So, you need to decide what is more important to you. But, if youve gone to the expense of buying one of these beauties, youll probably want to take advantage of this excellent technology. The AVR-X3800H also has a good bit more power than our more affordable picks. The Cost of an AV Receiver: How Much Should You Spend? Therefore, here are some more considerations that might be more important to you. Denon AVR-X6700H. But for the best future-proofing, you would probably be wise to purchase the latest version although it is slightly more expensive. The AVR31 is the top model in the HDA range of integrated AV receivers. If you want an AV receiver that works for movies and music, then an Arcam receiver should be on your radar. Yamaha is also falling behind Denon in features for the price, and the companys entry-level, Bluetooth-only receiver, the Yamaha RX-V385, isnt as easy to set up or use as our budget pick, the Denon AVR-S570BT. Whether its finding great products or discovering helpful advice, well help you get it right (the first time). Yamaha is one of the best receiver manufacturers around, and they make excellent AV receivers at all price points. Harmony Companion Universal Remote. You have an Ethernet port for those who like using a trusty cable, but you can also connect via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplay 2, Spotify Connect and more. Its also an affordable choice for anyone who already has a 5.1 system in place but needs to upgrade their receiver because it doesnt support 4K, HDR, or features of the new HDMI 2.1 spec designed for modern gaming consoles. If you dont need HDMI 2.1 support, you may find some 2020 models cheaper. Nothing in terms of features and performance but only suitable for those with a big budget. Its also a snap to exit out of the wizard and configure things at your own pace, in the order you prefer. 13.2 channel receivers. They are essentially the same, and most features are found in both models. There isnt anything earth-shattering about the look of this receiver, so just expect a standard front panel with a primary volume control knob, a few connectors, and a small display panel. Best AV receivers 2023: the top home cinema amplifiers we've tested By Andy Madden, Tom Parsons last updated 19 April 2023 The very best home cinema surround sound Comments (8) Included in this guide: 1 Denon AVR-X2800H Check Price 2 Denon AVC-X3800H Check Price 3 Arcam AVR31 Check Price 4 Yamaha RX-A6A Check Price 5 Denon AVR-X2700H Check Price 6 Admittedly, eliminating the surround speakers during our head-to-head testing may have given a slightly unfair advantage to receivers with weaker power supplies that might struggle to drive multiple speakers simultaneously, but it made direct comparisons more manageable and allowed us to focus more on pure sound quality, as well as on the quantifiable and repeatable benefits of one room-correction system over another. Another standout feature of the MRX 1140 is the automatic room correction. Room correction helps to improve the overall sound quality by using microphones and built-in software to estimate how your room and speaker placement are distorting the sound and to attempt to compensate for those distortions. All six of the AVR-X3800Hs HDMI inputs support 8K video at 60 Hz (compressed and uncompressed), as well as 4K at up to 120 Hz, along with HDMI 2.1 features such as auto low-latency mode, variable refresh rate, quick media switching, and auto lip sync (when the receiver is connected to displays that support that feature), so its a great choice for gaming. Thats because our hands-on testing has shown that the brands lineup consistently offers the best bang for the buck in performance and features, and that it does a better job of simplifying the potentially complicated process of setting up a home theater system. No pain, no gain! At the end, it takes you through the process of connecting a microphone to the face of the receiver and stepping through a number of measurements using the remote and the on-screen interface. How much of that extra power you actually need depends on the size of your room and the efficiency of your speakers (that is, how loudly they play when powered by a 2.83-volt input), but with our test system in a 12-by-15-foot room with 8-foot ceilings, we were able to play the AVR-X3800H louder than we could comfortably listen to. It does a fantastic job of measuring your room and balancing out the frequency response, and its a great way to get an immersive surround sound experience in your room. The best all-purpose AV receiver The AVR-X1700H is a great-sounding, easy-to-use, 7.1-channel receiver that has all the needed features to satisfy movie fans, music lovers, and gamers alike.. It has a depth of 482mm and weighs in at just over 51 lbs, so its not for the faint-hearted. Was $599.95. Many receivers