If you are looking for an immersive, rich, and dynamic experience every time you will use your home theater system, then go beyond screens and speakers. Get everything connected and amped with a powerful AV receiver. As both sound and video technologies flourishing at a faster rate, keeping up with the advancements should begin at the heart of it all.
Your AV receiver should be ready to thrive and stay on top of all of these, and at this point, the 8k version is the cream of the crop. However, some users still prefer the impressive 4K version because of compatibility as this technology remains to be what most devices and accessories are still anchoring at.
Elaborating on the concepts behind audio & video receivers would entail a separate buying guide. But in this review, we will do our best on imparting the details you need to know and how they will impact your experience with each model.
A multi-channel home theatre setup allows you to create a customized audio and video experience. You can integrate as many peripherals that will take care of every detail and focus on quality. It also extends your home theater’s functionality, providing you with more ways to enjoy it. The best home theater system isn’t just for movies, but can also revolutionize the way you play games and stream music. In short, it is a surround sound system that turns entertainment into an immersive experience.
Choosing an AV receiver entails careful consideration of audio and video quality, compatibility, connectivity, intuitiveness, and overall performance. A handful of extras like voice command, wireless connectivity, and smart features are what make it modern and attuned to today’s lifestyle. Nonetheless, price still remains a major determinant of choice.
Here’s our list of the best AV receiver models or home audio receivers in the market today. Take your pick.
| Name | Key Feature | |
|---|---|---|
| Denon AVR-X6700H 8K Ultra HD 11.2 Channel (140Watt X 11) AV Receiver 2020 Model– Editor’s Choice | 11-channel, 3D sound immersive experience: Dolby Atmos, IMAX enhanced, DTS:X DTS Virtual:X, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization Technology, and Audio 3D; 8K-ready | Check Price |
| Sony STR-DH790 7.2-ch Surround Sound Home Theater AV Receiver | 7.2-channel surround sound system with 360-degree, 3D sound, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and DTS:X; Advanced D.C.A.C | Check Price |
| Marantz 8K Ultra HD AV Receiver SR5015 – 7.2 Channel (2020 Model) | Auto Eco Mode | Check Price |
Denon AVR-X6700H 8K Ultra HD 11.2 Channel (140Watt X 11) AV Receiver 2020 Model – Editor’s Choice
Being an 8K AV receiver can already tell a lot about its superiority in its league. Play high-resolution videos true to every detail in smooth transitions and fluid movements – no lags nor distortions.
Aside from providing dynamics in movies, this technology can significantly impact your gaming experience. Variable Refresh Rate, Quick Frame Transport, and the Auto Latency Mode all contribute to the seamless transition between frames during your gaming sessions.
In addition, this AV receiver utilizes the latest in video technology – the Dynamic HDR and HDR10+. This provides the richness of color, with extensive levels of contrast and hue to give you the most realistic visuals.
Meanwhile, the Denon AVR-X6700H 8K Ultra HD 11.2 Channel (140Watt X 11) AV Receiver 2020 Model is jam-packed with the most advanced sound technologies to date, which you cannot expect less at this AV receiver league and price point.
Expect the latest benchmarks for superior home theater systems – Dolby Atmos, IMAX enhanced, DTS:X DTS Virtual:X, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization Technology, and Audio 3D.
Collaboratively, they redefine the meaning and user experience in terms of surround sound minus the technicalities of hardware placements, elaborate room acoustics, and space configurations. All of the elements were taken care of and are resounded virtually across your space for that true immersive 3D audio and video experience.
Behind all of these powerful and advanced sound and video technologies lies a multi-channel, multi-connectivity, amplifier-driven AV home theater receiver. This AV receiver has extensive support capabilities (4K and 8K) and can are compatible with the latest peripheral devices.
Build a custom surround sound home theater system of your choice with various types of speakers and this AV receiver has room for all of them. You can also indulge in vast customization features so you can achieve the right sound quality you need based on your home theater area’s specs and dimensions.
In addition to its extensive audio-visual technologies, the Denon AVR-X6700H 8K Ultra HD 11.2 Channel (140Watt X 11) AV Receiver 2020 Model also utilizes voice commands for your convenience. Any modern device these days are mostly not without smart features, and I can say that it is a definite game-changer. This AV receiver is compatible to work with Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, and Josh.ai.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 3D sound immersive experience: Dolby Atmos, IMAX enhanced, DTS:X DTS Virtual:X, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization Technology, and Audio 3D | Expensive |
| 8K-ready | |
| HDMI technology and support | |
| Dynamic HDR and HDR10+ | |
| Variable Refresh Rate, Quick Frame Transport, and the Auto Latency Mode | |
| Voice command – Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, and Josh.ai | |
| 11 channels | |
| Integrated HEOS – stream music online |
Conclusion
The Denon AVR-X6700H 8K Ultra HD 11.2 Channel (140Watt X 11) AV Receiver 2020 Model captivates you into an immersive entertainment experience, with room for the improvements of the future, with its 8K-ready interface.
Sony STR-DH790 7.2-ch Surround Sound Home Theater AV Receiver
Let’s take a step back a bit as we wait on the full realization of the promising 8K technology. Meanwhile, an AV receiver 4K remains to be the queen at the moment. Allow yourself to maximize its features while it lasts.
