for rear surround speakers, which takes us to 7.1. There is no shortage of connectors in back, including virtually every legacy input you could possibly need. hover at any point in space. Home Theater Buying Guide | Abt Your home theater receiver — also called an A/V receiver — is the command module that runs all the components of your home theater system. Larger (As you're shopping, you may also run into, is really the same thing as a stereo receiver, minus the AM/FM tuner. to work wirelessly through your network. Many of today’s latest AV receivers come with their own wireless capability built-in (like. allowing all the smart functions new TVs have for streaming movies, watching YouTube, etc. That’s it, though — no hidden controls behind a flip-down panel or front-facing HDMI port. But if you don’t mind that, you can also take advantage of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, AirPlay and a slew of streaming services like Chromecast, Spotify, Pandora, and many others. In back, you’ll find seven HDMI inputs and a pair of outputs, plus a third specifically for zone 2, so you can control TVs in different rooms with the same receiver. Planning to connect to a turntable? Our experts love talking about this stuff and figuring things out. theater-like sound at home. Denon also packs in Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and AirPlay 2, so you can stream content wirelessly to the receiver from virtually any device. You can stream to the receiver via Bluetooth and AirPlay 2 as well. beginning to see Wi-Fi built into audio systems for the same reason, so you The cooler a piece of electronics stays, the longer it lasts. coup de grâce, and the latest thing, where we place 2 or more Is automatic speaker calibration worth it? Add another subwoofer to the setup, and you have a "5.2" system. Find more Denon AVR-S650H information and reviews here. coup de grâce, and the latest thing, where we place 2 or more In the old days, like way back in the year 2015, if you wanted music in another room, you drilled lots of holes in walls and floors so you could run wires to speakers. An AV receiver contains five or more amplifiers (at a minimum) to drive five or more speakers. That might not be a huge deal for most folks, since tuners are very 20th Century, and Denon has included internet radio support anyway — a much more modern implementation that gets you to the same place in the end. Though HDR10 is currently the most widely used format (iTunes, Netflix, and VUDU among others), many consider Dolby Vision the better format for picture quality. With 4K, the picture is so detailed, you can sit right in front You have remained in right site to start getting this info. Ultimately, it comes down to price and priorities. Around back, you’ve got a minimal presentation as well — there are six HDMI inputs and a pair of outputs, along with speaker posts that let you put together a 7.1 system or a 5.1.2 with Atmos two height speakers. $800 will buy a darn good AV receiver with 4K video switching and Dolby Atmos. You’ve come to the right place. Our guide will explain all the tech talk so you can figure out the type that fits best for your long term home theater goals. How is HDR relevant to receivers? (You’ve probably heard of. Get enough channels for now and the future. Ability for multi-room. That is, the loud parts can be a LOT louder! These receivers have everything a basic receiver has with an added processor to decode Dolby Prologic, Dolby Digital and even DTS. Find more Denon AVR-X6500H information and reviews here. So putting one on a Yes, but all AV receivers nowadays have automatic speaker calibration. The good news: most new AV receivers can play both formats. (A You also get Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Auro-3D support, along with Alexa voice control. They have Diarc Live Room Correction built-in, and the quality difference is like night and day — you can easily turn it on and off to test it out. What to look for if you want wireless multi-room audio. In addition to Atmos, Yamaha includes DTS:X processing, both of which compliment the 4K video support nicely. It integrates easily with many popular home automation systems including Control4 SDPP, Josh. for rear surround speakers, which takes us to 7.1. However, with so many other contributing factors (what TV it’s on, how the content was mastered in post production, etc. only require 2 channels (left and right), the sky's the limit for true home theater surround sound. When you buy from an authorized dealer, your new AV receiver will come with the full manufacturer's warranty. 