Audio Video News

The pursuit of serious home theater demands serious gear and no component is more important than the command center that sits at its core. Of course, we’re talking about the AV receiver (AVR), which in addition serving as system hub and providing unified control delivers power to five, seven, or more speakers. Among the dozens of products we’ve reviewed so far this year, are three exemplary yet still reasonably priced AVRs: the Yamaha Aventage RX-A2070 ($1,600), Denon’s AVR-X3400H ($999), and the NAD T758 V3 ($1,300). Let’s take a closer look…

Also see…

2017 Top Picks Of the Year-AV Receivers

How to Buy and AV Receiver

Yamaha Aventage RX-A2070 A/V Receiver: $1,600

The 9.2-channel RX-A2070 delivers the up-to-date features and unadulterated sound you expect from an audio stalwart. You get the nine channels of amplification required to power a 5.2.4 or 7.2.2 Dolby Atmos or DTS:X setup and at least one added attraction you won’t find in other brand AVRs: Yamaha’s masterful music listening modes. “Yamaha provides considerable fine-tuning control over DSP effect levels and delays,” observed veteran reviewer Daniel Kumin. “Though, even at its defaults, the Chamber mode — applied to a DSD of contemporary-classical brass-quintet and piano music — was altogether hair-raising. Reverb was grainless and deep but at the same time subtle. Dimensionality, including stage depth and height, was perfectly convincing. Together, they truly begged the “live-or-Memorex” question.”

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Impressive dynamics and clarity in both stereo and multichannel
Quick-response onscreen interface
Four-zone multiroom capability plus wireless MusicCast
Excellent, responsive streaming-audio client
Minus
Remote control is crowded and not illuminated

Full Review Here

 

Denon AVR-X3400H A/V Receiver: $999

The AVR-X3400H has a lot to offer for a thousand bucks, starting with full 4K/HDR-readiness, solid ergonomics, and a robust seven-channel amp that will have no trouble powering all but the largest home theater setups. Onboard power limits Dolby Atmos configurations to 5.1.2 channels but that’s par for the course in this price range and a layout that even reviewer/audio guru Daniel Kumin is coming around to “especially with dipole surrounds on the sides.” As he put it, “The front-elevation speakers added a valuable sense of size and height to both ambience and wide-range music.” The receiver is also equipped with the very capable DTS Virtual:X processing for modest soundbar-based and two-channel systems and hosts Denon’s Heos wireless multiroom ecosystem.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Solid two-channel and multichannel power
3.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos/DTS:X virtual height effects
Excellent Audyssey MultEQ XT32 room correction
HEOS wireless multiroom
Minus
Wired multiroom limited to one zone

Full Review Here

NAD T758 V3 AV Receiver: $1,300

NAD has honored its rich audio legacy with a thoroughly modern update of the award winning T758 it introduced back in 2011. This V3 edition boasts an anti-obsolescence modular design and cutting-edge room correction from Sweden’s Dirac. “Putting aside challenges with learning to use Dirac, it's an empowering tool for the questing audio tweaker who wants the flexibility to experiment with room correction parameters,” wrote reviewer Mark Fleischmann. “Coupled here with this fine-sounding receiver, the audible results are beautiful.”

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Modularity allows upgrades
Dirac room correction
BluOS audio streaming
Atmos 7.1.4 capable with external amplification
Minus
Only three HDMI inputs
No DTS:X (yet)
Dirac execution more complex than most auto room EQ

Full Review Here