What if you could convert your living room into a cinema hall? Sounds fantastic, doesn’t it. Well, you’re in luck. Wow your friends with a surreal movie night experience right at the comfort of your home. In today’s blog post, I cover 6 budget friendly AV receivers that turn your living room into an acoustic dynamo.
An amplifier does two things. It amplifies the sound that can be fed to the speakers. Secondly, it allows you to effortlessly switch between the audio and video you wish to watch.
The following is a list of the top 6 best AV receiver under $1000.
- Yamaha RX-V6A
- Denon AVR-S750H
- Denon AVR-S540BT
- Marantz NR1711
- Onkyo TX-NR696
- Denon AVR-X2700H
Table of Contents
Best AV Receiver Under $1000
If you’re someone who’s looking to pick up a nice AV receiver that costs under $1000 then these are the best options available in the market right now. We have a wide range of AV receivers listed below from 5 channel beasts to 7 channel monster receivers.
I’ve managed to ring in a variety of them so even if you’re on a budget of $500, then there’s something here for you.
Check out my take on the best AV receiver under $1000. The best thing here is that they’re easily available and you can find them on portals such as Amazon.
| Best AV Receiver Under $1000 | Specifications | Link |
| Yamaha RX – V6A | Channels: 7.2 Output power: 100W Dolby/DTS: Atmos/DTS:X Connectivity: Bluetooth/WiFi | Check it out on Amazon |
| Denon AVR- S750 H | Channels: 7.2 Output power: 165W Dolby/DTS: Atmos/DTS:X Connectivity: Bluetooth, AirPlay, HEOS | Check it out on Amazon |
| Denon AVR-S540BT | Channels: 5.2 Output power: 140W Dolby/DTS: TrueHD, DTS HD Master Audio Connectivity: Bluetooth | Check it out on Amazon |
| Marantz NR1711 | Channels: 7.2 Output power: 50W Dolby/DTS: Atmos, DTS:X, DTS Virtual:X Connectivity: HEOS | Check it out on Amazon |
| Onkyo TX – NR696 | Channels: 5.2 Output power: 210W Dolby/DTS: DTS:X, Atmos Connectivity: AirPlay 2, Chromecast | Check it out on Amazon |
| Denon AVR – X2700H | Channels: 7.2 Output power: 85W Dolby/DTS: DTS Virtual:X, Atmos Connectivity: Bluetooth, WiFi, HEOS, AirPlay | Check it out on Amazon |
Yamaha RX – V6A
The Yamaha RX – V6A packs a punch for its price point. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of sound and the effectiveness of the receiver in creating a cinema like experience.
With 7 channels of speakers, the Yamaha RX -V6A spares no expense in providing you with a quality AV experience. Here are some of the features that stood out.
- Experience the depth of sound with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X technology that will make your movie watching an immersive experience. Integrated with Yamaha’s proprietary sound field creation technology, be mesmerized as your movies come alive.
- Never compromise on quality of sound as Yamaha’s compressed music enhancer uses algorithms that makes music sound the way it should without any losses.
- The receiver supports end to end 8K/4K resolutions at a 60hz frame rate delivering impeccable video quality. Enjoy fast action sports and elevate your gaming experience with crisp images and razor-sharp definition.
- Stream seamlessly via Airplay and Bluetooth and share the music you love throughout your home with MusicCast. MusicCast also allows you to create a 5.1 channel home theater with wireless surround sound. This saves you from the clutter of cables.
- Enhance your gaming experience with a gamut of features. The receiver enables an ideal latency setting and eliminates the bane of every gamer’s existence: Lag.
- Departing from the standard square corners that most receivers have, the RX-V6A dons curved vertical corners for a stylish look.
Denon AVR-S750H
Looks can be deceiving. From the outside the Denon AVR – S750 H looks like a chunky black box from the 90’s. On closer inspection though, the receiver is packed with features that make it future compatible. Here are some of its key features.
- The receiver is fitted with Dolby Atmos and DTS: XTM technology that provides a three-dimensional audio experience. This makes the sound come alive and captivates its listeners.
- Works seamlessly with Amazon Alexa and google assistance allowing you to control the receiver with your voice. For example, you can Adjust the volume , skip to the next track, switch audio inputs and more.
- Stream seamlessly via Bluetooth, AirPlay 2 and Denon’s own streaming platform; Heos.
- It contains six HDMI inputs that support the most captivating features of the HDMI 2.1 standard. This includes the eARC which enhances audio from your TV and automatic low-latency mode that detects the best mode for gaming.
- The user interface is not as clean as it could be and rivals like Onkyo and Sony easily beat the Denon in terms of display.
- Denon has its own characteristic sound and if you are a music buff, you won’t be disappointed. The musical warmth is bolstered by the powerful home theater performance.
- On the visual side of things, the AVR- S750 H could have come up with a more stylish outlook as it continues with the classic box pattern.
