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Sony STR-DH190 Stereo Receiver vs Denon AVR-X250BT AV Receiver

Buy the Sony STR-DH190 if you mainly play music from a turntable, phone or CD player and want a simple two-channel amp. Buy the Denon AVR-X250BT if you are building a 5.1 surround setup for movies and games. The Sony is a stereo receiver with a phono stage, A/B speaker switching and Bluetooth, and owners rate it well for clean sound and easy setup. The Denon adds five channels, HDMI switching with 4K passthrough, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD decoding, and virtual height processing, but it has no phono input and no room correction.

  • Choose the Sony STR-DH190 if you want a straightforward stereo receiver for vinyl, streaming and two speakers, with a phono input and A/B speaker pairs.
  • Choose the Denon AVR-X250BT if you want a 5.1 surround system for movies, with HDMI switching, 4K passthrough and Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD decoding.

Prices

  • Sony STR-DH190 Stereo Receiver: $125.00 at eBay (last seen Nov 9)
  • Denon AVR-X250BT AV Receiver: $274.67 at AV Shack (last seen Nov 10)
  • Difference: the Sony STR-DH190 Stereo Receiver is $149.67 cheaper than the Denon AVR-X250BT AV Receiver at the latest prices (Nov 9 and Nov 10)
Sony
Sony STR-DH190 Bluetooth Home Theater Stereo Receiver

Sony STR-DH190 Stereo Receiver

Sony STR-DH190 Bluetooth Home Theater Stereo Receiver

4.4(547 ratings)
$125.00at eBayChecked Nov 9
See all prices and details
Visit eBay

Store links may earn us a commission.

Pros
  • Phono input for a turntable without an extra preamp
  • A/B speaker terminals for two pairs or a second room
  • FM/AM tuner with 30 presets
  • Simple setup and clean two-channel sound for the money
  • Low standby draw of 0.3 W
Cons
  • No HDMI, so no TV switching or surround decoding
  • Bluetooth only, no Wi-Fi or streaming apps
  • No room correction or tone calibration
Denon
Denon AVR-X250BT 5.1 Channel AV Receiver

Denon AVR-X250BT AV Receiver

Denon AVR-X250BT 5.1 Channel AV Receiver

$274.67at AV ShackChecked 16 h ago
See all prices and details
Visit AV Shack
Pros
  • Five channels for a real 5.1 movie setup
  • Five HDMI inputs with 4K/60 Hz passthrough and ARC
  • Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding
  • Bluetooth with memory for 8 paired devices
  • Virtual height processing adds overhead effect without ceiling speakers
Cons
  • No phono input, so a turntable needs a separate preamp
  • No Audyssey room correction on this model
  • No Wi-Fi, Ethernet or built-in streaming apps
  • Large chassis needs more shelf depth

What separates them

Sony STR-DH190 Stereo ReceiverDenon AVR-X250BT AV Receiver
Channels2 channels, with A/B speaker pairs5.1 channels
Phono inputYes, one moving-magnet phono inputNo
HDMINone5 inputs, 1 output, 4K/60 Hz passthrough, ARC, HDCP 2.2 on 3 inputs
Surround formatsStereo onlyDolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS Virtual:X, Dolby Height Virtualization
Room correctionNoneNone (no Audyssey on this model)
StreamingBluetooth receiverBluetooth with 8-device memory and headphone transmission
RadioFM/AM tuner with 30 presetsNo tuner
Build and size14 lb 13 oz, compact stereo chassisLarger AV chassis, about 52 cm deep

Price history

$449.00$198.00
Nov 9Nov 10
  • Sony STR-DH190 Stereo Receiver: lowest $198.00 on Nov 9 at Greentoe; $248.00 on Nov 10.
  • Denon AVR-X250BT AV Receiver: lowest $449.00 on Nov 10 at 220-Electronics.com.

Prices at every store

Sony STR-DH190 Stereo Receiver

  • GreentoeNew

    In stockSold by TV's & Home Theater

    $198.00Free shippingChecked Nov 9
    Visit Greentoe
  • WalmartNew

    In stockSold by Video & Audio CenterReturns: Sold by a Walmart Marketplace seller; returns go to the seller under the seller's returns policy.

    $248.00Free shippingChecked Nov 9
    Visit Walmart
  • Abt ElectronicsNew

    In stock

    $248.00Free shippingChecked Nov 9
    Visit Abt Electronics
  • eBayNew

    Availability unknownSold by simplyfii (100% positive, 61 ratings)Returns: Set by the eBay seller; the eBay Money Back Guarantee covers an item that doesn't arrive or isn't as described.

