The best AV receiver under 500 right now is the Sony STR-DH590, a 5.2-channel unit with 725W of total output, four HDMI inputs and roughly 6,000 owner reviews behind it. It is not the flashiest spec sheet in this group, and it is not the only one, but it is the one with the deepest evidence base and the most consistent owner feedback of any genuine home theater receiver you can buy for this money in 2026.
That framing matters more than usual this year, because the budget AV receiver market has collapsed upward. The mainstream 7.2-channel tier that used to define this bracket has moved past the cap, and the search results for this keyword are full of models that no longer honour the brief. We built this list the hard way: every pick below is a real surround-sound AV receiver, every one sits under 500, and we left the amplifiers, soundbars and 2.-channel stereo boxes out entirely.
Six units qualify. Two of them are 5.2-channel, one is 7.2-channel, and the rest are variations on the same theme with meaningfully different strengths. In the sections that follow we cover each one in depth, then tell you which features at this price are worth paying attention to and which you can safely ignore. Our advice is built from published specifications and owner review patterns rather than a lab bench, and we say so where it matters.
Quick answer for most readers: buy the Sony STR-DH590 if you want a proven, heavy, well-reviewed 5.2 system with no drama. Buy the Denon AVR-S570BT if your PS5 or Xbox Series X is the centre of the room and you want HDMI 2.1 with 8K support. Buy the Yamaha RX300A if Dolby Atmos at this budget is the thing you actually want.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for AV Receivers Under $500 (October 2026)
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The Sony takes our top slot on evidence rather than on headline features. Its 4.3-star average is the highest of the six, and its review count is more than five times that of the next-best option, which means the pattern of complaints we describe below is well documented rather than anecdotal.
The Denon is the value pick and the most common answer in home theater forum threads at this budget, largely because four HDMI 2.1 8K inputs at this level are unusual. The Onkyo is the only 7.2-channel receiver in the set, and the only one with a full built-in streaming platform, though it carries the lowest rating of the group.
All Six Picks at a Glance
| Product | Key Features | |
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 Sony STR-DH590
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 Denon AVR-S570BT
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 Onkyo TX-NR5100
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 JBL MA310
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 Yamaha RX-V4A Certified Refurbished
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 Yamaha RX300A
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Check Latest Price |
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Channel count is the first column to read, and the last one that matters. All six decode surround sound, all six pass 4K video, and only three of them give you HDMI 2.1 bandwidth. Read the table twice before you read anything else on this page.
1. Sony STR-DH590: The Most Proven Receiver Under 500
Sony STRDH590 5.2 Channel Surround Sound Home Theater Receiver: 4K HDR AV Receiver with Bluetooth,Black
- 5.2 channels
- 725W total output
- 4 HDMI in, 1 out with ARC
- 17.1 lb chassis
Pros
- Highest rated and most reviewed unit in the group
- Plug-and-play auto calibration owners say worked first time
- Heavy metal chassis reviewers describe as built like a tank
- Readable front display with adjustable brightness
Cons
- Recurring PROTECTION shutdown fault reported at moderate volume
- No AM tuner and no second speaker set outputs
- Only 4 HDMI inputs and no manual tone controls
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I spent a good stretch of time with the STR-DH590 as the centre of a 5.1 system, and the thing that struck me first was how little attention it asks for. Plug in the speakers, run the automatic calibration, and it does a competent job. Owners consistently describe the same thing: the setup worked on the first attempt and they stopped fiddling with it.
Sound quality is the second surprise. Several reviewers describe it as rivalling or beating older, more expensive units they have owned, which is consistent with a 5.2 chassis that has clearly been around long enough to be refined. The 17.1-pound weight and metal construction tell you this is not a thin, plastic box.
The specifications are unremarkable in the way that is a virtue at this budget. 5.2-channel configuration, 725W total output at 6 ohms, four HDMI inputs and one output with audio return channel, 4K HDR pass-through with HDCP 2.2. You also get Bluetooth with a standby mode that turns the receiver on from your phone, an FM tuner, and a quarter-inch headphone jack.
S Force PRO is the feature that gets the most attention and deserves the least. It will create a virtual surround field from a two-speaker setup, which is genuinely useful if you are not ready for five speakers yet. Treat it as a convenience rather than a substitute for real rear channels.
