Best AV receivers for the way you use them

Six HDMI inputs, HEOS streaming and a moving-magnet phono input come on this five-speaker receiver. It makes sense for a room that will remain 5.1.

Best forMovies and records on a five-speaker system

You can use the seven amplifiers for 7.1 surround or for 5.1.2 with two heights. With six HDMI inputs and HEOS, it suits a system that mixes movies, games and music.

Best forYour first 5.1.2 setup, with multiple sources

Two HDMI monitor outputs sit on this seven-amplifier receiver. It makes the most sense in a 5.1.2 or 7.1 room where a TV and a projector are both in use.

Best forA seven-speaker system serving both a TV and a projector

This seven-channel Denon includes Audyssey MultEQ XT and HEOS, plus three 4K120 inputs. It is a targeted pick for a room with one display and two height speakers.

Best forA single-display 5.1.2 room using Audyssey MultEQ XT

This 2026 seven-channel model is a two-display system with front-channel pre-outs and an optional Dirac Live upgrade. Even so, its main-room speaker limit stays at 7.1 or 5.1.2.

Best forSeven channels, with the option of a stereo power amp

You can run 5.1.4 today on the nine built-in amplifiers and eleven-channel processing, then reach 7.1.4 by adding an external stereo amp. Four independent sub outputs make a more involved bass setup possible.

Best forGrowing from 5.1.4 to 7.1.4 in stages

Seven fast HDMI inputs and four independent sub outputs come with this nine-amplifier receiver, which has eleven processing channels. It fits a big source collection and a possible external-amp expansion down the road.

Best forSeven fast sources and room to grow into 7.1.4

No extra power amplifier is needed to run 7.1.4, thanks to the eleven built-in amplifiers. Thirteen-channel processing, four independent sub outputs and extensive main-channel pre-outs give larger installations room to grow.

Best forA 7.1.4 layout the receiver powers itself

Low-profile and five-channel, this receiver offers HEOS, a front HDMI input and front-channel pre-outs. Video tops out at 4K60 over HDMI, which is fine for a modest film and music system.

Best forA five-speaker 4K60 system in a low cabinet

Seven amplifiers and full 7.2 pre-outs fit into the 4.3-inch-tall chassis of the original slim CINEMA 70s. Use it as the anchor of a low-profile 5.1.2 room, or let it feed a separate power amp.

Best forLow cabinets that also need two height speakers

Audyssey MultEQ XT, two HDMI monitor outputs and seven main-channel pre-outs are all on the original CINEMA 60. It fits a 5.1.2 room that could later move to external amplification.

Best forTwo displays and a seven-channel separates setup

All six HDMI inputs support 4K120. With nine amplifiers, eleven-channel processing and four independent sub outputs, it handles a 5.1.4 system and leaves room to expand to 7.1.4.

Best forMarantz rooms with four heights and a path to upgrade

Four HDMI inputs and two display outputs are built into this seven-amplifier receiver. It works for a smaller source collection, provided 5.1.2 and a second display count for more than phono or main-channel pre-outs.

Best forTwo displays, four sources and 5.1.2

Six HDMI inputs, two display outputs and an MM phono input come on this seven-channel Onkyo. In a mixed-source 5.1.2 room, it connects directly to both a TV and a projector.

Best forTwo displays and a turntable in 5.1.2

Full-bandwidth Dirac Live Room Correction is included, and the nine amplifiers can power 5.1.4 or 7.1.2. A seventh HDMI input on the front is handy for temporary devices.

Best for5.1.4 where Dirac comes included

Full-range pre-outs and a full-bandwidth Dirac Live license come with this nine-channel receiver. It fits a 5.1.4 system that might use external amplifiers, though that adds no processing channels.

Best forDirac on nine channels, with power-amp flexibility

Dirac Live Room Correction and a front HDMI input are included. The nine built-in amplifiers and eleven-channel processing can grow into a 7.1.4 system later, using an external stereo amp.

Best forDirac included now, 7.1.4 expansion later

This five-channel MusicCast receiver has four HDMI inputs and YPAO setup. It suits a room that will stay at 5.1, particularly in a home that already uses MusicCast.

Best forA MusicCast room with five speakers

Sony wireless rear-speaker compatibility and two HDMI display outputs come with seven amplifier channels, enough for 7.1 or 5.1.2. Two of its six HDMI inputs handle 4K120.

