Yamaha vs Marantz Receivers Comparison

Today’s audio world is a symbiosis of different models, technologies, innovations, and of course, competition. Naturally, brands are trying to win as many fans as possible. Such a picture can also be observed in the AV receivers’ niche. And today, I suggest you consider comparing two rather popular brands – Marantz vs. Yamaha.

I compare receivers of these brands because they are very popular, compete in several price segments at once, and their models are close in characteristics. And the main purpose of my tests was to determine which model is the finest in its category, and you could choose the optimal option.

Marantz company history and overview

Today, Marantz is considered one of the most reputable video and audio equipment companies. The American Saul Marantz founded the company in 1953. He was a musician, and he thought about creating high-quality sound-reproducing equipment because none of the devices existing at that time satisfied him.

And from such aspirations, audio equipment appeared, distinguished by high sound quality, flexible change of all necessary sound parameters, reliability, and debugging throughout the entire service life.

Today the name of the company itself – Marantz – has become a mark of quality: a CD player, AV receiver, sound amplifier, and any other device with such a label inspires confidence in the consumer audience. And, it is not surprising that many people want to buy a device exactly from Marantz.

Yamaha company history and overview

Almost everyone has heard the name “Yamaha” at least once. And this is not surprising. Throughout its long history, the company has won the hearts and minds of fans with its unprecedented quality.

It all started the day when a young entrepreneur Thorakusu Yamaha, a master of the manufacture of reed organs, made a high-quality reed organ for the first time. Shortly after that, a company was founded in 1887 that specialized in producing pianos. And in the same year, it received a large commission from Southeast Asia to assemble 80 organs. Thus, in the first half of the 20th century, the company successfully mastered the technique of producing various musical instruments.

And already, by our time, the company has rightfully become one of the world’s most famous manufacturers of video and audio products. Moreover, Yamaha has received the recognition and respect of the musicians and audiophiles of the planet for the highest sound quality.

How I tested receivers by Marantz and Yamaha

Comprehensive AV receiver comparisons are essential for understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each model in comparison. And that is why I pay attention to both the musical side and the surround sound as part of my testing. I chose The Dark Knight movie, a classic with great dialogue and vivid special effects for my surround sound experience.

And for the music test, I picked up a playlist from my library:

• Bob Marley & The Wailers – Turn Your Lights Down Low – (CD player)
• Mahler – Symphony No.2 (CD player)
• Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know – (CD player)
• Mark Nauseef – With Space in Mind (CD player)
• The Weeknd – The Hills – (CD player)

I carried each test out on the following equipment:

• CD player SACD 30n
• Blu-ray player Sony UBP-X700
• Speaker wire – AudioQuest Type-9
• Speakers for movie – Klipsch RP-8060FA
• Stereo speakers:
  • Klipsch RP-8060FA
  • KEF Q350
  • DALI OBERON 5

Mid-price Marantz and Yamaha Receivers Comparison

Marantz SR6015 vs Yamaha RX-A6A

I want to start my Yamaha vs Marantz comparison with mid-budget models. Let’s get started.

The Marantz SR6015 has nine power amplifiers with an output power of 110 W/8 Ohm and 150 W/6 Ohm. Besides this, the SR6015 is equipped with Dolby Atmos, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization, DTS:X, DTS Virtual:X и IMAX Enhanced. RX-A6A rated power (20 Hz – 20 kHz, 2 channels) -150 W (8 ohms, 0.06% MTF), which is comparable to the competitor. As for surround sound, this model works with the same 3D sound decoders as the Marantz SR6015. Surround:AI, CINEMA DSP, and Auro 3D functions significantly differentiate this unit from the competitor. They give new possibilities to surround sound and make this model more versatile.

Marantz uses the latest generation of video processing in the SR6015. This means it is ready to handle ultra-high-definition 8K video sources. It can view content at such a high resolution and generate it from other materials by scaling. So it makes sense that Marantz also has HDMI 2.1.