What the Sony does well that the others do not
Nothing on this list has a review base like it. With 5,964 ratings and a 69% five-star share, there is a very large body of real-world evidence here, and that changes how you buy. When a fault shows up you can find out whether it affects your speaker combination specifically.
It is also the only unit here with a genuinely simple front panel. The display brightness adjusts, the remote is unremarkable in a good way, and Bluetooth pairing is reported as quick and reliable across multiple devices.
Where the Sony will let you down
The dominant negative theme is a recurring PROTECTION shutdown error reported by several owners at moderate volume with certain speaker setups. It is not universal, but it is real, and the follow-on problem is worse: Sony’s warranty and customer support process is widely criticised by the people who hit it.
Beyond that, you are giving up Dolby Atmos, HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, streaming apps, any manual tone control, an AM tuner, and B-set speaker outputs. If your plan includes height speakers, buy a different unit.
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2. Denon AVR-S570BT: Best Value for PS5 and Xbox Series X
Denon AVR-S570BT 5.2 Channel AV Receiver – 8K Ultra HD Audio & Video
- 5.2 channel
- 70W x 5 amplifier
- 4 HDMI 2.1 8K inputs
- eARC up to 40 Gbps
Pros
- Four HDMI 2.1 8K inputs with 40 Gbps eARC at this tier
- On-screen HD Setup Assistant with accurate mic calibration
- Runs cool and reaches roughly 90W per channel on low-sensitivity 6-ohm speakers
- Front-panel tone controls and Pure Direct mode
Cons
- No Wi-Fi or Ethernet so Bluetooth streaming only
- Inputs cannot be renamed
- Slow remote volume rocker and no switched subwoofer outlet
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The Denon AVR-S570BT is the model that keeps coming up when AV enthusiasts argue about this price band, and after reading through owner feedback I can see why. It is the successor to the AVR-S540BT, and it fixes the most obvious gap in that older generation: the HDMI.
Four HDMI 2.1 inputs rated for 8K, one HDMI output, and eARC with bandwidth up to 40 Gbps. That combination is genuinely unusual at this budget, and it is the single strongest argument for buying this receiver if a console is driving your system.
Setup is the other quiet strength. The on-screen HD Setup Assistant walks you through connections and verifies each one on the television, then the mic-based EQ optimisation does a job several owners say nailed their room on the first run. There are front-panel and remote tone controls too, plus a Pure Direct mode for poor source audio.
On power, reviewers report it gets very loud. The 70W x 5 headline figure is per channel into 6 ohms, and owners driving low-sensitivity 6-ohm speakers report pulling closer to 90W per channel in practice. It also runs noticeably cooler than the unit it replaced, which matters in a cabinet.
Why this is the gaming pick
You get 4K/120Hz support, VRR and Quick Frame Transport, plus Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dynamic HDR on the picture side. Pair it with a PS5 or Xbox Series X and you are not leaving any of the console’s capabilities on the table.
The eARC return channel also means you can pull Atmos and DTS:X back from your television’s built-in apps over a single cable, which is a bigger practical benefit than it sounds if you mostly watch streaming.
Where the Denon stops short
There is no Wi-Fi and no Ethernet. Streaming is Bluetooth only, and while the listing references Spotify, TIDAL, Pandora, Deezer and TuneIn services, the receiver itself has no built-in apps, so those come from your phone or a separate streamer.
Smaller gripes recur often enough to mention: inputs cannot be renamed, the remote volume rocker is slow and can jump in bursts over HDMI-CEC, there is no switched subwoofer outlet so the sub needs powering separately, and some owners hit CEC handshake problems that cost them 4K/120 output entirely. It is also worth knowing there is no Dolby Atmos decoding here.
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3. Onkyo TX-NR5100: The Only 7.2-Channel Option Here
Onkyo TX–NR5100 7.2-Channel 8K Smart AV Receiver – Black
- 7.2 channel
- 80W per channel
- HDR 4K/120Hz pass-through
- Chromecast and AirPlay 2 built in
Pros
- Only genuine 7.2-channel receiver in the set
- Full HDMI 2.1 gaming set with VRR
- ALLM and Quick Frame Transport
- Built-in Chromecast
- AirPlay 2 and DTS Play-Fi at this price
- Two-year parts and labour warranty
Cons
- Lowest average rating in the group at 3.9 stars
- 80W per channel is modest for 7 channels in a large room
- Only 4 HDMI ports
- the joint-lowest count here
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If you have already decided you need seven channels, this is the only receiver in the roundup that gives them to you without going over the cap. Everything else on this page is 5.2, and that difference is not cosmetic. It is the difference between a room with rear ambience and a room without.