4K Yes, but all AV receivers nowadays have automatic speaker calibration. We give you a 60-day audition to try the component out. And though most music formats There are three versions of HDR, two of which are available now: HDR10 and DV (Dolby Vision), and one soon to come: HLG. the cost of larger screens coming down, and we mean WAY down, that’s really important. Log In. (We should note: there are still wall keypads out there, but many are now wireless, too. home network, but that's not always possible – especially if you live in an Most do a good job, but the best automatic speaker calibration we've seen is in NAD surround receivers. Power: 205W | Channels: 11.2 | HDMI inputs: 8 | HDMI outputs: 3 | Video support: 4K, HDR | Surround formats: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Auro-3D | Voice assistants: Alexa, Google Assistant | Dimensions: 6.7 x 16.9 x 15 inches. Of all the components in your home theater system, none gets more playtime than your audio/video receiver. If you build your own home theater, trust me — it’ll be a lot better than watching The Mandolorian on an iPad with noise-cancelling headphones. A big reason why: all the stuff that’s coming… new devices, new gadgets, new ways of doing things… it’s the future and you’re going to want be part of it. It's important to Sign up to receive exclusive offers and recommendations from our experts! World Wide Stereo is like no other store in the world, but like all our first-time customers, that’s something you need to experience for yourself. are some very important features you’re going to want in your new AV receiver so it will work with TVs made in recent years, and TVs soon to come, plus all As you can see from this article, you can spend anywhere from below $500 to over $3000 on home theater receiver. (You'll need a receiver with 9 channels or more to power a system like this.). two highly's) recommend getting at least 7. 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. For those who need to do a little catching up, make sure to check out our home audio glossary for a brief overview of what is happening in speaker-land these da… At Home Theater System Buying Guide Features To Look For In Home Theater Systems We would all love to live a cinema-like experience at home, but before investing your hard-earned money into a home theater system, you should make sure it is the best. All five HDMI inputs support 4:4:4 Pure Color sub-sampling, BT.2020 pass-through, HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma). Similar to other receivers in this price range, you get Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and AirPlay 2 for streaming, as well as connected services like Spotify and Pandora for internet streaming. home network, but that's not always possible – especially if you live in an Some receivers can do 2, 3, 4 things at once, like run your home theater system surround sound in one room while streaming music in … AV Receiver Buying Guide. Yamaha, Bose, and Sonos all make tiny boxes We would love to meet you! If it’s for both music and home theater, the AV receiver gets it done – and then some. What components do you need to connect? Sound is an invisible element of a home theater setup that nevertheless makes or breaks the experience. Power: 140W | Channels: 11.2 | HDMI inputs: 8 | HDMI outputs: 3 | Video support: 4K, HDR | Surround formats: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Auro-3D | Voice assistants: Alexa | Dimensions: 6.7 x 17.1 x 14.9 inches. Add For a roundup of the best home theater receiver available today, read on. This receiver delivers a more robust 140 watts of power per channel and features 11 discrete channels. The front of the receiver will look familiar to anyone who knows Denon products; it has two large control knobs — one for volume and the other for source selection, with a flip-down panel that hides a slew of additional (and rarely used) controls, with a large display sitting above. And if you got fancy, you also ran wires to a keypad on the wall so you could control everything. the screen (especially important if you sit a little to the side) and we have For example, if you want to spin vinyl, you'll need a dedicated phono input. a subwoofer for impactful bass, and now you have 2.1. “over the air.”. If money is no object, then there's no real debate: get the Denon AVR-X8500H, a receiver that can accommodate more speakers than most movie theaters and has unparalleled support for existing the future standards. A channel is a dedicated circuitry for one audio source, and there are two when we’re talking about stereo.) Denon also claims the system is essentially future-proof, with an upgrade path to full HDMI 2.1 compatibility. If you want to build an Atmos surround sound system, you can have unparalleled flexibility for adding height channels, such as two front, one center, and two rear height channels, either by mounting real height channels on the ceiling or using upward-firing speakers to simulate height. is the current best-possible, highest resolution video format for consumer There are also inputs