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
Get the most out of Audyssey with MultEQ-X software
A great USB mic for your REW and DIRAC Live calibrations
Are AVRs any good for music listening? Absolutely! Read on to find out why.
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...
As 2019 comes to a close, we at HomeTheaterReview.com look back at all the products we reviewed this year and pick the best of the bunch, from affordable favorites...
Following the financial collapse of 2008, many (present company included) had to figure out how to make do with less. As a result, many began to rethink their priorities...
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...
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...
A simpler AVR for simpler rooms, this slim Marantz offerings hits all the right buttons for Andrew Robinson.
Simple setup and operation, along with solid performance, a wealth of features, and exceptional value, more than make up for the VSX-933's few shortcomings.
I finally upgraded my living room television to a 4K set. As much as I was excited to get a new television, especially as it was with my wife's...
AV technology has been changing so fast lately that many receivers become obsolete just a year after they're introduced. Far fewer are designed with the ability to remain relevant...
At least on paper, Sony's newest entry-level AV receiver, the $279 STR-DH590, is designed for someone like me. Who am I, you ask? Well, I'm someone who loves my...
Say the words "simplicity of operation," "musicality," and "modularity" to home theater enthusiasts, and the first electronics brand to come to many minds is almost certainly NAD. Throughout the...