Home • DJ Accessories • Best AV Receiver For 2023: (Discover The Most Powerful AVR Speaker Units)
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No matter what type of great sound and audio experience you plan on setting up (be it an actual movie theater, a gaming rig, or a DJ studio) you’ll need to invest yourself in the best AV receiver.
Also known as an AVR, a good AV receiver act as the lynchpin that ties all of your listening and video experiences together.
This is because an AV receiver creates a hub where everything passes through before going where it needs to go.
While there are a ton of potentially best AV receivers on the market, not all are ideal for what you’re trying to make for your home as well as what you want in the long term.
For instance, how many channels do you require? What sound formats are you potentially wanting to use?
That’s why we’ve cultivated this list of the most relevant and current AVRs.
There are multiple prices, multiple AV receiver manufacturers and several quality ranges with an AV receiver, with all of them being the best in their respective fields. Check these best av receiver models out and see what is right for you
Staying just under the $ 1,000 mark, the Denon AVR-X2700H AV receiver offers some compelling features that will have more than a bit of longevity in their applicable use. A solid all-rounder and worth every penny.
Below, we’ll take the time to check out some of the best AV receiver models currently on the market while also giving you some tips on what to expect and look out for when getting the correct AVR audio and speaker receiver that’s correct for you.
While there are some reasonably priced best AV receivers on this list, meant for those just starting with AV receiver devices, there are also some options that are at the highest of the highs, where features become incredible at the cost of a prohibitive price tag.
Then there are those that stand squarely in the middle, where the price is a bit higher than one would think to pay, while also getting a lot more for a lot less, all things considered.
The Denon AVR-X2700H AV receiver is one of these options.
The Denon AVR is true for both gaming as well as audio experiences.
The Denon AVR AV receiver device has a respectable 95W of power per channel and has a pass-through rate of 60Hz for 8K video and 120Hz for 4K video.
The Denon AVR AV receiver also supports all of the major sound formats, including Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Atmos Height Virtualization, and DTS Virtual: X.
In addition to the Denon AVR’s great sound and video options, the X2700H AV receiver also has numerous connectivity options, including Spotify Connect, USB, HEOS, Apple Airplay, and even radio. In addition, you’ll also have access to most of the voice control options such as Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant.
There’s even a phono input option for those that love their vinyl records and turntables.
Read this next: 25 Spotify Tips That Will Completely Enhance Your Streaming Experience
The Marantz NR1711 AV receiver comes across as a unit on the less imposing side, standing at a 3.5-inch height. This is around half the height of most other AVRs, easily making it seem like the “kiddie” version of AV receivers.
The truth is that Marantz AV receivers are far better than most would think it has the right to be.
Yes, there is a bit of downsizing that you’ll notice.
As an example, its amp size was cut, giving only around 50W per channel. Still, unless you plan to perform in a large room or stadium, you should have more than enough sound and sound quality for everyone using this AV receiver.
One group that will actually benefit from this AV receiver drawback is video game players.
Because AV receivers are often playing in smaller rooms or setups, the sound reduction isn’t likely going to be noticed, especially when it offers 8K video support, making it great for consoles like the PS5.
The AVR option is also great for surround sound and home theater system fans, coming with real surround sound speaker formats like Dolby Vision, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Surround sound, or Dolby Speaker system Virtualizer. There’s also DTS support for things like DTS:X, DTS Digital Surround sound, DTS Neural: X, and DTS: X.
The AV receiver can be used to set up and calibrate your system with Dynamic EQ as well as Dynamic Volume processors.
These AV receivers can even be used to spin vinyl and be connected with Wi-Fi and Alexa support.
Read this next: Best DJ Speakers [Our Top Picks]
Let’s talk budget receivers. Meant as one of the best budget AV receiver units for many people on a tight budget, the Sony STRDH590 offers to surround sound modes and a system listening experience that won’t break the bank.
This budget AV receiver includes 5.1 surround sound as well as 4 HDMI inputs as well as an out port.
The STRDH590 AV receiver can handle ultra-HD content up to 4K Blu-ray and offers a 90W RMS per channel, giving it a ton of punch to its sound.
