| 5 Recommended Products | Recommendations | ARC | Frequency Response | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Yamaha RX-V481BL· · · | 6 | 0 | Yes | 20 - 20000 kHz, at 1 kHz | 17.86 lbs |
| #2 Onkyo TX-NR656· · · | 5 | 0 | Yes | 20 - 20000 kHz, at 1 kHz | 22.05 lbs |
| #3 Sony STR-DN850· · · | 4 | 0 | Yes | 20 - 20000 kHz, at 1 kHz | 18.74 lbs |
| #4 Denon AVR-S510BT· · · | 3 | 0 | No | 20 - 20000 kHz, at 1 kHz | 17.39 lbs |
| #5 Pioneer VSX-530-K· · · | 1 | 0 | Yes | 20 - 20000 kHz, at 1 kHz | 18.3 lbs |
Pro Remarkable picture fidelity
It has higher picture accuracy than other receivers at this price range. To achieve this, it uses the High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology for a higher range of contrast and colors. In addition, the BT.2020 option is employed which expands the range of colors. Together, they create a much more natu...
Pro Fantastic sound for the price
This Yamaha receiver has better sound than most of the receivers in this price range. The bass is definite and the depth of the sound is quite noteworthy. The sound as a whole has good clarity.
Pro Easy speaker setup
All five speaker inputs employ binding posts instead of spring clips which makes it easier to set up speakers. Binding posts provide better contact between the wire and the receiver than spring clips making it a safer choice. In addition, banana plugs can be used with binding posts to allow for ve...
Con Looks cluttered
The main box is filled with buttons. While they all have a purpose, the options might seem overwhelming. To help with this, scene shortcuts are available to make switching scenes as easy as possible.
Pro Impressive visual clarity
The displayed image with High Dynamic Range (HDR) and BT.2020 technology seems more real with greater depth. This is because it can display a larger scope of contrast and colors when compared to an ordinary receiver.
Pro Even sound distribution
The receiver has seven active speaker channels which provide a more immersive sound when compared to a five speaker setup. In addition, it has two subwoofers which increases the overall bass quality. The whole combination means that the sound is more evenly distributed through the room and you can...
Pro Can play two separate sources of audio at the same time
The receiver can control the audio for two different rooms at once. Seven speakers can remain at the main room and two additional speakers can be connected that lead to another room. But be aware that only seven speakers can be active at the same time. This means that if you want to play some music
Con Unreliable sound calibration
The receiver has AccuEQ room acoustic calibration which isn’t nearly as good as those in other receivers. The settings are unreliable. Because of this, inexperienced users might not achieve the sound that the receiver is capable of.
Pro An increased depth of sound
Its seven speakers add more depth and detail to the sound when compared to a standard five speaker system. In addition, dual sub-woofers offer more optimal listening positions and has increased headroom. Together, the 7.2 channel configuration creates a more immersive and fuller sound for your sys...
Pro Good interface
It has a simple and easy to understand interface that shows all the necessary information while still making it pleasant to look at. This can be applied to the remote as well. It isn’t cluttered with buttons but still offers the same functionality.
Pro Access to multiple streaming services
Can access some of the regularly used streaming services through its Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections. These streaming services are Spotify, TuneIn and Apple’s Airplay.
Con Not future-proof
None of the HDMI ports have HDCP 2.2 support which will prevent the user from experiencing copyrighted 4K quality content. Additionally, it doesn’t employ Dolby Atmos technology which is used to create an extra immersive sound. Currently these technologies are not widespread but will probably beco...
Con Unreliable sound setup
The sound calibration can be a hit or miss. It will either perform accurately and set up your system to a good standard or widely misrepresent the sound. Not suited for people who don’t like to rely on their ears for sound modification.
Pro More options with dual subwoofers
Dual subwoofers can offer more choices for fine-tuning your system. It provides an optimal sound at multiple different listening positions and give the user options for different subwoofer placements.
Pro Easy to set up
Is quite easy to set up, even if it’s your first receiver. By following the instructions it will help you connect all the required parts to make it usable.
Pro Has enough HDMI inputs
In total it has 5 HDMI inputs, which is reasonable for the price. Three of those are HDCP 2.2 compatible to future proof your home theater.
Con No internet connection
The lack of Wi-Fi and Ethernet cable is a notable drawback if you tend to listen to your music using any of the streaming services.
Con An extra cable is needed to receive sound from TV
The lack of Audio Return Channel (ARC) means that you’ll need an optical cable to connect your TV’s audio channel back into the receiver. Without it you will receive no sound from the TV.
Con Employs lower quality connectors
Spring clips are being used to connect the speakers. The whole system is too delicate and can eventually lead to wire fraying. This also means that banana plugs are not available for use.
Pro Additional playback options
Even though it doesn’t have internet connectivity and the music streaming services that come with it, a flash drive or Bluetooth is a great, convenient way to replace internet radios for music playback.
Pro Low price
The solid basics coupled with the low price make it a receiver with a great value.
Pro Can support future copyrighted content
Has 4 HDMI inputs and 1 HDMI output which are HDCP 2.2 compliant to support future copyrighted content in full 4K resolution.
Con Achieving a great sound can be difficult
Doesn’t seem to be designed for newcomers because of its lack of automatic sound calibration. The user is expected to know what are the ingredients for a good sound and how to manually achieve them. It might take some effort before you can enjoy the sound on your system.
Con No network
Lack of network options means that there are no streaming applications specifically set up for music playback.
Con Uses an inferior method to connect speakers
For three of its speakers it uses spring clips which are an inferior way of connecting speakers to a receiver. With spring clips the wires are likely to have a tiny contact area which can result in poor performance. Binding posts are available for the two main speakers.
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