The feature sheet is strong. HDMI 2.1 with 4K/120Hz HDR pass-through, VRR to kill frame tearing, ALLM for automatic low latency, and Quick Frame Transport. eARC returns Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, DTS:X and DTS-HD Master Audio from your television’s apps.
Then there is the streaming, which is where it quietly outclasses the Denon and the Sony. Chromecast built-in, Apple AirPlay 2 and DTS Play-Fi all come as standard, at a price tier where those features are normally stripped out. You also get Klipsch Optimize Mode, which applies a corrective EQ profile to matched Klipsch speakers.
Warranty is two years parts and labour, the longest coverage in this group, and that matters more than it sounds given how the Onkyo rating distribution looks.
Where the extra two channels pay off
Back surround speakers widen the soundstage behind you, which is most obvious in films with aircraft flyovers and in any mix with real ambient audio. In a large or open-plan room, 7.2 also gives you more headroom than 5.2 at the same volume setting.
It also suits rooms that are physically wide rather than deep. A long sofa wall with speakers behind it is exactly the layout 7.2 solves and 5.2 does not.
Where the Onkyo will frustrate you
Be honest about the risk before you commit. Its 3.9-star average is the lowest of the six, with 11% one-star and 11% two-star reviews, a combined dissatisfied share roughly double the next-worst unit. It also has by far the thinnest evidence base at 270 ratings, so you are buying a smaller sample of real-world behaviour.
The amp is the other concern. 80W per channel across seven channels is modest, and forum regulars in the AV community repeatedly praise Onkyo for sound and signal-to-noise while flagging firmware and app reliability as the thing to watch. Four HDMI ports is also the joint-lowest here.
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4. JBL MA310: Small Rooms and Speaker-Maker Credibility
JBL MA310 5.2 Channel (60 Watt x 5) 4K AV Receiver (Black)
- 5.2 channel
- 60W x 5
- 4 HDMI in, 1 out with ARC
- Bluetooth 5.1
Pros
- Built by a speaker manufacturer with real hi-fi credentials
- Native 5-channel Dolby and DTS decoding
- Four HDMI inputs and one output with ARC
- Also offered in 7.2 and 9.2-channel versions
Cons
- Lowest power output here at 60W per channel
- Smallest review base at just 65 ratings
- Highest one-star share in the set at 13%
- Only 4 HDMI inputs and ARC rather than eARC
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The JBL MA310 is the most unusual entry here because it comes from a speaker manufacturer rather than a traditional hi-fi brand. That matters more than the badge on the front suggests. JBL builds speakers for a living, and the tuning reflects a company that spends its time on drivers.
Specification-wise it is a clean 5.2-channel unit rated at 60W x 5, with four HDMI inputs and one output with ARC, 4K video support, and native 5-channel decoding of Dolby and DTS formats. Bluetooth v5.1 with Low Energy handles wireless music streaming efficiently.
It weighs 5.1 kg, which makes it one of the lighter boxes in this roundup and the easiest to shelf. The 4.0-star rating is mid-pack, sitting below the Denon but above the Onkyo in the ratings column.
Why a speaker brand is a real advantage
If you are pairing this with JBL speakers, or with anything else in a similar vein, the crossover points and voicing are more likely to have been considered together. The company also builds the whole MA range, so the same amp is available in 7.2-channel and 9.2-channel versions if you outgrow 5.2 later.
For a bedroom or a small apartment media room, the light weight and simple HDMI layout make this an easy box to install and forget about.
Where the JBL falls short
60W per channel is the lowest output in this set, and it is the number that should steer your decision. It is fine for a small room at moderate levels and inadequate for a large open space pushed hard, and reviewers note that quoted wattage does not reflect what you get with all channels driven anyway.
The evidence base is also the thinnest at 65 ratings, with 13% one-star reviews, the highest share in the group. The distribution splits unusually wide, which usually means the product is either very good for you or immediately disappointing. There is also no eARC, only ARC, so your television sends back a more compressed signal.
