There is no shortage of connectors in back, including virtually every legacy input you could possibly need. At only $278, the STR-DH590 … Denon introduces the world's first 13-channel receiver. Denon AVR-X8500H 13.2 Channel Home Theater Receiver, What to Look for in a Home Theater Receiver, The Best Mid-Range Home Theater Receivers of 2020, Home Theater Receiver Connections Explained, The 2 Best Under-$400 Home Theater Receivers, Home Theater Receivers and the Multi-Zone Feature, The Onkyo HT-S3800/HT-S7800 Home Theater-in-a-Box Systems, How to Install and Set Up a Home Theater Receiver, Guide to Home Theater Receivers and Surround Sound, The 7 Best Two-Channel Stereo Receivers of 2020, Auro 3D Audio Surround Sound Format Basics, How to Use Multichannel Analog Audio Connections in Home Theater, The Yamaha YSP-5600 Dolby Atmos Digital Sound Projector, Overview of the DTS:X Surround Sound Format. The Denon AVR-X8500H ushers in a new standard for fully immersive, high-resolution home theater and listening. Sign up now! And the new Atmos surround standard includes "height" speakers -- either ceiling mounted or speakers that fire up and bounce sound off the ceiling. It supports the standard Dolby ATMOS and DTS:X audio decoding, along with more exciting features, like 4K, 3D, and TRILUMINOS color. 8 HDMI inputs are provided as well as three HDMI outputs. The right home theater receiever can greatly improve your Friday night home movie experience. Instead of connecting wirelessly, the receiver uses an 8-port gigabit ethernet switch, so you’ll always have the most reliable connection. As you can see from this article, you can spend anywhere from below $500 to over $3000 on home theater receiver. Here's a roundup of the best home theater receivers you can buy today, along with an overview of what the jargon means and how to shop for one. Sound United CES 2020 may have seen the introduction of actual 8K TVs but sadly the content is … The system comes with a microphone and Audyssey MultEQ software to calibrate the room for optimal audio, including smoothing out annoying jumps in volume (such when shows break for TV commercials). 13.1 Home Theater Surround Sound and Beyond. Power: 150W | Channels: 13.2 | HDMI inputs: 8 | HDMI outputs: 3 | Video support: 4K, HDR | Surround formats: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Auro-3D | Voice assistants: Alexa | Dimensions: 6.7 x 17.1 x 14.9 inches. But if you don’t mind that, you can also take advantage of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, AirPlay and a slew of streaming services like Chromecast, Spotify, Pandors, and many others. Best Entry-level AV Receiver. The only serious shortcoming: no phono input. If you feel comfortable with arcane interfaces and lots of techno-jargon, great -- many AV receivers aren't especially user friendly. It’s very flexible. Powered by. It has a ton of features and capabilities, nearly as well equipped as many pricier models, but has a user-friendly graphical interface on the television to control virtually all of its features. All five HDMI inputs support 4:4:4 Pure Color sub-sampling, BT.2020 pass-through, HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma). 11.2 Channel 140W AV 8K Receiver . Since this receiver has 4K switching, you’re largely future-proofed whether you have a 4K set now or not. For starters, it is the world’s first 13.2-channel AV receiver. This receiver is pricey, but it offers a substantial amount of power and a lot of features. And at the price point, you best believe that Auro 3D comes as part of the standard package. Denon also packs in Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and AirPlay 2, so you can stream content wirelessly to the receiver from virtually any device. You'll need a home theater receiver to connect your components to a television or projector and power the speakers in your surround sound system. Where to start? It integrates easily with many popular home automation systems including Control4 SDPP, Josh. There are also inputs for a handful of components — not as generous as most Denon receivers, but certainly enough for the vast majority of modern home theater owners. Denon AVC-8500H with many setup options One thing to beware of right out of the game, though: This is technically an AV amp, not an AV receiver since Denon opted not to include a full-fledged tuner in this package. In fact, the AVC-X8500H will process up to 15.2 channels with an external two-channel amplifier, or process and power 13.2 channels without resorting to external amplification. Do you want to watch movies with Dolby Atmos speakers? If you want to build an Atmos surround sound system, you can have unparalleled flexibility for adding height channels, such as two front, one center, and two rear height channels, either by mounting real height channels on the ceiling or using upward-firing speakers to simulate height. Black. Dolby Digital Plus supports surround systems up to 13.1, and there are many other configurations for surround sound, like 12.2, 22.2, and