Podcast #977: Receiver Buying Guide 2020

Receiver Buying Guide 2020

It's that time of year where we get to spend your money. This season we start off with AV Receivers. We take a practical approach with these guides in that we try to get you the best bang for your buck. Well we do indulge with one of our selections. Here is our AV receiver buying guide for 2020.

Under $500

Sony STR-DN1080 7.2ch Home Theater AV Receiver (MSRP $499.99)

The Sony STR-DN1080 is a receiver that has been out for a few years but still checks all the boxes for a 4K receiver that won't break the bank. If you spent a few hundred dollars on a new 4K TV at a Black Friday sale or will do so between now or Christmas this is the perfect receiver for you. We are not going to recommend that you spend a thousand dollars on a receiver for a $300 TV. Even still, this receiver is packed with a lot of features.

Features:

• 6-in/2-out HDMI connectivity with 4K/60p (4:4:4)7 pass-through, HDCP 2.2 support, and HDR support
• Dolby Atmos® and DTS:X support
• High-Resolution Audio-compatible
• Wi-Fi®, AirPlay and Chromecast built-in for music streaming
• One-cable HDMI eARC
• With Google Home

$500 to $750

Onkyo TX-NR797 9.2 - Channel Network A/V Receiver (Street Price $750, Back Ordered)

The Onkyo TX-NR797 makes our list as a solid mid-level receiver with high end features typically found in receivers costing more than $1000. This is the receiver you buy when you spent a little more on your TV but ran out of budget for a receiver to match.

Features:

• 100 Watts/Ch (8 Ohms 20-20kHz, 2 Channels Driven, FTC)
• HDR (High Dynamic Range) video including HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision®, and BT.2020
• Six HDMI inputs, ARC-ready
• MAIN OUT, and SUB OUT pass 4K/60p and HDR video from player to compatible TV and projector and all terminals are HDCP 2.2 compliant.
• Dolby Atmos® and DTS:X® compatible
• THX® Certified Select™ theater-reference sound
• Access streaming content from Amazon Music, Pandora®, Spotify®, TIDAL, Deezer, and TuneIn and share sound as part of a multi-room system via Works with Sonos, AirPlay 2, DTS Play-Fi®, and FlareConnect.
• Chromecast built-in with the Google Assistant
• Works with Sonos

$750 - $1000

Denon AVR-X2700H 7.2ch 8K AV Receiver with 3D Audio, Voice Control and HEOS Built-in® (MSRP $849.00)

The Denon AVR-X2700H is a receiver that is as future proof as it can get. Do we think you will need 8K support anytime in the near future? Probably not. But this receiver can handle it if you do. Of course it supports all the audio formats, HDMI eARC, HDCP 2.3, and so much more. This receiver does it all and at $850 it's hard to beat!

Features:

• 95W per channel (8 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz, THD: 0.08%,2 ch. driven)
• 8K/60Hz pass-through, 4K/120Hz* pass-through for gaming, and support for the latest HDMI specifications
• Dolby Atmos, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization Technology, DTS:X, DTS Virtual:X and IMAX Enhanced
• HDMI section (7 in/3 out) with a dedicated 8K input that will support 8K/6OHz and 4K/120Hz video pass-through and upscaling
• HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG), Dynamic HDR, 3D, and BT.2020 pass-through support
• 4K/120Hz* pass-through and upscaling, as well as Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Quick Frame Transport (QFT), and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), which reduces or eliminates lag and frame tearing to offer a smoother, lag-free gaming experience.
• Works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Siri and Josh.ai

Greater than $1000

Denon AVR-X6700H 11.2 Ch. 8K AV Receiver with 3D Audio, HEOS® Built-in and Voice Control (MSRP $2499.00)

If you have upgraded your room with a higher end TV/Projector and better speakers with full blown ATMOS/DTS:X you need a receiver to match. We are so impressed with Denon's 2020 lineup that we decided to stick with them for this category. Our top selection this year is the Denon AVR-X6700H. There are more expensive receivers out there but not necessarily better. The 6700 has everything we like about the 2700 but more!

Features:

• Premium 140W per channel (8 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz, THD: 0.08%, 2 ch. driven) amplifier designed specifically for demanding speakers
• 8K/60Hz pass-through, 4K/120Hz* pass-through for gaming, and support for the latest HDMI specifications
• Dolby Atmos, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization Technology, DTS:X, DTS Virtual:X and IMAX Enhanced
• Support for DTS:X Pro via a future firmware update
• Can process 13.2 channels with an additional amplifier
• HDMI section (7 in/3 out) with a dedicated 8K input that will support 8K/6OHz and 4K/120Hz video pass-through and upscaling
• HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG), Dynamic HDR, 3D, and BT.2020 pass-through support
• 4K/120Hz* pass-through and upscaling, as well as Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Quick Frame Transport (QFT), and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), which reduces or eliminates lag and frame tearing to offer a smoother, lag-free gaming experience.
• Works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Siri and Josh.ai