Luxury Receivers

Audiophile receivers for high-end home theaters

While the home theater receivers discussed earlier hit the sweet spot in terms of price and performance, there's another class of slightly more expensive models that are worth considering for those who demand more in the way of features and refinement.

Onkyo has just begun shipping the 7.2-channel Onkyo TX-SR707 (*Est. $785), successor to the very well-regarded TX-SR706, and at first glance, it looks like a winner as well. In terms of features, this home theater receiver is relatively packed. It is THX Select2 Plus-certified, meaning that it will deliver an authentic theater sound experience in a room where viewers are seated 10 to 12 feet from the screen. It also includes Faroudja DCDi video processing and can upscale incoming analog video to 1080p.

The Onkyo TX-SR707 has Audyssey's MultiEQ speaker setup program, as well as Audyssey's Dynamic EG, which helps to preserve sound quality despite changes in volume. It also offers THX Loudness Plus, a volume-control technology that maintains a realistic surround-sound field when movies are played at levels below which they were originally recorded -- useful for those times you don't want the couch to shake with each on-screen explosion. At 100 watts per channel, there's plenty of punch as long as you're not looking to fill a ballroom with sound. Full decoder support is built in, including decoders for DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Pro Logic IIz. There's also a support for Audyssey DSX, a signal-processing technology that adds additional channels of sound to create an even more realistic surround-sound field -- four additional channels in the case of the TX-SR707. Digital connectivity is good with six HDMI inputs (including one on the front panel), but the lack of a multichannel analog audio input is a disappointment.

The 7.1-channel Denon AVR-1910 (*Est. $550) has not been extensively reviewed to date, but it scores impressively at Britain's What Hi-Fi?, where it scores highest in the magazine's group test of moderately priced home theater receivers. Performance is described as "frighteningly good" with both movies and music.

All the must-have features are present. Sound decoders are provided for the lossless Dolby and DTS formats, as well as Dolby Pro Logic IIz. Connectivity is good, with four HDMI inputs and a multichannel analog audio input. Analog and HDMI to HDMI upconversion is provided. While the review at What Hi-Fi? does not discuss upconverting quality, users seem pleased -- though feedback is still fairly limited. The Yamaha AVR-1910 uses Audyssey MultEQ technology for automatic speaker set up and other features, but What Hi-Fi? finds that the receiver performs better with Audyssey's technologies turned off.

We also saw some recommendations for the 7.1-channel Yamaha RX-V765BL (*Est. $600). Like all full-featured home theater receivers, the decoders for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA are on board, as is Yamaha's YPAO speaker setup and room-equalization system. Bluetooth and iPod compatibility are built in; a Bluetooth receiver and iPod dock are optional accessories, though there is a front-panel mini-jack for connecting portable audio players. Digital signal-processing features include Yamaha's Compressed Music Enhancer, which, according to Andrew Robinson at HomeTheaterReview.com, does a great job in improving the sound quality of compressed music formats such as MP3s. Scene controls that simplify the job of selecting sources and making settings for activities such as watching a DVD or listening to an iPod are a plus for the technologically challenged. The four HDMI inputs are about average for a better home theater receiver, though some, like the Onkyo TX-SR707 have more. However, the Yamaha RX765BL has something that the Onkyo receiver lacks -- multichannel analog audio inputs. The 95 watts per channel of power is just enough to rock the house -- as long as the house isn't too big.

Most reviews are positive. Robinson say it's "amazing to think that, over a year ago, a receiver packing as much performance as the RX-V765 would've cost you near two grand, if not more." He adds that sound quality is "amazing." Audioholics.com includes the receiver as its top choice for a home theater system costing around $3,500 and adds, "This is a system that will impress your friends and greatly lower any desire to visit the local cineplex for anything other than blockbuster events." Britain's What Hi-Fi? is a little less impressed, however. Still, though some quibbles are noted -- not the least of which is price -- the RX-V765 is credited with being able to create "an immersive, atmospheric surround sound experience." User reviews, while strong, are too limited to be useful at present.