Denon AVR-S540BT
For those of you who don’t want to break the bank while spending on a quality receiver, the Denon AVR-S540BT is perfect. Its an entry level receiver that provides a lot of bang for your buck.
- The receiver is easy to use and it comes with a serviceable remote.
- It contains a row of 5 HDMI inputs and one output. The output supports 4K video while three of the inputs support most of the 4K ultra HD video standards.
- The receiver exceeds expectations when it comes to sound. The clarity and the precision of sound is stunning when it comes to movies. Dialogues were crisp and sharp and the receiver adjusted itself well to the different nuances of sound.
- It has in built Bluetooth for wireless audio transmission as well. You can stream music directly from your phone from services like Spotify, google play music etc. It is also compatible with Denon’s Heos system as well.
- For its price point, you can’t really complain about the AVR-S540BT design. It’s an entry model with a basic design that gets the job done.
Marantz NR1711
With decades of AV experience, Marantz has knocked it out of the park with its Marantz NR1711. Offering a range of features, this receiver is a holistic solution to all your AV needs. I was taken aback with the functionality of the 1711 especially considering its slim size. Here are some of its key features.
- It has six HDMI inputs, with one in the front for easy access. All the inputs support high resolution 4K video at 60 hz making your movie watching experience fantastic. It also has the potential for upscaling all its ports to 8K.
- It is equipped with eARC (Enhanced audio return channel) which eliminates loss of sound when transmitted. It also has an Auto Low latency mode (ALLM) that seamlessly switches to game mode while playing hence reducing the hassle of manual configuration.
- It is equipped with Dolby Atmos and DTS: XTM to make your audio experience surreal similar to a theater.
- Audyssey, Marantz’s audio calibration system, dynamically balances volume spikes between TV programs and commercials.
- Stream with ease directly from your smartphone, tablet or laptop as the NR1711 is integrated with Bluetooth and Apple AirPlay 2. The receiver also has built-in Wifi.
- Audio sounds smooth with the NR1711, any sharpness or shrillness in the audio is eliminated with the Marantz audio technology.
- The box is slim and the front panel is simple and not overcrowded giving the receiver an elegant look.
Onkyo TX–NR696
Like Marantz, Onkyo is one of the leading figures in the AV category. The Onkyo TX –NR696 is one of their flag ship model of receivers and is packed with a gamut of features. Here are a list of its key features.
- It has six HDMI ports with 2 of them having arc/eARC support. This eliminates the loss of sound. All the HDMI ports support ultra 4K video resolution at 60 hertz producing razor sharp images.
- Make your movies come alive with the Dolby Atmos and DTS: X. It makes the events of a movie appear like they are taking place right in your living room. The Dolby Atmos system has enough power for any medium to large sized media room or home theater system.
- If you love music, you won’t be disappointed with the TX –NR696’s playback. The precision and clarity of sound are unparalleled when it comes to receivers.
- It is equipped with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth that allows you to fluidly stream from AirPlay 2, Chrome cast, FlareConnect etc.
- The receiver does not stand out in terms of design as it comes in a standard box format with buttons on the front.
Denon AVR – X2700H
The Denon AVR- X2700H is not your average AV receiver. When I tested it out, I was blown away by the power of this receiver. Denon has hit the mark once again with its X2700H receiver. Here are some of its key features.
- It contains six HDMI ports that are all compatible with 4K Ultra HD video at 60 hz that produces stunningly clear and crisp images. It almost feels like the pictures are real. It also has the potential to upscale to 8K.
- Unique to this receiver is the ability to transform low resolution video from analogue or digital source to true 4K.
- Integrated with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X that makes sounds appear as if they were happening right in your living room. You can enjoy a 3D video experience even without overhead speakers.
- The receiver features the Audyssey MultEQ XT32 room acoustic measurement system that effectively analyses speakers to provide the best listening experience.
- It contains built-in WiFi connectivity and Bluetooth as well as Apple AirPlay 2 that lets you stream effortlessly from your mobile devices. Control the receiver with the ‘Denon AVR remote’ app or with Amazons Alexa and Google’s assistant.
- Apart from the two antennae at the back, the AVR – X2700H does not do anything new in terms of design and adopts the standard box design.
Conclusion
With technology rapidly progressing at a break neck pace, its essential to future proof your TV investment with an AV receiver that is designed for the long run.
The AV receivers above do just that. They elevate your TV watching experience by more than a few notches and make each viewing a fantastic experience.
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Greetings! My name is Michael and this is my website.
I've been specializing in audio equipment and accessories for a while and have a little something in store for every kind of hi-fi enthusiast.
Based in California, I keep attending special launch events across the globe. This has helped me understand the products better, and with a unique hands-on experience I'm able to provide you with easy to understand reviews about the best in audio tech from around the world.
