Choosing an AV receiver is not an easy task and the Onkyo TX-NR696 versus Onkyo TX-NR6100 comparison is meant to help you with this. According to the results of our review, Onkyo TX-NR696 received 7.6 points out of 10 possible, and Onkyo TX-NR6100 was rated 8 points. The release date of TX-NR696 is 2019, and TX-NR6100 is 2021. As a result, it becomes clear that TX-NR6100 is a better option for home theater than TX-NR696.
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-NR6100 this value is 210/6 W/Ohm, and for the TX-NR696 it is 165/6 W/Ohm.
TX-NR696 | TX-NR6100 | |
---|---|---|
Channels | 7.2 | 7.2 |
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm | 165/6 | 100/8, 210/6 |
Output impedance, Ohm | 6 | 8, 6 |
Frequency response | 10Hz-100KHz | 10Hz-100KHz |
THD in stereo, % | 0.08 | 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.
Speaker A/B switching allows you to change between the main and sub speaker set. Onkyo TX-NR6100 can work with the main and additional set of speakers - and switch between them.
TX-NR696 | TX-NR6100 | |
---|---|---|
Digital to analog converter (DAC) | AK4458 384 KHz/32-bit | 384 KHz/32-bit |
Bi-amping | ✔ | ✔ |
Pure direct (straight) | ✔ | ✔ |
Auto speaker calibration | AccuEQ | AccuEQ |
Speaker A/B switching | ✖ | ✔ |
Other audio features | Advanced Music Optimizer, Theater-Dimensional, Hi-Res audio | Advanced Music Optimizer, Hi-Res audio, Dynamic Audio Amplification, CinemaFILTER |
The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Onkyo TX-NR696 scored 8, and Onkyo TX-NR6100 scored 9 out of 10.
Bluetooth connection is now one of the main communication protocols for the receiver's control or even music broadcasting.
TX-NR696 | TX-NR6100 | |
---|---|---|
Wi-Fi | ✔ | 2.4/5GHz |
USB | 1 (USB 2.0) | 2 (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-NR696 | TX-NR6100 | |
---|---|---|
Apple Music (AirPlay) | AirPlay, AirPlay 2 | AirPlay, AirPlay 2 |
Amazon Music | ✔ | ✔ |
Spotify | ✔ | ✔ |
Other streaming services | Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, TuneIn Radio | 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, both receivers got 7 points on our 10-point scale.
Onkyo TX-NR696 is equipped with 7/2 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Onkyo TX-NR6100 has 6/2 HDMI inputs and outputs.
HDMI eARC is the next step in the development of audio return channel technology, which works in conjunction with HDMI 2.1. Using eARC provides the highest sound quality for home audio systems. HDMI eARC is available on Onkyo TX-NR6100.
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 Onkyo TX-NR696 in the HDCP 2.2 version, and Onkyo TX-NR6100 has the HDCP 2.3 version.
TX-NR696 | TX-NR6100 | |
---|---|---|
HDMI input/output | 7/2 | 6/2 |
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 | 1 | 1 |
Coaxial digital input | 1 | 1 |
Composite input | 0 | 0 |
Component input/output | 0/0 | 0 |
Phono (MM) input | ✔ | ✔ |
Front panel connectors | 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 8 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 TX-NR696 works with the 4K/60Hz video, and the TX-NR6100 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 Onkyo TX-NR6100.
TX-NR696 | TX-NR6100 | |
---|---|---|
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 | ✖ |
Analog to HDMI scaling | ✖ | ✖ |
HDMI to HDMI scaling | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby Vision | ✔ | ✔ |
Other video features | DeepColor, x.v.Color, HLG, BT.2020 | DeepColor, x.v.Color, HLG, BT.2020, LipSyn, Deep Color |
In terms of evaluating additional features, the TX-NR696 got 9 points, but the TX-NR6100 has 10.
Onkyo TX-NR6100 has the ECO mode.
TX-NR696 | TX-NR6100 | |
---|---|---|
Voice control | Google Assistant | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Josh.AI |
App control | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android |
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 | 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.
TX-NR696 | TX-NR6100 | |
---|---|---|
Multi-room zones | 2 | 2 |
Zone audio output | speaker, preout | lineout |
Zone HDMI output | ✔ | ✔ |
Multi-room control | FlareConnect | FlareConnect |
RS-232 | 0 | 0 |
Remote control input/output (IR) | 0/0 | 0 |
DC trigger output (12V) | 0 | 0 |
For the ability to create multichannel surround sound, each of the receivers received 7 points out of 10.
TX-NR696 | TX-NR6100 | |
---|---|---|
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 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS | DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS |
Auro-3D | ✖ | ✖ |
IMAX Enhanced | ✖ | ✖ |
Multichannel stereo | ✖ | ✖ |