But if you watch movies with large groups of people, this is a pretty meaningful feature that we dont see on cheaper AV receivers. Look for full HDMI 2.1 compatibility. Your receiver needs to be able to connect all the HDMI source devices you have, which could include, for instance, a media streaming device, a cable or satellite box, a disc player, and a gaming console. Lastly, because the AVR-X1700H relies on less-efficient Class AB amplifier technology (which is typical of AV receivers), it can run quite warm during extended use, especially at higher listening levels, so make sure to give it plenty of room to breathe. Able to support a 5.1, 5.2, or 7.2 channel home theater system setup and rated at 145 watts power-per-channel, it's got plenty of options and power for most needs. Denons HEOS wireless multi-room technology is present as expected. However, all Arcam products should be considered for sound quality first and fancy features second. The general consensus is that ARC is on par with the highly respected Dirac Live system that Arcam uses (amongst others). Firstly, any of these receivers will be an excellent addition to your home theater. Add any HEOS-compatible speakers, and you can enjoy wireless audio in every room in your house. 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. Its great to see the new MRX models come with the latest ARC Genesis software. The serious audio or home theater enthusiast may choose to spend more money for more power (which may be important if your speakers have low sensitivity and are difficult to drive), more amplified channels, more setup and customization options, and better build quality, but above $1,700, youll find diminishing performance returns on your investment. They hit the mark at a range of budget and highend prices, and I have owned Denon receivers for the past few years. 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. If you are interested in buying a Marantz receiver, it doesnt get any better than this. It also represents a modest but appreciable improvement over our previous upgrade pick, the now-discontinued AVR-X3700H. Automatic room correction is handled by the excellent Audyssey MultEQ XT32 system, which will give fantastic results for cleaning up and balancing the sound in your room. Moukey. The Yamaha RX-A8A is an 11.2-channel receiver with full support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Because the AVR-S570BT doesnt have a lot of features, its particularly easy to set up, even if you dont have much experience; on-screen prompts and a well-labeled back panel help you get everything running correctly even if youre a rookie. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR 4K UHD TV - At 140W per channel, the Denon AVR-S540BT receiver delivers exceptional brightness and contrast, and supports HLG, HDR, BT.2020, Wide Color Gamut and 4:4:4 Pure Color sub-sampling for realistic display and immersive sound Its a big unit, so make sure you have the space to install it. The AVR-X1700H is also a great choice for gamers who want their system to have full compatibility with all the latest advanced gaming features found on the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 game consoles, including the ability to pass through a 4K 120 Hz signal. However, not many receivers match this beast when it comes to their flagship offering. Heres how. The AVR-X3800H has more amp channels and more connection options than the AVR-X1700H, so the back panel is more crowded. 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. 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. 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. So, if you want a high-end AV receiver, which models should you look at? 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. Best Budget AV Receiver Reviews Sony STR-DH790 - best overall receiver with Dolby Atmos This receiver boasts not only plenty of features but also a very reasonable price. With all this technology, there is always a balance that you need to find between features and cost. 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. 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. The connected speakers and how they interact with the room are the most significant impact on the sound that you hear. For instance, when going through the guided setup, we reached a screen that asked us to choose a time zone, but a list of time zones wasnt available. As I suggested earlier, you cant go wrong with Denon if youre unsure which brand to buy. 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. All you have to do is add some speakers. Plus, it has an RS-232C serial port for connecting to various alternative control systems, like Crestron, AMX and Savant. Designed to provide a detailed and dynamic sound, you can be sure this receiver will work well for both movie soundtracks and music mixes. You will need to buy either the MusicCast 20 or MusicCast 50 wireless speakers to enable this, which you can configure as your surround speakers in a 5.1 setup. Even though some very High-End AV Receivers are now on the market, it is very likely that an AV Receiver will end up being your choice if you are on a budget. So, you need to decide what is more important to you. This receiver is also one of the first models to support IMAX Enhanced. 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. So this shouldnt be a concern unless you must have all the latest features. With each receiver, we spent at least a day on testing with and without room correction and enjoying a variety of content, including movies, TV shows, and YouTube videos, as well as some action-oriented video games, at volume levels ranging from casual to extreme. This is especially useful as more streaming video apps and soundbars begin to offer higher-resolution audio. Until MusicCast Surround, getting wireless surround speakers with a standard AV receiver has not been easy. 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. This 5.1-channel AV receiver supports high-quality Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks (but not the overhead speakers of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X), and it offers four HDMI 2.1compliant inputs that support 8K video at 60Hz and 4K video at 120 Hz, along with auto low-latency mode, variable refresh rate, and quick frame transport, but not quick media switching. 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. It works well, but it could be time for an update with a slicker interface. HDMI 2.1 is the newest version of the digital connection that all modern video-based components use. If you have a turntable that lacks a phono preamp, you may want a receiver with a phono input. 