The 6 Best Mid-Range Home Theater Receivers of 2022

Table of Content

• More for those seeking great sound quality
• The 6 Best Mid-Range Home Theater Receivers of 2022
• Best stereo amplifiers 2018
• Yamaha RX-V385 5.1-Channel 4K Ultra HD AV Receiver with Bluetooth
• Video Switching and Processing
• Rogue Sphinx v2 integrated amplifier
• The Audiophiliac picks the best receivers and amplifiers
• Hi-Res Audio

He lives in New York City where he writes about streaming and home audio. Of course, buying the home theater receiver of your choice is just the first step. In other words, anything below "CD quality", such as MP3 and other highly-compressed formats are considered "low res" audio, and anything above "CD quality" is considered "hi-res" audio. We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. Lifewire EV EVs have been around a long time but are quickly gaining speed in the automotive industry. Learn how the long-coming and inevitable shift to electric impacts you.

Still, as the Onkyo offers balanced performance across both, it's my current favorite. When considering a receiver, a second level of video processing to check for is deinterlacing. This is a process whereby video signals coming in from the composite or S-video inputs are converted from interlaced scan to progressive scan and then output via Component or HDMI outputs to the TV. This improves the quality of the image, making it smoother and more acceptable for display on an HDTV However, keep in mind that not all receivers can perform this function well.

More for those seeking great sound quality

In addition to traditional wired multi-zone options, some home theater receivers also offer the ability to wirelessly stream audio to compatible wireless speakers connected via a home network. However, each brand has its own closed system that requires the use of specific brand-compatible products. The home theater receiver also referred to as an AV receiver or surround sound receiver, is the heart of a home theater system. It provides most, if not all, the inputs and outputs that you connect everything, including your TV, into. A Home Theater Receiver provides an easy and cost-effective way of centralizing your home theater system.

Our editorial staff selected the absolute best products of the year from our 28 total product categories and have given them a special place in AV history as Best of 2018 award winners. Here at the end of 2018, we at HomeTheaterReview.com look back at all the products we reviewed this year and pick the best of the bunch, from budget favorites to aspirational flagship products. Shop your favorite products and we’ll find the best deal with a single click. Standards change all the time, but the bare minimum right now is support for HDR and Dolby Vision, and at least HDMI version 2.0 or better.

The 6 Best Mid-Range Home Theater Receivers of 2022

Coming in $1,000 below the insanely low-priced, floorstanding Double Impact speakers, the Impact Monitors give much of the DI's performance at a much lower price. Finished in a glorious gloss white, Paradigm's more entry-level floorstanding speakers just don't feel that entry-level. These speakers can hang with the big boys and have the looks to match really well-appointed rooms.

Where other amplifiers will add colour to the sound, the Halo’s great strength is its neutral sonic stance, which allows the music to speak for itself. As such, the only emphasis you’ll hear is delivered as intended by the artists themselves. In addition to 13.1 channels, it also incorporates overhead and height channels.

Best stereo amplifiers 2018

If you’re looking for an affordable home theater receiver with connection/content access flexibility for a variety of setups and good sound quality, definitely consider the STR-DN1080. It doesn’t come cheap, but NAD’s Masters M28 is a genuinely unique product designed to compete sonically with some of the highest-end amps on the market, regardless of how many channels they offer. That being said, Onkyo TX-SR494 allows you to feel the freedom of the wireless 5.2.2-channel system. Experience fully smooth and easy Bluetooth streaming which your amplifier will automatically connect to once it is in range . What’s even spurring is that this Amp boasts Bluetooth connectivity.

Put differently, either use it as a 5.2 or 5.1 channel, it won’t be a problem at all. It’s no wonder that Yamaha is one of the largest manufacturers that make musical instruments. From violins to pianos, it’s most renowned for producing top-notch products all around the world. That’s why to make sure you miss no ingredient in the end-to-end movie experience, we’ve rounded up the 5 Best Amplifiers for Home Theatre in 2020 for your ultimate motion picture system. One noteworthy improvement of the v2 over its predecessor is its revised and quieter moving-magnet/moving-coil phono preamplifier section.

