Best 3 Zone Receiver Reviews

So you’ve finally decided to ditch your old and outdated home theater system in favor of a modern 3 zone AV receiver? Congratulations! A 3 zone AV receiver can provide an immersive home cinema experience. But with so many different models on the market, it can be difficult to know which one is right for you. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the best three zone AV receivers available today. We hope it helps you make the right decision for your needs.​

Our pick

Denon AVR-X4700H

Best 3 Zone Receiver

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The Denon AVR-X4700H 9.2 channel 8K AV receiver supports 3D audio formats like Dolby Atmos®, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization Technology, DTS:X®, DTS Virtual:X™, IMAX® Enhanced and Auro-3D®.

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Best three zone receiver reviews

Denon AVR-X4700H – best overall

Denon AVR-X4700H is a 9.2-channel AV receiver with an 8K HDMI OUTPUT, 125W per channel POWER CAPACITY, and native Dolby Atmos, DTS:X & DTS Virtual:X (DD only). Additional features include 4K/120Hz pass-through for viewing video in stunning clarity; VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) to eliminate lag, latency and frame tearing; ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) that provides near instantaneous response time; Dynamic HDR to enhance contrast on large displays such as Samsung QLED TVs.

Design

The design of the Denon AVR-X4700H is fairly nice. It's sleek and comes in black. It's small but compact so it can sit nicely on your rack. The only downside is the weight, weighing in at 18 pounds so it would be best to have help putting this receiver on your rack but don't worry, you'll get used to taking care of it yourself.

Features and specs

The Denon AVR-X4700H's features make it one of the most feature-packed receivers on the market. It can deliver up to 165 watts per channel into 8 ohms. I tested the AVR-X4700H with a variety of speakers, and it had no trouble driving even the most demanding ones. Plus, the receiver's advanced 32-bit AKM DAC provides superb sound quality. And if I want to listen to music in another room, I can use the receiver's Zone 2 output to send audio to a second room.

I found it useful that the AVR-X4700H has eight HDMI inputs, three HDMI outputs, and built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so I easily connected all my devices, including a game console and a streaming device. Also, the AVR-X4700H supports Pandora, Spotify, SiriusXM, and even AirPlay 2 for Apple devices.

The thing I really love about the sound here is the built-in 32-bit/192kHz digital-to-analog converter. It is the sign you'll get the best possible sound quality from your Blu-ray discs and other high-resolution audio sources. Plus, "Denon Virtual Speaker Mode'' up-mixes stereo and 5.1 content to create a virtual 7.1.2 speaker setup.

The receiver also has IMAX Enhanced certification, so it’s able to decode IMAX Enhanced content and pass through IMAX Enhanced HDR signals. Used with the support of Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and the latest 3D audio formats, it creates such a new sound dimension. The receiver passed all of my tests, and it handled HDR10 signals without any problems.

Setup

Setup of the Denon AVR-X4700H was a simple process. All I had to do was connect speaker wire from the speakers to the receiver and plug in all other wires. The Denon AVR-X4700H has an HDMI input, which is what we use for our inputs. It also has a variety of Digital Inputs, such as Optical and Coaxial, for people who still have Analog/Digital devices that they want to run through the system.

Sound quality

One of the Denon AVR-X4700H's specifications I was especially impressed with is the ability to reproduce delicate sounds. For example, in the movie "The Revenant," I could hear the subtle sound of leaves rustling in the wind. And in the song "Don't Dream It's Over" by Crowded House, I could hear the delicate strumming of the acoustic guitar. The lows, mids and highs are all clear and crisp. AVR-X4700H handled loud and dynamic sounds that are neither too bright nor too dark.

Beyond that, the Audyssey setup was also flawless. Running this gave my system the tweaks it needed to sound powerful and provided enough power at low volumes.

Verdict about Denon AVR-X4700H

Marantz SR7015

If you have a desire to buy such a model, you should read our Marantz SR7015 review that will help you to know more details about the receiver. The Marantz SR7015 receiver is one of the most spread among people and feature-rich receivers.

The Marantz SR7015 is the most feature-packed model in the company's AV receiver lineup. This receiver boasts Dolby Atmos and DTS:X compatibility, meaning it can deliver an immersive, three-dimensional soundscape for your movies and TV shows. Additionally, it offers extensive streaming capabilities, allowing you to enjoy your favorite music from various sources.

If you really want to buy a top-of-the-line receiver with all needed bells and whistles, the SR7015 should be at the top of the list.

Built and design

When speaking about the design of the Marantz SR7015, it is very modern and sleek. It has a black finish with silver accents that give it a premium look and feel. As for Marantz SR7015 specifications, its dimensions are 17.3 x 16.2 x 7.3 inches, and it weighs 31.3 Ibs.

As for the front panel, it is fairly simple and uncluttered. It includes just a few buttons and controls for basic operation. Let’s look closer at the front side of the Marantz SR7015, which features display screen, volume knob, power and input selection buttons. The display screen shows the current input source, your volume level, and settings menu information. As for input selection buttons, they allow you to choose which audio input you want to use. The volume knob controls the overall volume level of your home receiver. On the backside of Marantz SR7015, you will also find a variety of ports and connectors. The process of setting up is also quite simple.

