What av receiver should i buy 2011

A high-tech receiver with all the freshest trappings is worth nothing if you can't figure out how to use it. An easily navigable receiver display panel can be the difference between enjoying stadium-quality sound and pictures or watching your expensive system collect dust because you can't figure out how to turn it on.

When browsing receivers, it's important to tool around with the display to make sure you can navigate it and understand all the functions. Quality receivers generally include a graphical interface -- the on-screen viewer through which a user sets up and operates the receiver. If used with AirPlay , the viewer should also display album art and song information as it plays music.

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Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. High-Tech Gadgets. Receivers vary greatly in price, so a bit of homework ensures you don't buy a model with features you'll never use. Sony Electronics. Our list of best AV receivers is still the easiest way to see how rank different models, but here we've tried to narrow down the choices based on what kind of buyer you are.

That low price is even more impressive when you consider it has excellent sound quality, six HDMI inputs and the ability to connect your iPod directly to its front panel USB port--and Pioneer even includes a cable. Great sound quality, six HDMI inputs, 7. Its overall rating was held back a litte by its lack of a graphical user interface and less overall connectivity, but if you can get past those shortcomings, the AVR will wow you with its sound.

It delivers more clean dynamic power than most of us will need and is loaded with useful features including compatibility with high dynamic range content and THX Select2 Plus certification. But when you get down to it, the ability to deliver clean, dynamic power is what matters most—and precisely what this Top Pick of the Year receiver offers in spades.

The top end was sweet and musical, dialogue well delivered, and bass par for the price point. A reasonable definition of a great-sounding receiver. But I expect it to be joined, and possibly surpassed, by other nine-channel receivers.

And with 11 channels of power onboard watts into 8 ohms with two channels driven , the XH is flexible enough to accommodate speaker configurations up to 7. Guaranteed to delight enthusiasts, the XH also boasts eight HDMI inputs, two preamp outs for extending its processing power to 13 channels with an outboard amp , two subwoofer outputs, and support for hi-res audio playback. But the ZAES is special for what it lacks. It skips de rigueur wireless features such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to focus on features that provide maximum flexibility in a custom installation setting.

Among them is an easy-to-configure eight-port Ethernet hub for interfacing with networked devices such as control systems, computers, and media players. The T supports full-bore 7. In other words: everything you need except the speakers! Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. We delete comments that violate our policy , which we encourage you to read. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. Matthew Moskovciak.