Yamaha RX-V385 5.1-Channel 4K Ultra HD AV Receiver with Bluetooth

Another HDMI connection option that is available on some home theater receivers is HDMI-MHL. This updated HDMI connection can do everything that a "normal" HDMI connection can, but has the added capability to accommodate the connection of MHL-enabled smartphones and tablets. This enables the receiver to access content that is either stored on or streamed to, portable devices, for viewing or listening through your home theater system. If your home theater receiver has an MHL-HDMI input, it will be clearly labeled. It must also be noted that HDMI 1.4 and 1.4a connections also have the ability to pass 4K resolution video signals , provided that feature has been activated by the receiver manufacturer.

We examined dozens of mid-range home theater receivers, and our pick for the best is the Denon AVR-S960H because it offers 8K pass through, up to 7.2 channel support, and other high-end features at a mid-range price. If the AVR-960H isn’t for you, we’ve also included our picks in other categories like the best budget A/V receiver, and the best options for different surround sound setups. From time to time I collect stand-out products for a gallery, and this time I'm bringing you the best receivers and amplifiers. We'll start with theRotel RA-1592stereo integrated amplifier ($2,499, £1,895, AU$3,499). It's a velvet brute with 200 watts per channel ofClass ABpower on tap, ultra-high-resolution 768 kHz and 32-bit digital converters , all packed into a handsome chassis that's available in silver or black finishes.

The $600 TX-NR6100 is the first receiver I tested that I found to both pass 4K/120Hz and which I would also recommend to new buyers. Add to that a recent $500 price hike and this receiver has sadly been pushed out of contention. Be aware the Onkyo may be out of stock at present, but as an alternative the Yamaha RX-A4 is even better with movies. Ty Pendlebury is a journalism graduate of RMIT Melbourne, and has worked at CNET since 2006.

Then, starting around a decade ago, the brand slowly slipped off the radar screens of most audiophiles. Krell returns to form with an exceptionally capable amplifier for well-heeled home theaters where quality takes precedence over quantity. The Avalon G4 may be designed for upgrading systems to the new immersive audio formats, but it's also a fine performer that's flexible enough to satisfy other configurations. Eight channels of unimpeachable Class D power in a fairly compact and very flexible package. Saying no will not stop you from seeing our ads, but it may make them less relevant or more repetitive.

Rogue Sphinx v2 integrated amplifier

Home theater receivers have evolved into highly sophisticated entertainment hubs that can wirelessly connect to just about every device in your life, upscale video content, and deliver movie theater-worthy audio performance. With an overwhelming number of products to choose from, we've rounded up the best picks. Meanwhile, the Onkyo TX-RZ50 is an excellent receiver if you're looking for the next level of features and a performance bump over sub-$1,000 models. It offers an excellent, if slightly scary, calibration routine from Dirac Live and the best number of streaming features on the market.

The AVR-X3700H supports 3D audio, as well as Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization for when you can’t have the perfect speaker placement. In addition to supporting numerous audio and video technologies, it has Wi-Fi, wired connectivity, Bluetooth, Airplay support, and compatibility with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Home. You can set up a rather advanced surround sound system, given this receiver has a nine channel amplifier at 105 watts per channel . It has 11 different connections for speakers, and dual subwoofer connections for a maximum of 11.2 channels. The 3700H is an ideal pick for those who are serious about their home theater picture and sound, but still want to stay in a reasonable budget range.

That said, if you're just looking to get some speakers hooked up to your TV or stereo system, these 5 models are great choices. The Sony STR-DH790 Surround Sound Home Theater AV Receiver is the perfect way to upgrade your home theater experience. With a 7.2-channel, multi-format receiver and built-in wireless, you can watch movies in true 4K HDR quality. This receiver also features Dolby Atmos and Bluetooth® wireless technology for a premium listening experience.

Unfortunately, this model lacks Wi-Fi compatibility or an Ethernet port, but it does have Bluetooth. It’s hi-res compatible, and you can set up a 5.1 or 7.1-channel surround sound system that’s uniquely calibrated to your space. The build quality is impressive too, and this receiver should last quite a while. Most companies offer only one model—if that—and it’s generally a reconstruction of their flagship AVR minus the amp section. Don’t expect a discounted price, though; with such a limited audience for pre/pros, you can expect to pay top dollar even when the amps are absent. That said, this isn’t such a bad deal because you can then choose an amplifier that mates well with your particular speakers.