The Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A680 versus Yamaha RX-A2A comparison makes clear all pros and cons of AV receivers. According to the results of our review, Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A680 received 7.5 points out of 10 possible, and Yamaha RX-A2A was rated 8.2 points. The release date of AVENTAGE RX-A680 is 2018, and RX-A2A is 2021. Identified advantages have shown that RX-A2A is better over AVENTAGE RX-A680 mainly as a home theater processor.
For the built-in amplifier, the models have rated 8 points out of 10.
The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. Both receivers can handle the 7.2-channels configuration.
RMS stands for the actual power of the receiver. The higher this value, the louder the sound can be produced. The differences between the models in terms of RMS power are significant - for the AVENTAGE RX-A680 this value is 115/8 W/Ohm, and for the RX-A2A it is 100/8 W/Ohm.
AVENTAGE RX-A680 | RX-A2A | |
---|---|---|
Channels | 7.2 | 7.2 |
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm | 115/8, 145/6 | 100/8 |
Output impedance, Ohm | 8, 6 | 8 |
Frequency response | 10Hz-100KHz | 10Hz-100KHz |
THD in stereo, % | 0.08 | 0.06 |
The score for audio features is 9 of 10 for both receivers.
Most receivers now come with a microphone included. It is with the help of this microphone that the auto-calibration system functions, which adjusts the sound of the receiver to the room.
AVENTAGE RX-A680 | RX-A2A | |
---|---|---|
Digital to analog converter (DAC) | Burr-Brown 384 KHz/32-bit | 384 KHz/32-bit |
Bi-amping | ✔ | ✔ |
Pure direct (straight) | ✔ | ✔ |
Auto speaker calibration | YPAO | YPAO |
Speaker A/B switching | ✖ | ✖ |
Other audio features | CINEMA DSP 3D, Compressed Music Enhancer, Virtual CINEMA FRONT | CINEMA DSP 3D, Compressed Music Enhancer, Virtual CINEMA FRONT |
The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A680 scored 8, and Yamaha RX-A2A scored 9 out of 10.
Bluetooth connection is now one of the main communication protocols for the receiver's control or even music broadcasting.
AVENTAGE RX-A680 | RX-A2A | |
---|---|---|
Wi-Fi | 2.4/5GHz | 2.4/5GHz |
USB | 1 (USB 2.0) | 1 (USB 2.0) |
Bluetooth | ✔ | ✔ |
Ethernet (RJ45) | 1 | 1 |
DLNA | ✖ | ✖ |
MHL | ✖ | ✖ |
Now music streaming services are gaining more and more popularity. They allow users to listen to millions of songs by subscription.
AVENTAGE RX-A680 | RX-A2A | |
---|---|---|
Apple Music (AirPlay) | AirPlay, AirPlay 2 | AirPlay, AirPlay 2 |
Amazon Music | ✔ | ✔ |
Spotify | ✔ | ✔ |
Other streaming services | Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, Napster, SiriusXM, Qobuz | Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, SiriusXM, Napster, SoundCloud |
The presence of many connectors makes the receiver more versatile. But there are also narrowly targeted models, the number of connectors which are limited to a certain area of use. And when choosing their own receiver, users need to consider exactly your goals for using the receiver. For extensive connection, Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A680 got 6 points, but Yamaha RX-A2A received 7 points.
Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A680 is equipped with 4/1 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Yamaha RX-A2A has 7/1 HDMI inputs and outputs.
Connecting a vinyl player or phonograph is possible using a Phono input which is represented by mini-jack or RCA connectors. Only the RX-A2A has a Phono interface.
AVENTAGE RX-A680 | RX-A2A | |
---|---|---|
HDMI input/output | 4/1 | 7/1 |
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI CEC | ✔ | ✔ |
Digital content protection (HDCP) | HDCP 2.3 | HDCP 2.3 |
Subwoofer output (LFE) | 2 | 2 |
Headphone output | 1 x 6.3 | 1 x 6.3 |
Optical digital input | 1 | 1 |
Coaxial digital input | 2 | 1 |
Composite input | 3 | 0 |
Component input/output | 0/0 | 0 |
Phono (MM) input | ✖ | ✔ |
Front panel connectors | USB, phones, setup mic, AUX | USB, phones, setup mic |
Multi channel preamp output | ✖ | ✔ |
The AV receiver is the heart of the home theater. And in this case, support for all current video formats ensures the best user experience, so it is very important to consider this when choosing a device. Video features of rivals in our comparison were rated 7 out of 10.
With the 4K pass-through feature, the AV receiver sends "native" 4K signals to a 4K TV from a video source without any processing. The AVENTAGE RX-A680 works with the 4K/60Hz video, and the RX-A2A has the 4K/120Hz.
The AV receiver passes "native" 8K signals from a video source to 8K TV without any encoding, with the 8k pass-through features. The 8K path-through is available on Yamaha RX-A2A.
AVENTAGE RX-A680 | RX-A2A | |
---|---|---|
HDR (High Dynamic Range) | HDR10 | HDR10+ |
4K signal pass-through | 4K/60Hz | 4K/120Hz |
8K signal pass-through | ✖ | 8K/60Hz |
HDMI signal pass-through | ✔ | ✔ |
3D signal pass-through | ✔ | ✖ |
HDMI pass-through in standby mode | ✔ | ✔ |
Video conversion | ✖ | ✖ |
Analog to HDMI scaling | ✖ | ✖ |
HDMI to HDMI scaling | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby Vision | ✔ | ✔ |
Other video features | DeepColor, x.v.Color, HLG, BT.2020 | x.v.Color, HLG, BT.2020, LipSync |
In terms of evaluating additional features, both receivers received a score of 10 out of 10.
AVENTAGE RX-A680 | RX-A2A | |
---|---|---|
Voice control | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI |
App control | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android |
Display | colour OSD | colour OSD |
Tuner | AM, FM | AM, FM |
Sleep timer | ✔ | ✔ |
Auto power off | ✔ | ✔ |
ECO mode | ✔ | ✔ |
Graphical user interface (GUI) | ✖ | ✔ |
Setup assistant | ✔ | ✔ |
Firmware update | network, USB | network, USB |
Other additional features | has not | Web Control, App Control |
As the center of a home media system, each multichannel receiver has an additional set of terminals for connecting the second set of speakers to create additional audio space in Zone 2 or even Zone 3 where audio can have the separate source.
AVENTAGE RX-A680 | RX-A2A | |
---|---|---|
Multi-room zones | 2 | 2 |
Zone audio output | speaker | preout |
Zone HDMI output | ✖ | ✖ |
Multi-room control | MusicCast | MusicCast |
RS-232 | 0 | 0 |
Remote control input/output (IR) | 0/0 | 1/1 |
DC trigger output (12V) | 0 | 1 |
For the ability to create multichannel surround sound, each of the receivers received 7 points out of 10.
AVENTAGE RX-A680 | RX-A2A | |
---|---|---|
Dolby Atmos | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby TrueHD | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby Surround | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby (other) | Dolby Digital Plus | Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization |
DTS:X | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS HD Master | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS Virtual:X | ✖ | ✖ |
DTS Neural:X | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS (other) | DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS, DTS-Surround, DTS-Neo:6 | DTS-ES, DTS-HD |
Auro-3D | ✖ | ✖ |
IMAX Enhanced | ✖ | ✖ |
Multichannel stereo | ✖ | ✖ |