Features

Marantz SR7015 is a 9.2-channel AV receiver with 125W per channel (8 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz, THD: 0.05%, two ch. driven) power. Let's consider some more Marantz SR7015 features. The Marantz SR7015 supports bi-amping. So, you can connect two amplifiers to the receiver, one for the left channel and one for the right channel. It allows you to get more power and better sound quality from your system. Besides, it supports Multi-room zones. You can use the HEOS app and Marantz remote to control playback in other rooms. You can also configure the SR7015 to output different audio sources to different zones. For example, you could have the TV audio playing in the living room while streaming music in the kitchen.

There are seven HDMI inputs and two outputs, three-component inputs, three composite video inputs, and an Ethernet port. Besides, it includes eleven speaker terminals and a USB port connecting a USB storage device. The Marantz SR7015 supports many streaming services, including popular ones like Spotify, Pandora, and SiriusXM. It also supports network streaming from a local device or computer on your network. It lets you access your music library or listen to internet radio stations without worrying about buffering.

Finally, the Marantz SR7015 does have WI-FI. It means that you can easily connect it to your home network and access all of your favorite streaming services without fumbling with any cables. Additionally, the Marantz SR7015 also supports Bluetooth streaming, so you can easily stream music from your smartphone or tablet.

Marantz SR7015 is a great AV receiver for video experience. It has all the features you need to enjoy your movies and TV shows. The 4K Ultra HD passthrough allows you to connect your 4K devices and get the best picture quality. With the built-in Dolby Vision, you can enjoy an immersive 3D video experience. The receiver has 8K HDMI input that supports 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz passthrough capability.

Sound

The Marantz SR7015 is a high-end receiver that offers excellent sound quality. It supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X decoding. This feature allows you to create a really immersive surround sound experience. The SR7015 also features Audyssey MultEQ XT32 automatic room calibration, ensuring that the sound is tailored to your specific room.

In addition, the receiver has nine channels of amplification, which allows you to connect additional speakers for an even more immersive experience. The Marantz SR7015 is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a high-end receiver with excellent sound quality and features.

Verdict about Marantz SR7015

Yamaha RX-A6A

Are you in the market for an amplifier that can handle all your audio and video needs? If so, Yamaha has a model that may interest you – the RX-A6A. So far, I've been very impressed with its quality, whether I was watching movies, listening to music, or gaming. Keep reading this Yamaha RX-A6A review to find out why.

Build and design

The Yamaha RX-A6A is a beautiful amplifier. It has a sleek, modern design with a black finish. It's also quite large, measuring in at 17-1/8 x 7-1/2 x 17-3/8 inches and 41.2 lbs, so you'll need some space for it.

But it's not just about looks – the RX-A6A is also built to last. It has a robust construction with a metal chassis and thick, heavy-duty speaker terminals that will last for years and can handle even the most strenuous listening sessions.

The front panel of the RX-A6A is quite simple, with just a few buttons and an LCD display. The buttons allow you to control basic functions such as power, volume, input selection, and sound mode. The LCD display provides information about the current settings and status of the amplifier. The back panel features more HDMI inputs and outputs, as well as a variety of other audio and video connections.

Features and specs

The Yamaha RX-A6A is a comprehensive amplifier, with plenty of features to satisfy even the most demanding user. It's a 9.2 channel receiver that can handle up to 150 watts per channel. The RX-A6A also features Yamaha's Compressed Music Enhancer, which restores lost detail and dynamic range in compressed music files. Multi-room listening is available here, so you can listen to music in 4 different rooms of your house or even in the backyard.

Bi-amp capability is included too, which allows you to use two amplifiers to drive your front speaker set. If you're concerned about expensive power bills, there's an ECO mode that cuts electricity use by up to 20%.

RX-A6A has a wide range of inputs and outputs, like 7 Inputs and 3 Outputs for HDMI. As an example, you can use them to connect with a Blu-ray player, cable box, gaming console, and other devices. I like that this model supports probably all current connecting options, including wireless: analog and digital, coaxial, USB connections, composite video inputs/outputs, network port, front AV input, a headphone output, WiFi, Bluetooth, and more. In fact, you can connect just about anything to it. If you are a fan of radio, here is a built-in FM-tuner quality too.

Some other specifications of Yamaha RX-A6A in terms of video quality include 4K Ultra HD pass-through, HDR support, and Dolby Vision, near-4K quality. You are able to get the most out of your current video collection. It also supports 3D audio formats such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. And if you're a gamer, the RX-A6A has you covered with its low latency mode and various gaming modes that optimize the sound for different types of games.

Sound

My experience with the sound quality of the Yamaha RX-A6A has been overwhelmingly positive. The amplifier is able to deliver clear, crisp audio with excellent dynamics. Whether I was watching a movie or listening to music, I was always impressed by the powerful sound that this receiver produces and particularly with how well it handled gaming audio – gunshots and explosions sounded realistic and immersive. And its low latency mode ensures that there is no delay between what you see on the screen and what you hear, so you won't miss a single beat.

A listening mode selector that allows you to choose from three different listening modes: music, movie, or game. These modes optimize the sound for different types of content. A custom mode that you can use to create your own personal listening settings. For films, the cinema DSP mode creates a truly cinematic experience. There's also a dialogue lift mode that raises the level of dialogue in movies and TV shows to make it easier to hear. For music, the stereo mode creates a wide, spacious soundstage. And for games, the game mode provides an extra level of immersion.

Verdict about Yamaha RX-A6A

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