Bounding Unicorns

Receiver Specifications

Pioneer

VSX-516

  • 7.1 channel
  • Bi-amp
  • Speakers A, B, A+B (B speakers use surround back channels)
  • No HDMI
  • Infinite volume knob
  • Overall bass & treble controls, +- 6 dB; no per-channel EQ, no center channel EQ
  • 1x optical, 2x coax digital in
  • No forced audio delay
  • Configurable and operable from front panel, remote not required

A more upscale model of the same timeframe is VSX-816 which includes MCACC.

Sony

  • 2009: STR-DN1000
  • 2010: STR-DN1010 Review
  • 2011: STR-DN1020
  • 2012: STR-DN1030 (competes with RX-V673)
  • 2013: STR-DN840, STR-DN1040
  • 2014: STR-DN850, STR-DN1050
  • 2015: STR-DN860, STR-DN1060
  • 2015: STR-DN1070

General notes:

  • STR-DN1000 through STR-DN1080 have 7 total amplified outputs. None of them support a second pair of front speakers and zone 2 output, if present, is not amplifed.

STR-DB830 / STR-DB930

  • Circa 1999
  • Fixed stops volume knob
  • No per-channel EQ
  • Optical and coax audio in
  • No HDMI
  • Configurable and operable from front panel
  • No multi-channel stereo
  • 5.1 channel
  • Speakers A, B, A+B
  • No bi-amp

Looks like these are older than STR-DE845.

STR-DE845 / STR-DE945

  • Fixed stops volume knob
  • Per-channel EQ
  • Optical and coax audio in
  • No HDMI
  • Configurable and operable from front panel
  • No multi-channel stereo
  • 5.1 channel
  • Speakers A, B, A+B
  • No bi-amp

STR-DG500

  • Circa 2006
  • Infinite(?) volume knob
  • Front speaker only EQ
  • 2 optical, 1 coax audio in
  • No HDMI
  • Configuration requires remote
  • No multi-channel stereo
  • 6.1 channel (5.1 + single surround back speaker output)
  • Speakers A, B, A+B
  • No bi-amp

STR-DN850

  • Introduced in 2014
  • 7.1 channel
  • One pair of front speakers only, 7 total amplified outputs
  • Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, aptX, NFC, USB
  • HDMI, 4K

Review

STR-DN1000

  • Circa 2009
  • Configuration requires remote, does not require TV to be attached
  • Multi-channel stereo ("multi stereo")
  • A/V sync delay
  • 7.1 channel
  • Bi-amp capable
  • No extra output for speakers B but surround back can be assigned as speakers B, then speakers B can be toggled on front panel
  • No pre-amp outputs
  • Although it's supposedly a "network" receiver, the network functionality is accomplished through proprietary add-on cards; no Ethernet, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity on the receiver itself.
  • Overall equalizer only (no per-channel EQ), bass & treble only
  • Separate equalizer for headphones

Review, review.

Yamaha

RX-V675

  • Configuration requires remote and TV attached?

RX-V4A

  • HDMI
  • Configuration requires remote and TV attached. Changing many settings that used to be on the front panel/remote in earlier receivers also requires the TV attached, e.g. tone controls. Perhaps some of these can be adjusted via the smartphone app?
  • Multi-channel stereo
  • 5.1 channel
  • Bi-amp capable but uses two of the 5 channels to do so, losing surround in the process
  • One pair of front speakers only
  • Per-channel EQ