Product Recommendations: Audio/Video Receivers & Stereo Amplifiers
Audio/Video Receiver Recommendations | Updated: April 2022 | written by u/Bill_Money | edited & maintained by: u/htmod
- SMALL AVR's
They DO NOT EXIST [except two that are overpriced as shit]! AVR's are a standard depth & width. Height can be found smaller see the slim AVR section.
Before you come back to me and say but this Pyle AVR exists on Amazon, its absolute garbage and should NOT be considered. Pyle is short for Pyle of Shit.
- HEOS & Music Cast Wireless Speakers
Denon & Marantz receivers w/ HEOS cannot use wireless Heos speakers for surrounds, you can only use this with the HEOS AVR (discontinued) which is limited to 5.1 and overpriced.
Yamaha Music Cast however can use Music Cast wireless speakers as surrounds on any Music Cast AVR BUT you will be limited to 5.1
Recommended Retailers for Refurbs or Deals
USA: Accessories4Less.com
Canada: Gibby's
Who Owns Who?
Onkyo, Pioneer (including ELITE), & Integra are either owned by the Onkyo Corporation & Licensed/Imported by 11 Trading Company LLC (Voxx International) or are fully owned by 11 Trading Company LLC (Voxx International) unsure as to which is true.
Denon & Marantz are owned by Sound United who also owns Classe
Episode is owned by SnapAV
Why don't you recommend x?
Sony - Their AVR's are subpar. They are older units sometimes as old as 5 years being sold above original price due to chip shortage with subpar Room Correction. HDMI-CEC is also really bad on them, not that we recommend HDMI-CEC ever anyways.
HDMI 2.1 AVR'S
| Port Bandwidth | Models |
|---|---|
| 24 Gbps Ports | Onkyo TX-NR5100 (3), Yamaha RX-A2A, Yamaha RX-V4A, Yamaha RX-V6A |
| 40 Gbps Port(s) - Onkyo | TX-NR6100 (3), TX-NR7100 (3), TX-RZ50 (3) |
| 40 Gbps Port(s) - Integra | DRX-2.4 (3), DRX-3.4 (3), DRX-5.4 (3) |
| 40 Gbps Port(s) - Pioneer/ELITE | VSX-935 (3), VSX-LX105 (3), VSX-LX305 (3), VSX-LX505 (3) |
| 40 Gbps Port(s) - Sound United (Denon) | AVR-S660H (3), AVR-S760H (3), AVR-S960H (1), AVR-X1700H (3), AVR-X2700H (1), AVR-X3700H (1), AVR-X4700H (1), AVR-X6700H (1), AVR-X8500HA (1), AVR-A110 (1) |
| 40 Gbps Port(s) - Sound United (Marantz) | NR1711 (1), SR5015 (1), SR6015 (1), SR7015 (1), SR8015 (1) |
| 40 Gbps Port(s) - Yamaha | A4A (?), A6A (3), A8A (3) |
ARCAM - HDMI 2.1 Upgradability
Yamaha - Will be enabled by Firmware Update
Denon & Marantz 3 Port HDMI 2.1 Switches
- Extreme Budget Audio/Video Receivers (MSRP $0-600)
| Model - Year | # Channels | HDMI IN/Out | HDMI Version | Room Correction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denon AVR-S40BT - 2018 | 5.1 | 5 /1 | 2.0 | n/a |
| Denon S650H -2019 | 5.2 | 5/1 | 2.0 | MultEQ |
| Yamaha RX-V385 | 5.1 | 4/1 | 2.0 | YPAO |
| Denon DRA-800H -2019 | 2.2 | 5/1 | 2.0 | None |
| Denon AVR-S660H - 2021 | 5.2 | 6/1 | 2.1 (3) + 2.0 (3) | MultEQ |
| Denon AVR-S750H -2020 | 7.2 | 6 /1 | 2.0 | MultEQ |
| Denon AVR-S760H - 2021 | 7.2 | 6/1 | 2.1 (3) + 2.0 (3) | MultEQ |
Recommended AVR: Denon AVR-S660H or AVR-S760H
WHY Not the Onkyo NR-5100?