This AV receiver also supports both Dolby vision, as well as DTS, surround sound stereo speakers decoding, though higher-grade options like Dolby Atmos or DTS:X are a bit too high speed for what the STRDH590 can offer.
Still, if you’re alright with 4K, and don’t need anything higher, this is a great best-budget av receiver option for many not willing to fork over a ton of money.
As mentioned earlier, the STRDH590 AV receiver comes with four HDMI inputs as well as one ARC out port option.
This particular AV receiver also comes with an analog, optical, and coaxial input port, though there aren’t any phono digital inputs included, meaning you’d need an external preamp if you wanted to tie it into a turntable.
This best-budget AV receiver does come with an FM port as well as a front-panel USB option to play music from any type of external hard drive.
It also includes Bluetooth connectivity for pairing music and mobile devices wirelessly.
The only real downsides here are the lack of 8K support as well as the fact that it uses HDMI inputs 2.0 rather than HDMI 2.1.
This all simply means that you won’t be getting the best of the best here, but rather a fairly accessible entry-point that most people starting will love.
Read this next: Best Bookshelf Speakers: Turn Your Space Into Something Special
If the three options above aren’t well-suited to you, there are still a host of quality best bookshelf speakers to choose from. Our team also checked out the Yamaha RX-4VA AV receiver for all you Yamaha lovers out there.
The Yamaha RX-4VA AV receiver is a 5.2-channel unit that is a great addition to any startup gaming room, listening room, home theater system, or home DJ studio.
It comes with four HDMI inputs. The HDMI 2.1 input options as well as an eARC output option.
Not only that, but the AV receiver setup also comes with a coaxial, optical, and analog RCA set of inputs, and while it doesn’t include a phono input for those that love vinyl records, its wide range of compatible adapters and other gear should be more than enough to offset the loss.
If you like to stream music and are a fan of such things as Spotify connect this will suit you.
The RX-4VA also supports Dolby vision, as well as DTS, surround sound decoding alongside Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Wi-Fi streaming, and voice-controlled assistants like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
Perfect for times when you just want to sit back, relax and stream music.
There’s also the Yamaha MusicCast multiroom system that allows you to connect with multiple different Yamaha-based devices completely wirelessly.
This is largely unique to Yamaha and makes it a great buy even if not as technologically advanced as others on this list.
Some of the downsides of the AV receiver, however, come by way of many of those technological hang-ups.
Namely, the fact that the RX-4VA doesn’t support any virtualized versions of Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, or DTS: X.
Similarly, these AV receivers are also unable to handle 4K video signals at 120Hz, something almost every other AV receiver here can do.
These AV receivers do not support 8K at all, despite supporting HDMI 2.1, though that is slated to change very soon.
Read this next: Yamaha Speakers: Music Tech Royalty
A stereo receiver is an audio-only, two-channel amp that includes source switching and an AM/FM tuner. If it does not have a tuner it’s called an integrated stereo amp.
One of the first areas you should consider looking into is the AVR’s longevity. The general consensus is that AV receivers should last around five years, progressively getting worse over time after that point.
Longevity is kind of an interesting topic here. Not only is the lifespan of an AV receiver important but also its appeal.
The same goes for many older AV receiver units compared to the new ones.
It’s important to get one that maintains its quality over the 5-year mark, yes, but you also want to consider whether the features included can stay fresh and appealing even five years later or if, by that time, you’ll be interested in checking out the next shining and interesting thing.
Just as longevity is an important consideration, so too are the number of AV receiver HDMI inputs and outputs. Not only are the number of HDMI inputs and output ports important, but also the type of port it is.
As an example, the output port will either be an ARC or an eARC. This is short for Audio Return Channel and Enhanced Audio Return Channel.
The eARC option is only found in HDMI 2.1-supported HDMI ports and offers a more impressive and supported 24-bit/192kHz audio quality performance as well as an uncompressed option between 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound content.
This translates to a higher quality listening and visual experience compared to standard ARC port options, so getting an AV receiver with eARC is certainly worth considering.
Another factor to consider is the apparent sound quality.
