When you are browsing the market for the best AV receiver, there are plenty of factors to consider. Everyone’s home entertainment needs are different, so it’s important to take note and list the features you’re looking for before making a purchase. It’s much better to have a clear idea of what features you want in your AV receiver, before paying for an audio visual receiver that does not suit your needs.

An important factor to consider these days is to think about the number of audio and video sources (including mobile devices) you will be using, what Internet features you want, the size of your room and whether or not your be using multiple zones. You may be feeling rather overwhelmed by now….Not to worry, we’ll take a look at the most important features and benefits to help you decide which is the best AV receiver to suit home theater needs.

Picture	Name	Rating	More Details
	Yamaha R-S201BL 2-Channel Stereo Receiver	4.2 / 5 Stars 928 Customer Reviews	More details! Click Here
	Yamaha RX-V675 7.2 Channel Network AV Receiver with Airplay	4.3 / 5 Stars 747 Customer Reviews	More details! Click Here
	Yamaha RX-V377 5.1-Channel A/V Home Theater Receiver	4.3 / 5 Stars 678 Customer Reviews	More details! Click Here
	Yamaha RX-V677 7.2-channel Wi-Fi Network AV Receiver with AirPlay	4.3 / 5 Stars 561 Customer Reviews	More details! Click Here
	Onkyo TX-8020 Stereo Receiver	4.5 / 5 Stars 435 Customer Reviews	More details! Click Here
	Denon AVR-S500BT 5.2 Channel AV Receiver With 4K Capability and Bluetooth	3.8 / 5 Stars 311 Customer Reviews	More details! Click Here
	Yamaha RX-A1030 7.2-Channel Network Aventage Audio Video Receiver	4.7 / 5 Stars 47 Customer Reviews	More details! Click Here

What Is An AV Receiver?

Perhaps you’re not even sure what an AV receiver even is….An audio visual receiver decoder can amplify’s audio signal to be sent to your speakers. They also act as a hub for managing and switching audio and video sources. These units are a necessity if you are serious about having a high quality, cinemaplex type home theater, or music room. The best AV receiver is a high wattage audio visual receiver.

Are There Different Types Of Best AV Receivers?

The best AV receivers are identified by the number of audio input and output channels they have, the number of speakers they can supply amplified sound to. You will find during your research the most common types are stereo, 5.1 channel, 7.1 channel and 7.2 channel

Stereo – these AV receivers output one left and one right audio channel and most often have a subwoofer output for the lower frequencies. primarily, they are meant for audio playback and even though they may be integrated into a home theatre setup, the video connectivity is, as a general rule very limited or non-existent.

5.1 Channel – this is the entry level for home theater receivers capable of surround sound. You’ll find the five speakers used in the 5.1 channel A/V receiver are at the front left, front center, front right, rear right and rear left of the room. The 1 in the 5.1 refers to the subwoofer output.

7.1 Channel – this is the next level of AV receivers for people with a bigger home theater room. The 7.1 channel set up adds an additional two speakers to the direct right and the direct left of listeners for a thrilling, rich and immersive sound experience.

7.2 Channel – these the top of the range, best AV receiver and are designed for the larger home theater setups. A 7.2 channel receiver adds another subwoofer output to two evenly distribute deep rumbling bass frequencies throughout the room.

What Are The Benefits Of Owning An AV Receiver?

As any good film or music buff is painfully aware, the yawning gulf between a home audio system and the emotionally thrilling and satisfying experience of listening to movie theater quality audio can make or break the much anticipated movie or music experience!

First off, initially investing in a good home theater system helps to close the gap and choosing the best AV receiver you can afford is the concrete base of such a set up. An individual stand-alone AV receiver has a huge benefit over other home audio solutions such as a HTIB- home theater in a box-or a sound bar. The versatility and compatibility of the best AV receiver is priceless.

Soundbars are easy to install and operate and are relatively inexpensive. However, they offer a minimal improvement over the unexceptional sound of TV speakers and can never deliver the true, thrilling, immersive surround sound experience that a good quality AV receiver will give you.

HTIB systems can provide excellent surround sound for the home theater but they do suffer from a significant limitation. The various components only work with each other, so if one section fails and cannot be repaired, you will need to buy new system. Upgrading a component can be exceptionally difficult.

This is major benefit to owning the best AV receiver, as they are designed to work with the vast majority of the speakers on the market and don’t suffer any of these drawbacks.

Considerations When Choosing The Best AV Receiver…

1) Connectivity – with tons of different products available for video and audio sources, a modern day, cutting edge technology, best AV receiver should incorporate plenty of options for the input and output of content. The current standard for high definition is HDMI cabling. There are other popular options on the market, and they should also be present, such as composite, component, digital coaxial, digital optical and so on, as well as cordless data standards such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The majority of quality receivers include more than one set of speaker outputs for multi-room playback.

