AV Receivers Buying Guide: Which One to Buy for Your Home Theater? World Wide Stereo Having the best home theater receiver can make all the difference. How do you know which home theater receiver to buy? Check out our cheat sheet guide here. Continue Shopping Have an account? Log in to check out faster. Ben Morrow| Updated: January 3, 2024If you read anything, read this. They may look alike, but theyâre two very different animals. An AV (Audio/Video or Home Theater) receiver not only powers your whole home theater system, itâs the brains behind the whole system.
Having the best home theater receiver can make all the difference. How do you know which home theater receiver to buy? Check out our cheat sheet guide here. Continue Shopping
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Ben Morrow| Updated: January 3, 2024If you read anything, read this.
They may look alike, but theyâre two very different animals.
An AV (Audio/Video or Home Theater) receiver not only powers your whole home theater system, itâs the brains behind the whole system. The AV receiverâs job is to receive, interpret, and then process the TV audio signal (via the cable or dish box, for example) coming into the house, before sending it along to its ultimate destination: the TV and speakers.
An AV receiver contains five or more amplifiers (at a minimum) to drive five or more speakers. Why so many? A typical home theater system has 5 speakers that, together, create surround sound⊠and each speaker requires its own separate audio signal from the AV receiver. These days, many home theaters have more than 5 speakers, including those that are Dolby Atmos-enabled. In fact, for the best-possible, mind-blowing effect, many home theater systems now include a dozen or more speakers, many of which are hidden and/or are built into walls and ceilings.
A stereo receiver contains 2 amplifiers (one for each channel), and is primarily used for listening to audio. (Think of channels as speakers. A channel is a dedicated circuitry for one audio source, and there are two when weâre talking about stereo.) The two amplifiers in a stereo receiver will power your two stereo speakers, and though you can connect a stereo receiver to a TV, you wonât get surround sound as a result.
(As you’re shopping, you may also run into integrated amps, which is really the same thing as a stereo receiver, minus the AM/FM tuner.)
Ultimately, it comes down to price and priorities. $800 will buy a darn good AV receiver with 4K video switching and Dolby Atmos. On the other hand, if music is a higher priority for you than movies with surround sound, that same $800 will buy you a super fine (better than darn good) 2-channel stereo receiver (but no surround sound).
Bottom line: AV receivers were designed and built primarily for TVs as a way to bring an authentic, cinema-like experience to the home. And given AV receivers do more than stereo receivers, you can always use your AV receiver for TV and music. On the flip side, like we said above, a stereo receiver and TV combination does not deliver surround sound on its own.
What to look for if you want wireless multi-room audio.
Many of the newest home theater receivers are easily controlled through an app on your iPhone, tablet, or computer. At your fingertips: full operational control from any room in the house. Often, these apps are customizable â you can tweak them so they âgoâ with your particular house. Take the HEOS by Denon app, for example. Instead of buttons, you can have pictures of your own rooms, so when itâs 9 PM and the party is really taking off, you donât even have to think. Itâs just âopen app, see room, tap room, play music.â And because youâre doing it all through your home network, it doesnât matter where your AV receiver is. (Meaning: You donât have to point at anything like you do with a remote control.) Grandma could take over, no problem.
HEOS Mobile App
Receivers are often bigger than you think.
The most common questions we hear from customers.
Itâs 9 PM and you want to watch âGame of Thrones,â but someone else wants to watch an old movie on DVD. A multi-zone capable receiver gets it done by allowing you to hook up multiple video sources â your cable or satellite box, Apple TV, a Blu-ray player, and so on â and then sending that signal out to two different TVs in two different rooms. You can even watch two live TV shows at the same time with one multi-zone receiver, though that requires an additional cable or satellite TV box.
Yes, but all AV receivers nowadays have automatic speaker calibration. Most do a good job, but the best automatic speaker calibration we’ve seen is in NAD surround receivers. They have Diarc Live Room Correction built-in, and the quality difference is like night and day â you can easily turn it on and off to test it out. (In the PA area? Stop by one of our showrooms for a demo.)
If you already have a home theater receiver and itâs anything over 5 years old, it’s time to upgrade. This way, you get the latest features like Dolby Atmos. And this is a good thing: The first time you hear a movie played through Dolby Atmos, your reaction will be “that’s what I always wanted to hear from Day 1â â absolute precise localization of every sound in each corner of the room. Translated: goosebumps!
Further, the number of new features in a typical new AV receiver is proportional to the number of new features in a typical new TV. In other words, though thereâs no need to replace a stereo receiver that often, becausestereo is stereo; not much has changed. But you may want to replace your AV receiver when you get a new TV to take advantage of all the cool new stuff todayâs TVs can do.
There are many, but our favorites are: Yamaha, Marantz, Denon, Arcam, NAD, and Sony, to name a few. For specific models, our Top Receivers of 2023 guide slices, dices, and compares the best AV receivers of the year.
When you buy from an authorized dealer, your new AV receiver will come with the full manufacturer’s warranty. Whatâs more, with an authorized dealer, you also get phone and email support from the dealer in addition to support from the manufacturer. (*Ahem* Just like us*.*)
If you donât own a power conditioner, youâre living dangerously as far as your AV receiver is concerned. (Not to mention other AC-powered digital devices, like your computer.) Lightning strikes, power outages, or brownouts can destroy delicate electronics in a flash, which is why we always recommend buying a power conditioner to protect your valuable equipment in the event of sudden over or under voltage. Audioquest, Furman, and Panamaxmake some of the best.