Best forA 5.1.2 system using Sony wireless rears

Built for a TV and projector that share the same source, this seven-channel receiver has documented 1440p high-refresh input support. Powering speakers in a second room takes the amplifier channels that would otherwise go to rear or height speakers.

Best for5.1.2 rooms where a TV and projector share the system and a 1440p gaming route is confirmed

Five amplifiers cover either an ordinary surround setup or three front speakers plus two heights. The Atmos option helps when rear speakers are impractical to place, but this receiver cannot run five surround speakers and add heights at the same time.

Best forAn Atmos layout focused on the front, without having to buy a seven-channel receiver

In the same body size as the RX300A, this model keeps a five-speaker surround system and adds two heights. Network music is built in. Powered Zone B, however, still shares the main source and the height-speaker amplifiers.

Best forA five-speaker surround system with two heights, plus built-in Google Cast and supported network music

This nine-amplifier receiver suits a room with four heights, multiple subs and both a TV and a projector. It also converts supported older video sources to HDMI. Seven ear-level speakers plus four heights, though, still call for a separate amplifier.

Best forA media room that mixes old and new gear, with several subs and a stereo power amp that is already owned or planned

A 7.1.4 room can run on the eleven built-in amplifiers alone, with no second power amp. Thirteen-channel processing offers a way to expand further, as long as you add external amplification and have suitable speaker positions.

Best forWired 7.1.4 theaters with several subs where thirteen main speakers are a realistic plan

One-box 7.1.4 and included full-bandwidth Dirac come together on this eleven-amplifier receiver. The front HDMI input is convenient but slower than the rear sockets, and extra-room playback comes with source and speaker-sharing limits.

Best for7.1.4 with one or two subs, for anyone who values included Dirac and easy-to-reach connections for visiting sources

Seven source inputs and a separate Zone 2 audio path come with this seven-channel MusicCast receiver. A single display is the right match, but check the gaming hardware revision and what source feeds the second room before you buy.

Best forA MusicCast home with one display, 5.1.2 and a second room fed by non-HDMI sources

A system that grows in stages is a good fit for nine built-in amplifiers and eleven-channel processing. Seven high-refresh inputs and analog-video conversion can tidy up a crowded media cabinet. A separate amplifier is needed for 7.1.4.

Best forMusicCast homes that reuse a stereo amp or pair current gaming gear with older video sources

A 7.1.4 MusicCast room is possible with the eleven built-in amplifiers and no separate power amp. The additional amplification neither raises the eleven-channel processing ceiling nor adds inputs beyond what the A6A has.

Best forSeven high-refresh sources feeding a MusicCast 7.1.4 system in one box

Optional Sony wireless rears and two display outputs come with this seven-channel receiver. They can shorten the speaker-wire run across a shared room, but there are not enough channels for four physical height speakers.

Best forA 5.1.2 room that has a TV and projector, or where running cable to the rear speakers is hard

With nine amplifiers, a five-speaker ear-level system can be joined by four physical height speakers. It has more high-refresh source connections than the AZ1000ES. Its subwoofer pre-outs, however, do not offer an upgrade path to an external amplifier.

Best forA finished 5.1.4 room with as many as four high-refresh sources and optional Sony wireless surrounds

This eleven-amplifier Sony covers a complete 7.1.4 layout and adds full main pre-outs and an easy-to-reach front HDMI socket. Sony wireless-rear options carry over, and the count of four high-refresh inputs is the same as on the AZ3000ES.

Best for7.1.4 rooms that need Sony wireless-rear compatibility or complete external-amp connections

No separate power amplifier is needed to run a 7.1.6 or 9.1.4 layout, thanks to the thirteen built-in amplifiers. This pays off when the room has suitable extra speaker positions. It is not an automatic upgrade for a 7.1.4 system that stays as it is.

Best forThirteen-speaker theaters in the planning stage that want to avoid an extra power amplifier

Included Dirac and eleven-channel pre-outs for a later external-amp upgrade come with this nine-amplifier receiver. Connections suited to installers do not lift the speaker-sharing and input restrictions that apply to multiroom playback.

Best forWired 5.1.4 installations that want included Dirac and plan to add a stereo amp for 7.1.4