaha RX-V6A delivers slightly better performance than the Denon AVR-S960H; it has a crisp and clear sound that is comparable to high-end home theater receivers costing twice as much.

This unit also has a wider frequency range (5 Hz to 50 kHz). Both units are equipped with equalizer controls but only the Denon AVR-S960H supports Dolby Volume for dynamic volume compensation. The Yamaha does not support Dolby Atmos or DTS:X codecs; however, this receiver supports DTS Virtual:X which provides an enhanced, three-dimensional sound experience without adding extra speakers or receivers.

Audio

When compared side-by-side, the Denon AVR-S960H provided a richer and more immersive surround sound experience than the Yamaha RX-V6A. The dialogue was noticeably crisper and clearer on the RD-960H and the overall sound quality was louder and fuller. The Yamaha receiver delivered good sound quality but it was not as rich or powerful as the Denon.

Connectivity

The Denon AVR-S960H has a few more ports on the back panel than the Yamaha RX-V6A. The Denon has an extra HDMI port, an Ethernet port, and two digital audio inputs (compared to the one digital audio input on the Yamaha). The Yamaha receiver is equipped with built-in Bluetooth for wireless music streaming.

Remote Control

The Denon AVR-S960H comes with a sleek and simplistic remote control. It is easy to use and navigate. The Yamaha RX-V6A also comes with a simple remote control but it does not have an on-screen display for feedback on settings or audio playback.

When it comes to features, performance, and sound quality, the Denon AVR-S960H beats the Yamaha RX-V6A. If you are looking for a receiver that delivers rich and immersive surround sound, the Denon is the clear winner. However, if you are looking for a receiver with built-in Bluetooth streaming, the Yamaha would be a better option.

Setup

Both receivers are easy to set up and take only a few minutes. The Denon AVR-S960H has a quick automatic setup that is aided by a microphone for accurate calibration. The Yamaha RX-V6A also has an automatic setup but it does not use a microphone. Instead, the receiver prompts you to enter the size of your room and then sets the speaker distances accordingly.

The Denon AVR-S960H offers a better value for an entry-level 7.2 channel receiver mostly because of its superior sound quality and additional features such as multiple digital audio inputs and Bluetooth connectivity. The Yamaha RX-V6A still stands its ground, however, with DTS Virtual:X technology which expands the listening area without adding any speakers to your home theater set up. While these receivers have a lot to offer, we recommend going for the AVR-S960H if you can spend a little bit more money for noticeable improvements in sound quality and features.