If … HEOS allows the SR7012 to stream audio from your own local music library (phone, tablet, USB drive) and streaming music services to compatible HEOS wireless speaker products that can be placed around the house. Cleverly, its Bluetooth connection is two-way, which means you can stream to the RX-A680 from a tablet or smartphone, but it can also stream out to wireless headphones or speakers. No. We also keep a Peachtree Nova 220 SE integrated amplifier nearby for reference. Connected speakers include a rotating cast of speakers, including many Dolby Atmos-enabled models. Something else worth noting: You won’t get HDMI 2.1 with any of these models. While 8K is available in some form or another today, the technology is still new and prohibitive for most people. Sony STRZA5000ES 9.2-Channel AV Receiver, Best for Auro 3D Audio: In the audio corner, the X4700 has kept everything intact that we’d expect from a higher-tier receiver. Marantz SR8012 Surround Receiver. One added bonus is the incorporation of the Denon (Denon and Marantz are sister brands) HEOS wireless multi-room audio streaming. We’ve called the Yamaha RX-A1080 the best A/V receiver for movies, and it’s more than capable as a powerhouse video system. Chief among them is the Yamaha RX-A680, a full-fledged 5.2.2 A/V receiver that also packs a phono-input, which simplifies your setup considerably. 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 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). There’s a lot to be had with the Denon AVR-X4700H, and while it will ding the wallet upfront, the years of service you’ll be getting are definitely worth the investment. When investing in your new receiver, speaker wattage, configuration, and output standards will be what determines your model choice. If this is very important to you in a receiver, you may want to consider a separate digital-to-analog converter (DAC). As long as it has a phono input, yes. Anthem is a well-known name among those who demand top-tier sound quality in their A/V receivers, and the 11.2-channel MRX 1120 is the top dog of the company’s latest offerings. Its MusicCast multiroom wireless audio system and discrete phono input is a 7.2.2 unit but with a twist: If you crave more power for your main channels (front, center, and rears) you can choose to use the included pre-amp outputs for these speakers and use a dedicated amplifier, instead of the powered speaker terminals. 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. 8 HDMI inputs are provided as well as three HDMI outputs. If there’s one Yamaha RX-A680 limitation to be aware of, it’s the small selection of HDMI inputs — you only get four, which means you may need to supplement with an HDMI switcher in the future. … Why you should buy this: It hits the sweet spot with abundant audio and video options, plus a new A.I.-powered surround sound system. The MRX 1120 also offers wireless multiroom connectivity via DTS Play-Fi. Control and share all your music right from your phone, or teach the HEOS skill to your Echo speaker for immersive Alexa controls. The key is to preserve as many of the features that most people value. It’s compatible with hi-res audio files and lossless formats that go up to 24-bit/192 kHz, and you can stream them to the receiver from a USB or network storage drive. "A high-end home theater receiver that looks as good as it sounds, and also packs in more than you would expect. Can I easily use an A/V receiver with a turntable? Upgrade your lifestyleDigital Trends helps readers keep tabs on the fast-paced world of tech with all the latest news, fun product reviews, insightful editorials, and one-of-a-kind sneak peeks.Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Test material includes a wide array of 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X surround encoding, Super Audio CDs, DVD-Audio discs, Redbook CDs, hi-res audio files, and Spotify’s high-quality (320 kbps) music streams. At the same time, you can use the third port to send uncompressed audio to a soundbar — though why you would do that when you already have a 7.1.2 system at your disposal is anyone’s guess. Do you want to watch movies with Dolby Atmos speakers? With seven HDMI inputs, you’ll have lots of room for expansion before needing to look into an external HDMI switcher. That being said, Sony’s high-res audio support kicks in when you’re beaming tunes to the receiver, which adds a little more belly and top-end to your sound. 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. Not that Yamaha skimped out on the sound. Marantz SR7012 9.2 Channel Network Home Theater Receiver, Best for Custom Installs: And at the price point, you best believe that Auro 3D comes as part of the standard package. The Audyssey MultEQ XT32 support only helps the cause further with its room-correction technology to compensate for acoustics inside. These ports give you the option of watching two different video sources on two separate screens simultaneously or the same signal on two screens at once. Denon raises the bar again for what is achievable for less than a grand. Collectively, the A/V team at Digital Trends has been testing A/V receivers for just over 40 years. Configuration revolves around your setup as a whole. The best high-end home theater receiver will be worth the price tag by tying together your perfect audio setup. If you have a 4K television with HDR (high dynamic range), be sure that your new receiver can handle it. We’re interested to see what future firmware updates might bring to the table, should Marantz’s SR8015 stay relevant after an eventual successor appears. Starting with all things audio, it’s got Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, DTS:X Pro, IMAX Enhanced, Auro 3D, plus the ability to connect a turntable for some vinyl playback or to stream from the likes of Spotify, Tidal, Pandora, AirPlay 2, among others. But when you start to ask which of those models can support a turntable without the use of a pre-amp? There are also two HDMI and three digital audio outputs. 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. For every impressive home theater system, there’s a workhorse receiver at the helm. The AVR-X4700 is a modest upgrade from the previous AVR-X3700NH in that Denon packed more power at 125 watts per channel compared to the 105 watts its predecessor pumped out. You can also do similar setups using Auro 3D, if you prefer that route.