Simple 24 Gbps HDMI 2.1 ports, springs clips, & no DIRAC!
- Slim Budget Audio/Video Receivers (MSRP $400-600)
| Model | # Channels | HDMI IN/Out | HDMI Version | Room Correction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yamaha RX-S602 | 5.1 | 4/1 | 2.0 | YPAO |
| Pioneer VSX-S520 | 5.1 | 4/1 | 2.0 | MCACC |
| Pioneer ELITE SX-S30 | 2.1 | 4/1 | 2.0 | MCACC |
- MSRP $600-900 Audio/Video Receivers
| Model | # Channels | HDMI IN/Out | HDMI Version | Room Correction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denon AVR-S960H -2020 | 7.2 | 6/2 | 2.1 (1) + 2.0 | MultEQ |
| Denon AVR-X1600H -2019 | 7.2 | 6/1 | 2.0 | MultEQ XT |
| Denon AVR-X1700H - 2021 | 7.2 | 6/1 | 2.1 (3) + 2.0 (3) | MultEQ XT |
| Denon AVR-X2700H -2020 | 7.2 | 6/2 | 2.1 (1) + 2.0 | MultEQ XT |
| Yamaha RX-A780 | 7.2 | 5/2 | 2.0 | YPAO R.S.C. |
Recommended AVR: Denon AVR-S960H or AVR-1700H
- Slim $600-900 Audio/Video Receivers
| Model | # Channels | HDMI IN/Out | HDMI Version | Room Correction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marantz NR1200 | 2.2 | 5/1 | 2.0 | none |
| Marantz NR1510 | 5.2 | 6/1 | 2. | MultEQ |
| Marantz NR1609 | 7.2 | 7/1 | 2.0 | MultEQ |
| Marantz NR1710 | 7.2 | 8/1 | 2.0 | MultEQ |
| Marantz NR1711 | 7.2 | 6/1 | 2.1 (1) + 2.0 | MultEQ |
| Integra DSX-3 | 5.1 | 4/1 | 2.0 | AccuEQ |
Recommended AVR: Marantz NR1711
- MSRP $900-1400 Audio/Video Receivers
| Model | # Channels | HDMI IN/Out | HDMI Version | Room Correction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denon AVR-X3600H -2019 | 9.2 (Processes 11.2) | 8/3 | 2.0 | MultEQ XT32 |
| Denon AVR-X3700H -2020 | 9.2 (Processes 11.2) | 7/3 | 2.1 (1) + 2.0 | MultEQ XT32 |
| Marantz SR5015 | 7.2 | 6/2 | 2.1 (1) + 2.0 | MultEQ XT |
| Yamaha RX-A1080 | 7.2 | 7/3 | 2.0 | YPAO R.S.C. |
| Yamaha RX-A4A | 7.2 | 7/3 | 2.1 | YPAO R.S.C. |
Recommended AVR: Denon AVR-X3700H
- MSRP $1400-2,000 Audio/Video Receivers
| Model | # Channels | HDMI IN/Out | HDMI Version | Room Correction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DENON AVR-X4500H | 9.2 | 8/3 | 2.0 | MultEQ XT32 |
| Denon AVR-X4700H -2020 | 9.2 (Processes 11.2) | 8/3 | 2.1 (1) + 2.0 | MultEQ XT32 |
| Marantz SR6015 | 9.2 (Processes 11.2) | 7/3 | 2.1 (1) + 2.0 | MultEQ XT32 |
| Yamaha RX-A2080 | 9.2 | 7/3 | 2.0 | YPAO R.S.C. |
| Yamaha RX-A3080 | 9.2 (Processes 11.2) | 7/3 | 2.0 | YPAO R.S.C. |
| Anthem MRX 540 | 5.2 (Processes 7.2) | 7/2 | 2.0 | Anthem Room Correction Genesis |
Recommended AVR: Denon AVR-X4700H
- Extreme Slim MSRP $1400-2,000 Audio/Video Receivers
| Model | # Channels | HDMI IN/Out | HDMI Version | Room Correction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savant NANO-Backpack P5 | 5.1 | 3/1 | 2.0 | N/A |
| SnapAV Episode® Mini AV Receiver EA-MINI-5.1D-200 - Pricing Unkown | 5.1 | 3/1 | 2.0 | N/A |