    $125.00+ $12.39 shippingChecked Nov 9
    Visit eBay

Also available at

  • WalmartCheck price at Walmart

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All 21 stores and price history →

Denon AVR-X250BT AV Receiver

  • AV ShackNew

    In stockShips from India · priced in INR (₹25,800.00) · duties may applyReturn policy

    $274.67Checked 16 h ago
    Visit AV Shack
  • 220-Electronics.comNew

    In stockMade for another market

    $449.00+ $29.70 shippingChecked 16 h ago
    Visit 220-Electronics.com
  • The Revolver ClubNew

    In stockPriced in INR (₹50,762.71)Return policy

    $540.43Checked 16 h ago
    Visit The Revolver Club
  • SamstoresNew

    In stockMade for another market

    $460.58+ $89.99 shippingChecked 16 h ago
    Visit Samstores

Also available at

  • 220-ElectronicsCheck price at 220-Electronics

Specs compared

SpecSony STR-DH190 Stereo ReceiverDenon AVR-X250BT AV Receiver
BluetoothYesBuilt-in Bluetooth
colorBlack—
Weight6.7 kg (14 lb. 13 oz)—
Amp Channels2ch (Supporting Speaker A+B)—
Speaker Impedance6–16 ohms—
Network FeaturesBluetooth® Receiver—
FM/AM TunerYes/No—
Preset ChannelsTTL30 (30 / - )—
Input/Output TerminalsAnalog Audio Input (4), Phono input (1), Headph…—
Speaker Output TerminalsA / B—
Power RequirementAC 120 V 60 Hz—
Standby Power Consumption0.3W—
Show all 30 specsShow fewer specs
SpecSony STR-DH190 Stereo ReceiverDenon AVR-X250BT AV Receiver
Number Of Channels2 Channel—
NetworkingBluetooth—
Surround SoundYes—
Wi-FiNo—
Tube AmplifierNo—
RadioFM—
Power Amplifier ClassD—
Channels—5.1 channels
Power per channel—130 watts per channel
HDMI inputs—

What reviewers say

Sony STR-DH190 Stereo Receiver

  • 4.4 / 5547 ratings

Owners rate it around 4.4 out of 5 and mostly praise the clean power, the phono input and how quickly it goes from box to playing. Complaints center on the spring-clip speaker terminals, the missing subwoofer output and the bare-bones feature set.

What people mention
  • Sound qualityPraisedOwners say it sounds clean and has enough power to fill a room with typical bookshelf speakers.
  • Phono inputPraisedTurntable owners like that a moving-magnet cartridge plugs straight in without a separate preamp.
  • Speaker terminalsCriticisedThe spring clips are called flimsy and awkward for thicker speaker cable.
  • Subwoofer outputCriticisedBuyers wanting a 2.1 setup note there is no dedicated subwoofer connection.

Denon AVR-X250BT AV Receiver

Owner feedback is thin, but the receiver is generally described as an easy, reliable entry point into surround sound with solid power for the money. Complaints center on the missing room correction and the limited network features.

What people mention
  • SetupPraisedOwners say the receiver is easy to wire up and configure for a basic 5.1 system.
  • Room correctionCriticisedBuyers miss Audyssey and have to set speaker distances and levels manually.
  • StreamingMixedBluetooth works well, but the lack of Wi-Fi and built-in music services is noted.
  • PowerPraisedThe 130-watt rating is reported as ample for small and medium rooms.

Questions and answers

Which is better for vinyl?
The Sony. It has a built-in phono input, so a turntable plugs straight in. The Denon has no phono stage, so you would need a separate preamp.
Which is better for movies?
The Denon. Five channels, HDMI switching and Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD decoding give real surround sound. The Sony is stereo only.
Does either have room correction?
No. The Denon AVR-X250BT ships without Audyssey, and the Sony has no calibration at all. You set levels and distances by hand.
Can I stream from my phone to both?
Yes, both have Bluetooth. The Denon remembers up to 8 paired devices and can send audio to Bluetooth headphones. Neither has Wi-Fi or built-in streaming apps.
Which lasts longer?
Both are well-built for their class. The Sony has fewer parts and no HDMI board, so there is less to fail. The Denon's HDMI board is the usual weak point in any AV receiver.
Is the Denon worth stepping up to?
Only if you want surround sound and HDMI switching. For music with two speakers, the Sony covers more of what you need, including the phono input.

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All 5 stores and price history →
5 HDMI inputs
HDCP support—HDCP 2.2 (on 3 inputs)
4K passthrough—4K/60 Hz full-rate pass-through
Paired devices memory—8 paired Bluetooth devices
Multi-channel formats—Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio
Colour—Black
Length—52 cm
Width—43.60 cm
Height—22.40 cm