Let's make the Marantz SR7012 versus Marantz SR6015 comparison. According to the results of our review, Marantz SR7012 received 9.4 points out of 10 possible, and Marantz SR6015 was rated 9.1 points. The release date of SR7012 is 2017, and SR6015 is 2020. After comparison, it will become clear that among these two devices, the SR7012 is more suitable for the role of the heart of home theater system.
For the built-in amplifier, the devices received different marks - 10 and 8, respectively, on a 10-point scale.
The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Marantz SR7012 supports 11.2-channels sound, but Marantz SR6015 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 SR7012 this value is 125/8 W/Ohm, and for the SR6015 it is 110/8 W/Ohm.
SR7012 | SR6015 | |
---|---|---|
Channels | 11.2 | 9.2 |
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm | 125/8, 165/6 | 110/8, 150/6 |
Output impedance, Ohm | 8, 6 | 8, 6 |
Frequency response | 10Hz-100KHz | 10Hz-100KHz |
THD in stereo, % | 0.05 | 0.08 |
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.
SR7012 | SR6015 | |
---|---|---|
Digital to analog converter (DAC) | 192 KHz/24-bit | N/A |
Bi-amping | ✔ | ✔ |
Pure direct (straight) | ✔ | ✔ |
Auto speaker calibration | Audyssey MultEQ XT32 | Audyssey MultEQ XT32 |
Speaker A/B switching | ✔ | ✔ |
Other audio features | Hi-Res audio, Audyssey Dynamic Volume, Audyssey LFC | Audyssey Dynamic Volume, Audyssey Dynamic EQ, Audyssey LF, Compressed Audio Enhancer(MDAX2), Hi-Res audio |
The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Marantz SR7012 scored 9, and Marantz SR6015 scored 10 out of 10.
Bluetooth connection is now one of the main communication protocols for the receiver's control or even music broadcasting.
SR7012 | SR6015 | |
---|---|---|
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.
SR7012 | SR6015 | |
---|---|---|
Apple Music (AirPlay) | AirPlay, AirPlay 2 | AirPlay, AirPlay 2 |
Amazon Music | ✖ | ✔ |
Spotify | ✔ | ✔ |
Other streaming services | Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora | 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, Marantz SR7012 got 10 points, but Marantz SR6015 received 9 points.
Marantz SR7012 is equipped with 8/3 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Marantz SR6015 has 7/3 HDMI inputs and outputs.
The HDCP encryption protocol is now mandatory for most media devices. This security technology encrypts digital signals from one product to another. HDCP content-encryption protocol is present on Marantz SR7012 in the HDCP 2.2 version, and Marantz SR6015 has the HDCP 2.3 version.
SR7012 | SR6015 | |
---|---|---|
HDMI input/output | 8/3 | 7/3 |
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI CEC | ✔ | ✔ |
Digital content protection (HDCP) | HDCP 2.2 | HDCP 2.3 |
Subwoofer output (LFE) | 2 | 2 |
Headphone output | 1 x 6.3 | 1 x 6.3 |
Optical digital input | 2 | 2 |
Coaxial digital input | 2 | 2 |
Composite input | 3 | 4 |
Component input/output | 3/1 | 2/1 |
Phono (MM) input | ✔ | ✔ |
Front panel connectors | USB, HDMI, phones, setup mic, AUX | USB, phones, setup mic, AUX |
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 10 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 SR7012 works with the 4K/60Hz video, and the SR6015 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 Marantz SR6015.
SR7012 | SR6015 | |
---|---|---|
HDR (High Dynamic Range) | ✔ | 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 | analog to HDMI |
Analog to HDMI scaling | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI to HDMI scaling | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby Vision | ✔ | ✔ |
Other video features | x.v.Color, HLG, BT.2020 | HLG, BT.2020, Dynamic HDR |
In terms of evaluating additional features, both receivers received a score of 10 out of 10.
SR7012 | SR6015 | |
---|---|---|
Voice control | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI |
App control | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android, Amazon Kindle | 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 | IP Control | IP Control, Web Control, RS-232 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.
SR7012 | SR6015 | |
---|---|---|
Multi-room zones | 3 | 2 |
Zone audio output | speaker, preout | speaker, preout |
Zone HDMI output | ✔ | ✔ |
Multi-room control | Marantz 2016 AVR Remote App, HEOS App | Marantz 2016 AVR Remote, HEOS App |
RS-232 | 1 | 1 |
Remote control input/output (IR) | 1/0 | 1/0 |
DC trigger output (12V) | 2 | 1 |
Marantz SR7012 got 9 points for the multichannel surround sound and Marantz SR6015 got 8.
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. Only the Marantz SR7012 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 SR6015 licensed by IMAX.
SR7012 | SR6015 | |
---|---|---|
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) | has not | DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS |
Auro-3D | ✔ | ✖ |
IMAX Enhanced | ✖ | ✔ |
Multichannel stereo | ✔ | ✔ |