Want to find the best AV receiver for the money? I recently tested some of the most popular black box options from the big brands, and the feature sets and performance levels are impressive in this mid-priced range. Of Dolby Atmos at Wi-Fi music streaming at voice command – and, of course, high quality sound – these models have everything a home theater enthusiast needs.
Which receiver comes out on top?
Among the current receiver models I have reviewed, the Onkyo TX-NR696 is my favorite choose the best AV receiver. The receiver offers easy setup, excellent ease of use, excellent surround sound with lots of free space, a solid appearance, and most importantly, many up-to-date features essential to a stereo receiver. The Onkyo retails for more than $ 500, but is regularly sold for less than that. Even at $ 580, the TX-NR696 is a good deal.
the Sony STR-DN1080 also presents a good show despite its origin in 2017, just like the 2019 Denon AVR-S750, which offers even more refined performance than the Sony and Onkyo. I rated the three as “excellent”, with just a bit of daylight separating their overall CNET scores. They are all excellent performers and, as prices fluctuate regularly, if you can find one that is significantly cheaper than the others, go for it.
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The Onkyo TX-NR696 is the best AB receiver for those looking for an economical option. This receiver was released in 2019 with a wealth of connectivity that supports multiple audio formats with big, bold sound. It is not a direct replacement for my favorite receiver of 2018, the TX-NR585, but this booster model offers a number of improvements, including an increase in power (80W to 100W) and an HDMI cable port front mounted (in addition to the six HDMI inputs on the rear). This video and audio receiver offers streaming protocols including Chromecast, DTS Play-Fi, Spotify Connect, AirPlay and Bluetooth built-in. The only thing we didn’t like was the remote control (it was just a little too much). If you can find the TX-NR696 for less than $ 500, that’s fine, but it’s still worth the extra piece.
Read our review Onkyo TX-NR696.
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The 2019 AVR-S750H replaces the excellent S740H, and although it has been slightly modified, it appears to be essentially the same receiver. It has everything you need, including compatible voice control via Amazon Alexa and Google speakers, Atmos and AirPlay 2. It has an on-screen setup wizard that helps you connect your TV and optimize surround sound – whether for an immersive audio experience in your home theater or switch from chain to chain on the sofa in your living room.
Read the Denon AVR-S750H review.
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The Sony STR-DN1080 was our pick of the 2017 editors, and it’s still a great stereo receiver set, if you linger. The sound quality is not as strong as that of Denon and Onkyo, but they are all very close. If you want a receiver that offers ease of use and integrates both AirPlay (but not AirPlay 2) and wireless streaming built into Google Chromecast, this is a great option. It even uses virtual speaker relocation technology to optimize the sound in the room where you settle. Do not pay the high price, however – it is regularly sold between $ 400 and $ 500.
Read our Sony STR-DN1080 review.
Also consider
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The Yamaha RX-V485 offers quality sound at an affordable price, as well as Wi-Fi, Airplay 2, Spotify Connect, Bluetooth and all other music streamed from your devices. It also has 4K Ultra HD with HDR10. For most people, however, it’s worth paying more for additional HDMI inputs and outputs and Dolby Atmos capability, available in all of the above models.
Read our Yamaha RX-V485 review.
What to Look for in a $ 500 Receiver
AV receivers are notoriously complex, with loads of features and confusing technical specifications. I will summarize the most important ones here.
4K HDR compatibility
You want to make sure your new receiver can keep up with the latest TVs and video equipment. Standards change all the time, but the bare minimum right now is the support for HDR and Dolby Vision (at least HDMI version 2.0 or better). All of these models support 4K and HDR video.
Onkyo TX-NR585 rear panel offers six HDMI inputs
Sarah Tew / CNET
At least four HDMI inputs
With most TVs and set-top boxes that support HDMI, you should buy a receiver that has as many inputs and outputs as possible. The front-mounted HDMI ports are a bit like appendices – useless, since most users do not hot-plug HDMI devices – which makes the number of rear inputs most important (how will you connect your Blu-ray otherwise player, Nintendo Switch, soundbar and all your other devices. Yamaha has at least four, while Sony and Onkyo have the most, at six. Sony also offers a second HDMI output for Zone 2. You should also make sure that you have one or two additional HDMI cables.
You don’t really need Dolby Atmos ‘height’ speakers
The Yamaha is the only model here that doesn’t support Dolby Atmos and SDR: X, but the effects they have on your viewing of home theater movies can be subtle, or in most movies: non-existent. In other words, don’t worry about missing these new formats if you don’t install the additional speakers. Mounting high rear wireless surround speakers on the wall will get you half the way in terms of quality immersive sound.
Wi-Fi music streaming
Most mid-range receivers have built-in Wi-Fi network connectivity for wireless music streaming. There are many standards for wireless streaming services, but the most universal are Apple AirPlay and Google Chromecast (and sometimes Spotify Connect) integrated. If you’re looking to build a multiroom system with a variety of AV systems and speakers with wireless connectivity, these are the two flavors to aim for. Onkyo and Sony are the only two to support both. Denon models lack wireless streaming via Chromecast, but lead AirPlay 2.
To find out more about what you should be looking for, see my complete AV receiver buying guide.
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Originally published last year and updated periodically.