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. Alternatively, you could reserve two of those channels for a separate stereo audio zone in another room. You also have plenty of options for routing audio into zones 2 and 3. Like most receivers produced today, the 2803 boasts Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES 6.1 extended-surround . The Denon AVR-X3700H has just about every feature in a receiver, including seven HDMI inputs and three outputs and a dedicated port that supports 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz video pass-through and upscaling. Its also a snap to exit out of the wizard and configure things at your own pace, in the order you prefer. However, these require a firmware update, so initially wont be available out of the box. Simple to set up and use but lacking in features, the Denon AVR-S570BT is a solid choice if you just want to put together a good 5.1-channel speaker system. Like Dirac Live, you must install the software on your laptop and connect the supplied microphone to make the measurements. In addition to Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, you can add Auro-3D support via a firmware update. Best 11.2 Receiver Reviews Marantz SR8015 - best 11-channel receiver Let's begin the best High-End receivers review with the Marantz SR8015. Yamaha RX-V385 - under $300. 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. 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. 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. This beast weighs more than 47 lbs, so its a heavy receiver. It has 5.2 multi-channel surround sound with a booming 145W per channel output, along with Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD audio that's better than the price tag suggests. IMAX Enhanced technology offers optimized pictures for HDR screens, improved aspect ratio control on large displays and customized surround soundtracks similar to Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. 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. If you dont need HDMI 2.1 support, you may find some 2020 models cheaper. 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. It is rated slightly differently from most other receivers. Talking of HDMI, there are 7 HDMI connections on the rear and 3 outputs. If you need a new home theater receiver, check out these top-rated 5 best high-end AV receivers. But this is overkill. All offer excellent. Todays soundbars offer a level of audio performance that would have been unimaginable 10 years ago, but they still have limitations in performance and flexibility: The speaker drivers have to be relatively small to fit inside a soundbar, youre usually limited to one subwoofer, and soundbars typically offer only a couple of connection options, to name a few. Sometimes you just need to buy the best on the market. The best universal remotes can help clean up the clutter on your coffee table. The Arcam AVR31 is an updated version of the AVR30, released in 2020. The Arcam AVR31 has 16 pre-out channels (17 with the second subwoofer out) that you can connect to external power amps, so you can use this AV receiver to run a 9.2.6 surround sound speaker system. 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. You can set up several scenarios in different rooms using the zone connections. Its power is enough for both small and medium-sized rooms. If youre willing to add an outboard stereo amp, the AVR-X3800H has preamp outputs that allow you to expand the total speaker count to 11. Check Price. So, unless you hear the amplifier in your room with your speakers, you will never get a perfect idea of how they sound. 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. An AV receiver combines source switching, audio (and sometimes video) processing, speaker amplification, and volume control in one box. 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. If you already own Wi-Fi speakers that use a certain platform (such as AirPlay), you may want to look for a receiver that features the same streaming technology so that all the devices work well together. In a way, SR8015 is an upgraded version of the previously reviewed AVR-X4700H, even though they are not made by the same manufacturer. FAQ. Arcam AV receivers come equipped with Dirac Live room correction and a calibration microphone. 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. But, if youve gone to the expense of buying one of these beauties, youll probably want to take advantage of this excellent technology. There are 7 HDMI inputs and 3 outputs, which should be plenty for most setups. They are essentially the same, and most features are found in both models. There is plenty of power to be had here, so this unit will have no problem driving your speakers hard for the best sound. Your main 5 speakers are the ones that do most of the work, and the extra surround and height speakers do less. The very best room-correction systems also allow you to place limits on what the system is and isnt allowed to correct.. The quality of a receivers room correction hugely impacts the sound. Harmony Companion Universal Remote. The more height speakers you add, the more convincing the effectbut that requires more amp channels, which necessitates a more expensive AV receiver. We didnt set a lot of minimum spec requirements to limit what models we considered, but there are certain key specs that you should keep in mind when you begin your receiver search, to determine whether you need a budget, midpriced, or higher-end model: A basic home theater setup is referred to as having 5.1 channels of audio. You can also enable the unique Yamaha Surround: AI technology which adjusts the sound in real-time depending on what is happening on the screen. It would be nice if Denon built a sort of choose-your-own-adventure branching path into the setup wizard, perhaps by asking you to press Continue if you want basic room correction or scanning a QR code if you want to use the MultEQ Editor app for more in-depth tuning. The first thing that takes the eye on the Denon AVR-X8500HA is the remarkable 13.2 channels. Another new feature is the Anthem Web User Interface. This receiver lacks Wi-Fi support and integrated music streaming options. Don't worry if your budget doesn't stretch that far, we've selected an amp that can be yours for just a couple of hundred thousand. Anthem is a Canadian company that has been making high-quality audio products for 20+ years. No pain, no gain! A Class G amplifier is much more complex and expensive to produce. Onkyos AccuEQ and Pioneers MCACC room correction systems also did more harm to the sound than good. Features multiple input and output ports, including RCA audio, USB, SD card, aux, and more. It has a depth of 482mm and weighs in at just over 51 lbs, so its not for the faint-hearted. Another feature that might make the AVR31 a good choice for you is also surprise, surprise aimed at getting the best sound in your room. This receiver allows IP control for more advanced remote control capability for hardware like Control4 automation devices. 