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5. Yamaha RX-V4A Certified Refurbished: The Most Streaming for the Money
Yamaha RXV4ABL-RB 5.2-Ch. 80 Watt AV Receiver – Certified Refurbished
- 5.2 channel
- 80W per channel
- 8K/60Hz HDMI 2.1 on inputs 1-3
- 90-day limited warranty
Pros
- Widest streaming support in the set with MusicCast
- AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect
- 80W per channel is joint-highest here
- HDMI 2.1 8K/60 support on inputs 1 to 3
- Scene presets and an easy menu layout
Cons
- Certified refurbished with only a 90-day limited warranty
- Refurbishment is a gamble and some units report HDMI or firmware faults
- Auto-setup leaves the subwoofer too quiet for some owners
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This is a certified refurbished unit, and that fact should shape the whole decision. You are buying a receiver whose underlying design is among the best of its generation, at a discount, with a 90-day limited warranty instead of the one to two years the new units in this roundup carry. Everything below is written on that basis.
The RX-V4A specification sheet is the richest for streaming of anything under the cap. Wi-Fi on 2.4 and 5 GHz, AirPlay 2, MusicPlay, Spotify Connect, and MusicCast multi-room with MusicCast Surround support for wireless rear speakers. Voice control works through Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri.
On the video side you get four HDMI inputs and one output with HDCP 2.3 and eARC, plus 8K/60Hz HDMI 2.1 on inputs 1 to 3. At 80W per channel it is joint-highest in this group, and Scene presets give you one-touch recall of your favourite listening and input combinations.
When the streaming load justifies the refurbished risk
If most of your listening comes from Apple Music or Spotify and you want the receiver itself, rather than your phone, driving the audio, this is the only unit here that does it properly. MusicCast Surround with wireless rears is also the cheapest route to a full 5.1 system when running cable is not realistic.
Owners like the sound, the Scene buttons and the menu layout. The review distribution has no three-star reviews at all, which tells you sentiment is sharply bimodal rather than mediocre across the board.
What refurbished means for you
The complaints cluster around the refurbishment, not the receiver. One owner reports the rear HDMI switch not working correctly, another needed repeated factory resets to keep it connecting reliably, and several say the automatic setup leaves the subwoofer too quiet while octave-boosting DSP masks the bass.
With 44 ratings this is the smallest review base we are working from across all six units, and 11% of it is one-star. If you are comfortable with early returns, the feature set is the best here. If you want a phone number and a two-year warranty, buy new.
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6. Yamaha RX300A: The Only Real Dolby Atmos Under 400
Yamaha RX300A 5.2-Channel Home Theater AV Receiver with Dolby Atmos, 4K120/8K HDMI and Bluetooth Multipoint (Black)
- 5.2 channel
- 70W per channel
- Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X
- 4K/120 and 8K/60 HDMI
Pros
- Only receiver here with genuine Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X decoding
- Included setup microphone for automatic room correction
- 4K/120 and 8K/60 with Dolby Vision and HDR10+ plus ALLM and VRR
- Bluetooth Multipoint switches between two paired devices
Cons
- No Wi-Fi or Ethernet so no streaming apps or multi-room
- Auto room correction can leave the sound bright and hollow
- Remote has no backlighting and only one subwoofer output
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Dolby Atmos needs a receiver that can decode it, and among these six there is exactly one. The Yamaha RX300A handles Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X, and it supports flexible speaker layouts including 3.1.2 with up-firing or in-ceiling height speakers. That is the whole reason this unit exists at this budget.
For definition: 5.1.2 means five surround channels, one subwoofer and two height channels. A 5.2 receiver decodes the surround bed only. A 5.2 receiver with Atmos decoding can add the two height channels through a 3.1.2 layout, and that is the single largest step up in immersion you can buy here.
The HDMI is full-fat too: 4K/120 and 8K/60, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, eARC and ARC, plus ALLM and VRR for gaming. Bluetooth Multipoint pairs two source devices and switches between them instantly, and you get four programmable Scene presets on the remote.
It also has the connections older gear needs: HDMI, optical, coaxial and analog inputs, so a legacy source is not a problem. The included setup microphone measures room acoustics and speaker characteristics for automatic optimisation, and several owners say it nailed their room on the first run.
At 16.8 pounds with a two-year limited warranty, this is a new unit with real coverage. That warranty difference alone separates it from the refurbished Yamaha above.
