Choosing an AV receiver is not an easy task and the Onkyo TX-NR656 versus Denon AVR-X1500H comparison is meant to help you with this. According to the results of our review, Onkyo TX-NR656 received 7.2 points out of 10 possible, and Denon AVR-X1500H was rated 7.5 points. The release date of TX-NR656 is 2016, and AVR-X1500H is 2018. As a result, it becomes clear that AVR-X1500H is a better option for home theater than TX-NR656.
For the built-in amplifier, the models have rated 7 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 TX-NR656 this value is 160/6 W/Ohm, and for the AVR-X1500H it is 120/6 W/Ohm.
TX-NR656 | AVR-X1500H | |
---|---|---|
Channels | 7.2 | 7.2 |
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm | 160/6 | 80/8, 120/6 |
Output impedance, Ohm | 6 | 8, 6 |
Frequency response | 10Hz-100KHz | 10Hz-100KHz |
THD in stereo, % | 0.08 | 0.08 |
After reviewing the audio features of each model, we can rate the TX-NR656 9 out of 10, and the AVR-X1500H - 8.
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. Denon AVR-X1500H can work with the main and additional set of speakers - and switch between them.
TX-NR656 | AVR-X1500H | |
---|---|---|
Digital to analog converter (DAC) | Hi-Grade 384 KHz/32-bit | 192 KHz/32-bit |
Bi-amping | ✔ | ✔ |
Pure direct (straight) | ✔ | ✔ |
Auto speaker calibration | AccuEQ | Audyssey MultEQ XT |
Speaker A/B switching | ✖ | ✔ |
Other audio features | Theater-Dimensional, Double Bass Function, CinemaFILTER | Audyssey Dynamic Volume, Audyssey Dynamic EQ, Compressed Audio Restorer |
The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Onkyo TX-NR656 scored 7, and Denon AVR-X1500H scored 8 out of 10.
Bluetooth connection is now one of the main communication protocols for the receiver's control or even music broadcasting.
TX-NR656 | AVR-X1500H | |
---|---|---|
Wi-Fi | ✔ | ✔ |
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.
TX-NR656 | AVR-X1500H | |
---|---|---|
Apple Music (AirPlay) | AirPlay | AirPlay, AirPlay 2 |
Amazon Music | ✖ | ✔ |
Spotify | ✔ | ✔ |
Other streaming services | Deezer, TuneIn Radio | Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, Napster, SiriusXM, TuneIn Radio, iHeart Radio, Sound Cloud |
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, Onkyo TX-NR656 got 7 points, but Denon AVR-X1500H received 6 points.
Onkyo TX-NR656 is equipped with 8/2 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Denon AVR-X1500H has 6/1 HDMI inputs and outputs.
TX-NR656 | AVR-X1500H | |
---|---|---|
HDMI input/output | 8/2 | 6/1 |
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) | ✖ | ✖ |
HDMI CEC | ✔ | ✔ |
Digital content protection (HDCP) | HDCP 2.2 | HDCP 2.2 |
Subwoofer output (LFE) | 2 | 2 |
Headphone output | 1 x 6.3 | 1 x 6.3 |
Optical digital input | 2 | 2 |
Coaxial digital input | 1 | 1 |
Composite input | 2 | 2 |
Component input/output | 2/0 | 0/0 |
Phono (MM) input | ✔ | ✔ |
Front panel connectors | HDMI, phones, setup mic, AUX | USB, HDMI, 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 TX-NR656 were rated 9 out of 10 against the 6 for the AVR-X1500H.
Most of the AV receivers have a video scaling function, it is the process of reformatting the video signal to a higher resolution without losing the quality of the image. Upscaling the video signal resolution is possible only with Onkyo TX-NR656.
TX-NR656 | AVR-X1500H | |
---|---|---|
HDR (High Dynamic Range) | ✔ | HDR10 |
4K signal pass-through | 4K/60Hz | 4K/60Hz |
8K signal pass-through | ✖ | ✖ |
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 | DeepColor, x.v.Color | BT.2020, HLG |
In terms of evaluating additional features, the TX-NR656 got 7 points, but the AVR-X1500H has 10.
Voice control allows you to control the basic functions of the receiver through a smartphone, smart speaker or using the microphone that comes with the kit. The AVR-X1500H can be controlled by voice via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI. Denon AVR-X1500H has the ECO mode.
TX-NR656 | AVR-X1500H | |
---|---|---|
Voice control | ✖ | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI |
App control | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android, Amazon Kindle |
Display | fluorescent | 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 | IP Control, Web 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.
TX-NR656 | AVR-X1500H | |
---|---|---|
Multi-room zones | 2 | 2 |
Zone audio output | speaker, preout | speaker, preout |
Zone HDMI output | ✖ | ✖ |
Multi-room control | Onkyo Remote App, FlareConnect | HEOS App |
RS-232 | 0 | 0 |
Remote control input/output (IR) | 0/0 | 0/0 |
DC trigger output (12V) | 0 | 1 |
For the ability to create multichannel surround sound, each of the receivers received 7 points out of 10.
TX-NR656 | AVR-X1500H | |
---|---|---|
Dolby Atmos | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby TrueHD | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby Surround | ✖ | ✔ |
Dolby (other) | has not | Dolby Digital Plus |
DTS:X | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS HD Master | ✔ | ✔ |
DTS Virtual:X | ✖ | ✔ |
DTS Neural:X | ✖ | ✔ |
DTS (other) | has not | DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS, DTS-Surround |
Auro-3D | ✖ | ✖ |
IMAX Enhanced | ✖ | ✖ |
Multichannel stereo | ✖ | ✔ |