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. So, unless you have these consoles, you wont benefit from HDMI 2.1 support too much. The quality of the room correction had the biggest impact on the sound, and MultEQ XT was a clear winner over alternatives from Onkyo, Pioneer, and Yamaha in receivers at or near this models priceespecially when we used the optional $20 MultEQ Editor mobile app (for iOS and Android) to tweak the room correction. AV Receiver Reviews Review Denon AVRX4000 AirPlay AV Receiver Review Cliff Heyne May 27, 2013 15:00 The Denon AVR-X4000 AV Receiver is more than worthy successor to the AVR-3313CI. 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. The Polk MagniFi Mini AX is the all-around best soundbar because of its big, immersive sound, small footprint, affordable cost, and easy operation. You will also need to download the Dirac Live software and install it on your laptop or PC. Yamaha is one of the best receiver manufacturers around, and they make excellent AV receivers at all price points. One final thing to consider is that, like the AVR-X1700H, the AVR-X3800H runs quite warm, so its a good idea to install this receiver in a spot with adequate ventilation and to avoid stacking anything on top of it or crowding it from either side. Thats the range where most vocals reside. Denons sibling company Marantz also has its own line of AV receivers, and were constantly getting questions from readers asking whether they should get a Denon or Marantz receiver. And the new MRX 1140 also adds DTS:X Pro support, allowing upmixing for speaker layouts over 11.2 channels. But all of its features and performance advantages come at a price. As you would expect from a high-end Marantz product, this receiver is built using their famous HDAM technology. For one thing, both models proved far too complicated to install and configure, especially compared with similar offerings from Denon. Therefore, eARC will allow you to pass Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio streams from your TV and back into the receiver. Buyer's guide. 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. 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. In our head-to-head round, we tested each receiver with and without its room correction engaged. AV receivers are classified based on how many speakers they can power. . Our upgrade pick has four independent subwoofer outputs, so Denon markets it as a 9.4-channel receiver. This inexpensive model features 2 channels and 220-watt power for superior audio. 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. It also has the same assortment of music-streaming features as the AVR-X1700H. In my opinion, one of the best benefits of a Denon receiver is the Audyssey automatic room acoustic correction technology. 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. Of all the models here, my choice for the best high-end AV receiver is the Arcam AVR31. 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 is worth remembering that, at present, only the new game consoles will output these video formats. 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. For example, a scene with loud sound effects and music will be optimized differently from one with quiet dialogue and ambient sound meaning the surround effect will change depending on what you are watching. So, if you want to support the latest display resolutions, this receiver will have you covered. 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. You also get a front-panel USB port, plus three digital audio inputs and a pair of analog inputs around back. 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. At home, he has spent more time than is probably healthy installing, configuring, testing, de-rigging, fixing, tweaking, re-installing again (and sometimes using) various pieces of hi-fi and home cinema equipment. You cant get much more of a recommendation than that. However, recently they have introduced the HDA series of amplifiers and players, which are now considered their top-performing products. Best Budget AV Receiver: Sony STR-DH590 Best Receiver for Wireless Surround : Yamaha RX-V4A Best AV Receiver for Dolby Atmos: Denon AVR-X3700H Best AV Receiver for Audiophiles: NAD T 778 A Great AV Receiver for Music : Denon AVR-S750H Best AV Receiver With Sonos : Integra DRX-3.3 Best Overall AV Receiver 1. See all Receivers. Bargain. The good news is that a high-quality home theater receiver will last for years. Denon is always a brand you should consider when looking for a new AV receiver. 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. The main output supports the newer Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) which can help send high-resolution 3D audio from your TV apps to the receiver. For most users, 7.1 capacity is more than enough, and that's what we . 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.. Make sure to read the fine print to pick a receiver that supports the HDMI 2.1 features you need. If you still run a separate stereo amplifier for listening to music, you may no longer need it if you buy this receiver. If you need it, this receiver has plenty of power, and the 150 watts per channel (8 ohms, 20 Hz 20 kHz, 0.06% THD, 2ch driven) should be more than enough to fill even the largest room. Good budget AV receivers can start at $250 if you catch sales but usually sit at $280-$300. . Plug your source componentsyour media streamer, gaming console, cable or satellite receiver, or disc playerinto its inputs and then connect its outputs to your display and speakers, and the AV receiver will direct all of the AV signals to the right places and in the right formats. Was $599.95. It does come at a hefty price, but if you want a receiver with the lot, this beauty could be the one for you. The high cost of building an amplifier this way is one reason the AVR31 only has 7-channels of built-in amplification. Whatever some may say, there is no perfect AV receiver. 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. Performance? 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. Of course, you dont have to use Dirac Live and can make manual measurements and adjustments yourself. Most receivers priced around $400 or less are 5.1-channel designs. These are the most expensive amps ever made, with one model around 2m / $2m - roughly 10,000 times more expensive than the cheapest amp we'd recommend someone (the Onkyo A-9010 ).

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