Yamaha RX-V465

Reports say that the 5.1-channel Yamaha RX-V465 is an excellent choice for a budget-priced but full-featured home theater receiver. Its video HDMI capabilities are limited to switching and passing on whatever is presented at the receiver's four HDMI inputs, but audio is processed by the Yamaha RX-V465. Audio format support is good, and includes decoders for the lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio high-def formats that are used on most Blu-ray Discs.

The Yamaha RX-V465 is easy to use thanks to features such as automatic speaker setup and Yamaha's Scene modes, which reduce complex operations to a single button. The Yamaha RX-V465 even offers iPod and Bluetooth support, but an iPod dock (*Est. $60) or Bluetooth receiver (*Est. $70) are required. Sound quality is good, and the rated 105 watts per channel of power is enough to fill most moderate-sized home theaters. Though more expensive, the Onkyo TX-SR607 (*Est. $430) offers seven channels of surround sound, dual subwoofer outputs and support for Dolby Pro Logic IIz, which adds height channels for an even more immersive surround sound experience. It also has the ability to process video and audio, though not all critics are particularly enamored with its prowess in that regard.

Though professional reviews of the Yamaha RX-V465 are hard to come by, it does take the top spot on About.com's list of best inexpensive home theater receivers. User reviews are also helpful, and you can find those at Amazon.com, BestBuy.com and Crutchfield.com.