Comparison of Yamaha and Marantz receivers

Marantz and Yamaha are two of the most well-known brands in the audio industry, each with a rich history and a strong following of fans who appreciate the quality and sound of their devices. So, asking whether to choose Marantz or Yamaha is as natural as picking one of their AV receivers as the “heart” of the home entertainment system.

Established in 1952, Marantz has produced high-quality audio components for over six decades. The company has a reputation for producing audio equipment with exceptional sound and build quality. In addition, it is famous for delivering a warm and detailed sound that many audiophiles love.

Similarly, Yamaha has been a leader in the audio industry for over a century, with roots dating back to the late 1800s. Today, the company is known for producing a range of high-quality audio equipment, including AV receivers, that deliver rich and detailed sound.

In this article, I selected some of the coolest receivers from Marantz and Yamaha, ranging from entry-level models to high-end ones. I aim to review and compare these devices to find the more reasonable option based on features, performance, and other aspects in their price range. Whether you’re a seasoned user of AV receivers or just looking for an upgrade, my article will help you make an informed decision.

Mid-priced AVR comparison

Marantz CINEMA 60 vs Yamaha RX-A4A

The Marantz CINEMA 60 is a 5.2 channel receiver while the Yamaha surpassed its competitor, as their RX-A4A is a 7.2 channel unit. Both receivers have similar power output—the Marantz CINEMA 60 delivers 90W per channel with 8-ohm speakers and 75W with 6-ohm speakers, and the Yamaha RX-A4A delivers 80W per channel with 8-ohm speakers and 70W with 6-ohm speakers. Marantz is a bit more powerful, but the difference is negligible.

The Marantz CINEMA 60 has 7 HDMI inputs and 3 HDMI outputs, while the Yamaha is slightly inferior as the RX-A4A has 6 HDMI inputs and 3 HDMI outputs. However, they both support HDCP 2.3 and 4K/60p video resolution.

The units support HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HLG HDR formats. Also, the receivers have similar video features, including 4:4:4 color resolution and HDR to SDR conversion. They also work with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision IQ. In addition, these two models offer built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as well as support for multiroom audio and music streaming services, such as Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music.

The units offer a wide range of sound features. Thus all modern surround sound formats are here, including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. The sound quality of the units also varies, but still, both receivers showed themselves well. Marantz CINEMA 60 offered a warm and smooth sound with clear dialogue and powerful bass on my setup. In turn, the RX-A4A has a more dynamic sound with a wider sound range, supplemented by greater detail in the high and low frequencies.

Marantz CINEMA 60

Yamaha RX-A4A

Marantz NR1711 vs Yamaha RX-A2A

I would like to start the second round of the Yamaha and Marantz receiver comparison in the mid-price range with the number of channels, as both devices are 7.2 channel units. They are also similar in terms of power output, with the Marantz NR1711 delivering 70W per channel with 8-ohm speakers and 50W with 6-ohm speakers, and the Yamaha RX-A2A delivering 80W per channel with 8-ohm speakers and 70W with 6-ohm speakers. This time, Yamaha holds the tiny dominance with its higher power.

The Marantz NR1711 has 8 HDMI inputs and 2 HDMI outputs, while the Yamaha RX-A2A has 6 HDMI inputs and 1 HDMI output. The HDMI ports of both receivers have built-in HDCP 2.3 security protocol and can work up to 4K resolution at 60Hz. Regarding video features, the units work equally with HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HLG HDR formats. They also have similar upscaling features and can improve the quality to make it 4K-like. The other features of both units include 4:4:4 color resolution, HDR to SDR conversion, and support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision IQ.

Moving to the sound, the receivers support the major surround sound formats, including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Another thrilling aspect is that Yamaha and Marantz decided not to save money on these two units and offer a fully capable Zone 2 feature and extensive streaming capabilities, including Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music. Consequently, both receivers have built-in Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and FM radio.

Marantz sticks to its traditions, and their NR1711 gave me a pleasant, warm, and smooth sound. It also managed to deliver dialogue even during the active action scenes. In turn, Yamaha RX-A2A gave me a clear and crisp sound. It also didn’t disappoint with the sound stage, even in my relatively large room.

