Compare AV Receivers Side by Side

A 5.1-channel receiver covers the standard setup: front left, center, front right, two surround speakers and a subwoofer. Stepping up to 7.1 adds two additional surround or back channels for a larger room. Receivers rated 9.2 or higher add height channels for Dolby Atmos or DTS:X object-based audio, which creates a more three-dimensional soundstage.

Manufacturers rate power in watts per channel, usually measured at a specific impedance (commonly 8 ohms) and a stated THD percentage. Higher wattage gives you more headroom before the amp clips, which matters most in larger rooms or with less efficient speakers. A 100-watt-per-channel rating with all channels driven simultaneously is a more honest figure than a two-channel rated spec, so compare test conditions when possible.

Count your source devices: game consoles, streaming sticks, Blu-ray players, cable boxes. You need one HDMI input per device you want connected at the same time, plus at least one HDMI output to your TV or projector. Most mid-range receivers ship with six to eight HDMI inputs, which covers the average setup with room to grow.

At minimum, look for HDMI 2.1 if you plan to pass 4K 120Hz signals from a current-generation game console. Wireless connectivity such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth lets you stream music without extra hardware. eARC on the HDMI output to your TV allows audio from the TV's apps to return to the receiver without a separate optical cable.

Not automatically. Price often reflects feature count, build quality and amplifier headroom rather than pure audio fidelity at normal listening volumes. In a typical living room, a well-rated mid-range receiver paired with quality speakers will outperform an expensive receiver driving cheap speakers. Focus on power matching for your speakers and the features you will actually use.