Most receivers over $500 include Dolby Atmos capability, but you don’t need to buy height speakers straight away. You can always add them later.
All modern components use the universal HDMI standard and so you should choose a receiver that has as many of these inputs as possible. If you’re a gamer choose one which has HDMI 2.1 so it can transmit 4K/120Hz to a TV as well.
If you’re looking for a Dolby Atmos receiver, the minimum number of channels is seven -- which is written as either 7.1 or 5.1.2 channels). Power specs are mostly made up, but anything over 100 watts per channel in stereo is good.
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If you’re serious about bringing theater-like sound into your home, an AV receiver is the best choice. A receiver has many roles: It acts as an HDMI switch between components like a streaming box or gaming console and your TV, and it also decodes and amplifies audio signals so you can hear them through your speakers.
The best receivers offer excellent sound quality and come equipped with features like 8K video, Dolby Atmos and music streaming capabilities. You don't need to go for the full surround sound system, either, as you can start with as little as a pair of stereo speakers and then add rear speakers and a subwoofer later. This will enable you to get the best movie, TV show and music performance to suit your budget.
I've tested many of the big-name brands in sound, including Denon, Sony and Yamaha, to discover which receivers deliver the best sound. With more than 20 years of home entertainment experience, I've personally had hands-on time with each of the models included on this list and reviewed them based on price, features, sound quality and performance.
Best AV receivers of 2026
Ty Pendlebury/CNET Photo Gallery 1/1 Ty Pendlebury/CNET Best AV receiver overall Onkyo TX-NR6100 8.3 /10 SCORE Pros One of the best music streaming suites
Excellent home theater performance
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