most expensive av receiver
Its a big unit, so make sure you have the space to install it. It also offers good room correction, which allows you to fine-tune your speaker systems performance to suit your room. 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. This is as good as it gets in AV receivers and places this receiver firmly in audiophile territory. 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. However, these require a firmware update, so initially wont be available out of the box. 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. 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. All six of its HDMI inputs are HDMI 2.1 compatible and support 8K video and advanced gaming features. However, expect stocks of the AVR30 to run out as they are replaced by the AVR31, so they may be hard to find. But it will do a fantastic job of balancing the sound in your room. 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. 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. You will also need to download the Dirac Live software and install it on your laptop or PC. This new type of content will play in all its glory on supported hardware like this one. It is possible to play 3D content. The Cinema 50, on the other hand, is a really close match for the AVR-X3800H but costs $800 more. 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. But I am currently on my second Denon receiver, which is installed in my room, and I think they are a great choice at all price points. Anthem doesnt have a long list of AV receivers to choose from. Depending on your budget, if you're on a budget and want to stick with an AV receiver I would highly consider the Rotel RAP-1580 AV receiver. All built-in no further amplification required. All the other HDMI ports support 4K/60p and HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision and HLG. Instead of reaching for one remote to turn on your TV . The very best room-correction systems also allow you to place limits on what the system is and isnt allowed to correct.. He has been a sound, lighting and audio-visual engineer for around 20 years. The Anthem MRX 1140 is an 11-channel unit supporting two independent subwoofers outputs. The other spec to be aware of is the rated total harmonic distortion of 0.01%. Software, microphone, tripod even all the required cables, and you just need to supply the laptop. 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. The SR5015, SR6015, SR7015, and SR8015 receivers are all 8K-ready and will range in price from $1,100 to $3,200. It does an exceptional job of producing a balanced and immersive surround sound experience. If you're spending under $1,000, there are four main receivers to choose from -- the Sony STR-AN1000, the Yamaha RX-V6A, the Onkyo TX-NR6100 and the Denon AVR-960H. Do you own an 8K TV? The AVR-X3800H has more amp channels and more connection options than the AVR-X1700H, so the back panel is more crowded. 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. HDR10+, HDR10, Dolby Vision and HLG are present along with 4K UHD 60Hz video, 4:4:4 Pure Color sub-sampling and HDCP 2.3. These sound formats are designed to add an overhead element to the typical ear-level surround sound available for decades. The relative simplicity of the AVR-S570BTs remote reflects its more stripped-down feature set. Therefore, if you dont need the new features, you may get a bargain if you can find the older model in stock. Its also a snap to exit out of the wizard and configure things at your own pace, in the order you prefer. 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. Performance? If you dont want to install height speakers in your room. We saw no option to skip this screen, so we had to exit the wizard altogether and start over from scratch. Like Dirac Live, you must install the software on your laptop and connect the supplied microphone to make the measurements. The Yamaha RX-A8A is an 11.2-channel receiver with full support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. The connector remains the same, but version 2.1 adds many new features, including support for 8K resolution by way of an increase in the maximum bandwidth from 18 gigabits per second to theoretically as high as 48 Gbps, though all of the currently available HDMI 2.1equipped receivers max out at 40 Gbps. 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. This ticks the box if you want a single unit to support an immersive 7.2.4 audio speaker system. 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. Rotel and B&W (especially the CM series) are well known to have great synergy together sonically. The AVR-X3800H also has a good bit more power than our more affordable picks. Indeed, in most cases, an AV Receiver is significantly cheaper than a more specialized AV Processor. 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. 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. 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. Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks include overhead or height effects to make the audio experience even more immersive. 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). All offer excellent. The general consensus is that ARC is on par with the highly respected Dirac Live system that Arcam uses (amongst others). 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. 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. In our testing, MultEQ XT32 proved to be a significant upgrade over the MultEQ XT room correction in our top pick, the AVR-X1700H, producing even more controlled bass, less seat-to-seat variation in the sound, and decidedly improved dialogue clarity. 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. Whether its finding great products or discovering helpful advice, well help you get it right (the first time). The only reason for this update is the introduction of HDMI 2.1 ports with HDCP2.3 and support for 8K video passthrough. 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. The best universal remotes can help clean up the clutter on your coffee table. Whatever some may say, there is no perfect AV receiver. 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. 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. The new models include: We hope to bring in at least the STR-AN1000 and STR-AZ3000ES for our next round of testing. *At the time of publishing, the price was $599. In fact, the MRX 1140 also has processing for 15.2 channels, whereas the 1120 only had 11.2 pre-outs so it provides a significant upgrade over the older model. 