Packed with features but often more affordable than the AV Preamp combination, the AV receiver is the heart of many home theater systems. An AVR puts the AV switching and processing together in the same box as the speaker amplification (and usually adds an AM/FM tuning section to earn the name "receiver").
Today's receivers have between five and eleven channels of amplification, and most can decode the highest quality uncompressed audio soundtracks, such as DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD. A growing number can also decode 3D audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
On the video side, most receivers offer a generous number of HDMI inputs, with the ability to pass through the latest and greatest technologies like Ultra HD and High Dynamic Range. Today’s AVRs are also loaded with coveted features like automatic setup and room correction systems, network audio streaming, hi-res audio playback, multi-room AV distribution, and smart home control.
Below are some educational resources to assist in your search for an AV receiver.
• AV Receivers vs. AV Separates: Which Is Right for You?
• The Good, Better, and Best AV Receivers on the Market Today
• Surround Sound Explained
• Automated Room Correction Explained
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Ultimately, the Pioneer VSX-LX805 is a formidable contender in the high-end AV receiver market. It's a product that embodies the Elite philosophy of no-compromise audio reproduction
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The McIntosh MHT300 AV Receiver stands as a testament to the brand's commitment to delivering uncompromising audio-visual performance.
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A great USB mic for your REW and DIRAC Live calibrations
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Gorgeous new styling and enhancement room correction capabilities make Yamaha's new $600 AVR an absolute standout in its class.
Denon's flagship AVR in the 8K era (at least for now) still has some quirks that need to be worked out in firmware, but it's a well-built receiver with...
NAD's T 778 may not feature the HDMI 2.1 support that most AVR shoppers are hollering for these days, but its modular design makes it upgradable, and its touchscreen...
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The Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization technology employed on the new Marantz SR6014 might not merely be a good stop-gap for those who want Atmos but can't install ceiling speakers,...
The Pioneer Elite VSX-LX504 offers a ton of features for a $1000-ish AVR, but are those features enough to put it on equal footing with the best of the...
Marantz' top-of-the-current-line receiver delivers oodles of output, plenty of channels, and a deliciously musical sound that should make any audiophile giddy.
Denon's AVR-X2500H receiver is a 7.2 channel receiver that is on the entry-level side of Denon's X-series. Priced at $799 (but selling for as low as $549 in recent...
It seems as if the AV receiver market is finally starting to reach some semblance of stability. By that, I simply mean that after a few years of chasing...
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