Room correction adjusts your speakers performance to suit your room. 5 Best High-End Receivers in 2023 [Premium AVR's] - DownHomeDigital 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. 5 Best Receivers - May 2023 - BestReviews The company also offers a number of AV receivers at prices below, between, and above those of our picks. In a way, SR8015 is an upgraded version of the previously reviewed AVR-X4700H, even though they are not made by the same manufacturer. We also like that three of the AVR-X1700Hs HDMI inputs support the most important features of the HDMI 2.1 spec, including quick media switching, quick frame transport, variable refresh rate, and automatic low-latency mode, and all of the HDMI inputs pass through all the relevant 4K HDR formats, including HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG. One interesting feature is the addition of XLR balanced audio inputs, which allows for receiving signals from professional audio hardware or any device with XLR audio outputs. 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. Best High-End AV Receiver Arcam AVR31 7.2-Ch AV Receiver What Is It: An exceptional AV receiver with best-in-class sound quality and outstanding performance. Its all perfectly logical, though. Since the subwoofer is typically self-powered, to figure out how many amplified channels a receiver has, you simply add the first and third numerals: A 5.1.2-channel receiver, for example, has seven amplified channels and might also be referred to as a 7.1-channel receiver. 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. And if you prefer a more traditional approach, some receivers allow you to distribute audio sources (and sometimes video, too) to a second zone via wired connections. It is an exceptional choice for watching movies and TV, but it also sounds great as an amplifier for stereo music with its Class G amplification. If youre a room-correction aficionado, a glance at the Audyssey charts below explains why: You can see how much smoother the midrange (100 to 1,000 Hz) response was when we applied the MultEQ XT32 room correction, in comparison with the midtier MultEQ XT room correction in the AVR-X1700H. For one thing, both models proved far too complicated to install and configure, especially compared with similar offerings from Denon. The company now offers free HDMI board replacements for anyone with an afflicted receiverincluding the RX-A2A, RX-V4A, RX-V6A, and TSR-700but it took a long time to do so, and the company was not as transparent or communicative about the delays as we wouldve liked. The Sony STR-DH790 offers excellent value for the price. Marantz SR8015 is one of the latest, most advanced, and most expensive AV receivers from Marantz. Features? The AVR-X3800H offers nine channels of speaker amplification, so you could set up a surround-sound system with five ear-level speakers and four overhead speakers. DTS Neural:X and Dolby Surround modes are available if you want to upmix stereo, 5.1 or 7.1 soundtracks to your 5.2.4/7.2.4 speaker system. Even if youre an audio geek who loves playing around with microphones, audio software, EQ and the like OK, you got me, Im talking about myself here! Adding more network and wireless connection options is a valuable upgrade on the older FMJ AV receivers. All you have to do is add some speakers. Honestly, though, unless you know a good bit about room acoustics, were not convinced that Dirac Live can give you substantially better results than what you can get from the Audyssey MultEQ XT32 room correction thats already built into the AVR-X3800H. The original AVR-X8500H was released in 2018. However, expect stocks of the AVR30 to run out as they are replaced by the AVR31, so they may be hard to find. We also like that the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antennas for the AVR-X1700H have little plastic clips at the top of the chassis that keep them locked in place and out of the way. Its easy to set up and use, and it performs quite well for the price, even though it can power only five speakers and lacks the Audyssey room correction that you get on the more expensive Denon models. In most cases, you would probably use the built-in Class G channels to run your basic 5.1/7.1 speaker layout then add external amplifiers to add the extra height channels to a maximum of 8 more speakers. Good budget AV receivers can start at $250 if you catch sales but usually sit at $280-$300. Its Heos multiroom streaming platform integrates a number of music streaming services into one app, including Amazon Music, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Napster, Pandora, Rhapsody, SiriusXM, SoundCloud, Spotify, Tidal, and TuneIn. Our biggest beef: Though the remote control is well designed (with neither too many buttons nor too few, and some nice use of tactile contrast to guide you toward the controls you need the most), we often found that we had to aim it right at the front of the receiver for it to register commands, even from as close as 6 feet away. AV Receiver or AV Processor? What are the differences? Even music fans with extensive physical music collections stream much of their music from the internet, so a receiver needs some way of supporting streaming audio apps like Amazon Music and Spotify. Denon AVR-S660H. 