TOP 5 Surround Sound Receivers! Receivers for MUSIC and MOVIES (2021)

★ QOTD: Did your favorites make the list? What would be in your top 5?
★ CLICK 🔝 “SHOW MORE” in the description for answers to many of your questions
★ RULES: Please be respectful. NO OUTSIDE LINKS, URLs, email addresses, etc.

My brother just ordered the TX-NR7100 this Thanksgiving as a refurbished unit off Amazon for about $600
He's upgrading from an Integra 5.8 that is around 15yrs old.
I almost got him talked into the Pioneer Elite LX505 for $799 on Black Friday but he's going to stick with the Onkyo for less money.

we can buy 5.1 music,, both pcm and dsd,,, how to play them,, no pc,,,, we put these music files on hdd and flash drive,,,so,,, which recvrs can play via usb,,, 5,1 music... start w cheapest

All the brand you mention are owned by the same company.

Yamaha V6A at reduced price is excellent buy .

Hard to believe that the Onkyo is your top choice and recommendation. I would have thought Pioneer's elite series is a way better receiver but I'm old school maybe Onkyo caught up in quality. Truthfully I still have a 1990's Pioneer 7.2ch and yes it's time to upgrade but I have had 0 issues with it all this time and would like to stick to what works. Will most likely pick up the Pioneer again simply for it's durability and name brand but also my own experience. That receiver still works well but obviously doen't have all the modern features and even still it drives any speakers I throw at it with 0 issues. I will be picking up the pioneer VSX -LX505 instead of the 305 that's on your list.

You only talked about turn table on one receiver

Unless Onkyo seriously improved it's reliability and durability, I would be reluctant to buy another. The last 2 I bought in the mid 2000's didn't last 3 years...

I have the RZ50. And I have to say that I do NOT see what you guys are hearing that I am not! This receiver is feature packed but seriously lacking in power. Im coming from a tx-nr818 before this and this receiver cant touch it when it comes to sound. Music wise that is. There seems to be a serious lacking of low end and a shallow sound from it no matter what is done. seems as if this receiver is missing an entire lower spectrum of sound. Im running full range infinity Beta 50 speakers and this totally does not cut it. It's seems more geared to small bookshelf type speakers and multiple subs. Which brings up another issue. This receiver randomly erases any setting that has been set but the crossover and room correction software. I have triple volume logos from time to time on screen, As well as glitching to black when using a ps5. Ive been an only guy for a long time.. And im not seeing what you guys are.

I just picked up the ONKYO TX-RZ50 to replace/update my tx-rz830. It's GREAT and the DIRAC LIVE is amazing in my 7.4(1).4 setup.

Also, my Onkyo RZ830 kicked my Pioneer Elite LX-503 I sold's ASS! Louder and sounded better IMO...Onkyo's GUI was a bit snappier too and less buggy, ie firmware upgrading.

What would be a good budget receiver option to drive a pair of Martin Logan 35XTI's?

Now that's it's 2023 do you still think the Onkyo RZ50 is still the best choice in that price range for the included options? I'm gonna be buying my first AV receiver in the next 2-4 weeks. I'm wanting to listen to music in high quality and eventually add speakers for a Dolby atmos 5.2.4 system for movies. Also what speaker system would you recommend to pair with it? I really love the Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-8000F II but they may be a bit out of my price range.

Well, I think this list needs to be updated because the TX-RZ50 is not available anymore which I highly regret as I heard in one of your videos that its soundstage was impressive and that immediately made me very interested in the Onkyo. Looking to get a surround system based on either Dali Oberon 7 or KEF Q550/750 and unsure about what receiver to get for them. I was thinking 100 to 110W. Hope there will be a 2023 update soon since the issues with Onkyo

Could you do a 2023 version now maybe??
Pretty please 😉

Dear Andy what would be your choice between denon x4700h and onkyo rz50. Does auror 3d is a big difference maker vis a vis atmos

Looking for more high end equipment.

I was looking at the mrx540 as all I’m running is a 5.1. Would you recommend this at the current price of 1800 or would you head a different direction

What do you think about the 4700h denon vs RZ50 ?

👍👍Guys belive me onkyo sounds so good for home theatre when compared to denon and marantz, I am using onkyo rz-50 after comparing with denon and marantz ,I don't know why onkyo went bankrupt 😳😳

I got your point on Yamaha. On my RX-A860, Spotify Connect has never been fixed. Sometimes, I cannot be discovered by my phone. Then, only pulling the power cable helps.

About the RZ50 and about Marantz. I had the RZ50 here for a couple of days to compare it with an older Marantz sr7010, just because of this review. I did a music / stereo comparison only - paired with a set of KEF R5 & a RC62 Sub. (also tried 5.1 surround with additional r2c + 2 x r3 - this was not part of my listening comparison though). I tested several genres: Jazz, Electronic and some more Voice-Driving guitar heavier sets. I have to say that for at least music, the Marantz beats the RZ50 easily. It sounds "rounder", heavier, more in place and the bass - regardless how hard i try on the settings with the rz50 - more tangible. Looking forward to the Cinema 40 - as the Cinema 50 isnt compareable either. Maybe will be looking and see a Onkjo RZ1100 / RZ3100 successor which might be more compareable - dont you think?