While providing quality surround sound in movies, both receivers tended to max out when I pushed them to their limits in music. So, the RX-A2A performed a bit better with music, but still not for audiophiles.

Marantz NR1711

Yamaha RX-A2A

Entry-level AVR comparison

Marantz NR1510 vs Yamaha RX-V4A

Traditionally for my Yamaha vs. Marantz comparison, I want to begin the review of the entry-level AV receivers with the number of channels. Marantz gave Yamaha the upper hand and gave only 5 channels to their NR1510, while Yamaha showed their quality as the RX-V4A is a 7-channel receiver.

The Marantz also doesn’t impress in terms of power, as their NR1510 delivers only 50W per channel with 8-ohm speakers and 40W with 6-ohm speakers. At the same time, the Yamaha RX-V4A delivers 80W per channel with 8-ohm speakers and 70W with 6-ohm speakers. Not mighty, but still more than the NR1510. So far, Yamaha has overwhelmed its opponent in the entry-level segment, but Marantz also has an ace in their sleeve.

Not surprisingly, talking about the ports and connectivity, the Marantz NR1510 has 6 HDMI inputs and 1 HDMI output, while the Yamaha RX-V4A has 6 HDMI inputs and 2 HDMI outputs. And again, the RX-V4A looks like a bit more interesting choice. At the same time, both units support HDCP 2.3 and 4K/60p video resolution.

Other video features include the support of HDR10 and Dolby Vision HDR formats. They both offer 4:4:4 color resolution. In addition, the RX-V4A and NR1510 are capable of HDR to SDR conversion and support the complete family of HDR10+ and Dolby Vision IQ.

These models support the major surround sound formats, including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. The units also offer built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as well as support for multiroom audio and music streaming services, such as Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music.

By that moment, I felt a lack of hope for Marantz to show quality with their NR1510, but the receiver pleasantly surprised me with its detailed and punchy good low-end extension. At some point, it even reminded me of NR1711 because it sounded pretty good. Though, the magic quickly disappeared when I tried cranking the volume up. The lack of power is undeniable. The RX-V4A showed a much deeper and tighter bass and well-defined treble. It is not surprising that Yamaha RX-V4A showed itself better in movies. Yes, its sound was a little flatter than the RX-A2A, but it was still better than the NR1510.

Marantz NR1510

Yamaha RX-V4A

Premium AVR comparison

Marantz SR8015 vs Yamaha RX-A8A

Finally, getting to the most exciting part of the review. As you can see, Marantz and Yamaha offer pretty similar AV receivers in terms of quality and price-to-feature ratio. However, even in the same price range, there is usually no clear winner when comparing their units face to face. I am curious whether this is going to change in the premium range. Traditionally starting with the number of channels: Marantz SR8015 has a 9-channel amplifier while Yamaha RX-A8A is a mighty 11-channel unit.

The Marantz SR8015 also provides 125 watts per channel with 8-ohm speakers and 200 watts per channel with 6-ohm speakers. At the same time, Yamaha RX-A8A can pump up to 140 watts per channel with 8-ohm speakers and 200 watts per channel with 6-ohm speakers. However, this difference can be explained by the increased number of channels and when the units have approximately equal power per channel.

Yamaha RX-A8A has 8 HDMI inputs and 2 HDMI outputs, while Marantz SR8015 has 8 HDMI inputs and 3 HDMI outputs. Not surprisingly, the ports offer HDCP 2.3 security protocol. Talking about resolutions, both receivers work with 4K/60Hz video pass-through and upscaling to 4K resolution. They also offer Dolby Vision and HLG, but none of the units work with HDR10+, so the receivers rely on an older HDR10.

Marantz SR8015 and Yamaha RX-A8A support a wide range of surround sound formats, including Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Auro-3D. They also offer rich streaming capabilities, including Spotify, Amazon Music, and Tidal. The units also have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a fully-functional Zone 2.

Yamaha RX-A8A and Marantz SR8015 truly inspired me with their sound. When watching movies on Yamaha and Marantz, I had no problems with dialog, bass, balance, or distortions. The same applies to listening to music—very solid results from both companies and their receivers. At the same time, despite Yamaha offering a more powerful bass response, the SR8015 delivers a slightly more balanced sound.

Marantz SR8015

Yamaha RX-A8A

FAQ