Budget Receivers

Decent home theater receivers for less than $350

According to the reviews we read, many budget receivers aren't a great value. They mainly get mixed reviews, and many complain that there's not enough features and flexibility. That said, reviews reveal that some less expensive home theater receivers are better than others. Keep in mind that in this price range, you could also consider a home theater system, which includes both a receiver and speakers in the same box.

For those on the tightest of budgets, the Harman Kardon AVR 154 (*Est. $250) is a good value, reports say. At this modest price, you won't get much in the way of features, but the Harman Kardon AVR 154 shines in its sonic performance. Andrew Robinson at HomeTheaterReview.com calls the Harman Kardon AVR 154 "shockingly musical and dynamic," adding that it is suitable for reproducing both movie sound tracks and music. Robert Silva, home theater guide for About.com, includes it on his list of top budget receivers, saying that it provides excellent sound performance in both stereo and surround-sound modes.

Extras aren't plentiful, but a handful can be found. The receiver has HDMI pass-through and switching -- that means you can plug all your gear into the receiver, then you'll only need a single HDMI cable to pass everything along to your TV -- but the receiver can't process the audio or video that comes in via its three HDMI inputs. Decoders are built in for nearly all Dolby and DTS sound formats, with the notable exceptions being the lossless ones (Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio) available on Blu-ray Discs. However, the inclusion of multichannel analog inputs means it can accept decoded lossless audio from Blu-ray players equipped with their own decoders and analog outputs. (See the ConsumerSearch report on Blu-ray players for information on compatible players.)

The Harman Kardon AVR 154 is a 5.1-channel receiver, meaning it can drive five satellite speakers and a subwoofer, but not the seven surround-sound channels of pricier receivers. The 30 watts per channel is modest, so the Harman Kardon AVR 154 will sound best if it's used for smaller home theaters. User reviews are limited, but most appreciate the sound quality and value offered.

The Onkyo TX-SR307 (*Est. $250) is another consideration in this price range. This receiver is the successor to the Onkyo TX-SR304, which is praised by experts and users for its competent audio performance and value. Reviews of the Onkyo TX-SR307 are limited thus far, but it does take the second spot on About.com's list of best budget receivers (under $400). Robert Silva says sound quality is excellent and the receiver offers the "essentials for today's entry-level user."

Once again, the audio decoder line up is complete save for the lossless formats. Though it is a little more expensive, the feature lineup in the Onkyo TX-SR307 is a touch more impressive than what's found in the Harman Kardon AVR 154. Extras include Audyssey 2EQ automatic speaker setup. Though some say that speaker setup programs rarely produce perfect results, they do make it easier for beginners to set up a convincing surround sound field (which otherwise would include lots of measuring and math). Audyssey technologies to keep sound quality constant regardless of the volume and to dynamically boost or cut volume to keep up with different program material are also included.

At 65 watts per surround channel, this 5.1-channal home theater receiver also provides a bit more pop than the Harman Kardon AVR 154, though not enough to fill massive spaces with floorboard-rattling sound. The three HDMI inputs are pass-through only -- they'll carry all of the video and audio signals through a single cable, but the receiver doesn't process or optimize those signals. The few negative user reviews we saw come from owners who say they expected the Onkyo TX-SR307 to process HDMI signals.

Because of a lack of professional feedback or even much in the way of owner reviews, we can't include the 5.1-channel Pioneer VSX-819H-K (*Est. $270) among the ranks of our Best Reviewed just yet. That said, it is a feature-packed receiver that bears consideration as well -- especially for those who have (or plan to have) a Blu-ray player as part of their home theater system.

Like other receivers in this category, Pioneer VSX-819H-K can't process the video that comes in over HDMI, acting only as a pass-through and switcher. Audio is another story, however, and the Pioneer VSX-819H-K is one of the least expensive home theater receivers with built-in decoders for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. The Pioneer VSX-819H-K is also compatible with iPods and iPhones -- with a front panel USB connector and cable -- and it carries Works with iPhone certification. Other pluses include an automatic speaker setup program and 110 watts of output power per channel.

A bit more gets you a better receiver

While you can find receivers in the $250 range, spending a bit more gets you more features, easier setup and better configuration. You'll also get a more forward-looking receiver that can handle the latest audio formats included on Blu-ray Discs. For example, the Yamaha RX-V465 (*Est. $330) currently holds the top spot on About.com's list of best budget receivers, and gets generally good owner reviews at sites such as Amazon.com, BestBuy.com and Crutchfield.com.

This 5.1-channel receiver has decoders for most Dolby and DTS formats, including lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Robert Silva at About.com also appreciates the Yamaha RX-V465's Silent Cinema feature, which creates a realistic surround-sound field for headphone listeners. On the video side of things, the RX-V465 can convert between analog formats (component video, S-Video and composite video) but only passes through digital video that comes in via HDMI. Additionally, while it can pass 1080p signals, it can't upconvert to that resolution or convert analog video to digital for output over HDMI. HDMI audio, on the other hand, is processed.

Other noteworthy features include an automatic system set up function and four customizable scene modes that can initiate activities like watching a DVD with just one button push -- automatically selecting sources and settings. The receiver is both Bluetooth and iPod compatible, but you'll need an iPod dock (*Est. $60) or Bluetooth receiver (*Est. $70) to use those features. At 105 watts per channel, there's plenty of power for small- to moderate-sized listening rooms. User reviews are largely complimentary, with the exception of some HDMI-compatibility issues with certain cable boxes. Right now, the Yamaha RX-V465 looks like the best bet in this price range, and we've included it as a ConsumerSearch Best Reviewed pick.

At roughly the same price, the Sherwood RD-7503 (*Est. $345) has some pluses and minuses compared to the Yamaha RX-V465. Unlike the home theater receivers discussed thus far, the Sherwood RD-7503 is a 7.1-channel receiver, which means it has amplifiers to drive the two rear channel speakers in addition to the normal five speakers plus subwoofer of a 5.1-channel receiver. If you have speakers that support biamplification (using two amplifiers to power a speaker to produce more power and/or better sound quality), the rear channel outputs can be easily switched to biamplify the front channel speakers instead. You will also find a 7.1-channel analog audio input, which among other things lets you enjoy lossless audio formats from a Blu-ray player that has its own decoders for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Decoders for those formats -- and most other popular Dolby and DTS ones -- are also built into the Sherwood RD-7503. An accurate room set up mode is another plus, though Robert Kozel at Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity wishes features like these were explained more thoroughly in the users' manual. Bluetooth and iPod compatibility require optional accessories.

The Sherwood RD-7503 can't process or convert video in any way, and it requires a composite connection to show its on-screen menus on your TV. While manufacturers are generally accused of inflating the rated power of their products, Mark Fleischmann at Home Theater magazine says Sherwood is especially dodgy in claiming 100 watts per channel for the RD-7503, quoting that spec into a light load (6 ohms per channel), with low-frequency response curtailed and only two channels driven.

Still, while reviewers say that there are compromises to be made -- for example, Home Theater magazine notes that the RD-7503 should be paired with reasonably efficient speakers -- all add that the features lineup is strong considering the receiver's price. Performance is also good, with Kozel saying, "The RD-7503 was very enjoyable for movies and will be more than sufficient for music for the typical user."