This AV receiver enables you to “get lost” in its 360-degree, three-dimensional surround sound technology that takes your audio-visual experience a notch deeper through its core. You will never get wrong with your surround sound receiver having Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and DTS:X technologies that can best complement 4K video resolution. Together, they create a rich and almost life-like entertainment experience. Similar to what cinemas can do for you. But now that the pandemic limits our outside affairs, this is the closest we can get to the real deal.
The Sony STR-DH790 7.2-ch Surround Sound Home Theater AV Receiver is also teeming with smart features. The Advanced D.C.A.C can analyze your room’s acoustics and use the data to optimize the sound so it will be heard clear and rich in quality. It can also enhance your surround sound speaker’s phasing characteristics so they will work together and bring you the best sound quality that matches your room.
This AV receiver, meanwhile, utilizes astounding video processing technologies. The Dynamic HDR adds more depth to images by highlighting shadows, improving contrast and brightness, and enriching colors to become more life-like. The Sony STR-DH790 7.2-ch Surround Sound Home Theater AV Receiver can also support other HDR standards like HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision.
Now, the 4K-pass-through technology helps in maintaining the integrity of the video’s quality. The AV receiver will not compromise the 4K-resolution videos but rather just help it bring to life in your home theater.
Meanwhile, the Sony STR-DH790 7.2-ch Surround Sound Home Theater AV Receiver deploys that is calls, smart Bluetooth technology. Aside from allowing you to stream music to your AV receiver, you can also control it with your smartphone or tablet.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 7.2-channel surround sound system | Automatic audio calibration doesn’t seem to provide optimum settings |
| 360-degree, 3D sound, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and DTS:X | |
| Advanced D.C.A.C | |
| 4K-resolution, Dynamic HDR, and other advanced HDR standards | |
| Smart Bluetooth technology |
Conclusion
The Sony STR-DH790 7.2-ch Surround Sound Home Theater AV Receiver is still one of the best in its league, at 4K. It can support decent-sized home theater setups, making it a good basic or starter AV receiver for decent speaker specs and configuration.
Marantz 8K Ultra HD AV Receiver SR5015 – 7.2 Channel (2020 Model)
If you can’t afford its Denon counterpart, this AV receiver is an investment-worthy alternative. It does receive a lot of excellent user feedback that I thought it’s worth a peek at.
This AV receiver is rather a smaller version, supporting 7.2-channels. But going deeper, each channel delivers 100 watts of power. That well supports speakers loud enough to fill a home theater. But wait, home theater sound is not just about power – it has to be balanced with quality. This AV receiver answers this with Auto Eco Mode. It automatically adjusts each speaker’s power based on the volume level. This not only improves quality but also saves power consumption.
The Marantz 8K Ultra HD AV Receiver SR5015 – 7.2 Channel (2020 Model) is straightforwardly telling you it is 8K-ready; just as you are. It got an 8K/60 Hertz pass-through so you can play 8K movies and indulge in every bit of its superb visual quality. Get the most out of Dynamic HDR and QMS. The latter helps eliminate delay or lip-sync delay (voice does not match the mouth movement).
Meanwhile, while waiting for the 8K videos to fully dominate the scene, bask in the 4K-resolution videos for a while. Aside from movies, this 4K AV receiver allows you to experience superb gaming with its 4K/120 Hz pass-through. Complementing, you also have Variable Refresh Rate, Quick Frame Transport, and Auto Low Latency Mode. All of these contribute to giving you a seamless transition of games, rich colors, and an overall smoother and lag-free gaming experience.
In terms of sound quality, this AV receiver is supported by DTS:X, and DTS Virtual:X, as well as Dolby Atmos and Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization Technology. You get that multi-dimensional sound that envelopes your room that enriches the experience.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 7.2-channel, 100 W per channel | LED display could be larger |
| 8K/60Hz pass-through or upscaling with HDMI technologies like Dynamic HDR and Quick Media Switching (QMS) | |
| 4K resolution, 4K/120 Hz pass-through, Variable Refresh Rate, Quick Frame Transport, and Auto Low Latency Mode | |
| DTS:X, DTS Virtual:X, Dolby Atmos and Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization Technology | |
| Auto Eco Mode |
Conclusion
The Marantz 8K Ultra HD AV Receiver SR5015 – 7.2 Channel (2020 Model) offers extensive features for its price. If you are looking for an affordable 8K AV receiver, this is worth a look.
Final Verdict
When it comes to home theater systems, we cannot assure that the best audio receiver this year would be the same as the next. Audiovisual technologies are evolving at a higher rate, and I would just say that let us enjoy it while it lasts.
Looking into reliability, durability, and caliber performance, the best home theater receiver on this list is Denon AVR-X6700H 8K Ultra HD 11.2 Channel (140Watt X 11) AV Receiver 2020 Model.
The Denon AVR-X6700H 8K Ultra HD 11.2 Channel (140Watt X 11) AV Receiver 2020 Model is the best AV receiver so far with its powerhouse technologies supporting the best audio and visual experience that a home theater system has to provide. I can say that this AV receiver is advanced in its league, therefore, purchasing one is a worthy investment (despite the price tag) because you are in together for a long haul.