The catch
Sony STR-AN1000
A three-device gaming setup needs one more 4K120 input than the two it has.
Side by side
Sony STR-AN1000 vs Onkyo TX-NR6100: Sony works with compatible wireless rears, Onkyo gets a third 4K120 source
Quick verdict
STR-AN1000 is the choice when compatible Sony wireless rear speakers solve your room layout. A third 4K120 input and a built-in MM phono stage point to TX-NR6100. Two HDMI displays and seven powered main speakers are common to both, so those features do not decide between them.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Matching HDMI counts conceal a one-device gap for gaming
Three high-frame-rate sources take half of Onkyo's six inputs and connect directly. That is one more than Sony's two suitable inputs. Choosing a different setup does not turn the remaining Sony sockets into 4K120 inputs.
Where this comes from
NR6100: 3 of 6 inputs support 4K120. AN1000: 2 of 6. With three fast sources required, Sony falls short by 3 - 2 = 1.
The catch
Onkyo TX-NR6100
The Sony SA-RS3S or SA-RS5 wireless-rear route is not on offer.
Sony STR-AN1000
- Why pick it
- You will use supported Sony wireless rear speakers
- You want Sony DCAC IX calibration and 360 Spatial Sound Mapping
- The catch
- A three-device gaming setup needs one more 4K120 input than the two it has.
Onkyo TX-NR6100
- Why pick it
- Three high-frame-rate sources need direct connections
- A phono-only MM turntable plugs in with no extra box
- The catch
- The Sony SA-RS3S or SA-RS5 wireless-rear route is not on offer.
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What this page compares
Sony STR-AN1000 vs Onkyo TX-NR6100 on wireless rears, three 4K120 sources, vinyl and two displays, built around the connections you really need.
STR-AN1000 is the choice when compatible Sony wireless rear speakers solve your room layout. A third 4K120 input and a built-in MM phono stage point to TX-NR6100. Two HDMI displays and seven powered main speakers are common to both, so those features do not decide between them.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
I want to run two consoles and a gaming PC at 4K120
Three matching inputs on Onkyo, two on Sony.
- Sony STR-AN1000
- Caution
- Onkyo TX-NR6100
- Better fit
I need Sony wireless rear speakers that are supported
Sony's compatibility documentation names SA-RS3S and SA-RS5.
- Sony STR-AN1000
- Good
- Onkyo TX-NR6100
- Not suitable
I want to connect two displays and a phono-only MM turntable
Either handles the displays. For that turntable, Sony requires an added phono stage.
- Sony STR-AN1000
- Caution
- Onkyo TX-NR6100
- Good
I want my existing stereo power amp to drive the front speakers
The full-range front pre-outs needed for the direct connection are missing on both US models.
- Sony STR-AN1000
- Not suitable
- Onkyo TX-NR6100
- Not suitable
In practice
Differences you will notice
Matching HDMI counts conceal a one-device gap for gaming
Three high-frame-rate sources take half of Onkyo's six inputs and connect directly. That is one more than Sony's two suitable inputs. Choosing a different setup does not turn the remaining Sony sockets into 4K120 inputs.
How we worked this out
NR6100: 3 of 6 inputs support 4K120. AN1000: 2 of 6. With three fast sources required, Sony falls short by 3 - 2 = 1.
Onkyo can handle two displays and vinyl as a one-box job
Each covers the display connections. Onkyo also has an MM phono input, so an MM turntable lacking a built-in stage needs no extra phono box. With Sony, that stage has to be somewhere else in the system.
How we worked this out
Each lists 2 HDMI outputs. An MM phono input is listed for NR6100. STR-AN1000 has analog line inputs but no phono input.
Neither keeps a conventional external front power amp an option
Full-range main-channel pre-outs are missing on the US models. Subwoofer or zone outputs cannot stand in for volume-controlled front-channel outputs in the main surround system.
How we worked this out
The connection records for US NR6100 and STR-AN1000 list no full-range main-channel pre-outs. This direct external-amplifier plan requires main front L/R pre-outs.
Plan your receiver connectionsLay out my system
Check a documented speaker layout against HDMI sources and external-amplifier plans.
Sony STR-AN1000
Handles your setup
Runs 5.1.2 on its own built-in amplifiers. Takes 3 HDMI devices, 1 of them at 4K/120Hz.
