Buying guide for best receivers
Audio-video receivers, or AV receivers, are almost a must-have for any home stereo or home theater setup. They take audio and video from sources like cable boxes, 4K gaming consoles and streaming services, then send the audio through your speakers. If you're looking to upgrade your audio setup, an AV receiver is the way to go.
Our buying guide breaks down what to look for when choosing a receiver, including the features worth paying for and the ones you probably don’t need to worry about.
Receivers can get confusing pretty quickly, especially once you start comparing all the different specs and features. That’s why we’ve broken everything down to help you figure out exactly what you need for your setup. Our top choice is the Denon AVR-S960H 8K Ultra HD AV Receiver.
Stereo receivers vs. home theater receivers
Most receivers are designed for one of two uses: as a two-channel stereo for music or a multichannel surround sound setup for home theaters.
Speaker madness: receiver surround formats
If you’re buying a receiver to build a home theater, it’s important to understand the various surround sound formats, what you’ll need to enjoy them, and the content that’s most likely to feature high-end audio.
Receivers describe the surround audio formats based on how many speakers they utilize. There are three primary types of surround sound available on receivers
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Five speakers: You can find the traditional 5.1 just about everywhere these days. A 5.1 setup includes a center channel speaker, left and right front speakers, left and right rear speakers, and one subwoofer. Most cable TV and streaming video is available in 5.1.
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Seven speakers: The 7.1 surround format builds on the 5.1 standard by adding two side speakers. In a 7.1 home theater, the left and right rear speakers are behind the viewer, and the left and right side speakers are positioned left and right of the viewer. Most Blu-ray discs come with 7.1 surround audio.
- Object-based audio: Cutting-edge receivers support object-based audio (OBA) formats like DTS:X and Dolby Atmos. A setup like this adds two or four additional speakers, typically in the ceiling. With these additional speakers, an Atmos or DTS:X receiver can coordinate the sound much more precisely. For example, if you’re watching video of a rainstorm using a proper 7.1.x setup, it will sound as though the rain is falling in the room.
Did you know?
When a surround sound format is described as 5.1, it means that it has five main speakers and one subwoofer.
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Premium receiver features
Most receivers are good at the basics, but there are a few luxury features to look out for. As you’re shopping for a receiver, consider which of the most common premium features may be right of you.
Pass-through
If your TV supports 4K resolution with high dynamic range (HDR), and you have the appropriate source content, you’ll need a receiver that can properly pass the full signal through to your TV. Both 4K and HDR offer significant upgrades to your TV’s picture quality, so it's worthwhile making sure your receiver enables you to enjoy both.
Bluetooth
Everyone’s favorite smartphone streaming protocol can be found on many receivers, making it easy to stream music or play your own MP3s from your phone or tablet.
Music-streaming apps
Some receivers include built-in apps for streaming music over the web from services like Spotify or Pandora. Streaming apps are great for playing your favorite playlists – just keep in mind that you’ll need to connect the receiver to your home network. If you don’t have a nearby network jack, look for a model with built-in WiFi.
"The Bluetooth wireless protocol has evolved over the years, with new iterations bringing improvements both to sound quality and distance range. If Bluetooth is a high priority for you, make sure the receiver you buy supports the Bluetooth 4.2 standard at a minimum."
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Receiver prices
Don’t get suckered into paying too much for a receiver! Familiarize yourself with the main price ranges before you start shopping.
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Inexpensive: In the $75 to $250 range, expect to find basic stereo receivers and low-quality home theater receivers. Receivers in this price range won’t get very loud and don’t support convenience features like Bluetooth. Low-end receivers are good for small spaces like dorm rooms, but if you’re looking for better audio quality or you have a decent-sized viewing area, you’ll need to spend a little more.
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Mid-range: In the $250 to $600 range, you’ll find some audiophile-quality stereo receivers and strong surround sound receivers. In this price range, you’ll get almost all of the best premium features – like support for WiFi, Bluetooth, streaming music, and audio formats like DTS-HD Master Audio. While these receivers lack a few cutting-edge features like support for Dolby Atmos, they still pack quite an audio punch and represent the best value for the money.
- Expensive: For $600 to $1,300, you’ll find surround sound receivers that have every feature you can think of – plus a few more. If you’re building a high-end home theater with full support for the latest audio formats, expect to pay at least this much. If you’re eager to have all the features without the high price tag, look for a refurbished version of the receiver you want.
Expert Tip
If you plan to connect your receiver to a turntable to listen to vinyl, be sure to buy one with a Phono input to properly amplify the signal from the record player.
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Tips
As you’re selecting the right receiver for you, keep these tips in mind.
- If your receiver comes with a calibration microphone, go through the entire calibration process before listening to anything else. The calibration process typically takes about five minutes, and it customizes your listening experience based on your preferences, as well as data gathered about the local sonic environment. Most receivers do an excellent job of creating a sound profile that’s perfect for your tastes (and your neighbors).
- Rename the input sources on your receiver’s display. Most modern receivers allow you to customize each of the inputs you plan on using, so you’ll always know exactly what’s connected. For example, you can set your receiver to show “Cable TV Box” when using that input.
- If you own an iPhone, buy a receiver that features AirPlay. Apple’s proprietary casting protocol makes it simple to stream any audio from your iPhone. It’s faster and more reliable than Bluetooth, and it doesn’t require any device-pairing steps.
FAQ
Q. Many receivers list iPod compatibility as a feature. What does that mean?
A. If a receiver says it’s iPod compatible, that usually means it has a USB port on the front that you can use to connect your iPod or iPhone. You’ll then be able to play back through the receiver any music stored locally on the device. Keep in mind that iPod compatibility only works with Apple devices running iOS, and it won’t work with any Android devices.
Q. Can I use a receiver with a soundbar?
A. No. Soundbars have their own built-in amplification, so adding the amplification of a receiver would result in distorted sound and could cause permanent damage to the soundbar.
Q. Can I connect a streaming stick like Chromecast to a receiver?
A. Yes and no. Most receivers can be connected to any video source via a standard HDMI cable. However, some devices like the Google Chromecast are bulky and wide near their HDMI output, which on a receiver can make it difficult to access neighboring HDMI ports. If you plan on using any type of streaming stick with your receiver, make sure you’ll still be able to connect all of your other devices, or find a receiver that has an open HDMI port on the front side.
Our expertise
Kevin Luna has a love for all things tech, sports, fitness and gadgets. As a longtime writer for BestReviews, he enjoys writing engaging, high-quality guides to help shoppers make smart buying decisions.
