Top 10 Home Theater AV Receivers

There are now hundreds of home theater receivers in the market with different features and price levels. To help narrow your search, we have compiled a list of top AV receivers that offer not only good performance but also value for your money. Feel free to use this as a starting point in your search for the AV receiver that caters best to your budget and needs.

December 2011 Update :

Onkyo receivers continue to dominate the top 10 list. The new flagship receiver Onkyo TX-NR5009 easily takes the top spot with its pristine picture and audiophile sound quality. Compared to the TX-NR5008, it has more finesse, smoothness and spaciousness. It comes with major upgrades and an incredible range of features and connectivity options. If you are looking for a receiver with “the works”, this is it.

In second place is the highly popular Onkyo TX-NR809. Onkyo upped the ante even further with improved picture and sound quality over the previous model. In 3rd spot is the new Onkyo TX-NR3009 which offers the same cutting edge features and superb video quality as the TX-NR5009 for $700 less.

1. Onkyo TX-NR5009

The 9.2-channel THX Ultra2 Plus-certified Onkyo TX-NR5009 offers a mouthwatering set of features designed to satisfy even the most demanding home theater purist. Rated at 220W per channel it uses the latest HQV-Vida and Marvel Qdeo video processors plus the new DTS Neo:X dimensional surround processing. It is designed to connect to the new generation of user-customized Internet radio stations and streaming music services. Sound quality, an Onkyo forte, is being beefed up by employing a massive high-current toroidal transformer through two 22,000 µF capacitors, with dedicated transformers for audio and video. For even smoother audio reproduction the digital audio section employs 192 kHz/32-bit TI Burr-Brown DACs on all channels, coupled to a 32-bit DSP chip. The result is a receiver that is quite unrivaled at this price range.

Onkyo TX-NR5009

List Price: $2899.00

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2. Onkyo TX-NR809

Onkyo made real improvements in video and audio qualities with the new TX-NR809. This 7.2 channel powerhouse comes with 8 HDMI inputs and upscales video to an academic 4K resolution. Being network capable allows you to stream content from the internet and home PC. Advanced audio options include bi-amping, 7.2 multichannel pre-outs, and distributed multi-zone audio. Construction is first-rate. A massive transformer, symmetrical L/R channels, separate power and pre-amp blocks, and a highly rigid chassis provide excellent channel separation with fine details and impressive richness in sound.

List Price: ~~$1099.00~~

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3. Onkyo TX-NR3009
The Onkyo TX-NR3009 costs $700 less than the flagship 5009 but you get the same video performance with a slightly lower resolution in audio quality. It comes with the same impressive array of connections, including eight 3D-ready HDMI inputs, 9.2 multichannel pre-outs, and a USB input for connecting flash drives and digital audio players. An Ethernet jack supports networked content in the form of internet radio and streaming audio from a PC or media server. Video processing is top-class. Optimal balance for movie soundtracks and music is achieved through the use of Audyssey MultEQ XT32. It also employs DTS Neo:X to create an immersive nine-channel soundscape from any audio source. Video sources also get the red-carpet treatment with HQV Vida processing, and 4K upscaling via Qdeo technology. Onkyo’s dedication to high-end build quality is reflected in the low-resonance chassis, multiple transformers, three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry, and high-grade audio terminals.

List Price: ~~$2199.00~~

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4. Onkyo TX-NR609

This 7.2 channel Onkyo TX-NR609 is packed with the latest technology and numerous features such as ultra-high resolution 4K video upscaling via Marvell Qdeo and the expanded surround sound of Audyssey DSX and Dolby Pro Logic IIz. For a mid-priced receiver it offers a lot of inputs, easy to set-up and operate and picture quality is beyond what you expect at this price level. It has been awarded the THX Select2 Plus Certification.

List Price: ~~$599.00~~

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5. Pioneer VSX-1021-K

Pioneer has been offering seamless integration with Apple devices with its past receivers and they have taken this a step further with the 7.1 channel Pioneer VSX-1021-K. One of the most exciting new features is AirPlay that allows you to stream music from iTunes. Another interesting app is Pioneer’s own Air Jam (available as a free download for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad), which promises to revolutionize the way you share your music.

List Price: $549.00

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6. Denon AVR-2112CI

The Denon AVR-2112CI offers an affordable entry point to the world of high quality home theater. With its vast array of inputs and network functions, the 7.1-Channel Networked receiver sets a new standard in 3D, Blu-ray, game console, and other entertainment device integration. It features 90-watts per channel of power and multiple high-resolution audio formats for to notch audio performance. It also supports HDMI v1.4a, so you can get the most out of 3D content. It is the least expensive receiver to offer Audyssey MultiEQ XT. Enhanced by digital network audio/photo streaming capabilities, including support for AirPlay, mp3/WMA/WAV and FLAC HD audio, and Windows 7 compatibility, the AVR-2112CI is a solid foundation for your networked home entertainment system.