You simply can't have this discussion without including the new Yamaha Advantage line. Yamaha is far from "woefully behind". This invalidates this entire review.

Where is Yamaha here? The RX-A8A is supposed to be pretty damn good.

After doing some research, I was amazed by what Onkyo RZ50 can do. I decided to buy it. I went shopping in my country and the very 1st shop I went to they told me "Ill pay you so that you don't buy Onkyo". I asked why, he explained how the motherboards has a lot of issues, how the Onkyo company has gone bankrupt and how Onkyo products don't have longevity. they die even before the warranty lapses and its ends up costing the shop more to compensate the customer. That was the 1st time a genuine seller was telling me to avoid a product. Remember Reviewers get a sample review (or buy and don't keep) for a short period of time so hardly do they check for longevity. I'm considering Yamaha

Is Kristi camera shy?

With the Pioneer 305, I’ve gotten two of them and they both have an issue were the ceiling rear Atmos speakers pop/crackle. Anyone know why this is happening?

I had 2 Onkyo receivers. The first one just stopped working. The second started to smoke and would have started on fire if I didn't pull the plug. Switched to Yamaha and had no problems and loved the sound.

What about the str-za5000es
Sony

Onkyo denied they had a design problem across their high end line for 5 years, many people (myself included) refused to pay for the "free" repair at the time, that would have cost me $150 in shipping. Eventually Onkyo admitted they knew about the problem, provided warranty repair, and extended warranty. Meanwhile how many people just threw them away? Many reports of people sending in their receivers multiple times and alway breaking again. I would never trust anything with "Onkyo" silk screened on it ever again.

Well done guys, since the first video I have seen from you I have subscribed to your channel, I like your transparency and your unbiased opinion even with preference setup (Yamaha). One thing it would make a whole lot sense since you are reaching global audiences is to use both US and other countries products numbers, this would make a massive difference for the people outside US. Keep up the good work!

Yamaha Aventage line sounds the best. Built to last. Bowers & Wilkins speakers sound the best. Just my humble opinion. Compared to all you listed.

Hey again, i have a denon 2300w receiver and a panasonic 820 4k player and a samsung 900b. What is the best way to connect all three to get lossless audio through my speakers and 4k to my tv, i know the 820 has two hdmi outputs one is audio and one is video , would i connect hdmi audio out to receiver and the hdmi video out straight to tv or would i use the passthough on the receiver with one hdmi cable to receiver, or is there another way. Any help would be great. Thanks again...Phil

I had bought a yamaha high end receiver month ago, stupid design, providing one optical input only. my experience is optical much better than coaxial.

I’ve been a Yamaha fan since the mid 1980s, since I was attracted to their build and sound quality, but looking at their two top tier H/T receivers I decided to pass and to hold onto my Yamaha RX-A3040 for another year or two. I was looking at the Yamaha RX-A8A and after looking at the design and more important, the construction, I was turned off after tapping on the cheap front plastic face piece AND the top cover, I had to pass since this is unacceptable for a $3,300.00 H/T receiver. If Yamaha used glass, instead of the current ultra cheap plastic for the faceplate AND a metal/alloy top cover, I’d most likely jump on it . Honestly, I went back TWICE to look at it again a month ago, but still couldn’t get past the amount of cheap plastic for the over $3Ks. Without question, the performance more than met my needs and is very impressive, but “l’m” attracted to the performance, that it has, but the build quality, is very subpar IMHO. I’ll wait two years to see if Yamaha decides to correct the issues with the build quality, but sadly, I’m not holding my breath on this, so I will most likely look at a different brand for the first in close to 40 years.

I am kind of new to this but won’t the low WPC rating on the marantz cause clipping to the speakers?

Strange that you don't suggest a Yamaha

💯

Is the best “mid-fi” receiver list?

"nuttier than squirrel turds". LMFAO

great review as always, was wondering what amplifier would you recommend to pair with the Onkyo TX-RZ50 for my new my speakers which are 6 ohms, they're sensitivity is 85 db. if you need more info on them, they are the ELAC Uni-Fi Reference Bookshelf Speakers. my sub is a arendal 1723 Subwoofer 1S, 108 bd, 800 watts RMS, my price range is around $3000-5K, thanks!

Why would you connect PS5 or Xbox to the receiver? (not directly to TV and use HDMI ARC to receiver)
What is the purpose/benefit of that?
I see only negative i.e. if you wish to use Bluetooth headphones - you must still switch on the receiver to be able to see PS5 and use TV Bluetooth for headphones

This is the best, but why didn't you talked about Anthem or Arcam? Just curious (sponsor, wathever)

yamaha i so ugly i could not have that in my iving room, yamaha what have you done

I’m still with my Sony Muteki HT-M55. It’s like 10 years old. Am I losing something since then?

I would like to have anthem p5 amplifier

LaJ L

Five receivers, one company. Onkyo have been off my consideration list for years now. Baffles me why they refuse to include a USB port.

does the size of the room matter when getting a receiver? I have a 5.1.2 set up in my 9x12 bedroom using an onkyo 676. This receiver is missing some features i want. Would an denon x3700h be overkill in such a tiny bedroom?