Onkyo TX-NR6100
Handles your setup
Runs 5.1.2 on its own built-in amplifiers. Takes 3 HDMI devices, 1 of them at 4K/120Hz.
A powered subwoofer does not count toward the speaker channels. This checks one main room. Check Zone 2, bi-amping and unusual speaker assignments yourself. Leave room for ventilation, and confirm HDMI settings, cables and speaker impedance before you install.
Option A
Sony, STR-AN1000
STR-AN1000
Sony wireless rear-speaker compatibility and two HDMI display outputs come with seven amplifier channels, enough for 7.1 or 5.1.2. Two of its six HDMI inputs handle 4K120.
- Best for
- A 5.1.2 system using Sony wireless rears
Facts we checked
- Total HDMI sources: 6 inputs
- 4K120-capable inputs: 2
- Display connections: 2 HDMI outputs
- MM phono input: No
Option B
Onkyo, TX-NR6100
TX-NR6100
Six HDMI inputs, two display outputs and an MM phono input come on this seven-channel Onkyo. In a mixed-source 5.1.2 room, it connects directly to both a TV and a projector.
- Best for
- Two displays and a turntable in 5.1.2
Facts we checked
- Total HDMI sources: 6 inputs
- 4K120-capable inputs: 3
- Display connections: 2 HDMI outputs
- MM phono input: Yes
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Sony STR-AN1000 | Onkyo TX-NR6100 | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total HDMI sources | 6 inputs | 6 inputs | Either can keep the same total number of HDMI sources plugged in. |
| 4K120-capable inputs | 2 | 3 | How the fast inputs are distributed matters, even though the total input count is equal. |
| Display connections | 2 HDMI outputs | 2 HDMI outputs | Two displays can be connected to either, within output settings and format compatibility. |
| MM phono input | No | Yes | With Onkyo, an MM turntable with phono-only output does not need an external phono stage. |
| Compatible Sony wireless rears | SA-RS3S and SA-RS5 | No documented compatibility | For those rear speakers, Sony is the direct match. |
| Main layout ceiling | 7.1 or 5.1.2 | 7.1 or 5.1.2 | The nine-channel processing that 5.1.4 requires is not supplied by either receiver. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Sony STR-AN1000
- An external stage is needed for a phono-only turntable.
With Onkyo TX-NR6100
- For a power amp, the US model has no full-range main-channel pre-outs.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
I need compatibility with Sony SA-RS3S or SA-RS5 rears
Go with Sony STR-AN1000. That direct wireless-rear pairing is documented by Sony.
Either a third 4K120 source or an MM phono input counts
Go with Onkyo TX-NR6100. Both connections come from Onkyo.
I need to have full-range front pre-outs
Neither model fits. They are missing on both reviewed US models.
Decision guide
How to decide
STR-AN1000 fits when compatible Sony wireless rear speakers solve the layout of your room. TX-NR6100 fits when you want a third 4K120 input and a built-in MM phono stage. Both connect two HDMI displays and power seven main speakers, which means those shared features settle nothing.
The rear-speaker plan decides the case for the Sony
Routing speaker wire across the room being the central problem is a reason to look closely at Sony's supported wireless rear models. They still need a suitable power arrangement, and their purchase cost belongs in the budget. Absent that need, Onkyo's extra fast input and phono stage are easier benefits to take advantage of.
Read the input labels and look past the headline
Modern HDMI support and six inputs are advertised on both product pages. According to the manuals, only two Sony inputs and three Onkyo inputs support 4K120. Before deciding a receiver has enough room, match each gaming source to a documented socket.
Think about a future amplifier
An existing stereo power amp in the main system is not a good direct match for either US model. If that figures in your plan, look explicitly for front pre-outs. A zone output or a powered speaker terminal does a different job, so do not treat either as an equivalent connection.
What this page can’t tell you
- These checks stop at US connections and speaker layouts. We have not measured amplifier output, room-correction results or sound quality. Also verify HDMI format, firmware and display compatibility.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the AV receivers we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sony STR-AN1000 |
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| Onkyo TX-NR6100 |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Sony STR-AN1000
You will use supported Sony wireless rear speakers
See price & reviews on AmazonOnkyo TX-NR6100
Three high-frame-rate sources need direct connections
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