In the movie test, the Marantz SR6015 performed well. It combines precise signal processing. Clean, accurate, and powerful subwoofer calibration of the Audyssey SR6015 made the sound as adequate as possible to the size of the room and what was happening on the screen. In addition, even in the most significant noise, dialogues were always clearly understood and ideally positioned.

The situation is like the competing model. The Yamaha sounded excellent – very clear, dynamic, accurate, with deep and precise spaciousness. The sound field was well separated from all the speakers and floated naturally in the room. The effects were localized overhead, and the ambient noise spread widely and, most importantly, plausibly throughout the room.

Most of the additional features of these models are almost identical. With Marantz’s Audyssey calibration system, Yamaha can match YPAO. Both models support Dolby Vision, HDR 10+, and gameplay optimization features. There is support for Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, voice control, and various music streaming services. The SR6015’s built-in HEOS module will find a worthy rival in the form of Yamaha’s MusicCast. So, as you can see, the capabilities of these models are extensive but comparable.

Marantz SR6015 pros and cons

Yamaha RX-A6A pros and cons

Yamaha RX-A1080 vs Marantz SR5014

And another pair of mid-range Marantz vs Yamaha receivers. I started with audio specs, as always.

Yamaha is equipped with an amplifier with 110 W/8 Ohm, which allows you to drive 5.1, 7.1, Dolby Atmos configurations. It also has its Presence system onboard and numerous DSP modes (including the Cinema DSP HD3, which requires the installation of seven physical devices).

Alternatively, Marantz SR5014 is equipped with discrete, more powerful amplifiers capable of delivering 100 W/8 Ohm and 140 W/6 Ohm per channel, plus high currents on all nine channels. Plus, I want to highlight, the device is equipped with HDAM modules, which provide high quality without the slightest distortion and a wide dynamic range during high-resolution audio playback.

Yamaha perfectly processes a 4K video stream. In addition, all analog video signals input to the receiver are converted to digital and output to the monitor via HDMI. As a result, there are upscale images up to the 4K standard. And so is the competitor. The Marantz receiver supports Dolby Vision and the new HLG technology, which is currently the most advanced option for transmitting HDR images. In terms of video capabilities, the devices have parity.

It’s time to test. And I started, as always, by watching a movie. And as I expected, the SR5014 sounded pretty soft. The sound was tonal with a slight warm undertone. The bass was played quite soft and not very clear or explosive. I haven’t missed a single detail in uppercase. Marantz has an excellent high-frequency resolution.

Yamaha’s sound is closer to the Marantz profile, and does not noticeably change the style when switching from stereo to multichannel. In music, this is expressed in naturalness, which should have freedom and dynamics. Paying attention, balance, and harmony prevail in the general perception – in this style, it is difficult to significantly improve anything to not spoil the whole composition. The music flows in a clean, unobstructed flow, has its tempo, turns, strokes, and flashes, but above all, it is connected.

Yamaha RX-A1080 pros and cons

Marantz SR5014 pros and cons

Premium Marantz and Yamaha Receivers

Marantz SR7015 vs Yamaha RX-A3080

And the first of the pair is a 9-channel AV amplifier with 125 W/ Ohm and 165W /6 Ohm. The SR7015 supports Dolby Atmos, DTS: X, and Auro-3D (up to 11.2ch) and is IMAX Enhanced certified. The Yamaha RX-A3080 differs from the competitor in its more balanced approach to the design of both digital and analog parts. Moreover, the device has sufficient power. The amplifiers deliver 150 watts (into 8 ohms) for each channel at full load.

The SR7015 can handle 8K video, but only on one input and two outputs. All other inputs process signals in accordance with the HDMI 2.0 standard but also master modern video functions. Besides Dolby Vision and HLG, Marantz also understands HDR10 + and the new Dynamic HDR.

