Editors' Top Home audio
updated May 15, 2006

If you opted for separate speakers and components, your A/V receiver will serve as the hub of your entire home-theater system. Today, even entry-level receivers come with a host of features and perform surprisingly well. But sorting through all of your options can be a daunting task, so we've tried to help out by selecting our favorites, all of which deliver a good balance of features, performance, ease of use, and value in their respective classes.
-- David Katzmaier, senior editor

Editors' Top Home audio:

A/V receivers

A/V receivers

Home audio	Editors' rating	Price	Summary
Denon AVR-4306 (black) Released: 11/15/2005	9.0 Spectacular	$1200	The Denon AVR-4306 offers the best combination of cutting-edge features and superb sound quality of any receiver that we've ever tested. Specs: AV receiver , Surround Sound , 910 , DTS 96/24 , DTS Neo:6 , Dolby Digital , DTS-ES Matrix 6.1 , DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 , Dolby Pro Logic IIx , Dolby Digital Surround EX , MP3 , WAV , WMA , Network audio player - MP3 , WMA , Universal remote control (Infrared) , Black , 17.1 in x 16.9 in x 6.7 in , 40.8 lbs

Denon AVR-2807 Released: 04/17/2006	8.7 Excellent	Email me when product is available	The Denon AVR-2807's keen balance of superb sound, gotta-have HDMI features, and an affordable price put it in the sweet spot in the company's line. Specs: AV receiver , Surround Sound , 770 Watt, DTS 96/24 , DTS Neo:6 , DTS decoder , Dolby Digital , DTS-ES decoder , DTS-ES Matrix 6.1 , Dolby Pro Logic II , DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 , Dolby Pro Logic IIx , Dolby Digital Surround EX , Universal remote control , Black , 17.1 in x 16.9 in x 6.7 in , 29.8 lbs

Denon AVR-3806 (black) Released: 10/15/2005	8.3 Excellent	Email me when product is available	The successor to Denon's best-selling receiver gets even better for 2006, but the AVR-3806's HDMI implementation falls a bit short. Specs: AV receiver , Surround Sound , 840 Watt, DTS 96/24 , DTS Neo:6 , DTS decoder , Dolby Digital , DTS-ES Matrix 6.1 , Dolby Pro Logic II , DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 , Dolby Pro Logic IIx , Dolby Digital Surround EX , Digital graphic - 9 bands , Universal remote control (Infrared) , Black , 17.1 in x 16.9 in x 6.7 in , 38.6 lbs

JVC RX-D702B Released: 09/15/2005	8.0 Excellent	Email me when product is available	JVC's good-sounding HDMI switching/upconverting RX-D702 receiver sets a new standard for features in the sub-$1,000 category. Specs: AV receiver , Surround Sound , 1050 Watt, DTS 96/24 , DTS Neo:6 , DTS decoder , Dolby Digital , DTS-ES decoder , Dolby Pro Logic II , Dolby Pro Logic IIx , Dolby Digital Surround EX , Universal remote control (Infrared) , Black , 17.1 in x 14.6 in x 3.6 in , 18.1 lbs

Sony STR-DA7100ES (silver) Released: 09/01/2005	8.0 Excellent	Email me when product is available	The company's top A/V receiver, the Sony STR-DA7100ES has a lot to live up to, and it delivers with first-class style, features, and performance. Specs: AV receiver , Surround Sound , DTS Neo:6 , DTS decoder , DTS 96/24 ES , Dolby Digital , DTS-ES decoder , Dolby Pro Logic , DTS-ES Matrix 6.1 , Dolby Pro Logic II , DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 , Dolby Pro Logic IIx , Dolby Digital Surround EX , Universal remote control , 16.9 in x 18.5 in x 6.9 in , 51.8 lbs

Onkyo TX-NR1000 (black) Released: 11/15/2004	8.0 Excellent	Email me when product is available	Onkyo's new flagship receiver can be all you want it to be, now and in the future. Specs: AV receiver , 1050 Watt, DTS 96/24 , DTS Neo:6 , DTS-ES Matrix 6.1 , Dolby Pro Logic II , DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 , Dolby Pro Logic IIx , THX Surround EX decoder , Dolby Digital Surround EX , Digital graphic - 3 bands , Network audio player - MP3 , WAV , WMA , Universal remote control (Infrared) , Black , 17.1 in x 18.9 in x 8.7 in , 72.8 lbs

Yamaha RX-V659 Released: 04/17/2006	7.7 Very good	Email me when product is available	As long you don't need HDMI compatibility, the Yamaha RX-V659 A/V receiver offers good sound quality, a full panoply of features, and a solid value. Specs: AV receiver , Surround Sound , 700 Watt, DTS 96/24 , DTS Neo:6 , DTS decoder , Dolby Digital , DTS-ES decoder , Dolby Pro Logic , DTS-ES Matrix 6.1 , Dolby Pro Logic II , DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 , Dolby Pro Logic IIx , Dolby Digital Surround EX , Graphic - 5 bands , Universal remote control (Infrared) , Black , 17.1 in x 16.6 in x 6.7 in , 27.1 lbs

