Home Theater Receivers

CNET reports on a good number of home theater receivers in reviews that are detailed enough to be useful but not so much as to be overwhelming for non-audiophiles. The site's focus has shifted to… "mid-priced" options, so those shopping for high-end receivers will need to look elsewhere. No AV receiver has yet earned Editors' Choice recognition in 2009, but the Pioneer VSX-1019AH-K is a front-runner for eventually earning the award. Strong features and "outstanding sound quality for its price" are why.

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Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity review home theater receivers in single-product reports that sometimes go on for pages. Unfortunately, while the reviews are thorough and critical, no objective… ratings or recommendations are provided. The Sherwood RD-7503 receives praise as a modestly priced receiver that is "enjoyable" for movies and "more than sufficient for music for the typical user." While it can't fill a big room with sound or drive large inefficient speakers to loud enough volumes, the Yamaha RX-V665 has earned a spot on reviewer Kieran Coghlan's list of recommended entry-level receivers.

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Robert Silva, About.com's home theater guide, recommends 10 low-cost home theater receivers in this listing. Unfortunately, many are discontinued and testing in most cases is not well-described. The Yamaha… RX-V465 takes the top spot and is complimented for its extensive lineup of features for its price. Silva also posts a list of more expensive home theater receivers, but that is currently out-of-date. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

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Amazon.com lets customers report on their post-sale experiences with home theater receivers. On the positive side, reports that appear here are often decently detailed. One negative is that the site… includes many discontinued models, so navigation can be a bit difficult. Most new receivers have yet to receive a lot of feedback, but there's enough to show that some, such as the Onkyo TX-SR607 and Pioneer VSX-1019AH-K, are making most owners very happy.

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The reviews at Audioholics.com are a bit of a mixed bag. In the very best, the editors subject home theater receivers to a battery of bench and listening tests with detailed single-product reviews. But… other reviews -- usually designated as "first looks" -- are not testing-based, though the writers do a good job of putting features and expected performance into context based on their own expertise. The emphasis here is on high-end choices, but some moderate and even budget receivers are covered. Specific recommendations for home theater receivers at various price points are made, but most of those don't appear to be based on testing either.

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AVGuide.com is the Internet home of Playback and The Absolute Sound magazines. Coverage is skewed toward high-end receivers, with about one a month being reviewed. Reporting is complete and includes… ratings; we like that the editors describe what they look for when evaluating a receiver. Navigating the site can be a nuisance, however. All recommended receivers, such as the Onkyo TX-SR876 and Yamaha RX-V3900, cost more than $1,000, and sometimes much more. That said, a review of the more moderately priced Onkyo TX-SR607 is said to be forthcoming.

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