Best AV receivers

For the full home theater experience, you need an AV receiver. A sound bar or HTIB might get you close, but a true home theater enthusiast won't settle for less than a 5.1 speaker system and component-style AV receiver.

We've focused on the best bang-for-your-buck receivers from each manufacturer, which is typically around $500. You'll generally get four-to-six HDMI inputs, built-in networking functionality, analog video upconversion, and 3D compatibility. Some of these models are even offering built-in AirPlay compatibility, letting you wirelessly stream music from an iOS device (iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch) directly to the receiver.

While the individual reviews below are great for digging into the details of a specific receiver, also be sure to check out our extensive 2011 AV receiver comparison chart to easy see the differences between models.

Don't need cutting-edge features like AirPlay and networking? Then check out our roundup of 2010 AV receivers, many of which are still available, sound great and are selling at a discount.