Buy the Denon AVR-X3800H for a bass-serious room — four independent sub outs plus XT32, and it's the only one of the two with a rated amplifier. Buy the Sony STR-AZ3000ES for the most documented HDMI section at this tier: six stated full-bandwidth 2.1 ports at a stated 48 Gbps.
As tracked by Home Theater Builder: the Sony STR-AZ3000ES tracks at $1,998; the Denon AVR-X3800H at $1,399.How we verify this data →
Both drive nine channels; from there the two sheets argue different cases — the Sony documents its digital section, the Denon documents its amplifier and its bass management.
Specifications · side by side · per-field provenance
● SOURCE-TRACKED
Spec
Sony STR-AZ3000ES
Denon AVR-X3800H
Price
$1,998
$1,399
Brand
Sony
Denon
Channel configuration
7.1.2
9.4
Main channels
9
9
Processing channels
12
11
Subwoofer pre-outs
2
4
Height channels
2
4
Zone 2 capable
Yes
Yes
Zone 3 capable
Yes
No
Impedance range
4 ohms to 16 ohms
4-16 Ω/ohms
Dolby Atmos
Yes
Yes
DTS:X
Yes
Yes
IMAX Enhanced
Yes
Yes
Room correction system
Sony DCAC IX
Audyssey MultEQ XT32
Measurement mic included
Yes
Yes
HDMI inputs
6
6
HDMI outputs
2
3
HDMI version
2.1
2.1
HDMI max bandwidth (Gbps)
48
40
HDMI 2.1 ports
6
6
HDMI eARC ports
1
1
Max passthrough resolution
8K 60
8K 60
HDR support
HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision
HDR, HLG, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Dynamic HDR
VRR passthrough
Yes
Yes
ALLM passthrough
Yes
Yes
Wi-Fi
Yes
Yes
Bluetooth
Yes
Yes
AirPlay 2
Yes
Yes
IP control
Yes
Yes
Streaming services
Spotify Connect
TuneIn, Spotify Connect, Pandora, Qobuz
12 V trigger outputs
1
1
Form factor
full size
full size
Watts per channel (8 Ω)
not stated
105
Watts per channel (6 Ω)
not stated
135
THD (%)
not stated
0.08
Channels driven (power rating)
not stated
two channels driven
Speaker impedance, min (Ω)
not stated
4
Speaker impedance, max (Ω)
not stated
16
Auro-3D
not stated
Yes
Phono input
not stated
Yes
HEOS
not stated
Yes
Alexa built-in
not stated
Yes
Width (in)
not stated
17.1
Height (in)
not stated
6.6
Depth (in)
not stated
14.9
Weight (lbs)
not stated
16.8
Power consumption (W)
not stated
660
Shaded rows differ · green dot = lab-measured · amber = manufacturer-verified · blue = retailer/community-reported · grey = estimated · “not stated” means exactly that
Reading the numbers honestly
The amplifier disclosure is lopsided: the Denon states 105W at 8Ω, two channels driven, 0.08% THD — fully qualified — while the AZ3000ES states no power figure in our data at all. The digital disclosure runs the other way: the Sony states six full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports at 48 Gbps and twelve processing channels; the Denon's port count is unstated, its curated bandwidth 40 Gbps, its processing eleven. Bass management is the Denon's clearest stated win: four independent subwoofer pre-outs to the Sony's two. Both state 4–16Ω impedance ratings.
Compatibility · computed, not written
Checked against a bookshelf that dips to a stated 3.5Ω like the KEF LS50 Meta: KEF LS50 Meta
Can the Sony STR-AZ3000ES drive the KEF LS50 Meta?
Sony STR-AZ3000ES states a 4Ω-minimum rating; the KEF LS50 Meta dips to a stated 3.5Ω minimum, a little below that floor. Most receivers handle a marginal dip at normal volumes — it's worth watching only at very high output on an entry-level unit.
Can the Denon AVR-X3800H drive the KEF LS50 Meta?
Denon AVR-X3800H states a 4Ω-minimum rating; the KEF LS50 Meta dips to a stated 3.5Ω minimum, a little below that floor. Most receivers handle a marginal dip at normal volumes — it's worth watching only at very high output on an entry-level unit.
Computed from the catalog's normalized fields — the same fields the builder's compatibility engine reads. A missing field reads as "can't check", never as a pass.
Gaming & connectivity · answered from the spec sheets
Can the Sony STR-AZ3000ES and Denon AVR-X3800H pass 4K/120 through?
The Sony STR-AZ3000ES states 48 Gbps HDMI bandwidth — enough for full 4K/120; the Denon AVR-X3800H states 40 Gbps HDMI bandwidth — enough for full 4K/120.
The verdict
Buy the Denon AVR-X3800H for a bass-serious room — four independent sub outs plus XT32, and it's the only one of the two with a rated amplifier. Buy the Sony STR-AZ3000ES for the most documented HDMI section at this tier: six stated full-bandwidth 2.1 ports at a stated 48 Gbps.
Amplifier disclosure is one-sided: Denon 105W fully qualified (8Ω/2ch/0.08% THD); the AZ3000ES states NO power figure in our data — flagged, never estimated.
HDMI disclosure inverts: Sony states 6 full-bandwidth 2.1 ports at 48 Gbps; the Denon's port count is unstated with a curated 40 Gbps.
4 vs 2 independent subwoofer pre-outs — the stated bass-management gap XT32 calibrates individually on the Denon.
Both state 4–16Ω impedance ratings — the low-impedance pairing floor is equal.
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