AV Receivers

1. Budget · Basic 5.1 rooms and apartments

• 5.2 channels, 75 W/ch
• 3 of 6 HDMI inputs 8K/4K120
• Audyssey MultEQ
• Dual sub outs, no pre-outs

It is the cheapest current Denon with HDMI 2.1 gaming inputs, eARC, and HEOS streaming, so a PS5 or Series X and a modern TV plug in without compromise. Denon rates it at 75 W into 8 ohms with two channels driven, which is plenty for 88 dB speakers in a small room. Base Audyssey MultEQ corrects the room at fewer points than XT, but it still tames the worst bass peaks.

Watch out: Straight 5.2 with no height processing and no channel pre-outs, so there is no upgrade path to Atmos short of replacing it.

2. Mid-range · 5.1.2 Atmos in small to medium rooms

• 7.2 channels, 80 W/ch
• 3 of 6 HDMI inputs 8K/4K120
• Audyssey MultEQ XT
• Dolby Atmos 5.1.2

Seven amplified channels at 80 W each give a real 5.1.2 Atmos layout from one box, and Audyssey MultEQ XT measures up to eight seats. AVForums and Trusted Reviews both found it clean and composed at the volumes a small or medium room needs. It is the volume seller for a reason: nothing important is missing at this size.

Watch out: No channel pre-outs and a single HDMI output, so it cannot grow to 7.1.4 or feed a second display later.

3. Mid-range · 5.1.2 Atmos rooms, MusicCast households

• 7.2 channels, 100 W/ch
• 3 of 7 HDMI inputs 8K/4K120
• YPAO R.S.C. multipoint
• Front L/R and dual sub pre-outs

Seven channels rated at 100 W into 8 ohms with two driven, three 4K120 inputs, and eARC cover a console-and-TV living room in 5.1.2 with nothing missing. YPAO with R.S.C. measures up to eight seats and its reflected sound control is genuinely useful in bare rooms. The aluminum front panel, anti-resonance fifth foot, and quiet standby power make it feel more expensive than the current street price.

Watch out: Only front L/R and subwoofer pre-outs, so there is no path to external amps or 7.1.4, and AVForums found its real-world power closer to a mid-range RX-V than the 100 W figure suggests.

4. Mid-range · 5.1.4 or 7.1.2 rooms that want Dirac Live without a license fee

• 9.2 channels, 120 W/ch
• 6 of 7 HDMI inputs 8K/4K120, 2 outputs
• Dirac Live full bandwidth included
• 11.2 pre-outs, THX Certified Select

Full-bandwidth Dirac Live is included rather than sold as a license, and in a difficult room it produces a clearer improvement in bass and imaging than Audyssey. Nine channels rated at 120 W into 8 ohms with two driven plus 11.2 pre-outs mean 5.1.4 out of the box and 7.1.4 with a small amp. Two HDMI outputs and six 4K120 inputs make it the most flexible receiver anywhere near its street price.

Watch out: It is a five-year-old platform with a few documented quirks, including Ethernet dropouts on some units and output limiting into 4 ohm speakers at high volume.

5. Premium · 7.1.2 to 7.1.4 Atmos rooms

• 9 amp ch, 11.4 processing
• 6 HDMI in / 3 out, all 4K120
• Audyssey MultEQ XT32 + Dirac Live option
• 11.4 pre-outs, 4 sub outs

Nine amplified channels with 11.4 processing means 7.1.2 or 5.1.4 out of the box and a full 7.1.4 with any two-channel amp on the pre-outs. Four independent subwoofer outputs let you level and delay two or more subs separately, which matters more than any headline watt figure. Audioholics rated the 2026 refresh a Gotta Have It on first look and Dirac Live is a paid unlock rather than a different receiver.

Watch out: Dirac Live is not included; the license adds to the price, and Audioholics bench numbers were still pending when this entry was written.

6. Premium · 7.1.4 theaters with multiple subs that also value two-channel music

• 9 amp ch, 11.4 processing, 110 W/ch
• 6 HDMI in / 3 out, all 8K/4K120
• Audyssey MultEQ XT32, Dirac Live ready
• 11.4 pre-outs, 4 sub outs

Nine channels rated at 110 W into 8 ohms with two driven, 11.4 processing, and four independent subwoofer outputs cover a 7.1.4 room with a pair of subs and leave the option of external amplification through full pre-outs. The Series 2 upgrade to a 32-bit, eight-channel DAC and the Marantz HDAM preamp stage is where it separates from the Denon it shares a platform with. Sound & Vision called the original the best-sounding receiver in its class for two-channel music.

Watch out: It costs about as much as the Denon AVR-X3900H plus a good two-channel amp, and the Series 2 is too new to have independent bench measurements.