Real height channels against a height virtualiser
Which AV receiver should I choose?
Both are 7.2 receivers and the difference is what they do with height. The Denon states Dolby Atmos; the Yamaha states a Dolby Atmos Height Virtualizer, which is a processing mode that simulates height from speakers at ear level rather than driving speakers above them. That is a real distinction and it is stated plainly by both makers. Beyond it, the Denon adds a DAB tuner and the Yamaha adds gaming functions, voice control and network features.
| Compared on | AVR-X1800HDAB 7.2 channel AV receiver with Dolby Atmos | RX-V6A 7.2 channel network AV receiver |
|---|---|---|
| Channels | 7.2 — stated | 7.2 — stated |
| Height handling | Dolby Atmos — stated | Dolby Atmos Height Virtualizer — stated as virtualisation |
| Tuner | DAB — stated | Not stated in this listing |
| Gaming | Not stated in this listing | Gaming-specific functions — stated |
| Voice control | Not stated in this listing | Compatible with voice control systems — stated |
| Network | Not stated in this listing | Network receiver — stated |
| Room correction | Present on this range; version not stated in this listing | Not stated in this listing |
A tick marks the better answer on that line only. Counting ticks does not decide the page — the two verdicts below do, because these products answer different questions.
Buy the Denon if the system will have real height speakers. It states Atmos rather than a virtualiser, and it adds a DAB tuner most receivers now omit.
Buy the Yamaha if the receiver has to serve a console and a network as well as a film. Its height handling is virtualisation, and it says so.
A processing mode that uses speakers at ear level to suggest sounds above the listener, by exploiting how the ear judges elevation. It is genuinely clever and it is not the same as a speaker above you. A maker that states "Height Virtualizer" rather than "Atmos" is telling you which one it has.
It means seven channels at ear level and two subwoofer outputs. Most rooms use five of the seven; the remaining two become height or rear channels as the room allows. Having them means the receiver does not become the limit when a speaker is added.
7.2 channels · Dolby Atmos · DAB tuner · HDMI
A 7.2 receiver from the house that states power with its conditions — the specification style that makes a receiver comparable to anything else that does the same.
Best for: A first proper surround system, with enough channels to add height speakers later without replacing the receiver.
≈ 585 €
7.2 channels · Dolby Atmos Height Virtualizer · gaming features · voice control · network receiver
A 7.2 network receiver with a height virtualiser — processing that produces height without ceiling speakers, and which the maker names rather than implies.
Best for: A room where ceiling speakers are impossible and a console is part of the system.
≈ 589 €