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. The Yamaha is the mostexpensive stereo receiver you can buy for good value, Its sound is good and it has an amplifier design. All network and wireless connection types you need are covered in this unit including Ethernet, wireless and Bluetooth. AV receivers are classified based on how many speakers they can power. As you move up in price, you can expect a receiver to be able to connect to a home network (check for a wired or wireless network connection, if you have a preference) and to have built-in support for services like Spotify (so you dont have to cast the audio from your phone), as well as built-in streaming protocols such as Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Chromecast. 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 . Nothing in terms of features and performance but only suitable for those with a big budget. Denon is always a brand you should consider when looking for a new AV receiver. $499.95. So youll need to narrow down your choice by thinking about the issues most important to you. So, you need to decide what is more important to you. Add any HEOS-compatible speakers, and you can enjoy wireless audio in every room in your house. Shop HEOS Every room will sound brilliant with Denon HEOS-enabled speakers, AV receivers, sound bars, and amplifiers Wireless Home Theater Quality sound can make your movie nights even more impressive and memorable; Multi-Room Audio Create a connected sound ecosystem in your home with Denon Home, powered by HEOS Theres a lot to unpack in that sentence, so lets walk through it step by step. 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. You also have support for MusicCast Surround, which might solve your problem if you want wireless surround speakers. Your main 5 speakers are the ones that do most of the work, and the extra surround and height speakers do less. Yamaha CX-A5200. Yes, this 7.1-channel receiver supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X (in a 5.1.2-channel configuration--which, if you'll remember, means 5.1 plus two overhead speakers), but . Copyright 2009-2023 Home Cinema Guide | All Rights Reserved. This unit also has built-in HEOS wireless multi-room audio support. Which is about as many as you get on any receiver these days. 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. 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! Bargain. It also supports HDR10+, HDR10, Dolby Vision and HLG high dynamic range content. The Sony STR-DH790 offers excellent value for the price. 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. During our listening tests, we were unable to tell most of the receivers apart with their room correction disabled. This article was edited by Adrienne Maxwell and Grant Clauser. For one thing, both models proved far too complicated to install and configure, especially compared with similar offerings from Denon. The more height speakers you add, the more convincing the effectbut that requires more amp channels, which necessitates a more expensive AV receiver. Thats the range where most vocals reside. $299.99. For the movie lover who wants to add more speakers, The Best Surround-Sound Systems Under $2,500, How to Connect Your New Turntable to Any Audio System, How Automatic Room Correction Can Help (and Hurt) Your Sound System, The Best AV Gear for Console and PC Gamers, Get Better TV Sound (Without a Lot of Wires), The Best Gear for Building Your Home Theater. The original AVR-X8500H was released in 2018. Denon AVR-S660H. The 5 in this case indicates the number of amplified channels: two front left and right speakers, one center speaker for dialogue and on-screen sound effects, and two surround-sound speakers located behind or to the side of the main listening position. It is worth remembering that, at present, only the new game consoles will output these video formats. Marantz is a manufacturer with a rich history of hi-fi products, so you can be sure their AV receivers will receive the same attention to detail. . 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. With Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, the channel counting gets a little more complicated. Adding more network and wireless connection options is a valuable upgrade on the older FMJ AV receivers. If you want to learn more about Class G amplification, Arcam has a simple guide to Class G amps here. If you still run a separate stereo amplifier for listening to music, you may no longer need it if you buy this receiver. There is plenty of power to be had here, so this unit will have no problem driving your speakers hard for the best sound. One thing to consider is that you will need some serious space to install this monster. 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. Look for full HDMI 2.1 compatibility. The AVR-S570BT provides fewer inputs than our other picks and has no Wi-Fi or Ethernet support, but the essentials are present. AV receiver is a multi-channel device with digital audio stream decoders, tuner, and switcher for audio and video signals for use in home theater systems. 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). Yamaha is one of the best receiver manufacturers around, and they make excellent AV receivers at all price points. The popular voice-control technologies of Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple Siri are also supported. The MRX series has three models in the range and was updated in 2020 and refreshed in 2022 with 8K support. Room correction adjusts your speakers performance to suit your room. One significant new feature in the latest AVENTAGE receivers is support for 8K/60 Hz video or 4K at 120 Hz. These can create an effect that is like having height speakers installed. Moving up to a 7.1-channel receiver gives you the option to add an extra pair of surround speakers in the rear of the room, to power a second audio zone, or to build a basic Dolby Atmos/DTS:X system with two overhead speakersprovided that the receiver has Dolby Atmos and DTS:X decoding (most newer 7.1-channel models do). Budget-friendly. In terms of design, it has a compact body that fits easily into a media unit. The sound quality of this machine is right up there with the best. Denon has removed the composite analog video inputs and outputs, but youre highly unlikely to need those at this point. 