Review of Yamaha RX-A4A versus Marantz CINEMA 40 will reveal the best features offered by the devices. According to the results of our review, Yamaha RX-A4A received 8.7 points out of 10 possible, and Marantz CINEMA 40 was rated 9.1 points. The release date of RX-A4A is 2021, and CINEMA 40 is 2022. CINEMA 40 is better suited for home theater use than the RX-A4A. Its sound profile is better balanced.
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. The Yamaha RX-A4A supports 7.2-channels sound, but Marantz CINEMA 40 supports a 9.2-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 CINEMA 40 this value is 125/8 W/Ohm, and for the RX-A4A it is 110/8 W/Ohm.
RX-A4A | CINEMA 40 | |
---|---|---|
Channels | 7.2 | 9.2 |
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm | 110/8 | 125/8, 165/6 |
Output impedance, Ohm | 8 | 8, 6 |
Frequency response | 10Hz-100KHz | 5Hz-100KHz |
THD in stereo, % | 0.06 | 0.08 |
After reviewing the audio features of each model, we can rate the RX-A4A 9 out of 10, and the CINEMA 40 - 7.
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.
Speaker A/B switching allows you to change between the main and sub speaker set. Marantz CINEMA 40 can work with the main and additional set of speakers - and switch between them.
RX-A4A | CINEMA 40 | |
---|---|---|
Digital to analog converter (DAC) | 384 KHz/32-bit | 192 KHz/32-bit |
Bi-amping | ✔ | ✔ |
Pure direct (straight) | ✔ | ✔ |
Auto speaker calibration | YPAO | Audyssey MultEQ XT |
Speaker A/B switching | ✖ | ✔ |
Other audio features | CINEMA DSP 3D, Compressed Music Enhancer, Virtual CINEMA FRONT | Audyssey Dynamic Volume, Audyssey Dynamic EQ, Audyssey Dynamic LFC, Dirac Live Suppot, Compressed Audio Enhancer(MDAX2), Hi-Res audio |
The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is equal and was rated 9 out of 10.
Bluetooth connection is now one of the main communication protocols for the receiver's control or even music broadcasting.
DLNA is the perfect way to use your local cloud storage to stream movies and music directly to a TV. You can use the DLNA protocol only with Marantz CINEMA 40.
RX-A4A | CINEMA 40 | |
---|---|---|
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.
RX-A4A | CINEMA 40 | |
---|---|---|
Apple Music (AirPlay) | AirPlay, AirPlay 2 | AirPlay, AirPlay 2 |
Amazon Music | ✔ | ✔ |
Spotify | ✔ | ✔ |
Other streaming services | Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, SiriusXM, Napster, SoundCloud | Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, SiriusXM, Napster, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, Amazon Music HD, MOOD:Mix |
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 RX-A4A got 8 points, but Marantz CINEMA 40 received 9 points.
Competitors in our review have 7/3 HDMI inputs and outputs.
RX-A4A | CINEMA 40 | |
---|---|---|
HDMI input/output | 7/3 | 7/3 |
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 | 4 |
Headphone output | 1 x 6.3 | 1 x 6.3 |
Optical digital input | 2 | 2 |
Coaxial digital input | 1 | 2 |
Composite input | 0 | 2 |
Component input/output | 0 | 1/0 |
Phono (MM) input | ✔ | ✔ |
Front panel connectors | USB, phones, setup mic | 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 the RX-A4A were rated 8 out of 10 against the 9 for the CINEMA 40.
RX-A4A | CINEMA 40 | |
---|---|---|
HDR (High Dynamic Range) | HDR10+ | HDR10+ |
4K signal pass-through | 4K/120Hz | 4K/120Hz |
8K signal pass-through | 8K/60Hz | 8K/60Hz |
HDMI signal pass-through | ✔ | ✔ |
3D signal pass-through | ✖ | ✖ |
HDMI pass-through in standby mode | ✔ | ✔ |
Video conversion | ✖ | analog to HDMI |
Analog to HDMI scaling | ✖ | ✔ |
HDMI to HDMI scaling | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby Vision | ✔ | ✔ |
Other video features | x.v.Color, HLG, BT.2020, LipSync | HLG, BT.2020, Dynamic HDR |
In terms of evaluating additional features, both receivers received a score of 10 out of 10.
RX-A4A | CINEMA 40 | |
---|---|---|
Voice control | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI |
App control | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android |
Display | colour OSD | port hole OLED |
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 | Web Control, App Control | IP Control, Web Control, App Control, RS232 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.
RX-A4A | CINEMA 40 | |
---|---|---|
Multi-room zones | 2 | 3 |
Zone audio output | preout | speaker, preout |
Zone HDMI output | ✔ | ✔ |
Multi-room control | MusicCast | Marantz 2016 AVR Remote, HEOS App |
RS-232 | 0 | 1 |
Remote control input/output (IR) | 1/1 | 1/0 |
DC trigger output (12V) | 2 | 3 |
Yamaha RX-A4A got 7 points for the multichannel surround sound and Marantz CINEMA 40 got 10.
Auro 3D gives a bit more versatility than Dolby Atmos or DTS:X and provides a hemispherical sound and enables a receiver to produce 3D sound stages. Marantz CINEMA 40 has Auro-3D on its feature list.
IMAX Enhanced is a licensing and certification program under which home theater devices deliver crisp 4K HDR pictures and powerful sound as it was designed by the IMAX engineers. The CINEMA 40 licensed by IMAX.
RX-A4A | CINEMA 40 | |
---|---|---|
Dolby Atmos | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby TrueHD | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby Surround | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby (other) | Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization | Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization |
DTS:X | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS HD Master | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS Virtual:X | ✖ | ✔ |
DTS Neural:X | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS (other) | DTS-ES, DTS-HD | DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS |
Auro-3D | ✖ | ✔ |
IMAX Enhanced | ✖ | ✔ |
Multichannel stereo | ✖ | ✔ |