include built-in support for music streaming services such as Sirius XM, Spotify Connect, and Tidal, along with the ability to connect directly to internet radio stations and local DLNA media servers. If you are new to the Arcam brand, you might find this overview of the company interesting: A Marantz AV amplifier is a good choice for movie and music performance if you dont want to pay the high prices of some receivers here. We saw no option to skip this screen, so we had to exit the wizard altogether and start over from scratch. Even if you have only a 5.1-channel speaker system right now, its nice to have the two extra amp channels to add more speakers or a second audio zone down the road. As well as an Ethernet connection found on the older 2016 receivers, the AVR31 adds support for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplay 2 and Chromecast. In a way, SR8015 is an upgraded version of the previously reviewed AVR-X4700H, even though they are not made by the same manufacturer. But when you invest in a more advanced room-correction technology such as Audyssey MultEQ XT32 or Dirac (both of which are available on AV receivers of various brands), you get the ability to customize the type of corrections and account for multiple subwoofers, and these systems do a better job of tuning the sound without making it seem overly processed. Take a look at this official Denon video to get a better look at this top AV receiver: If you want a high-end Yamaha AV receiver, look no further than the RX-A8A. Best For Explosions: Yamaha Most Expensive Stereo Receiver Buy on Amazon The most expensive stereo receiver should be able to handle its purpose and duties with ease. Best AV Receivers of 2023 | The Master Switch The receiver can also upscale 1080p and 4K video to 8K for output to your TV if required. Yamaha RX-V385 - under $300. Denons HEOS wireless multi-room technology is present as expected. Of course, if you only want to use the built-in class G channels without buying more power amplifiers then you can set up a very nice 5.2.2 Dolby Atmos or DTS:X system. AV Receivers - Home Theater & Cinema Systems | Denon US The contestants were systems composed mostly of recent Wirecutter picks: the Vizio SB46514-F6 from our best soundbar guide versus a full 5.1.4-channel system comprising the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2, B5 . There is no substitute for first-hand experience, and you might have a different opinion than me on what sounds good youre mistaken, of course. If your current AV receiver works with all your AV components and has all the features you desire, you dont need to upgrade, as you likely wouldnt hear improved sound quality with a newer model unless you were to upgrade to one with better room correction. It features seven amplifier channels that can power a surround-sound speaker system or a Dolby Atmos or DTS:X home theater setup with two overhead speakers. The 9.4-channel AVR-X3800H includes two additional amp channels that you can use to power more speakers, and it can process sound for up to four subwoofers independently. Bluetooth 5.0-capable. The upmixing modes of Dolby Surround and DTS Neural:X are particularly effective in extending standard 5.1 soundtracks into your height speakers. As someone whos spent countless hours tinkering with home theater setups, I can tell you that having the right AV receiver is crucial to achieving the ultimate cinematic experience. There is also another stereo pair of XLR audio outputs. Onkyos AccuEQ and Pioneers MCACC room correction systems also did more harm to the sound than good. This receiver is part of the Arcam HAD (High Definition Audio) range, andArcam released its top-end products under the FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) banner in the early years. No need to buy a separate wireless multi-room system. For such a feature-packed AV receiver, the AVR-X3800H was surprisingly easy for us to install and configure, again due to Denons excellent setup wizard. Make sure to read the fine print to pick a receiver that supports the HDMI 2.1 features you need. A Class G amplifier is much more complex and expensive to produce. The best universal remotes can help clean up the clutter on your coffee table. And, at 435 mm wide and 476 mm deep, you will also need plenty of space to install it. So, you get 8 HDMI inputs (1 at the front) and 3 outputs. In Directional mode, each subwoofer receives low-frequency sounds from the main speaker nearest to it, along with the .1 (or LFE) channel from the surround soundtrack being decoded. Check Price. Take, for example, the AVR-X2800H: It costs $500 more than the AVR-X1700H yet doesnt offer much by way of upgrades except for a little more power, a somewhat more robust power supply, and a second HDMI output. All offer excellent. Pros: Audiophile Class G amplification 8K/60Hz, 