List Price: ~~$649.99~~

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7. Onkyo HT-RC370

Onkyo has up the ante again for sub-$1000 receivers. To offer the Marvell Qdeo 4K video upscaling processor is unheard of at this price point. The Onkyo HT-RC370 is an excellent receiver by all measures with a performance that matches receivers twice its price. It is loaded with a lot of bells and whistles not found on lower-end models like pre-outs and 11 pairs of powered speaker terminals (for elaborate Audyssey DSX and Dolby Pro Logic IIz setups, which support “front high” and/or “front wide” speakers). Features such as the latest surround DSPs, iPod integration, Audyssey MultEQ XT, 3D, THX, DLNA and seamless networking ensure that the product is future proofed for years to come.

List Price: ~~$849.00~~

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8. Onkyo TX-NR509

Onkyo is trickling down its advanced technologies to its lower priced receivers and consumers have good reasons to rejoice. You get features and performance not even available on top models just 2 years ago. You can now access audio files on your computer and stream internet radio through your home system. Sound equalization can be tailored to adapt to your room with Audyssey 2EQ. You can even use your iPod/iPhone/iPad as a remote controller. Top that off with impeccable picture quality and impressive audio output.

List Price: ~~$399.00~~

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9. Denon AVR-1912

The Denon AVR-1912 7.1 channel receiver supports 3D video and is equipped with network functions that let you enjoy a wide variety of online digital content or your favorite genres of music at any time. It also supports AirPlay so that you can stream music from your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch, or from the iTunes music library. With the Denon Remote App installed on your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch, you can also perform basic operations such as turn the AVR-1912’s power on or off, adjust the volume, and switch sources.

List Price: ~~$549.99~~

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10. Pioneer VSX-821-K

The Pioneer VSX-821-K delivers pristine picture quality and musical sound unheard of at this price level price. It is also not short on features, offering 3D compatibility, seamless integration with Apple devices, wireless Bluetooth audio from smartphones and laptops, and enhancement of compressed audio with its Advanced Sound Retriever. You are getting a lot for the price.

List Price: ~~$349.00~~

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Choosing an AV Receiver

The home theater AV receiver is the control center of a home theater system. Its primary task is to deliver audio to the speakers. It is also capable of source switching which can greatly simplify the task of selecting what source you want to watch, be it a DVD player, a blu-ray player or cable TV, etc. Most AV receivers can accept and route audio and video through an all-digital HDMI connection, which carries both audio and video signals. Many receivers also include sophisticated video-processing features, such as upscaling, which optimizes standard-definition video input to high-def resolution for display on an HDTV or HD projector.

Here are some other things to consider before you purchase an AV receiver:

How any audio channels do you want or need? You’ll see five-channel and seven-channel receivers. The advantage of the extra rear channels in seven-channel systems is that they can do a better job of creating a convincing surround-sound field. The disadvantage is that many listening locations can’t easily accommodate proper placement of the additional speakers, and relatively few DVDs — and no HDTV broadcasts or cablecasts – are encoded with the extra rear channel, although it can be derived by home theater receivers with the proper processing circuitry. Some Blu-ray Discs do offer seven-channel sound.
Don’t forget the video. Delivering sound is still the most important factor, but home theater receivers also include video capabilities, making them the hub of a home theater system. All but the least expensive receivers can switch HDMI signals, and many can do video processing, deinterlacing signals and even upconverting them to 1080p for output via HDMI. That can reduce the typical rat’s nest of home theater wiring to just a couple of cables. However, video processing is typically a weakness compared to that found in better video gear.
Auto-setup can be helpful. Many receivers include sophisticated auto-setup routines that simplify the job of setting up the speakers. The best ones work relatively well, but results vary depending on the speakers and the room’s acoustics. However, while audiophiles might still prefer to make settings manually, auto-setup can help an inexperienced user get better results.
Check the manufacturer’s policy before buying online. Some manufacturers have strict policies regarding authorized dealers. Denon, for example, clearly warns prospective buyers that their warranty is not valid if they don’t purchase their receiver from an authorized retailer or if the serial number has been removed or replaced to prevent tracing the receiver’s original source. Some retailers do offer their own warranties in such cases, but the decision on whether on not that’s sufficient is one that should be carefully weighed.

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Top 10 Home Theater AV Receivers

Choosing an AV Receiver