Step 1: Go to an AV showroom near you and plan on spending some quality time listening and asking questions. (And the tough questions they canât really answer? Call us. Happens every day.)
Step 2: Go buy the model you like best right here from World Wide Stereo and get the best price, free shipping, expert advice, and award-winning customer support for as long as you own your new AV receiver. Not sure youâre ready to commit? We give you a 60-day audition to try the component out.
Better yet, if youâre in the area, visit one of our two stores. Both are unique and feature real rooms â living room, den, kitchen, bathroom â just like home, so you get a real feel for how things will look and sound at your place. Just tell us a little about your house, give us a budget range to work with, and weâll show you all sorts of possibilities, a la:
How these particular speakers sound with that particular AV receiver, or how this particular AV receiver can stream multiple songs in multiple rooms, or how Dolby Atmos really does put you in the action. Weâll put on a scene from an action flick, a comedy, a football game⊠weâll show you what a live concert looks and sounds like through different AV receivers â weâll get you comfortable, weâll have fun. World Wide Stereo is like no other store in the world, but like all our first-time customers, thatâs something you need to experience for yourself.
And please consider this a standing invitation. We would love to meet you!
World Wide Stereo is a home entertainment technology store with a storied past and a loyal following. We opened during the Betamax craze in â79, spent the 80âs and 90âs recruiting some of the industryâs top audio/video minds (many of whom are still here), and twice led the National Dealers Association during its best years. Awards followed (including #2 in Customer Service by USA TODAY), business boomed, our online store took off, and long story short, today we still love what we do â and thatâs definitely the truth. Our only rule: âno one leaves unhappy.â
Please share your thoughts below.
LEAVE A COMMENT Hi I would like to know which is the best AV receiver home theater 5.1 channel With DTS:X, 4K support etc⊠Thank you
Is Atmos for Headphones legit? I bought a license on Dolby Access for my Series X and it sounds great with a decent pair of headphones (Audeze MM-100s) but from this article it sounds like you canât actually have true surround sound without at least 5 distinct channels.
FAQ
What are the measurements for a jav model?
Models in Japan need to be a minimum of 5'6âł (166 cm). Since the average Japanese person is shorter, there tends to be no market for models under that height. You also need to be able to fit into Japanese clothes, with the standard size being: B (80-86 cm; 31-34âł) W (54-60 cm; 21-24âł) H (80-86 cm 31-34âł).10 mai 2010
Is Onkyo made in Japan?
Onkyo Corporation (ăȘăłăăšăŒæ ȘćŒäŒç€Ÿ, OnkyĆ Kabushiki-gaisha) is a Japanese consumer electronics company, specializing in premium home cinema and audio equipment, including AV receivers, surround sound speakers and portable devices.
What is a 4K AV receiver?
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A 4K receiver, also referred to as an AV receiver (Audio-Visual receiver), acts as the central hub of your home theater system. Its primary function is to process audio and video signals from various sources, such as gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, streaming devices, and cable/satellite boxes.Nov 20, 2023
Is Onkyo better than Denon?
Is Denon superior to Onkyo? Both brands have carved their niches and are revered in the audio world. Denon is known for precision and features, while Onkyo is synonymous with power and value. Your choice should be dictated by your specific preferences and requirements.Oct 22, 2023
What is high-end AV?
High-end audio is a class of consumer home audio equipment marketed to audiophiles on the basis of high price or quality, and esoteric or novel sound reproduction technologies.
Denon AVR-X3800H AV Receiver: $1,700 fourRead Full Review
Denon AVR-A1H AV Receiver: $6,499 The Denon AVR-A1H lives up to its flagship appellation and then some. If 15 channels of power (150 watts apiece) isnât enough, consider the inclusion of Auro-3D and IMAX processing along with the usual Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, Audyssey MultEQ XT 32 room correction and (extra cost) Dirac Live Bass Control, four independent subwoofer outputs with optional balanced XLR connections, seven HDMI inputs and three outputs, the ability to feed stereo music to two additional roomsâŠthe list goes on and on and on. You really need to read the full report. If the best is what you seek, the AVR-A1H belongs on your audition list. (Posted 5/8/24, Read Full Review)
Onkyo TX-NR7100 9.2-Channel Atmos A/V Receiver: $1,099 Read Full Review 
Pioneer VSX-LX505 Elite 9.2-Channel A/V Receiver: $1,499 The Pioneer VSX-LX505 provides a lot of bang for your buck, including nine channels for powering a full Dolby Atmos or DTS:X setup, 8K-ready HDMI inputs with variable refresh, and two excellent auto-EQ options â Dirac Live and Pioneer’s proprietary MCACC (Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration) system. (October/November 2022, Read Full Review)
Yamaha RX-A6A 9.2-Channel Atmos A/V Receiver: $2,200 The Aventage RX-A6A will enchant you with pristine, all-encompassing sound whether youâre listening to music or watching a first-run movie in the comfort of your home (at least we can thank COVID for something). Sitting one model down from Yamahaâs flagship AVR, the A6A costs $800 less yet boasts 11 channels (nine powered) and is packed with every AVR feature you can imagine, all hidden behind a refreshingly simple front panel. You get seven HDMI inputs, a selection of legacy analog inputs, a remote with set-and-forget Scene buttons for storing up to eight input/setting combinations, 8K upscaling, and Dolby Vision high dynamic range (HDR) capability. The list continues with Dolby Atmos and DTS: X surround processing plus Yamahaâs famous DSP music modes â and weâre just scratching the surface. (December/January 2022, Read Full Review)