Yamaha RX-V4600 Released: 10/01/2005	7.7 Very good	Email me when product is available	Yamaha's jam-packed RX-V4600 receiver looks and sounds great and boasts something altogether new: HD Radio. Specs: AV receiver , Surround Sound , 910 Watt, DTS 96/24 , DTS Neo:6 , Dolby Digital , Dolby Pro Logic , DTS-ES Matrix 6.1 , Dolby Pro Logic II , DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 , Dolby Pro Logic IIx , Dolby Digital Surround EX , Universal remote control (Infrared) , Black , 17.1 in x 17.2 in x 6.7 in , 39.7 lbs

Pioneer VSX-1015TX Released: 04/15/2005	7.7 Very good	Email me when product is available	A great-sounding midpriced A/V receiver, Pioneer's VSX-1015TX offers THX certification and an improved version of the industry's best autosetup program. Specs: AV receiver , Surround Sound , 840 Watt, DTS 96/24 , DTS Neo:6 , DTS decoder , Dolby Digital , DTS-ES decoder , Dolby Pro Logic IIx , Dolby Digital Surround EX , 5 bands , Remote control (Infrared) , Black , 16.6 in x 18.3 in x 6.8 in , 33.1 lbs

Harman/Kardon AVR 635 Released: 11/15/2004	7.7 Very good	Email me when product is available	Harman's captivating A/V receiver delivers high-end sound. Specs: AV receiver , 525 Watt, DTS Neo:6 , Dolby Digital , Dolby 3 Stereo , DTS-ES Matrix 6.1 , Dolby Pro Logic II , DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 , Dolby Pro Logic IIx , Dolby Digital Surround EX , Universal remote control (Infrared) , 17.3 in x 17.1 in x 6.5 in , 41 lbs

Yamaha HTR-5860 (black) Released: 03/15/2005	7.4 Very good	$334	Yamaha's midprice HTR-5860 A/V receiver loads up on useful features, and it sounds sweet. Specs: AV receiver , 630 Watt, DTS 96/24 , DTS Neo:6 , Dolby Digital , DTS-ES decoder , Dolby Pro Logic , DTS-ES Matrix 6.1 , Dolby Pro Logic II , DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 , Dolby Pro Logic IIx , Dolby Digital Surround EX , Graphic - 5 bands , Universal remote control (Infrared) , 17.1 in x 16.4 in x 6.3 in , 24.3 lbs

Panasonic SA-XR70S Released: 11/15/2004	7.4 Very good	Email me when product is available	Panasonic's slim receiver will disappoint people looking for cheap HDMI switching, but its audio quality is a pleasant surprise. Specs: AV receiver , DTS 96/24 , DTS Neo:6 , DTS-ES decoder , Dolby Pro Logic II , Dolby Digital Surround EX , Universal remote control (Infrared) , 16.9 in x 14.8 in x 3.3 in , 9.5 lbs

Sony STR-DA3100ES (silver) Released: 04/15/2005	7.3 Very good	Email me when product is available	Despite missing a couple of features, Sony's STR-DA3100ES receiver sounds as good as it looks, which is to say, it's gorgeous. Specs: AV receiver , Surround Sound , 840 Watt, DTS 96/24 , DTS Neo:6 , DTS decoder , Dolby Digital , DTS-ES decoder , DTS-ES Matrix 6.1 , Dolby Pro Logic II , Dolby Pro Logic IIx , Dolby Digital Surround EX , Universal remote control (Infrared) , Silver , 16.9 in x 18.5 in x 6.9 in , 46.3 lbs

Denon AVR-1906 Released: 09/15/2005	7.0 Very good	Email me when product is available	While the Denon AVR-1906 can't boast the ultimate features list in its midrange class, it does offer the company's typically impressive sound and build quality at an affordable price. Specs: AV receiver , Surround Sound , DTS 96/24 , DTS Neo:6 , Dolby Digital , DTS-ES Matrix 6.1 , DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 , Dolby Pro Logic IIx , Dolby Digital Surround EX , Universal remote control (Infrared) , 17.1 in x 16.4 in x 5.8 in , 25.8 lbs

Onkyo TX-SR503 (black) Released: 04/15/2005	7.0 Very good	Email me when product is available	Abundant features and stellar sound quality put the $300 Onkyo TX-SR503 receiver at the top of its class. Specs: AV receiver , Surround Sound , 450 Watt, DTS 96/24 , DTS Neo:6 , Dolby Digital , DTS-ES Matrix 6.1 , Dolby Pro Logic II , DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 , Dolby Pro Logic IIx , Dolby Digital Surround EX , Remote control (Infrared) , Black , 17.1 in x 14.8 in x 5.9 in , 20.7 lbs