The home entertainment industry has already existed for more than a century. Home entertainment has already been a part of everyone’s lives, from the discovery of radio to television. Thankfully, the home entertainment industry has also benefited from the technological advancements that have occurred over time.
Two renowned brands in the home entertainment industry compete to determine which of the two companies is better; the Denon or Yamaha?
For more than 110 years, Denon has survived throughout the years. Yet over that time, the intention of Denon has always been the same – to bring customers new and exciting ways to get closer to their home entertainment experiences. From great music performances to cinema-quality sound at home, and they have succeeded with their goal.
On the other hand, Yamaha began producing audio components to help music lovers enjoy their leisure time in the 1950s. As time passed, Yamaha became one of the largest manufacturers of musical instruments and home entertainment systems and is considered one of the top audio industry brands today.
Sound Quality
Denon
Denon has been known to offer top-quality home entertainment systems. Denon offers AV receivers, soundbars, amplifiers, speakers, headphones, etc., from all different price ranges. Their products’ sound quality has always been one the most renowned in the industry.
Denon’s entry-level integrated amplifier, the Denon PMA-600NE, is a must-have for those looking for excellent integrated amplifiers at an affordable price. Its subwoofer connection brings out a perfect power sound. It is highly recommended to pair it with neutral and slightly warm sounding power speakers to maximize its potential.
Denon is also offering impressive wireless headphones; the Denon AH-GC25NC is one. Denon integrates its latest noise cancellation technology into its mid-tier wireless headphone and equips them with new Denon FreeEdge drivers to deliver a premium audio experience. It produces crisp highs and deep bass to ensure superior sound for your music.
Denon’s second-best AV receiver is one of the best AV receivers available in the market. The Denon AVR-X6700H is equipped with Audyssey MultEQ XT32 room equalization that precisely calibrates all speakers in your home setup and tunes the AVR for the optimal listening experience. It also supports DTS:X Pro, the latest immersive audio format, to let you enjoy immersive surround sound.
For a long time, Denon’s AV receivers have been among highly-regarded AV receivers in the home entertainment market.
Denon has always been of the best brands for home entertainment systems and components and is highly coveted by audiophiles. Denon’s sound quality in all its products is outstanding and is worth investing in.
Yamaha
Yamaha has earned a solid reputation for its exceptional sound quality and superior reliability (You can read this article if your Yamaha receiver has no sound). Its products are built to produce high-quality audio and be able to last for a long time.
Although the Yamaha A-S201 is the cheapest integrated amplifier of the company, this still mirrors Yamaha’s excellent sound quality. It produces natural sound impressively, with only slight coloration when amplified. Its midrange is its best part as it produces voices having a pleasant warmth that makes this an exceedingly easy listen.
If you want to purchase a mid-tier wireless headphone, the Yamaha YH-E700A is an excellent option. It produces fine hi-fi quality in terms of detail and imaging. The Yamaha YH-E700A’s highs and midrange sound smooth and rich, respectively, while producing full bass.
For its flagship AV receiver, The Yamaha RX-A8A exceeds expectations on how a top-tier AV receiver would sound. It is able to manage perfectly the balance of both audio performance and power. Equalizer room correction programs built in the RX-A8A can provide a clear, detailed sound with solid bass and a cohesive sound field. It is tough to find flaws in its sound quality.
When it comes to Yamaha products, impressive sound quality is already a given as it is a recommended brand for an audiophile. You can read my top Yamaha speakers here.
Build Quality
Denon
Throughout the years, Denon’s build quality has always been one of its strong points, as is evident in its products.
Denon’s flagship AV receiver has one of the best built AV receivers in the market. The Denon AVR-X8500HA used solid and thick materials in its frame to make it more durable. The interior components used are top-notch and can be trusted to work for a very long time.
For top-quality wireless speakers that can take a beating, Denon Home 350 is one of the best options available in the market. Although the Denon Home 350 will not likely win any design awards, it is built like a tank with a toughened glass top that adds a touch of elegance. It is built solidly and is wrapped with a tight fabric that does not easily tear.
Denon also offers top-level integrated amplifiers. The Denon PMA-A110, the company’s flagship integrated amplifier, has an impressive build quality. Its gunmetal grey finish is beautiful, and that slight curve near the top of the front panel is elegant. The amplifier’s knobs and buttons have a silky but solid feel, while the volume control is smooth and nicely damped.
