11 Best AV Receivers Under $1000 of 2020

An Audio/Video receiver (also known as AVR) is a versatile consumer electronic product that receives picture and sound signals from different sources (TV, radio, satellite, DVD player, etc.) and processes them to a display unit and loudspeaker. The result is a richer viewing experience.

Its output is commonly controlled by a remote, making it a useful gadget that adds value in your living room as well as in boardrooms.

Buying an AV receiver can be a tricky affair, particularly for those not comfortable with tech jargon (which makes for a majority of us, doesn’t it?). To save your valuable effort and time, we have put together this guide so that you can choose the best AV receiver under $1000.

Things to Consider

An AV receiver is pretty much the brain of your home theater system. It receives input signals for audio and video, switches and processes them as desired and relays them to your home theatre. Before we touch upon what you should consider while buying an A/V receiver, here are a few points that shouldn’t be your decision makers:

  • Amplifier Output (Watt/Channel). For home entertainment purposes, you’re actually using only a few watts of the rated output (typically in 100 – 180 W range). Thus, even though a 150 W/channel output might “sound” more powerful than a lower priced, 120 W/channel amplifier, there would barely be any noticeable difference.
  • Weight. Heavier is NOT always better. Even though the idea has been around forever, heavier speakers (which often require more power) need to be accompanied by proportionately better sonic qualities, heat management system and upgraded circuitry to handle larger currents when working with a low impedance load.

Now that you know about a couple of myths, here are a few points that should be considered:

    • Must have features
    • Type and number of inputs required
    • Where is your Home Theatre system installed?

We will elaborate upon these in the “Buying Information” section.

Top 11 AV Receivers Under $1000 Comparison Chart

PictureNameWattage/ChannelRating (1 - 5)
Picture
Name
Wattage/Channel
Rating (1 - 5)
1. Denon AVR-X2300W 7.2 Channel Full 4K Ultra HD AV Receiver with Bluetooth954.6
2. Denon AVR-X3300W 7.2 Channel Full 4K Ultra HD A/V Receiver with Built-In Wi-Fi and Bluetooth1054.5
3. Onkyo TX-RZ800 7.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver1854.4
4. Yamaha RX-V681BL 7.2-Channel MusicCast AV Receiver with Bluetooth 1504.3
5. Onkyo TX-RZ610 7.2 Channel Network A/V Receiver1004.3
6. Onkyo TX-RZ810 7.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver1304.2
7. Pioneer VSX-1131 7.2-Channel AV Receiver with MCACC built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 1704.0
8. Marantz SR5011 7.2 Channel Network Audio/Video Surround Receiver with Bluetooth1003.9
9. Pioneer Elite SC-81 7.2-Channel Class D3 Network A/V Receiver with HDMI 2.0 1203.9
10. Marantz SR5010 7.2 Channel Network Audio/Video Surround Receiver with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi1003.9
11. Harman Kardon AVR 3700 7.2-Channel 125-Watt Network-Connected Audio/Video Receiver 1253.1

Buying Information

There are plenty of options available at the $1000 price point. To add to it, there are always the latest “must haves” that you feel compelled to pay for, irrespective of whether or not you would actually use those. This section would help you cut through the noise and focus on what you actually need:

  • What Features Do You Actually Need? While Bluetooth and wireless connectivity are the most essential ones, you might not need Airplay (if you don’t have an Apple device or don’t plan to use it as an input even if you have one), Dolby Atmos (useless without Dolby speakers mounted at a height), second audio zone, etc.
  • Type and Number of Inputs Required. HDMI input has become the global standard and is here to stay. Make sure your receiver has a couple of additional HDMI input ports than what you require right now. Signals from your legacy devices can also be converted to HDMI through video up-conversion, which is a good feature to have.

Top 3 Best AV Receiver Under $1000 Reviews

1. Denon AVR-X2300W 4K Ultra HD AV Receiver

If you are looking for an AV receiver that delivers superior quality audio and video and comes loaded with a number of convenient features, Denon’s AVR X2300W is one stand out product that ticks all the boxes. Let us have a closer look at its features to know why we have rated it as the best AV receiver under $1000.

The X2300W supports 4K and HDR (High Dynamic Range) videos which makes it a great fit for the latest Ultra HD television sets and Blu-ray inputs. Its ability to decode Dolby Atmos sound results in an amazing surround sound experience. It can upscale Standard Definition video signals to HD and UHD quality to give you a truly immersive home theatre experience.

Its long list of connectivity and compatibility features make it future proof, with support for Apple AirPlay, built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, front panel USB, multi-room audio and many more. Denon’s Compressed Audio Restorer enhances the quality of mp3 and other audio files to make it stand out from competition.

2. Denon AVR-X3300W Full 4K Ultra HD A/V Receiver

If you are looking for a top of the line AV receiver that delivers perfect sound, is compatible with all the popular input signal types and comes with built in picture enhancement capabilities, X3300W is what you are looking for.

A step-up model from Danon’s X1300 and X2300 models, the X3300 features enhanced power for driving low impedance speakers and its ability to scale SD and HD inputs to 4K levels. This is highly recommended if you are looking for detailed, uncompromised, high quality sound in a larger room.

It gives you amazing 3D sound experience and is compatible with the latest HDMI and HDCP specifications delivers a fully immersive experienced when you watch the latest blockbusters. Definitely worth the extra dollars it costs.

3. Onkyo TX-RZ800 Network A/V Receiver

For several years, Onkyo has maintained a consistent design philosophy for its receivers. The TX-RZ800 pleasantly surprised us with its looks – let’s see how it performs.

When you’re investing in an AV receiver system, excellent sound quality is a non-negotiable parameter and the RZ800 is a marked improvement over previous versions. The improvements continue on the network and multimedia support side which testifies the user centric efforts put in by the engineers. User Interface housed on the front panel is easy on the eye and has a simplistic appeal to it.

It works well with the HDMI inputs that has become the de-facto in home entertainment – making the product a very good mid-range option.