more. It has a full 13… Sony STRZA5000ES 9.2-Channel AV Receiver, Best for Auro 3D Audio: "A high-end home theater receiver that looks as good as it sounds, and also packs in more than you would expect. One of the most groundbreaking aspects of its design, the AVC-X8500H is a 13.2 channel AVR (for the sake of comparison, it’s simpler to refer to it as an AVR). But if you crave the unique experience of Auro 3D, and don’t want to pay extra for it, then this is an A/V receiver worth investing in. This Sony receiver also produces exceptional audio quality: 130 watts per channel at 8 ohms, with the ability to add two active subwoofers to distribute an equal bass sound. Connecting 13.1-channel speakers This system, which is based on a 5.1-channel system, plays back up to 13.1-channels at the same time. If … That said, it does support the elements that are probably going to be most important. [.1] The next digit refers to the number of powered subwoofers (sometimes called the low-frequency effects, or LFE, speakers) you can connect to your receiver. Configuration revolves around your setup as a whole. The front of the receiver will look familiar to anyone who knows Denon products; it has two large control knobs — one for volume and the other for source selection, with a flip-down panel that hides a slew of additional (and rarely used) controls, with a large display sitting above. If you’re looking for a powerful and flexible home theater receiver capable of delivering a full 7.1.4 (or 9.1.2) Atmos surround implementation, take a look at the Marantz AV Receiver SR8012, the company’s flagship receiver (and its first 11.2 model). Speakers require a specific wattage to correctly output sound, and your receiver needs to be able to meet that demand. First off I am sure you are wondering why I would just now write about 13.2 as a surround sound when almost two years ago I wrote about 15.2…. Instead, you get a tuner input. In back, you get seven additional HDMI ports with 4K switching, three HDMI outputs, a slew of well-organized component inputs and binding posts for all 11 speaker channels. It all started with the movie “Heat.” This is one of my favorite films. Audio/video standards - Make sure that your new receiver supports the audio and video standards of your equipment. It’s essential to check the number of speakers that your unit supports. As the first 13.2 channel receiver to support the latest immersive audio formats, the Denon AVR-X8500H has a lot to live up to. 9 Best UPS: Uninterruptible Power Supply Buyer’s Guide, Comprehensive support for existing standards, Fully modern with voice control and streaming, Support for all important surround formats, Running a full Atmos speaker configuration can tax the receiver's power capabilities, Remote is more complicated than the space shuttle, You'll need an installer to get the most out of this receiever, Limited options for connecting components, 11.2 configuration can tax receiever's power capabilities. If you never plan to go beyond a simple 5.1-channel configuration, for example, buying an 11.1-capable receiver is literally money wasted. You can even voice-control the system with Amazon Alexa. Showing the single result. Each unit is hand-built in small batch form in Japan at same facility where their venerable AVR-5805 was produced. The specs are solid for a sub-$500 receiver — in fact, this could well be the last receiver you ever buy, given your needs. Somebody in a 7.2.6 setup? Similar to other receivers in this price range, you get Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and AirPlay 2 for streaming, as well as connected services like Spotify and Pandora for internet streaming. When investing in your new receiver, speaker wattage, configuration, and output standards will be what determines your model choice. It has a wealth of HDMI inputs and can see you through to as much as a 7.1.2 surround sound system. With 6 HDMI inputs and 2 outputs (both with HDCP 2.2 support), there’s plenty of space to connect your TV, internet and gaming console and still have room to spare. BE THE FIRST TO KNOW. How much does Denon revere the AVR-X8500H’s status? You’ve put a lot of time into building your personal home theater system, so you need an equally customizable AV receiver to complete the set. 13.2 Channel 150W AV Receiver . Power: 140W | Channels: 11.2 | HDMI inputs: 8 | HDMI outputs: 3 | Video support: 4K, HDR | Surround formats: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Auro-3D | Voice assistants: Alexa | Dimensions: 6.7 x 17.1 x 14.9 inches. But there’s a caveat here: numerous independent looks at this system seem to bear out that the real-world performance is much closer to 140 watts per channel, and when you put a load on all 11 channels, the amp will have trouble delivering — but that’s already more than almost any home theater is ever likely to need. Denon also claims the system is essentially future-proof, with an upgrade path to full HDMI 2.1 compatibility. (There’s another HDMI input in front, which is handy for quickly plugging in a laptop or some other temporary source). It lets you connect your components to your television or projector. AVR-X6700H (2020) $2499.00. Power: 75W | Channels: 5.2 | HDMI inputs: 5 | HDMI outputs: 1 | Video support: 4K, HDR | Surround formats: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X | Voice assistants: Alexa, Google Assistant | Dimensions: 17.3 x 17.1 x 7.2 inches. The 13.2 channel receiver incorporates custom-made DHCT (Denon High Current Transistors)—discrete monolithic amplifiers rated at 150 watts per channel (@8 ohms, 20 – 20 kHz, THD 0.05%, 2 channel driven), enabling premium surround sound from object-oriented formats, such as Dolby Atmos or DTS:X, without any external amplification. 