Denon’s build quality is on par with more renowned brands, but it is worth it for its price point. It isn’t easy to imagine how Denon can produce such quality products at very affordable prices. Buying Denon products is a great investment for your home entertainment setup as it will last for a long time.
Yamaha
When Yamaha decides to enter into an industry, they always strive for greatness. When Yamaha joined the home entertainment industry, it became one of the best brands, and even to this day, it is still one of the most sought-after brands by audiophiles.
If you are looking for a high-class AV receiver with a lower price, then maybe Yamaha’s second-best AV receiver, the RX-A6A, is a great choice. The construction of the chassis is spotless, and the thickened metal sheet of its frame adds more strength to it. It also uses the finest quality of internal components to make this AV receiver last for a long time.
For Bluetooth home speakers, Yamaha offers NX-B55 as one of its best mid-level speakers that allow Bluetooth connectivity. It features an energy-saving auto-standby mode that activates after periods of inactivity. The NX-B55 has a “tilt-back” design that makes good use of the short-throw imaging to image well, given the narrower distance between the drivers and closer proximity to the listener.
The Yamaha A-S3200 is Yamaha’s flagship integrated amplifier, which every audiophile highly sought after. It is built beautifully, which is expected at this level, and every panel lines up perfectly, and each control and switch works with crisp precision. Thanks to its chunky casework, the Yamaha A-S3200 is an impressively solid beast, so make sure your support is sturdy enough to be up to the job.
There is really nothing to expect from any Yamaha products except for excellence.
Their products are built to last, which is a testament to their superiority in the home entertainment industry.
Price
Denon
Denon offers various home entertainment products that are affordable and rationally priced. Denon’s budget-friendly AV receivers are really one of the best in the home entertainment industry when it comes to value for its worth.
Denon’s products’ pricing is outstanding, and it is an excellent option for their worth.
Yamaha
Like Denon, Yamaha also offers various home entertainment systems and components but provides more options. Their prices vary if it is an entry-level, mid-tier or top-level product. They have affordable options and also has expensive products, but purchasing it would be really worth the money.
Investing in your home entertainment setup by purchasing Yamaha products would really be one of the best decisions you made in your life.
Customer Support
Denon
Denon’s general customer service hotline is available from Monday thru Friday, 10 am to 7 pm EST. They also offer an Online Order Support hotline that is still available from Monday thru Friday, 10 am to 7 pm EST.
For those who need in-house troubleshooting or repairs, Denon offers in-house troubleshooting and technical support at no charge with the same schedule mentioned above. Their website also has a separate page Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Their customer service staffs are very friendly and helpful and will settle you quickly. They answer calls quickly and provide easy solutions.
Yamaha
You can easily contact one of Yamaha’s Support Specialists when you encounter any problem with their products. They have chat support in the United States that is available from Monday thru Friday, 7 am to 5 pm Pacific Time.
You can also contact them through Facebook and Twitter.
They offer excellent customer support, and they reply to your queries as soon as possible. Their staffs are very respectful in answering your concerns. They also have a separate page for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to save time for their customers.
Warranty
Denon
Denon offers a two-year warranty for all its defective products if bought from an authorized dealer. The warranty period will commence upon the product’s date of sale to the customer. The customer must provide a purchase receipt to be submitted as proof and to be handed over to the customer’s dealer.
The customer is exempt from any repair costs for repairing their Denon product throughout this warranty period. Any further claims, except for the repair costs, are excluded. The customer must deliver the defective product to their dealer in its original protective packaging.
Denon’s warranty offer is impressive for the price you are paying their products.
Yamaha
Yamaha offers a 2-year warranty for their home entertainment products. Yamaha will only honor warranties and perform warranty service only on products purchased from an Authorized Dealer. If you purchased from an unauthorized source, the product warranty program would not be valid.
Yamaha also offers exchange for their non-serviceable products that such as remote controls, headphones, some speakers, Sound Bars, Desktop Audio products, etc., if it is still within the Yamaha warranty period.
For the price, you are going to pay for a Yamaha product, the warranty their offering is worth it.
Which is Better?
Both companies offer excellent products at affordable and reasonable prices. They are great brands for a home entertainment setup, but I have to go with Yamaha if I have to choose. Yamaha uses technology from the company’s different ventures, like motorcycle production which is why their products are really durable and is expected to last for a very long time.
