Marantz CINEMA 70s vs Sony STR-DH790
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Choosing between the Marantz CINEMA 70s and Sony STR-DH790? Both compete in the AVR / Receiver segment. Here’s how they compare across the specs that matter most for your home theater.
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Looking at overall performance dimensions: The Marantz CINEMA 70s scores higher in gaming performance, future-proofing. The Sony STR-DH790 leads in value, audio quality, volume/SPL, form factor, room fit. They score similarly in ease of use.
For audio processing, these receivers feature channel configurations of 7.1 vs 7.2 and different room correction systems (MultEQ vs D.C.A.C.). More channels enable immersive Atmos layouts. A 9-channel receiver can drive a 5.1.4 layout (5 ear-level, 1 sub, 4 height speakers) for overhead sound effects. Room correction compensates for acoustic problems caused by room dimensions, furniture, and surfaces. Dirac Live applies time-domain FIR correction across the full spectrum; MultEQ XT32 measures at 32,768 frequency points.
The Sony STR-DH790 holds an advantage across more performance dimensions, but the Marantz CINEMA 70s may still be the better pick depending on which specs matter most to your setup. See the detailed comparison table below for the full breakdown.
For most home theaters, the Sony STR-DH790 is the stronger choice — it leads in 5 of 8 scored dimensions. The Marantz CINEMA 70s makes more sense if you prioritize the 2 dimensions where it leads.
Performance Overview
Scores based on specs and category benchmarks (0–100 scale)
Marantz Slimline CINEMA 70s 7.2 Channel AV Receiver
Sony STR-DH790
Detailed Specifications
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | N/A | N/A |
| Channel Count | 7.1 | 7.2 |
| Powered Channels | 7 | 7 |
| Max Processing Ch | 7.1 | — |
| Amplifier Class | AB | AB |
| Watts/Ch (8Ω) | 50W | 67W |
| Watts/Ch (6Ω) | 70W | 90W |
| Min Impedance | 4-ohm | 6-ohm |
| HDMI Inputs | 6 | 4 |
| HDMI Outputs | 1 | 1 |
| HDMI Version | 2.1 | 2.0a |
| 4K/120Hz | Yes | No |
| 8K/60Hz | Yes | No |
| eARC | Yes | Yes |
| ALLM | Yes | No |
| VRR | Yes | No |
| Dolby Vision | Yes | No |
| HDR10 | Yes | No |
| HDR10+ | Yes | No |
| HLG | Yes | No |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| Atmos Height Virt. | Yes | No |
| Dolby TrueHD | Yes | No |
| DTS:X | Yes | No |
| DTS Virtual:X | Yes | No |
| DTS-HD Master | Yes | Yes |
| Auro-3D | No | No |
| Room Correction | MultEQ | D.C.A.C. |
| Room Corr. Tier | BASIC | BASIC |
| Dirac Live | No | No |
| Dirac Bass Control | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| BT Transmit | Yes | No |
| AirPlay 2 | Yes | No |
| Google Cast | No | No |
| Spotify Connect | No | No |
| Roon Tested | Yes | No |
| HEOS | Yes | No |
| MusicCast | No | No |
| DTS Play-Fi | No | No |
| BluOS | No | No |
| Ethernet | Yes | No |
| Alexa Built-in | Yes | No |
| Google Assistant | Yes | No |
| Siri/HomeKit | Yes | No |
| Works with Sonos | No | No |
| Wireless Rears | No | No |
| Zone 2 | Yes | No |
| Zone 3 | No | No |
| Zone 4 | No | No |
| Coax Digital In | 1 | 1 |
| Optical Digital In | 1 | 1 |
| Phono Input | Yes | No |
| USB Input | Yes | Yes |
| Sub Outputs | 2 | 2 |
| Pre-Out Channels | 7 | 0 |
| Headphone Out | Yes | Yes |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| Speaker Terminals | Binding Posts | Binding posts/Spring-clips |
| Remote App | Yes | No |
| AM/FM Tuner | AM/FM | FM only |
Key Differences
- Room Correction: Marantz CINEMA 70s at MultEQ vs Sony STR-DH790 at D.C.A.C.. Room correction compensates for acoustic problems caused by room dimensions, furniture, and surfaces. Dirac Live applies time-domain FIR correction across the full spectrum; MultEQ XT32 measures at 32,768 frequency points.
- Min Impedance: Marantz CINEMA 70s at 4-ohm vs Sony STR-DH790 at 6-ohm
- HDMI Inputs: Marantz CINEMA 70s at 6 vs Sony STR-DH790 at 4
- Watts/Ch (8Ω): Marantz CINEMA 70s at 50W vs Sony STR-DH790 at 67W. Real-world power matters for dynamic headroom. Look for all-channels-driven ratings — two-channel ratings inflate the number since receivers share a common power supply.
- Watts/Ch (6Ω): Marantz CINEMA 70s at 70W vs Sony STR-DH790 at 90W
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Marantz CINEMA 70s if you want:
- + better hdmi inputs
Choose Sony STR-DH790 if you want:
- + 7.2 channel layout for more immersive Atmos configurations
- + better watts/ch (8ω) — real-world power matters for dynamic headroom
See Where These Rank
Check our editorial rankings to see how Marantz CINEMA 70s and Sony STR-DH790 compare to the rest of the field.
Best AVR / Receiver RankingsRelated Calculators
Specifications sourced from manufacturer datasheets and verified against retailer listings. Prices updated hourly from authorized retailers. Scoring uses our open methodology — products are never ranked, promoted, or suppressed based on affiliate commission rates.
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