7 Best Home Theater Receivers: Buyer’s Guide, Copyright © 2020 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Also, some of the SR-7012's features can be controlled using Alexa voice control via an Amazon Echo device with the Alexa HEOS skill enabled. Celebrating 110 years of audio excellence, the extensively tuned Denon limited series Anniversary Edition flagship receiver combines a supremely immersive home experience with a host of user-friendly convenience features. The receiver has Audyssey speaker calibration, of course, which makes initial setup super easy. That’s a big deal. As the first 13.2 channel receiver to support the latest immersive audio formats, the Denon AVR-X8500H has a lot to live up to. Denon AVR-X8500H 13.2 Channel AV Receiver $ 5,299.99. There's a vast range of prices for home theater receivers, and unlike a lot of products, you can easily see how spending more money on receivers directly translates first and foremost to more channels and more wattage, and to a lesser degree, more features. But if you want to keep it simple, look for receivers like the Denon HEOS AVR and Sony STR-DN1080 which were intentionally designed to be as friendly as possible. It also streams Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, and a dozen other services via the receiver’s built-in Wi-Fi. 9.2 Channel 8K AV receiver with 3D Audio, HEOS® Built-in and Voice Control It also includes the amplifiers needed to power your speakers. It includes Atmos surround processing, so you can configure your theater with as much as a 7.1 speaker configuration or add two height speakers with a 5.1.2 array. This is the equivalent of deciding how many seats your car should have or how many rooms you need in your next house -- everything else flows from this first, most basic question. It includes Denon’s familiar remote — a little hard to use, especially in the dark. The aesthetics are professional and conservative; you get a selector and volume control in front with a minimal, rounded “portal” display. What’s missing here is all the connectivity you’d get with many other receivers — you’re mostly limited to HDMI inputs. Denon AVR-X6500H Receiver - 8 HDMI In /3 Out, High Power 11.2 Channel (140 W/Ch) Amplifier | Dol… During that time, I worked 16+ hour days (plus … There are a lot of receivers out there, and a huge variety in what they’re capable of doing. This is often a much less critical question, but if you plan to drive a lot of speakers at relatively high volume, you'll want more power. The Marantz SR8015 is a 13.2-channel receiver and will debut in the fall for $3199. The Denon AVR-S650H proves that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a modern, high-performing AV receiver. On Abt. Additional connections include a set of 5.1/7.1 channel analog audio inputs and preamp outputs, as well as a dedicated phono turntable input and additional digital and analog inputs. 13.2 channel processing with 15.2 channel XLR and RCA outputs and flexible pre-amplifier stages — ideal for the advanced home cinema enthusiast; Enjoy immersive, three-dimensional sound with the latest surround formats including Dolby Atmos (up to 7.1.6 or 9.1.4), DTS:X and Auro-3D (up to 13.1) Your new receiver may not be compatible with 4K audio output. The receiver is a switching station that connects your components (DVD player, streaming video player, and so on) to your TV and speakers. The best high-end home theater receiver will elevate your audio set up to the max. The source can be the same for all zones, or you can enjoy different sources in those zones if you prefer. Buy Denon AVR-A110 110-Year Anniversary Edition 13.