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. 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. So, what are the main features of the AVR-X8500HA? Performance? Budget-friendly. 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. The Denon 2016 AVR Remote app also allows complete control of your Denon hardware from your mobile device. One of the main new features in this years release is support for 8K video. The Arcam AVR31 is a 7.2-channel AV receiver with Class G amplification, which is one of the main differences between this receiver and the competition. They are essentially the same, and most features are found in both models. There are 7 HDMI ports on the rear which will be plenty for most people plus, there are three HDMI outputs, including a dedicated port for a zone 2 connection. Denon AVR-S540BT. The sound quality of this machine is right up there with the best. This new type of content will play in all its glory on supported hardware like this one. The number of channels is the first thing that jumps out at you when looking at this AV receiver. The good news is that a high-quality home theater receiver will last for years. 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. The more amp channels and power, the higher the price. 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. Onkyos AccuEQ and Pioneers MCACC room correction systems also did more harm to the sound than good. The SR5015, SR6015, SR7015, and SR8015 receivers are all 8K-ready and will range in price from $1,100 to $3,200. This unit also has built-in HEOS wireless multi-room audio support. 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. Add any HEOS-compatible speakers, and you can enjoy wireless audio in every room in your house. 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. No matter what kind of turntable and audio gear you have, it is possible to get them working together. You also get a front-panel USB port, plus three digital audio inputs and a pair of analog inputs around back. Thats always the choice you must make when you reach this level of engineering. However, expect stocks of the AVR30 to run out as they are replaced by the AVR31, so they may be hard to find. In our voice-intelligibility stress testthe Mines of Moria sequences from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring on UHD Blu-raythe AVR-X3800H provided a big leap in clarity over the AVR-X1700H. Most people dont need to spend more than $1,700 for an AV receiver, as you reach a point of diminishing performance returns. *At the time of publishing, the price was $599. 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. You can stream music to it wirelessly via Bluetooth and Apple AirPlay 2, as well as the Heos wireless streaming platform (a competitor to the Sonos platform). All network and wireless connection types you need are covered in this unit including Ethernet, wireless and Bluetooth. We independently review everything we recommend. We found that the type of room correction employed had the biggest impact on sound quality, providing big benefits for some receivers and only smaller improvements for others. The Marantz SR9600 THX Ultra 2 AV Surround Receiver A Class G amplifier is much more complex and expensive to produce. Remember, an HDMI 2.1 input will only likely benefit gamers with the latest consoles. 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. If you want an AV receiver that works for movies and music, then an Arcam receiver should be on your radar. Therefore the complete range was upgraded in 2022, so all HDMI inputs allowed for 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz video plus the other features of HDMI 2.1 like VRR, QMS and ALLM. 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. 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. There is also support for eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel). 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. 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. Most receivers priced around $400 or less are 5.1-channel designs. 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. 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. As you would expect for a high-end unit like this, there is a complete set of pre-outs for powering external power amps instead of using the built-in channels. It's incredibly versatile and powerful. 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. 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. If you need a new home theater receiver, check out these top-rated 5 best high-end AV receivers. Onkyo TX-SR393. The Anthem MRX 1140 is an 11-channel unit supporting two independent subwoofers outputs. But this is overkill. Alternatively, you could reserve two of those channels for a separate stereo audio zone in another room. If you want 8k support and find an older AVR-X8500H, you can buy an upgrade from Denon that will swap one of the original HDMI ports and allow support for 8K/60p and 4K/120p. I have always found the Audyssey system does a great job of correcting and balancing your rooms sound, and this unit comes with the top-end Audyssey MultEQ XT32 version. You can also use Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and voice-controlled technology like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple Siri. You can set up several scenarios in different rooms using the zone connections. Its also a snap to exit out of the wizard and configure things at your own pace, in the order you prefer. Do you own an 8K TV? In addition, its loaded with all the music streaming platforms and services youre likely to subscribe to, and it sounds very good thanks to its Audyssey MultEQ XT room correction. Product Description. And the new MRX 1140 also adds DTS:X Pro support, allowing upmixing for speaker layouts over 11.2 channels. During our listening tests, we were unable to tell most of the receivers apart with their room correction disabled. However, this flagship model sits at the top of the AVENTAGE range of receivers designed by Yamahas engineers for the highest levels of audio performance. These can create an effect that is like having height speakers installed. The company also offers a number of AV receivers at prices below, between, and above those of our picks. This receiver also has 3 helpful HDMI outputs. For example, it will allow for separate connections to a main TV screen and projector and you can still send additional video content to another screen elsewhere. 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. One thing to consider is that you will need some serious space to install this monster. The Sony STRDH590 5.2 Multi-Channe l 4K Receiver delivers a stellar sound and loads of additional features and is ideal for a home theater setup. An AV receivers specs can list various features of the HDMI 2.1 standard even if the receiver supports only one or two of them, which certainly creates confusion for shoppers. But all of its features and performance advantages come at a price. All six of its HDMI inputs are HDMI 2.1 compatible and support 8K video and advanced gaming features. This process gives the system a more complete snapshot of your rooms acoustics. There are many ways to connect this amplifier for internet and network content. Yamaha is one of the best receiver manufacturers around, and they make excellent AV receivers at all price points. The relative simplicity of the AVR-S570BTs remote reflects its more stripped-down feature set. Although they also have the AV41, a preamplifier/processor, meaning it doesnt have any built-in amplification for powering speakers, which you can pair with a separate power amplifier like their PA720. 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.