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. Home Audio Amplifier Stereo Receiver. Other factors that can make an expensive receiver value for money include: Appearance Strange as it may sound, some AV receivers cost a bit more due to their appearance. Sometimes you just need to buy the best on the market. Like most receivers produced today, the 2803 boasts Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES 6.1 extended-surround . Over the years, I have auditioned more receivers, preamps, and amplifiers than I care to count, and in recent years I have devoted an inordinate amount of time to learning about and testing room-correction systems of all varieties. Budget-friendly. You probably noticed that all of our current picks come from Denon. 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 . Onkyo TX-SR494 AV Receiver with 4K Ultra HD Product Highlights Our Score: 8.9 Brand: Onkyo Check Price Item Dimensions LxWxH: 17.13 x 15.94 x 6.3 inches Output Wattage: 160 Watts Item Weight: 21.27 Pounds Number of Channels: 7 Total HDMI Ports: 4 You can get away from spatial surround sound with this Onkyo device. Here are a few examples of AV receivers in the entry-level category: Onkyo TX-SR333 ($299), Denon AVR-S500BT ($249), Yamaha RX-V377 ($299.95), Pioneer VSX-524-K ($249.99), and Sony STR-DH550 ($279 . 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 We recommend the Denon AVR-X3800H for anyone who wants to add extra speakers to create more immersive, cinematic sound, or who wants even better room correction (and thus better sound quality) than the AVR-X1700H offers. HDMI 2.1 support means this receiver will pass through 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz video if you have a device with this technology. Yamaha CX-A5200. In fact, there is a complete set of 13.2 pre-outs on the back if you want to power all your speakers from external power amps. 8. Check Price. With all this technology, there is always a balance that you need to find between features and cost. Channels 1-5 are rated at 140 watts per channel, while the rest are 60 watts per channel (all at 8 Ohms, 20 Hz-20 kHz, 0.01% THD, 2 Channels Driven). The downside of the Arcam is it is costly, and you will only get an incremental sound improvement over some of the cheaper receivers for all that extra money. Nothing in terms of features and performance but only suitable for those with a big budget. Perhaps the biggest difference between the AVR-X3700H and AVR-X3800H is that the newer receiver features four independent subwoofer outputs that you can configure in different ways. True, a couple of key music servicesnamely Apple Music and Qobuzare missing, but the receiver also supports Bluetooth and AirPlay 2, allowing you to easily stream those services from your phone. The receiver can also upscale 1080p and 4K video to 8K for output to your TV if required. In selecting which specific models to recommend, we looked for the best mix of features, performance, and price, keeping in mind the needs of most people. Whether its finding great products or discovering helpful advice, well help you get it right (the first time). The popular voice-control technologies of Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple Siri are also supported. It . It has enough inputs for all of your source devicesfrom your 4K Blu-ray player to your streaming media device to your turntableand its much easier to install and operate than similarly priced competitors. Like Dirac Live, you must install the software on your laptop and connect the supplied microphone to make the measurements. Bluetooth 5.0-capable. The better room-correction systems are those that prompt you to place the calibration microphone at numerous locations at and around the main listening area. If in doubt, get a Denon. FAQ. There is plenty of power to be had here, so this unit will have no problem driving your speakers hard for the best sound. An AV receiver can also serve as a music hub for your home, since many of them can connect to a home network and stream audio around the house via platforms such as Apples AirPlay 2, Googles Chromecast, or proprietary systems like Denons Heos and Yamahas MusicCast, which are designed to compete with the likes of Sonos. This receiver is also one of the first models to support IMAX Enhanced. Full processing suites from Dolby and DTS can be found in AV receivers costing as little as $500. You can also find AVRs with seven channels of amplification, microphone-based auto calibration, adjustable crossover frequencies and even HDMI switching for well under $1,000. In addition to Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, you can add Auro-3D support via a firmware update. For our latest round of testing, we started by installing and calibrating each of the receivers individually, as if performing a standalone review of each modeltaking extensive notes on the setup process and our initial listening impressions along the way. Thats handy because youll find quite a bit to configure with the AVR-X1700H. The relative simplicity of the AVR-S570BTs remote reflects its more stripped-down feature set. Contrary to conventional wisdom, adding more subs isnt about being able to crank up the bass to the point of