Now, it’s important to understand that AV receivers aren’t speakers, wireless speakers, surround sound systems speakers, or audio players in and of themselves, but rather an intermediary hub that sends the audio out to whatever speakers you already have set up.
This means that you shouldn’t expect sound quality with one AV receiver to be drastically different coming out of the same surround speakers as another AV receiver.
That said, there are some AVRs that either allow for or include a dedicated power amp. These are great as they effectively boost the sound even before it heads to the surround sound speakers, improving any sound quality you were already going to get exposed to.
If you have the option for one of these AV receivers and you care about sound quality, these are the ideal choice to explore..
One question many may have is whether or not they need Dolby vision or Dolby Atmos audio for their AV receiver.
With it becoming a favorite format choice for many, Dolby Atmos surround sound offers a height dimension as well as traditional directionality of surround sound to better create a more immersive sound quality and visual experience.
It’s often seen by many movies today, most of which offer an “Atmos mix” that definitely cranks up the viewing experience.
Ultimately, there are a ton of benefits and perks that come with AV receivers that offers Dolby Atmos support. I’d argue that, if you truly want an optimal listening experience, it’s worth it to be on the lookout for the option.
Again, while the lack of it isn’t going to ruin your experience (especially if you haven’t had said experience before) it will be very different compared to someone that has and uses Dolby Atmos.
One thing many might question is whether most receivers are worth paying for. The truth is that many of the top AV receivers not only are worth their price, but are absolutely essential if you’re trying to put together a quality home theater system, home stereo system, music streaming system, or complete DJ or gaming setup.
It is one of the easiest ways to establish a diverse range of connectivity by processing all incoming content into a proper and supported format.
AV receiver units act as one-stop formatting devices by channeling your audio out to your speakers while sending all video signals off through to the TV.
Most quality AVRs also allow for multi-room audio experiences, so long as you have the proper speakers in place.
It’s not too outlandish to say that you could potentially have an AVR running a quality audio performance throughout your entire home.
So, are AV receiver units worth it?
It ultimately depends on the type of AV receiver device you get. However, as a concept, AV receivers are incredible inclusions for just about any home as they can create improved audio quality and a visual experience that you really can’t get on your own or only with a few speakers.
When it comes to picking the best AV receivers there are an extensive number of options out there to choose from.
Without a doubt, the market is flooded with different AV receivers, all at different prices and different levels of quality.
Our top pick for the best AV receiver is the Denon AVR-X2700H AV receiver.
When determining what AV receivers will work for you, consider what you need and what you plan to use it for. Are you looking to transition into something more complex with multiple audio channels or are you planning on upgrading your surround sound everything, the TV and speaker system as well?
Spend some time to see what you need in an AV receiver and check out the different ones we have listed.
This is meant to be a small intro with some of the best AV receivers for 2022 and 2023. In most scenarios, you’ll find what you’re looking for here regardless of your starting budget. However, what’s even more important is knowing what you’re looking for in an AV receiver.
Determine what your goals are in an AV receiver and how much you’re willing to spend and set up your space to accommodate it. Once you have that understanding, the rest is pretty simple.
Dexter has worked in the music business since the early 1990s. He has been a keen tech writer for many years and is still regularly involved in promoting prominent electronic music events in Ibiza and the UK.
Dexter also specializes in managing and growing digital marketing platforms for leading international DJs, event brands, and venues.
He relocated to Croatia from Ibiza six years ago but has continued his industry involvement whilst living on the electronic music party Island of Pag.
Alongside music, Dexter is a cat nut and a through-and-through family man!
Speaking of avr’s of 2023 you mentioned Denon x2700h instead x2800h?
A nonsense article hoping to earn a kickback off the links.
The first one on the list is stated as not having HDMI 2.1 and eARC support, and it clearly does on the product page. Regardless, at the time of this article, the Denon X1700H is out, which is almost a year newer than the X2700H, and it offers 3 HDMI 2.1 inputs, which is far more desirable than the single input on the X2700H… And the X1700H is cheaper. All this to say, don’t use this article as a guide to make your decision. The author has not done real diligence to get you accurate, updated information.
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