2) Audio Capabilities – what does your AV receiver do with the video and audio data it receives from its source, what can it do with it? The vast majority of receivers incorporate a wide variety of audio output settings, such as multi-channel stereo, traditional surround sound and simulated environments such as jazz clubs and concert hall environments. The middle to higher end audio visual receivers will typically feature multi-zone capabilities. This multi-zone capability allows you to play audio in 2 or more rooms simultaneously with the best AV receiver .

3) Video Capabilities – Modern video capabilities can include 1080p or 4K up-scaling. Many companies now have mobile apps which allow AV receiver device control from a tablet or a phone. Interestingly, 3-D televisions are becoming more popular and not all audio visual receivers can handle a 3-D signal. Some high end AV receivers can output to 2 HD sources via different inputs for a unique multi-screen experience.

4) AV Receiver – we all know that hair ripping frustration only too well that comes with being unable to access, or figure out how to use some of the important features and controls of the device you have just purchased….Sound familiar? Make sure the set up is quick and straightforward. Is the user interface of the remote intuitive? Can the often needed features be accessed with the push of one button? Or, must you work through several menus to find what you need? Make sure when you choose the best AV receiver, the unit is simple to figure out and work.

Definitely Consider Built-in Airplay, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi

The newest features on the best AV receivers is the built-in support for wireless technologies such as Bluetooth, AirPlay, Song Pal and Wi-Fi. AV receivers with this built-in facility are definitely worth considering.

What we love about Bluetooth, AirPlay and SongPal is you can load up any onto your tablet or smart phone such as Spotify or Pandora, and other technology allows you to wirelessly stream it to your AV receiver in seconds. You get the ultimate instant gratification of listening to the latest tunes especially if you use your mobile device a lot

AirPlay and Bluetooth are similar. Bluetooth works with the majority of smartphones and tablets including Apple devices within a range of approximately 30 feet, but with diminished sound quality. AirPlay on the other hand only works with Apple devices-with a few exceptions. This facility offers superior audio quality and your AV receiver must be connected to your home network.

Yes, it is possible to add both Bluetooth and Airplay to an AV receiver using an external device. Of course, it’s easier having it as a built-in option into the best AV receiver.

Built-in Wi-Fi is less important. Incorporated Wi-Fi does make it easier to connect your AV receiver onto your home network, instead of needing a wired Ethernet connection, which enables integrated streaming services, smartphone control and firmware updates. The main reason why you would like built-in Wi-Fi- you can take advantage of AirPlay on the best AV receiver.

The Best AV Receiver – Onkyo TX-NR838 7.2-Ch Network A/V Receiver w/ HDMI 2.0

 

 

 

Five of the receiver’s seven HDMI inputs are based on the latest HDMI specification to support 4K video at 50/60 frames per second and 21:9 aspect ratio for theater-reference movie display. Now you can add thunderous 7.2-channel surround-sound to blockbuster 4K 50/60 Hz games and movies for a breathtakingly realistic entertainment experience.

 

The receiver also has Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR on board. Pair up and stream whatever audio is playing on your compatible device, from MP3s to albums on YouTube. Audio streamed via Bluetooth is enhanced with Onkyo’s Advanced Music Optimizer, a DSP mode that restores compressed files to close to their original fidelity for beautifully full and natural sound.

Surround Sound / Display In Another Room…

The HDMI Sub Out can be used to connect your A/V receiver to a second display in another room. Now you can route 1080p content from the media players in your home theater room via the receiver and play it back in Zone 2.

Enjoy your favorite Blu-ray Discs, cable TV shows, and other HD content in the kitchen, den, or bedroom with easy playback control via smartphone or tablet. The TX-NR838 also handles 5.6 MHz DSD and Dolby TrueHD formats for the ultimate in depth and clarity.

With massive DSP power, high-quality TI Burr-Brown D/A conversion, and Onkyo’s low-distortion amplification, hi-res music on your home theater is not only easy to enjoy, it sounds absolutely fantastic as well.

 

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Our Last Thoughts On Choosing the Best AV Receiver…

 

The most important point to take into consideration is jot down your requirements, read the reviews of the AV receivers on your list and listen to people who have bought the same audio visual receiver. Watch YouTube videos and also Amazon reviews are an excellent place to start with. Many of these reviews are written by people who have some serious background knowledge of what is need in the best AV receiver and are sharing their thoughts. If you are in the market for a 4K Blu-Ray player, these are some of the most popular 4K Blu-Ray players

Take your time and do your research according to your budget if you have one. This way you will return home with the best AV receiver which will return you with hours of pleasurable entertainment and happy listening!