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver with HEOS featuring Up to 150W per Channel at 8 Ohms, Audyssey MultEQ XT32 Sound Calibration, 9.2.4- or 7.2.6-Channel 3D Audio Support, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, DTS:X Pro, Auro-3D, 8K Ultra HD Pass-Through & Upscaling, HDMI with HDR, CEC, eARC Support, 8 x HDMI-In / 3 x HDMI-Out, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HEOS, … Lastly, know what media you intend to run. Ask yourself these questions: How many channels do you need? This 7.2-channel receiver has a respectable 110 watts of power per channel. If you need a lot of power, this Marantz might be the single best option on the market right now: each channel delivers an identical 205 watts — that’s right, 205 watts. So figure out how many speakers you want to install in your theater and go from there. Find more Denon AVR-X8500H information and reviews here. Denon AVRX7200W 13.2-Channel Receiver w/Dolby AtmosMultiroom / Multisource The AVR–X7200W lets you enjoy a program source in the Main Zone (the room where the AVR–X7200W is located) and in Zone 2 and Zone 3. You also get streaming audio via a laundry list of connected services like Spotify and Tidal, not to mention Bluetooth and AirPlay 2 support. And check out the end of the article for a thorough but straightforward explanation of the home theater receiver lingo and how to pick the right one for yourself. Since Dolby Surround and DTS:X formats are essentially the industry standard for audio in American films, it’s typically not an issue for most buyers. The Crutchfield team saw a lot of exciting innovations at CES 2018 in Las Vegas. What components do you need to connect? ", "There’s plenty of space to connect your TV, internet and gaming console and still have room to spare. Also, the Sony features subtle IR codes that connect third-party remotes to your system, showing off its adaptive capabilities. This 13-channel beast (rated at 150 watts per channel… However, some of us are just a bit more particular about howwe enjoy those two pieces of media. This receiver delivers a more robust 140 watts of power per channel and features 11 discrete channels. Believe it or not, our free, daily newsletter can help you use tech better and declutter your inbox. If you don’t already have an AV receiver, you might have cobbled together a home theater by directly connecting various components — like DVD player and streaming media player — directly to your TV, but even so, the sound is still terrible because you can’t easily connect a surround sound speaker system. There’s a general caveat for the Denon AVR-X4500H that applies to most higher-end receivers in 2020: With HDMI 2.1 on the way, no receiver fully supports it yet, so purchasing this unit means possibly being incompatible with certain 2.1 features when it’s fully implemented. HDMI outputs 1 and 2 output the same signal, but the third output can send a different HDMI source signal to a Zone 2 setup (Zone 2 and 3 preamp audio outputs are also included). 13.2 Channel Surround Sound. The Denon AVR-X4500H sits aboutr midway up Denon’s family tree, delivering 125 watts of power to each of its nine channels, and you can add a separate stereo receiver to drive a second “zone” in another room or turn the system into a 7.2.4 system. Marantz SR8012 Surround Receiver. If you already have a smart TV, you can control the receiver using your smart TV remote thanks to the HDMI CEC function. Also, its unique “in-ceiling” mode redirects audio from the front speakers, giving the impression that sound is coming directly from the TV monitor, instead of bouncing off the ceiling. In addition, there are two subwoofer outputs and two sets of preamp outputs for connecting two external amplifiers that can expand the SR7012 to 11.2 channels, supporting a lot of speaker setup options for all surround sound formats including Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Auro 3D audio for a fully-immersive surround sound experience. How tech-savvy are you? Power: 125W | Channels: 9.2 | HDMI inputs: 8 | HDMI outputs: 3 | Video support: 4K, HDR | Surround formats: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, DTS Virtual:X | Voice assistants: Alexa, Google Assistant | Dimensions: 6.7 x 16.9 x 15 inches. That’s it, though — no hidden controls behind a flip-down panel or front-facing HDMI port. Power: 110W | Channels: 11.2 | HDMI inputs: 7 | HDMI outputs: 3 | Video support: 4K, HDR | Surround formats: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X | Voice assistants: Alexa, Google Assistant | Dimensions: 17.3 x 17.1 x 7.2 inches. Find more Marantz AV Receiver SR8012 information and reviews here. When it comes to AV receivers, the field of companies making genuinely excellent products is surprisingly small. The Denon Flagship AVR-X8500H powers the next generation of home theater with the world’s first 13.2 channel receiver that supports the latest immersive audio formats, including Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Auro-3D. One of the main highlights was the AVR-X8500H, Denon's latest flagship home theater receiver. While these surround sound setups are fascinating and complex, they are a rare find in a typical home theater. There’s an HDMI input in front if you should have a need to plug a temporary source into the receiver, but otherwise, you’ll find a generous array of ports in back — including 7 HDMI inputs, 3 outputs, and a wealth of component inputs and legacy connections. A 5.1.2 Atmos system has the usual five-plus-subwoofer plus two height speakers. For starters, it is the world’s first 13.2-channel AV receiver. You can also control it via voice with Amazon Alexa, and make