for a handful of components — not as generous as most Denon receivers, but certainly enough for the vast majority of modern home theater owners. A 5.1.2 Atmos system has the usual five-plus-subwoofer plus two height speakers. Awards followed (including #2 in Customer Service by USA TODAY), business boomed, our online store took off, and long story short, today we still love what we do — and that’s definitely the truth. That’s now history. It has a ton of features and capabilities, nearly as well equipped as many pricier models, but has a user-friendly graphical interface on the television to control virtually all of its features. We give you a. . You'll need a home theater receiver to connect your components to a television or projector and power the speakers in your surround sound system. Yes, AV receivers now do all sorts of things, and we’ll touch on those, but overall: If you’re watching the playoffs and you want to feel like you’re IN the stadium, or watching Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling dancing and you want to feel like you’re right there, in the moment, you’ll need an AV receiver connected to your TV. (Think of channels as speakers. You can even voice-control the system with Amazon Alexa. You must be logged in to write a comment. Make sure your new receiver has enough channels for all the. Find more Sony STR-DN1080 information and reviews here. that connect to the receiver just like a CD player, and allow you to stream almost any music, Even , to name a few. without worrying about radio reception because it's "over the internet,” not AV receivers are typically deeper than stereo receivers, so I usually recommend allowing 20 inches for depth. Grandma could take over, no problem. (*Ahem* Just like us.). A 7.1 system has four surround speakers --two in the back and two on the side. Gift Guide. You can stream music throughout the house with Denon’s HEOS streaming technology. Just tell us a little about your house, give us a budget range to work with, and we’ll show you all sorts of possibilities, a la: Our only rule: “no one leaves unhappy.” Learn more about World Wide Stereo, Car Stereo Upgrade: Ferrari 458 Italia Edition, Lights, Audio, and Video in a Luxe Philadelphia Apartment, The Best Over Ear Noise-Canceling Headphones of 2020, How to Choose the Right Pair of Headphones, 4 Ways to Get The Most out of Your Turntable, How to Choose the Best Home Theater System, Best Gifts of 2020: Home For The Holidays, Project Profile: Designer Home Theater Transformation, Subwoofer Calibration Tutorial: How to Make Your Sub Sound Better, Review: LG ProBeam 4K UHD Laser Projector (GRU510N), Review: Audioengine A1 Wireless Bookshelf Speakers, Review: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO vs. DC Turntable, Review: Marantz Model 30 Integrated Amp & Network SACD 30n, Review: Astell & Kern SR25 Portable Music Player, — Home Theater Receiver Buying Guide Cheat Sheet. Sony STR-DN1080 7.2ch Home Theater AV Receiver (MSRP $499.99) The Sony STR-DN1080 is a receiver that has been out for a few years but still checks all the boxes for a 4K receiver that won’t break the bank. video at home. None. dainty glass etagere or plastic shelf won’t do – you’re going to want. everyone would hard-wire (physically plug in) their TV to their Find more Marantz AV Receiver SR8012 information and reviews here. How tech-savvy are you? We highly recommend getting an AV receiver with Dolby Atmos onboard and seven channels at a minimum, but only if your room can support it and you plan to keep your audio system for a while. dainty glass etagere or plastic shelf won’t do – you’re going to want something The AV receiver’s job is to receive, interpret, and then process the TV audio signal (via the cable or dish box, for example) coming into the house, before sending it along to its ultimate destination: the TV and speakers. Or just skip the rest of this and buy one listed here: calling one of the best AV receivers anywhere, at any price. 5. Bottom line: AV receivers were designed and built primarily for TVs as a way to bring an authentic, cinema-like experience to the home. a subwoofer for impactful bass, and now you have 2.1. 2. Many of the newest home theater receivers are easily controlled through an app on your iPhone, tablet, or computer. (Remember the old Mac vs. PC war? 3.1, like most sound bars will give you. There’s an HDMI input in front if you should have a need to plug a temporary source into the receiver, but otherwise, you’ll find a generous array of ports in back — including 7 HDMI inputs, 3 outputs, and a wealth of component inputs and legacy connections. speakers in the ceiling for cutting-edge surround sound, Dolby Atmos. Copying video content, particularly 4K content, for example, if you 're ready to test drive an showroom... 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