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. In a way, SR8015 is an upgraded version of the previously reviewed AVR-X4700H, even though they are not made by the same manufacturer. Or, you can watch videos in zone 2 or 4 while enjoying something else in the main room. Other noteworthy enhancements include automatic low-latency mode (which allows devices to automatically detect and switch to the best mode for gaming), eARC (which allows for higher-quality lossless audio over the HDMI Audio Return Channel instead of only compressed formats), variable refresh rate, and quick media switching. This beast weighs more than 47 lbs, so its a heavy receiver. These receivers offer some of the best engineering, features and performance that money can buy. However, all Arcam products should be considered for sound quality first and fancy features second. 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. Yamaha RX-V385 - under $300. Buyer's guide. AV receivers run the price gamut from a couple hundred dollars to well into four-figure territory. Therefore, if you dont need the features of HDMI 2.1, which are mainly for gamers with the latest consoles, you may want to try and purchase the older AVR30, which may be cheaper. But if youve purchased a new 4K HDR TV and 4K HDR source devicesor, more recently, an 8K-capable TV or one that supports updated HDMI 2.1 featuresan older AV receiver may lack the ability to pass through those higher-quality signals, and a really old receiver may lack HDMI connections altogether. HDMI 2.1 support means this receiver will pass through 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz video if you have a device with this technology. There is also another stereo pair of XLR audio outputs. Four pre-outs can also connect up to four extra active subwoofers. For most people, the Denon AVR-X1700H offers everything necessarynow and for the foreseeable futureto enjoy a premium movie, video game, TV, or music experience. If you want an AV receiver that works for movies and music, then an Arcam receiver should be on your radar. 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. Therefore, here are some more considerations that might be more important to you. Of course, we dont yet know, without extensive head-to-head testing, what difference Dirac Live Bass Control might make a year from now, but if youre already sold on Dirac room correction and know that you would prefer it over Audyssey MultEQ XT32, you might consider a receiver like Pioneers Elite VSX-LX505 instead, which is similarly priced but lacks some of the AVR-X3800Hs other niceties, such as its four subwoofer outputs, its Auro-3D support, its less-cluttered back panel, and its superior setup wizard. 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. The AVR31 is the top model in the HDA range of integrated AV receivers. Talking of HDMI, there are 7 HDMI connections on the rear and 3 outputs. Another standout feature of the MRX 1140 is the automatic room correction. The connected speakers and how they interact with the room are the most significant impact on the sound that you hear. Just be aware that you will need an Internet connection for this to work because the measurements are sent online to the Dirac servers to make the complex calculations and number-crunching. You can connect the extra amplifier via the pre-out connections on the back. 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: Of course, you dont have to use Dirac Live and can make manual measurements and adjustments yourself. Think of it as the traffic cop of your audio-video system, routing video from your sources to your display and sending audio to your speakers. Many mid- and higher-priced receivers are labeled as .2 instead of .1, which means they have two subwoofer outputs that you may or may not be able to set up and adjust independently. 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. 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. There is also support for eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel). 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. However, it is also a very efficient way of driving your speakers and provides very low levels of distortion, which is perfect for delivering high-end audiophile sound. We also tested midpriced receivers from sibling brands Onkyo and Pioneer, with the intention of requesting some of their higher-end offerings if the less-expensive models proved promising. 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. Even under that $1,700 price cap, we found a variety of AV receivers that range widely in price and cover different performance needs. 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. This is available in all new MRX receivers and is an updated platform allowing complete control of your receiver via any laptop, tablet or phone. You can set up several scenarios in different rooms using the zone connections. Soundbars are a great step up from built-in TV speakers, but an AV receiver gives you significantly more control over how you set up, use, and upgrade your home theater system. This means you can have a 9.2.6 speaker layout if you add additional power amplifiers. They all offer the highest engineering standards and will provide outstanding sound for movies and music. Sometimes you just need to buy the best on the market. 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. Some of the more expensive A/V receivers can even work with 9.1, 9.2, or even 11.1 systems. So, what are the main features of the AVR-X8500HA? The number of channels is the first thing that jumps out at you when looking at this AV receiver. So, if you want to support the latest display resolutions, this receiver will have you covered. If you need a new home theater receiver, check out these top-rated 5 best high-end AV receivers. But we did run into a few hiccups during the setup process. We researched and tested to find the best-looking and best-sounding home theater equipment that will take your personal setup from functional to enjoyable. Many new AV receivers also support the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X immersive audio formats. 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. Be aware that there is just a single 8K HDMI input. If you really want to take advantage of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, you can have a 7.2.6 or 9.2.4 surround sound speaker system. the Audyssey software always does an excellent job in half the time and with much less fuss. So, if you have more than one new game console, you might need to connect one directly to your TV or buy the Marantz VS3003 3-in/1-out 8K switcher, which allows you to connect three 8K devices into the single input. 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. This receiver lacks Wi-Fi support and integrated music streaming options. Alternatively, you could reserve two of those channels for a separate stereo audio zone in another room. 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.
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