Best 7.2 Receiver 2020

If you want to get the maximum out of your home theatre system, your sound bar needs to be replaced with an AV receiver system. An AV receiver, when combined with even the most elementary speakers, enhances the audio experience to a different level altogether.

AV receivers have become extremely popular over the years and if you are looking to buy one, it is easy to get overwhelmed by numerous proprietary technologies and technical jargon used by manufacturers for marketing.

In this article, we give you the basic information you need to buy the best 7.2 receiver which will transform your living room into a movie theatre.

Decoding the Numbers

When speakers are mentioned, these numbers inevitably get mentioned. In this section we break the code behind these so that the next time you see these numbers, you know exactly what they stand for. Long story short, whenever we talk of surround sound system, we need two numbers to fully describe the capabilities. For example, in 7.2 set-up, the first number 7 represents number of audio channels available and the one after decimal (2) represents the number of subwoofer channels.

Audio “channels” can broadly be interpreted as number of directions from which the user experiences the sound. 7-channel audio set up means the viewer is “surrounded” by 7 speakers that deliver amazing sound experience. 2 subwoofer channels mean that the system is equipped with 2 low frequency speakers/sub-woofers. Their effect is most commonly felt in action, sci-fi and adventure movies.

Top Ten 7.2 Receivers Comparison Chart

PictureNameWattage/channelPriceRating (1-5)
Picture
Name
Wattage/channel
Price
Rating (1-5)
1. Denon AVR-X3300W 7.2 Channel Full 4K Ultra HD A/V Receiver with Built-In Wi-Fi and Bluetooth105$$$$4.5
2. Onkyo TX-RZ800 7.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver185$4.4
3. Yamaha RX-A750 7.2-Channel MusicCast AV Receiver with Built-In Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (Black) 90$4.4
4. Yamaha RX-V681BL 7.2-Channel MusicCast AV Receiver with Bluetooth150$$$4.3
5. Sony 7.2 Channel Home Theater 4K AV Receiver (STRDH770) 145$$4.1
6. Sony 7.2 Dolby Atmos Wi-Fi Network AV Receiver Home Theater Receiver (STRDN1080) 165$$$4.0
7. Pioneer VSX-1131 7.2-Channel AV Receiver with MCACC built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi170$$$4.0
8. Marantz NR1607 Ultra HD 7.2 Channel Network A/V Surround Receiver with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 50$$$4.0
9. Pioneer Elite SC-81 7.2-Channel Class D3 Network A/V Receiver with HDMI 2.0120$$$3.9
10. Pioneer VSX-1130-K 7.2-Channel AV Receiver with Built-In Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (Black) 165$3.7

What to Look for in a 7.2 Receiver?

As with every electronic device, lot of technical jargon is thrown around while researching for receivers. We have compiled the following most important features that you should look out for, saving yourself a lot of time:

  • Sensitivity. Measured in decibel (dB), higher the sensitivity, louder the speaker. This figure usually hovers around 87 – 88 dB for an average speaker. 90 and above is considered excellent.
  • Impedance. It should be neither too high nor too low. 6 to 8 ohms is the norm. Higher impedance demands lower current, which would impair the speaker’s loudness. On the other hand, lower impedance would demand more current from the amplifier, which might have a damaging effect.
  • Power Rating. It determines how much power your speaker can handle while functioning normally. Manufacturers usually mention this either as Root Mean Squared (RMS) or peak.

RMS power rating is more usable, as it indicates how much continuous power the speakers can handle without getting damaged. While comparing different speakers, it is essential to ensure that RMS/peak power rating of one is compared to RMS/peak power rating of other.

Top 3 Best 7.2 Receiver Reviews

1. Denon AVR-X3300W 7.2 Channel Full 4K Ultra

In a marketplace full of 7.2 Channel AV receivers, searching for speakers that truly stand out is difficult – only until you hear the AVR-X3300W roar!

Loaded with the industry standard Dolby Atmos and DTS:X 3D surround decoding, it stands out from the crowd of traditional surround sound systems. To add to its amazing performance, you have the option to add Dolby Atmos elevation speakers via a firmware upgrade. It gives you all the connectivity options you want in a contemporary receiver, with 8 HDMI input ports and 2 outputs. Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth round off the package and make it the best 7.2 receiver which is easy to setup and install even for a first timer, thanks to the on-screen step by step instructions.

It supports all the popular audio streaming apps and has dedicated remote apps for iOS, Android and Kindle Fire to give you complete control and mobility.

2. Onkyo TX-RZ800 7.2-Channel Network Receiver

Initial apprehensions and apprehensions about the RZ series from Onkyo notwithstanding, this one is an absolutely performance monster – particularly if you want your home theatre to be LOUD! Once you get the basic settings done via a simple to use GUI, you are ready to rumble and make no mistake, these do rumble!

At 185 W/Channel, this is the loudest they get and it is one of the most flexible speaker systems around. It comes with Zone 2 option that can be used to set up HD Video in your second room. Whether you use it with your 5.1 Channel Home Theater, to feed music to intercom/music system at your house or work, listen to Pandora and other audio from iOS devices via Apple AirPlay or simply as a phono inputs, the RZ800 delivers a solid performance.

3. Yamaha RX-A750 7.2-Channel MusicCast AV Receiver

Yamaha has always been a stellar performer in sound engineering space and RX-A750 provides a very worthy option. It is a one stop shop for all your home entertainment needs – whether you’re looking for theatre like surround sound to complement 4K quality videos, play your favorite music stored on your phone/tablet or stream music online – built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth ensure you are never away from quality sound.

Yamaha AV controller app works exceedingly well and lets you have complete control wherever you are. MusicCast is a great option to wirelessly stream music to any room of the house you want – provided you have MusicCast capable AV receiver there.