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When it comes to getting the amazing pictures and sounds of a movie theater at home, nothing beats the immersive experience that a Best AV Receivers gives you. Because it can connect different parts, it acts as the central hub of an AV system. This makes it an important choice when setting up a home theater. But it can be hard to figure out how to use the many options and technical details.
The best AV receivers on the market right now have great features like the ability to play 8K video, Dolby Atmos for an immersive audio experience, and Wi-Fi music streaming for convenience. Still, it’s important to give your purchase as much thought as your choices for projectors, TVs, and speakers. During our testing, we’ve seen a lot of AV receivers, and not all of them have lived up to our expectations. This makes things even more complicated. We’ve often run into problems with poor audio quality and too much compression, as well as control systems that are too hard to use and don’t add anything to the home cinema experience.
Best AV Receivers Comparison Table
AV Receiver Model | 8K Video Support | Dolby Atmos | Wi-Fi Music Streaming |
---|---|---|---|
Marantz NR1510 | No | Yes | Yes |
Onkyo TX-NR6100 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Denon AVR-S960H | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Denon AVR-X6700H | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Denon AVR-X2800H | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Marantz NR1510
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Power Output | 50 watts per channel |
Channels | 5.2 |
HDMI Inputs | 6 |
HDMI Outputs | 1 |
Bluetooth | Yes |
Wi-Fi | Yes |
Dolby Atmos | No |
DTS:X | No |
Not every room has enough space for a big home theater system. Marantz makes a slimline home theater speaker just for this kind of situation. The Marantz NR1510 is only a little over 4 inches tall, which makes it easy to fit into tight areas like AV cabinets that are already full. You can power a 5.2-channel home theater setup with the receiver’s outputs.
It has 50 watts RMS per channel of power, which is enough to power desk speakers or good floor-standing speakers. You also have a lot of streaming and control choices with the NR1510. It works with Apple AirPlay 2 and the HEOS wireless environment from Denon. If you have an Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant voice controller, you can even use your mouth to control it.
The Good
- Design that is small and good for smaller spaces
- Multiple HDMI inputs give you a lot of ways to connect.
- Built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for wireless streaming. Easy-to-use interface and remote control.
The Bad
- Compared to higher-end models, it doesn’t have as much power.
Onkyo TX-NR6100
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Power Output | 100 watts per channel |
Channels | 7.2 |
HDMI Inputs | 8 |
HDMI Outputs | 2 |
Bluetooth | Yes |
Wi-Fi | Yes |
Dolby Atmos | Yes |
DTS:X | Yes |
There are many ways to connect to the Onkyo TX-NR6100. With the new HDMI 2.1 standard, you get three ports, so you can use both 4K/120Hz and 8K TVs. VRR and ALLM support should also make games look better. So, you’ll need to plug in your PS5 or Xbox X/S. There is an HDMI output for Zone 2, and the other three HDMI sources support HDR10 and Dolby Vision.
In terms of music, you have your standards, and a phono input is great for your turntable. You also get Bluetooth that works in both directions, so you can send music from your device to the speaker or send music from the AVR to headphones. If you already have a Sonos or Klipsch sound system, it’s easy to add this speaker to it.
The Good
- Powerful sound for a more immersive experience
- There are many HDMI inputs and outputs for a wide range of connections.
- Advanced audio technologies like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are supported.
The Bad
- Compared to small models, these ones are bigger and bulkier.
Denon AVR-S960H
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Power Output | 90 watts per channel |
Channels | 7.2 |
HDMI Inputs | 6 |
HDMI Outputs | 2 |
Bluetooth | Yes |
Wi-Fi | Yes |
Dolby Atmos | Yes |
DTS:X | Yes |
We think that the best AV player for the money is a Denon, specifically the AVR-S960H. It really is one of the best radios we’ve ever tried, and its powerful sound really impressed us. It beats all the other receivers here by a long shot, including the ones from Sony and Yamaha. It has a lot of useful features, like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X stereo sound, Bluetooth, and Spotify Connect for listening to music.
The AVR-S960H is by far the best radio you can buy. It has great sound and a lot of features. It came out a few years ago, so it’s a little bit older now. But we don’t think any other AV receiver type has been able to beat it yet. There isn’t another item on this list that has as many functions and sounds as good as this one, and it costs less than a grand. We’d rather lead you toward a tried-and-true older model than sell you a pricey new receiver that does pretty much the same thing.
The Good
- Excellent power output for sound that fills the room
- There are many HDMI inputs and outputs for different devices and screens.
- Advanced audio technologies like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are supported.
The Bad
- It might not be good for large rooms or home theater setups that need more power.
Denon AVR-X6700H
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Power Output | 140 watts per channel |
Channels | 9.2 |
HDMI Inputs | 8 |
HDMI Outputs | 3 |
Bluetooth | Yes |
Wi-Fi | Yes |
Dolby Atmos | Yes |
DTS:X | Yes |
But if bringing the AVC-X6700H’s features up to date is a safe and easy win for Denon, it seems like it has more to lose than gain by changing the sound, which has already won an award. It could all go wrong at some point, but that time hasn’t come yet. Denon was on to a winner, even though it could only keep the audio quality around the level of its last product.
It was a big win for gamers and those who wanted to make sure their setups were ready for 8K material, which is expected to come out in the next five to ten years. Anyone looking for one right now will be glad to hear that it has kept getting better.
The Good
- Power output that is above average for dynamic and clear audio performance
- Many HDMI inputs and outputs give you a lot of ways to connect.
- Advanced audio technologies like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are supported.
The Bad
- The price is higher than for entry-level models.
- The entertainment setup may need more space if the size is bigger.
Denon AVR-X2800H
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Power Output | 95 watts per channel |
Channels | 7.2 |
HDMI Inputs | 6 |
HDMI Outputs | 2 |
Bluetooth | Yes |
Wi-Fi | Yes |
Dolby Atmos | Yes |
DTS:X | Yes |
When it comes to style, it looks like Denon didn’t change anything from the X2700H. When you put the two transmitters next to each other, you can’t see any difference, other than the different model number. With the antennas up, the unit is the same size as when they are down: 17.1″ x 13.4″ x 9.3″ (434 x 341 x 237 mm). If you turn them horizontally, you can slightly reduce their height to 6.6 inches (167 mm) without affecting their wireless quality. This makes them the right size for what they can do.
This means that there should be a big screen in the middle that shows all the functions and two big round buttons on each side for controlling the volume on the right and the source on the left. Under the knob for choosing the source is the power button, and a thin line under the center display has 10 function buttons, including controls for the tuner and zone 2, the dimmer, the status, and four quick selection buttons.
The Good
- Power output is impressive, and the sound is captivating.
- There are many HDMI inputs and outputs for a wide range of connections.
- Advanced audio technologies like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are supported.
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are built in, so wireless streaming works well.
The Bad
- Might not have enough power for bigger rooms or more complicated speaker setups.
- Compared to higher-end models, it has fewer HDMI outputs.
FAQs
An AV receiver, which stands for “Audio/Video receiver,” is a device that connects and controls all of the audio and video parts of a home theater system. It usually gets audio and video signals from Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, and cable/satellite boxes. It then boosts the audio signals and sends them to the connected speakers, while sending the video signals to the connected display.
Yes, you can use an AV receiver to listen to stereo music. Most AV receivers have stereo or music modes that make the sound output best for listening to two-channel music. You can connect your stereo speakers to the front channels of the receiver and enjoy high-quality music playback.