- MSRP $2,000-3,000 Audio/Video Receivers
| Model | # Channels | HDMI IN/Out | HDMI Version | Room Correction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denon AVR-X6700H -2020 | 11.2 | 8/3 | 2.1 (1) + 2.0 | MultEQ XT32 |
| Marantz SR7015 | 9.2 | 8/3 | 2.1 (1) + 2.0 | MultEQ XT32 |
| Yamaha RX-A6A | 9.2 (Processes 11.2) | 7/3 | 2.1 | YPAO R.S.C. |
| Yamaha RX-A8A | 11.2 | 7/3 | 2.1 | YPAO R.S.C. |
| Anthem MRX 740 | 7.2 (Processes 11.2) | 7/3 | 2.0 | Anthem Room Correction Genesis |
| Arcam AVR5 | 7.1 (Processes 11.1) | 7/2 | 2.0 | Dirac |
| Arcam AVR10 | 7.1 (Processes 11.1) | 7/2 | 2.0 | Dirac |
Recommended AVR: Denon AVR-X6700H
- MSRP $3,000+ Audio/Video Receivers
| Model | # Channels | HDMI IN/Out | HDMI Version | Room Correction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denon AVR-X8500HA -20 | 13.2 | 8/3 | 2.1 (1) + 2.0 | MultEQ XT32 |
| Denon AVR-A110 -20 | 13.2 | 8/3 | 2.1 (1) + 2.0 | MultEQ XT32 |
| Marantz SR8015 | 11.2 (Processes 13.2) | 8/3 | 2.1 (1) + 2.0 | MultEQ XT32 |
| Anthem MRX 1140 | 11.2 (Processes 15.2) | 7/3 | 2.0 | Anthem Room Correction Genesis |
| Lexicon RV-6 | 11.1 | 7/3 | 2.0 | Dirac |
| Lexicon RV-9 | 11.1 | 7/3 | 2.0 | Dirac |
| Rotel RAP-1580MKII | 7.2 (Processes 11.2) | 8/2 | 2.0 | Dirac |
| Arcam AVR20 | 7.1 (Processes 13.1) | 7/3 | 2.0 | Dirac |
| Arcam AVR30 | 7.1 (Processes 13.1) | 7/3 | 2.0 | Dirac |
| AudioControl Concert XR-4 | 7.1 (Processes 11.1) | 7/2 | 2.0 | Dirac |
| AudioControl Concert XR-6 | 7.1 (Processes 15.1) | 7/3 | 2.0 | Dirac |
| AudioControl Concert XR-8 | 7.1 (Processes 15.1) | 7/3 | 2.0 | Dirac |
Other Solutions
Sometimes (1-10% of the time) an AVR is just not the right solution for everyone.
If you are ok with trading off upgradability & limiting yourself to 2.0 or 2.1 with no room correction & requiring a TV to do the processing you have a few options:
- Stereo Amplifier (Use AUX/RCA/Optical out of Your TV)
| Model | Sub Out? | AUX/RCA In? | Optical In ? | Remote? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMSL SA-36A PLUS | No | Yes | No | No |
| SMSL SA-36A PRO | No | Yes | No | No |
| SMSL SA-50 PLUS | No | Yes | Yes (mini Toslink) | Yes |
| SMSL Q5 PRO | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SMSL AD18 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Topping PA3 | No | Yes (Dual) | No | No |
| Topping MX3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Yamaha WXA-50 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No - MusicCast App on Phone |
| Russound TVA21 2 Channel TV Amplifier | Yes | Yes | Yes | No but supports IR Learning |
- Stereo Amplifier (Use HDMI-ARC out of Your TV)
| Model | Sub Out? |
|---|---|
| Sonos Amp | Yes |
| Bluesound Powernode | Yes |
Posted Apr 20, 2022, 1:36 AM UTC · locked