rattling your fillings as well as your rafters; its about evenly distributing the low frequencies around the room so that any one subwoofer has to exert less effort and everyone in the audience has a similar experience with regard to bass. When you fire the receiver up for the first time, you see a setup wizard that explains how to connect speakers, source devices, and the like. The quality of a receivers room correction hugely impacts the sound. The AVR-X3800H also has a good bit more power than our more affordable picks. The speaker connections on the back are, as on most Denon receivers these days, arranged side by side rather than stacked on top of one another, which makes physical setup less frustrating, especially if youre using bare-wire speaker connections. The AVR-X3800Hs remote looks similar to the one that comes with the AVR-X1700H, but we didnt have the same IR issues with this one. Its somewhat telling that these brands are the only two that most curious parties mention when asking for advice, but the truth is that Marantzs receiversespecially its new Cinema Seriesare a bit more luxury-oriented and as such dont represent as good a value for most people. But if you watch movies with large groups of people, this is a pretty meaningful feature that we dont see on cheaper AV receivers. In most respects, the AVR-X1700H is an absolute breeze to install and configure, thanks largely to its well-thought-out rear panel and its excellent setup wizard. The 5.2ch AV receiver brings movies to life with 4K HDR pass-through, Dolby Vision and flexible surround sound. And the new MRX 1140 also adds DTS:X Pro support, allowing upmixing for speaker layouts over 11.2 channels. For the movie lover willing to spend more for better sound quality, more amp channels, and some pretty tweaky customization capabilities, we recommend the Denon AVR-X3800H. Are you a hardcore gamer who wants support for the newest gaming features? The Denon AVR-X1700H is a great all-purpose 7.1-channel receiver that includes all the latest features and some nice installation flexibility but is still priced well below $1,000. All the components in this receiver are designed for top-quality sound reproduction, and you wont be disappointed if you already love the Yamaha sound. If you need the flexibility of sending some or all channels to an external power amp, then you will have no problems with this model, as it has a complete set of 13.2 pre-outs. So, unless you hear the amplifier in your room with your speakers, you will never get a perfect idea of how they sound. He has been a sound, lighting and audio-visual engineer for around 20 years. But, if youve gone to the expense of buying one of these beauties, youll probably want to take advantage of this excellent technology. Firstly, any of these receivers will be an excellent addition to your home theater. 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. They give an outstanding sound for movies and TV shows, work fine for stereo music if youre not too demanding, and have all the features most people need. $499.95. In the price ranges we covered with our testing, we were unable to tell most receivers apart when their room correction was not enabled. Theres a lot to unpack in that sentence, so lets walk through it step by step. It retails for $3800. The Denon 2016 AVR Remote app also allows complete control of your Denon hardware from your mobile device. Its a big unit, so make sure you have the space to install it. So, if you want to support the latest display resolutions, this receiver will have you covered. However, in the updated Denon AVR-X8500HA, the main improvements in the new version are: Apart from that, the two versions have similar specifications although the MSRP is slightly higher for the new model. Add any HEOS-compatible speakers, and you can enjoy wireless audio in every room in your house. *At the time of publishing, the price was $1,499. Yes, many of the other AV receivers here will be able to power more speakers out-of-the-box but they dont offer Class G amplification. Experience the bigger, clearer picture when you upgrade your home theater setup with the STR-DH590. The MRX series has three models in the range and was updated in 2020 and refreshed in 2022 with 8K support. But all of its features and performance advantages come at a price. The receiver has Bluetooth support for streaming audio, as well as a handy setup wizard that walks you through the process of setting up a complete surround-sound system. You might, for example, see designations like 5.1.2 or 5.2.4. The first numeral here refers to the number of conventional ear-level speakers that need to be amplified, the second refers to the number of subwoofer outputs, and the third number refers to the number of overhead channels. You should also consider how many non-HDMI-equipped sources you want to connect and make sure the receiver has enough digital or analog inputs to accept them. At 99% into the upgrade process, an error would flash on the front-panel display asking us to check the network, unplug the receiver, and then reconnect the power. Well, youve come to the right place! The Marantz Hyper-Dynamic Amplifier Modules have been developed over many years in their hi-fi products. It offers four HDMI inputs