4K/120Hz and HDMI 2.1 support 15.2-channel pre-outs for creating a large speaker layout Dirac Live room correction is the best around Cons: Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. The more expensive offerings from both brands offer Dirac room correction, which we really like, but those receivers fall short in other regards when compared with competitive models from Denon. Lots of receivers offer basic room correction, but at the more affordable end of the spectrum, the processing can do more harm than gooddulling the sound without really fixing the most egregious problems with bass frequencies. There are 7 HDMI inputs and 3 outputs, which should be plenty for most setups. HDR10+, HDR10, Dolby Vision and HLG are present along with 4K UHD 60Hz video, 4:4:4 Pure Color sub-sampling and HDCP 2.3. Some of the more expensive A/V receivers can even work with 9.1, 9.2, or even 11.1 systems. In Standard mode, all of your subwoofers are monophonic and receive the same low-frequency information, even if theyre configured differently in terms of level, delay, and the like. Denon AVR-X8500H. If you want to get as close as possible to the movie-theater experience at home and want the most flexibility in speaker selection and setup, you need an AV receiver at the heart of your AV system. Performance? 11.2-Channels for a full Dolby Atmos system, Premium 32-bit / 768 kHz DAC (AKM AK4458VN), Apple AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast and Bluetooth v4.2, A price that isnt for the feint-hearted but you have to pay for top quality, The front HDMI port has been removed from the previous model. All support the requirements for 4K/60p UHD passthrough (8K/60 and 4K/120 with the firmware update) plus HDCP 2.3, HDR10+, HDR10, Dolby Vision, Hybrid Log-Gamma and BT.2020. One of the biggest disappointments is that, even at the $1,500-and-above level, Onkyo and Pioneer receivers felt cheaply constructed when we perused them at retail (primarily Best Buy and Cohens) to decide what to bring in for in-depth hands-on testing, prompting concerns about their durability. It has six HDMI inputs, three of which are HDMI 2.1 compatible and support the advanced gaming features found on the Microsoft Xbox Series X and Sony PlayStation 5 consoles. With full support for Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Dolby Surround and DTS Neural:X this unit can fully use your complete speaker system. Many new AV receivers also support the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X immersive audio formats. Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks include overhead or height effects to make the audio experience even more immersive. HDMI 2.1 support means this receiver will pass through 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz video if you have a device with this technology. Marantz SR8015 is one of the latest, most advanced, and most expensive AV receivers from Marantz. HDMI 2.1 is the newest version of the digital connection that all modern video-based components use. the Audyssey software always does an excellent job in half the time and with much less fuss. The good news is that a high-quality home theater receiver will last for years. With its powerful amplifier, immersive surround sound, and high-resolution audio, this device is sure to blow you away. Home Cinema Guide may get a commission if you buy from a link marked with * on this page: * 8 Ohms, 20 Hz-20 kHz, 0.02% THD, 2 Channels Driven, * 8 Ohms, 20 Hz-20 kHz, 0.05% THD, 2 Channels Driven, * 8 Ohms, 20 Hz-20 kHz, 0.06% THD, 2 Channels Driven, * 8 Ohms, 20 Hz-20 kHz, 0.01% THD, 2 Channels Driven, Image Credit: Peter Gudella/Shutterstock.com, 4. The original AVR-X8500H was released in 2018. The AVR31 provides 120 watts per channel (8 Ohms, 20 Hz-20 kHz, 0.02% THD, 2 Channels Driven) which should be more than enough for any home theater room. Logitech. It's incredibly versatile and powerful. All six of its HDMI inputs are HDMI 2.1 compatible and support 8K video and advanced gaming features. Room correction adjusts your speakers performance to suit your room. If you're spending under $1,000, there are four main receivers to choose from -- the Sony STR-AN1000, the Yamaha RX-V6A, the Onkyo TX-NR6100 and the Denon AVR-960H. Talking of HDMI, there are 7 HDMI connections on the rear and 3 outputs. Most AV receivers use Class AB amplification, a cost-effective way to make a relatively efficient amplifier that sounds good without costing too much to build. To enjoy Dolby Atmos or DTS:X sound to its fullest, you need to add height speakers or buy special Atmos-enabled speakers (you can read more about that topic in our guide to the best surround-sound speaker system), and you need an AV receiver that can decode these formats and provide power to more speakers. The Sony STR-DH790 offers excellent value for the price.