Setup and control is done through a HEOS app. With speakers grouped, the package becomes a working 5. The receiver delivers multichannel movie soundtracks with gusto. Pop and rock are entertaining enough, but throw a throw it something classical or jazzy and its spatial delineation turns a bit mushy.
Using wireless rears can invite some problems. The cosmetics are admirable, and for dedicated HEOS multi room users the wireless interactivity is a boon. Employing an app for control seems to make perfect sense, the only snag comes if your streaming audio sources are also app controlled and need to be juggled outside of the HEOS app.
The receiver can even virtually relocate the physical position of your speakers, to create a better sonic balance. Build quality is commensurate with its price tag. This is no heavyweight, and the fascia looks overly fussy, but the hairline finish is a premium touch. Connectivity is good. There are also two analogue AV inputs, plus a pair of stereo phonos and two digital audio inputs.
Usability is average. The receiver relies heavily on its UI, which is pretty but sometimes a little frustrating. Performance is excellent for the price. Movies benefit from seamless panning and pronounced dynamics. Power output is quoted at 7 x W into 6 ohms. The biggest surprise is the effectiveness of the phantom rears, which really do help fill out the rear surround stage. Overall, this is an innovative, exciting AV Dolby Atmos receiver.
Consider it a brilliant value home cinema offering. There's very little we can hold against the Denon AVR-XH, one of the world's first 8K receivers and winner of a number of accolades this year.
It's what we consider the best overall AV receiver in in terms of what it offers for the money. Of course, if you want to go remote-free there is voice support for Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri-enabled devices, making it truly egalitarian.
Sure, there are more expensive amps out there with a few superfluous bells and whistles, but the AVR-XH gives you W-per-channel amplification with all the essentials you need to keep your speakers sounding great. It's a rock-solid AVR and while it's expensive, it absolutely delivers exceptional clarity, soundstage and presence to your favorite films and music, and is pretty much the pinnacle of what you can expect from a cutting-edge AVR.
The design is understated, with a nice matte cabinet finish and big central volume knob. And if you want a true multiroom audio system, check out our roundup of the best Wi-Fi systems that will integrate with most AV receivers.
Comparing the wattage specs on AV receivers won't tell you much. Power ratings aren't standardized , so there's no guarantee that one company's watt-per-channel receiver will sound louder than another company's watt-per-channel receiver.
More importantly, for typical home theater speakers and rooms, modern AV receivers offer plenty of power. CNET's listening room is medium-sized, but we never run into AV receivers that don't have the capability to get much louder than the average person would choose.
Automatic speaker calibration sounds like a great idea, letting you use an included microphone to adjust speaker levels and apply EQ to accommodate your listening room. In practice, it doesn't always work that well. In fact, in our recent roundup of AV receiver reviews, automatic speaker calibration was consistently off-balance, almost always setting the subwoofer volume level incorrectly. If you really care about sound, you're better off learning how to manually set your speaker levels.
Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. We delete comments that violate our policy , which we encourage you to read. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. CNET editors pick the products and services we write about.
When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Sarah Tew. Ty Pendlebury. March 22, a. The best AV received is the one you already own Wrap-up and FAQs Deciding which AV receiver to buy can be overwhelming, with each model sporting tons of logos and proprietary technologies that aren't easy to understand if you're not familiar with home audio. Delivered Wednesdays. Best AV receiver overall. Onkyo TX-NR Best receiver for future-proofing. Yamaha RX-V6A. Best speakers for the money.
This way, you get the latest features like Dolby Atmos. 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. For specific models, our Top Receivers of 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. 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 Panamax make some of the best. Step 1: Go to an AV showroom near you and plan on spending some quality time listening and asking questions.
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. We give you a day audition to try the component out. Both are unique and feature real rooms — living room, den, kitchen, bathroom — just like home, so you get a real feel for how things will look and sound at your place.
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. 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. You must be logged in to write a comment.
Log In. Sign up to receive exclusive offers and recommendations from our experts! World Wide Stereo. Navigation Search Help Cart. Home Audio Home Audio. Learn More. See what outdoor TVs were voted Best of See what our experts are saying are the top wireless earbuds of Check out what our experts think are the best car stereos of Our Services. Holiday Deals. Shop now. Filed Under: articles home entertainment buying guides. Identify what you're hooking the receiver up to.
This is the most important thing to consider. Are you connecting your receiver to stereo speakers? Or a TV? If your new receiver is for music only, you want a stereo receiver. Get enough channels for now and the future.
Make sure your new receiver has enough channels for all the speakers you have now, plus those you may want to get in the future. If you want surround sound, you'll need at least five channels. Think about everything and anything you'll be connecting to. For example, if you want to spin vinyl, you'll need a dedicated phono input.
Plus Bluetooth, Airplay, etc. State-of-the-art-video switching is worth it. And how does it sound? Which type of speakers should you use for the rear channels of your home theater system? Bipole, dipole, or monopole? Learn about surround sound system design for small rooms. Find home theater gear that fits your space. How to connect your video sources to one receiver and watch them in different rooms.
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Home theater receivers: The complete beginner's guide How to find the surround sound receiver that's right for you. Meet Deia Z. About Deia Started at Crutchfield in Completed in-house Advisor training, learning the details of every type of product we sell Attends dozens of vendor training events each year Authored and edited dozens of Crutchfield articles and hundreds of product presentations.
Comments 46 Read comments. Thanks for your question, Danny, and congrats on your new home! You'll likely want a seven-channel home theater receiver to power your speakers. We'll want to gather a little more info about the speakers to make a recommendation, so I suggest giving one of our Advisors a shout to go over your options. Thanks again for reaching out! Thanks for reaching out, Shawn. Please give one of our Advisors a call for help mapping out the right equipment for your system.
Thanks for reaching out, Bernie. You've astutely observed that many of today's home theater receivers do not have as many analog video inputs as they once did. That's a trend we've seen for a while now, with many new receivers only supporting HDMI. Thanks for reaching out, David.
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