that all have HDMI 2.1 compatibility, so it works well for gamers. But, when they release one, you should always sit up and take notice. If you run Audyssey through the receivers interface and decide afterward that you want to upgrade to use the app, you have to reconnect the mic and place it at all eight measurement positions and listen to the test tones again. The audio frequency response of your room will massively affect what you hear, which, hopefully, you will balance out using the receivers automatic room calibration. But the reason this model is no longer a pick has less to do with price hikes and shelf-life concerns (though those things matter) than it does with how Yamaha handled the HDMI 2.1 issues that plagued all of the first-generation 8K-compatible receivers. You also have plenty of options for routing audio into zones 2 and 3. 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. The more amp channels and power, the higher the price. It also represents a modest but appreciable improvement over our previous upgrade pick, the now-discontinued AVR-X3700H. 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. As for the software setup, the on-screen interface does a great job of walking you through the process of connecting speakers, adding source devices, renaming source devices, configuring your home network, and so forth, in a way thats comprehensive without being insulting. I have owned Denon, Yamaha and Onkyo AV receivers over the years and have experience working with Marantz and Arcam. Buying guide FAQ. Of course, you dont have to use Dirac Live and can make manual measurements and adjustments yourself. If you want to assemble a basic 5.1-channel surround-sound system and you dont have much (or any) experience setting one up, we recommend the Denon AVR-S570BT. The 10 Best Budget Av Receiver, Tested And Researched - TheAudioCritic.Com Look for full HDMI 2.1 compatibility. The Denon AVR-X1700H is our top choice because its a great-sounding receiver that holds your hand through the setup process and delivers excellent value. 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. Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks include overhead or height effects to make the audio experience even more immersive. 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. 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. So, if you want a high-end AV receiver, which models should you look at? AV Receivers: How Many Watts Per Channel Do You Need? 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: The AVR-X3800H has more amp channels and more connection options than the AVR-X1700H, so the back panel is more crowded. Our only minor qualms with the AVR-X1700H are that the remote controls infrared signal can be finicky and the receiver can run a bit warm when youre pushing your speaker system to high volumes. Of course, you can also have a smaller speaker layout like 7.1 or 5.1.4 and save the spare channels for powering speakers in other zones. 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. There is the same number of HDMI ports as the previous model of this AV receiver. Considering the AVR-X1700Hs price, its surprising how few concerns we have regarding this receiver. See all Receivers. Take your time to consider what you need in a new AV receiver, and you will find the right model that ticks all the boxes. After completing a new round of testing, weve selected the Denon AVR-X1700H as our top pick, the Denon AVR-X3800H as our upgrade pick, and the Denon AVR-S570BT as our budget pick. 192 kHz/24-bit), Auro-3D (via firmware update), Surround:AI, Dolby Surround, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization, DTS Neural:X, 17-1/8 x 7-1/2 x 18-3/4 in | 435 x 192 x 476 mm (w/o antenna), 8K/60Hz & 4K/120Hz, HDCP2.3 / HDR10+, HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Roon, Dolby Surround, DTS:X Pro, DTS Neural:X, DTS Virtual:X, IMAX Enhanced, 17 x 6 x 14.5 in | 432 x 152 x 368 mm (w/o feet), 7.2.4 / 9.2.2 (Support for 7.2.6 / 9.2.4), Yamaha RX-A8A AVENTAGE 11.2-Ch AV Receiver, 5.2.6 / 7.2.4 / 9.2.2 (Support for 9.2.6), Top-of-the-range audiophile sound quality for movies and music, 7.2-channels built-in and 15.2-channels processing, Good for music with Marantz HDAM engineering, 11.2-channels for 7.2.4 or 9.2.2 speaker layouts, 13.2 channels allowing for 7.2.6 or 9.2.4 speaker systems, Denon produces outstanding AV receivers at all price points, Reference class 32-bit AKM AK4490EQ D/A converters on all channels, 11.2-channels for a 7.2.4 system + 11.2 channel pre-outs, Audiophile sound quality for both movies and music, 11.2-channels built-in and 15.2-channels processing, Independent subwoofer outputs for a controlled low end, 15.2-channel pre-outs for sending to power amplifiers, Free MusicLife control app for iOS and Android, Processing support for 7.2.6 and 9.2.4 systems, Support for HDMI eARC Enhanced Audio Return Channel, Voice control via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple Siri, Advanced video processor for upscaling low-resolution analog or digital video, HDR10+, HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG & IMAX Enhanced, 8K/60 and 4K/120 support in the new AVR-X8500HA, HDMI 2.1 8K upgrade available for the older AVR-X8500H.