the theater a part of a whole-house audio system with HEOS, if you have other HEOS components. Find more Denon AVR-X6500H information and reviews here. It has integrated Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, and compatibility with HEOS. ", "Delivers a whopping 150 watts per channel at 8 ohms and contains four high-speed SHARC processors.". Increasingly, less expensive receivers no longer support phono inputs, so if you still play vinyl, you might have to choose your receiver specifically for compatibility with older components. You won’t find Atmos support here, but the rig accommodates 5.2-channel surround with 75 watts per channel. If you build your own home theater, trust me — it’ll be a lot better than watching The Mandolorian on an iPad with noise-cancelling headphones. IN STOCK. The SR7012 has more connection options that some might need - but it is better to have more than not enough. While quite a handful of products on this list also support Auro 3D formatting, more often than not, it’s offered as an additional upgrade rather than as part of the standard package. Upgraded Features and Performance Denon’s AVR-X8500H looks very similar to company’s previous flagship that I review,the AVR-X7200WA. The system is HEOS-compatible and works with voice-controlled services like Alexa and Google. Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our Around back, you’ve got a minimal presentation as well — there are six HDMI inputs and a pair of outputs, along with speaker posts that let you put together a 7.1 system or a 5.1.2 with Atmos two height speakers. If you are looking for a high-end home theater receiver that looks as good as it sounds, and also packs in more than you would expect, the Marantz SR7012 might just the ticket. Power: 205W | Channels: 11.2 | HDMI inputs: 8 | HDMI outputs: 3 | Video support: 4K, HDR | Surround formats: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Auro-3D | Voice assistants: Alexa, Google Assistant | Dimensions: 6.7 x 16.9 x 15 inches. Speaker wattage - When buying a receiver for your home setup, be sure that the unit fulfills your speaker's power needs. Behind its uniquely stylish front panel, the SR7012 packs it in, starting with 9 built-in amplifiers that can deliver as much as 125 wpc. If you want a feature-filled device to use with your home theater … This is one of those areas of tech in which your options aren’t all more or less the same thing — you need to consider how many channels your AV receiver should support (that’s the number of speakers, in plain English), what kind of surround sound you get, whether it supports multi-room audio, if it’s 4K ready for your current (or future) 4K UHD TV, and more. The receiver is fully 4K ready with Dolby Vision and High Dynamic Range (HDR10) support as well. Home / Audio / Receivers / 13 Channel 13 Channel. With new specifications and tech standards constantly changing, future proofing is a constant headache. Find more Sony STR-DN1080 information and reviews here. The 13.2 channel receiver incorporates custom-made DHCT (Denon High Current Transistors)—discrete monolithic amplifiers rated at 150 watts per channel1 (@8 ohms, 20 – 20 kHz, THD 0.05%, 2 channel driven), enabling premium surround sound from object-oriented formats, such as Dolby Atmos or DTS:X, without any external amplification. Power: 165W| Channels: 7.2 | HDMI inputs: 6 | HDMI outputs: 2 | Video support: 4K, HDR | Surround formats: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X | Voice assistants: Alexa, Google Assistant | Dimensions: 19 x 15 x 8.38 inches. The X8500H model delivers a whopping 150 watts per channel at 8 ohms and contains four high-speed SHARC processors with a combined processing power of 10 GLOPS (10 billion floating point numerical computations per second). We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. See it on Amazon. That’s where an AV receiver comes it. Just sign up to our newsletter now. Your receiver needs to have the correct amount of watts for your system to be able to project your sound while still maintaining high-quality audio. You also get Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Auro-3D support, along with Alexa voice control. This is a statement piece. The SR7012 also provides a USB port, DLNA support (access to content stored on network-connected PCs and media servers), and internet access to music streaming services, such as Pandora, TIDAL, Spotify Connect, Sirius/XM, and TuneIn internet radio. Best Connectivity: Disclaimer: Heavy Inc. is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate advertising programs and may receive a commission if you purchase a product via a link on this page. Find more Denon AVR-S650H information and reviews here. If you want a little more power and flexibility, the Denon AVR-X4500H and Yamaha Aventage RX-A1080 both give you beefy amplification, excellent surround options, and support for legacy components like a phonograph -- you just need to decide whether you prefer Yamaha's MusicCast or Denon's HEOS platform.