How many fit
27 of the 34 models checked meet every need here: “Put in two height speakers” and “Keep six HDMI sources plugged in”.
27 models fit, out of 34 checkedPicked for one job
What receiver drives five speakers plus two heights?
Top pick
Denon AVR-X1800H
Denon AVR-X1800H is the place to start if you want Audyssey MultEQ XT, one display and as many as six HDMI sources. Pick Onkyo NR6100 if a TV and a projector need two outputs, or Sony AN1000 if you want its specifically supported Sony wireless-rear system.
Why it suits this job
- Wiring for 5.1.2, documented
- Seven channels of internal power
- The catch
- Seven channels is still the processing ceiling, whatever the setup.
- Go with Onkyo TX-NR6100 if
- You want a TV and a projector both to stay connected, and the Onkyo streaming platform suits your home.
More reasons we picked it
- How many fast HDMI inputs
- One display or two
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Here are receivers for a true 5.1.2 system, compared on HDMI inputs, display outputs and the room setup tools you will need.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the AV receivers we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
How we countedThe count uses each product's current fit ratings for “Put in two height speakers” and “Keep six HDMI sources plugged in”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denon AVR-X1800H |
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| Onkyo TX-NR6100 |
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| Sony STR-AN1000 |
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Decision guide
How to choose for this job
Seven amplifiers are needed to drive five bed speakers and two heights. Choose your seven-channel receiver by looking at rear-speaker wiring, input formats and displays.
Seven channels, each used once
All seven full-range amplifier channels get used in a 5.1.2 layout. Often the same receiver can run 7.1 instead, though the extra rear surrounds and the height pair are then alternative ways to assign those channels. Trust the speaker layout in the manual over a count of the terminal labels on the back.
Two displays change which one fits
Only one HDMI output comes on X1800H, while NR6100 and Sony AN1000 each have two, which makes them the more direct choices when one room holds both a TV and projector. Six inputs are common to all three, but the Sony offers two 4K120 inputs against three on the Denon and Onkyo. Before you settle on a calibration platform, count how many sources need the fast path.
Wireless rears mean choosing a particular ecosystem
Sony documents that AN1000 works with SA-RS3S and SA-RS5. That helps solve a specific installation problem, provided you use the supported speakers and the supported calibration process. It will not make the receiver's phantom-speaker effects count as more physical amplifier channels. If you later want four heights, you need a nine-channel receiver. Another speaker mode will not get you there.
What this page can’t tell you
- The calibration brand cannot guarantee any room-acoustics outcome.
3 options
The top pick and the alternatives
Denon, AVR-X1800H
AVR-X1800H
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.
Top pick ifA single-display 5.1.2 room using Audyssey MultEQ XT
Key facts
- 7 main processing channels and 7 built-in amplifier channels
- Of 6 HDMI inputs, 3 support 4K120 video
The catch
Seven channels is still the processing ceiling, whatever the setup.
Onkyo, TX-NR6100
TX-NR6100
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.
Pick this instead ifYou want a TV and a projector both to stay connected, and the Onkyo streaming platform suits your home.
Key facts
- 7 main processing channels and 7 built-in amplifier channels
- Of 6 HDMI inputs, 3 support 4K120 video
The catch
This model does not include Dirac Live.
Sony, STR-AN1000
STR-AN1000
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.
Pick this instead ifTwo fast HDMI inputs are enough for you, and the installation is solved by compatible Sony wireless rear speakers.
Key facts
- 7 main processing channels and 7 built-in amplifier channels
- Of 6 HDMI inputs, 2 support 4K120 video
The catch
Its two high-frame-rate inputs cannot cover three separate 4K120 sources.
Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Top pick for this job
Denon AVR-X1800H
Wiring for 5.1.2, documented
See price & reviews on AmazonPick this instead if
Onkyo TX-NR6100
You want a TV and a projector both to stay connected, and the Onkyo streaming platform suits your home.
See price & reviews on AmazonWe may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases. How we make money