And the receiver from Yamaha loses to its competitor in video processing. Its video subsystem can work only with UltraHD video streams. However, I have to say that in addition to the ability to pass 4K video through itself, there is support for HDR10 and the Dolby Vision standard.

I tested the receivers as usual with the film. Again, the Yamaha`s receiver has managed to create a natural home theater feel. The rich sound and wide soundstage put me in the very center of the film. In stereo, the RX-A3080 impressed with its lively sound that never got harsh, even at high volume levels.

The Marantz SR7015, on the other hand, delivers impressive sound whether it operates in dual or multi-channel modes or plays 3D audio. What impressed me immediately about it was its substantial headroom, which ensures confident-sounding even when all channels are actively used. The result is a wide dynamic range and rich, sweeping sound which is better as in the competitor’s test. And for all that power, the receiver’s sound is fast and agile, with the accurate transient response and complete acoustics control.

Marantz SR7015 pros and cons

Yamaha RX-A3080 pros and cons

Budget Marantz and Yamaha AV Receivers

Yamaha RX-V6A vs Marantz NR1510

And now the budget segment is next in line. Here I have a Yamaha RX-V6A with 100 W / 8 Ohm per channel and a less powerful Marantz NR1510 with 50 W / 8 Ohm or 60 W / 6 Ohm. In the RX-V6A, I immediately want to note support for Dolby Atmos with the function of synthesis of virtual high channels, as well as Cinema DSP 3D. About the NR1510, I can only say that it does not have Dolby Atmos or DTS: X surround sound decoders. It is based only on Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio.

The Yamaha RX-V6A has a good HDR10 + video path for more realistic images and 4K / 120Hz. Furthermore, music Enhancer enhances compressed audio. In addition, the device supports MusicCast multi-room technology and voice control. The Marantz NR1510 can be praised for having the latest version of the eARC system on the video path. There is also 4K, Dolby Vision, or HLG, but without scaling.

Having started my testing, I was pleasantly surprised. Yamaha conveyed the sound of the film impressively. The 3D effects seemed tangible and accurate, but the pitch effects played a little ahead.

In the music compilation test, the V6A played as clean and airy as it was dynamic. The music was even believably spatial in some moments. Bass was reproduced cleanly, albeit a little underrepresented with the calibration settings.

The Marantz NR1510 is excellent for stereo. The receiver broadcasts smooth and detailed sound. I could even call it soft, but here the damping is limiting the effect of the resolution. Even so, the sounds are rich and light, sonorous and gentle. It is less harsh than the competitor. The tonal balance is impeccable, although the sound is far from dry and dispassionate versions of neutrality.

Yamaha RX-V6A pros and cons

Marantz NR1510 pros and cons

Stereo Marantz and Yamaha Receivers

Marantz NR1200 vs Yamaha R-N602

And at the end of the series of reviews, I propose to compare two models of stereo receivers. I’ll start with a model from Yamaha. This compact receiver is equipped with a suitable power transformer that delivers a maximum power of 80 W/8 Ohm or 120 W/6 Ohm. That kind of power seems impressive compared to the competition. The Marantz NR1200 has only 75 watts per channel.

Alternatively, the NR1200 has its advantages. It connects five HDMI inputs, each supporting HDCP 2.3, 4K / 60Hz video, HLG, and more. In contrast, Yamaha has no video capabilities at all.

It is also worth noting that the Yamaha model has WLAN or LAN connections to the local network. Support is declared for TIDAL, Deezer, Qobuz, Napster, vTuner, Sirius XM, etc. And also, of the features – the model is equipped with a Bluetooth module, capable of receiving and broadcasting an audio stream to mobile devices, incl, on Bluetooth headphones.

The networking capabilities of the Marantz NR1200 are pretty good too. In addition to standard Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, the presence of HEOS and support for Airplay 2 allow the model to be integrated into a multi-room installation.

Marantz NR1200 pros and cons

Yamaha R-N602 pros and cons

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