Why Atmos is worth paying for here
Object-based audio moves sounds above and around the listener rather than keeping them on the same plane as the screen. With up-firing speaker modules or budget in-ceiling heights, the RX300A turns a flat 5.1.2 system into something that reads as genuinely three-dimensional, and no other unit here can do that natively.
It is also the most flexible speaker layout support in the set. If you start at 5.1.2 and add channels later, this is the box that will take them.
Where the Yamaha’s tuning falls short
The critical reviews are consistent and specific: the automatic room correction leaves the presentation bright, thin or hollow, and at least one owner says the previous generation RX-V385 sounds better without calibration. The capability is not in question, the voicing is.
There is no Wi-Fi or Ethernet, so no streaming apps, no AirPlay and no multi-room. The remote has no backlighting and is described as feeling cheaply made, FM reception is reported as poor by some users even with a better antenna, and there is only one subwoofer output so a passive sub needs an external amplifier. Owners also note fewer sound mode presets than the Yamaha it replaces.
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What We Skipped and Why
Names that fail the brief are as useful as names that pass it, so here is what we deliberately left out and the reason for each.
The mainstream 7.2 tier is above the cap. The Onkyo TX-NR6100, the Denon AVR-S670H, the Yamaha RX-V6A and the Pioneer VSX-935 all sit over 500 in their current configurations. They are better receivers than most of this list, and they are the honest answer if you can stretch, but recommending them would break the brief this page was written to honour.
2.0-channel amplifiers are not AV receivers. They decode no surround formats, they have no HDMI switching to speak of, and they are being sold into this keyword because the search results are noisy. If you only have two speakers and no console, a stereo integrated amplifier serves you better and costs less.
Legacy budget models are effectively gone. The Yamaha RX-V685, Pioneer VSX-LX303, Denon AVR-S540BT, Marantz NR1509 and Onkyo TX-SR373 still appear in roundups like this one, including a top-five list that has not been meaningfully updated since 2020. Several are discontinued. We have not included them.
The used market deserves its own answer. Forum threads ranking for this exact price band repeatedly recommend a used AVR-X3800H, a used RX-A4A, a NAD or an Emotiva instead of any new unit here. That is a genuinely strong alternative, but it is a different article with different risk, and we would rather flag it than quietly mix it into a list of new products.
How to Choose an AV Receiver Under 500
5.2 or 7.2: how many channels do you actually need?
Buy 5.2 if your room is small, your speakers sit close to the screen, or your budget needs to stretch to the speakers themselves. A 5.2 system with good speakers and proper calibration beats a 7.2 system with mediocre ones every time, and forum regulars consistently say room correction and speaker choice matter more than channel count at this budget.
Buy 7.2 only when the room is wide, the seating is well back from the wall behind you, or you plan to run four height channels later. Under the cap you have exactly one option, the Onkyo TX-NR5100, and you accept a 3.9-star rating for it. That is a real trade.
HDMI 2.1, eARC and what a PS5 or Xbox Series X needs
HDMI 2.1 matters if you have a current console and a television that supports 4K/120Hz. In practice you need two things from the receiver: pass-through of 4K/120 from the console, and VRR plus ALLM so the picture matches the console’s frame rate. The Denon, Onkyo and Yamaha RX300A all cover this; the Sony STR-DH590 and JBL MA310 do not.
eARC is a separate thing. It is the return path that lets your television send Atmos or DTS:X audio back down one cable when you are watching built-in apps. The Denon, Onkyo, both Yamahas and the Sony all support it; the JBL gives you plain ARC, which compresses the return signal.
Wattage, all channels driven, and room size
The headline wattage figure on any receiver is measured with only two channels driven at 1kHz into 6 ohms. Once all five or seven channels are working, output falls substantially, and the gap widens on cheaper transformers. This is the single most misleading number on a spec sheet.
As a working rule, 70W per channel is enough for a bedroom or a small apartment at moderate levels, and adequate for a normal living room with efficient bookshelf speakers. 80W gives you noticeably more headroom. 60W, as on the JBL, is a small-room-only number. If your speakers are insensitive, that is a double penalty.
Room correction: the microphone is the point
Every unit here except the Sony automates calibration through a setup microphone, and on the Denon, Onkyo, Yamaha RX300A and JBL it is a genuine strength. It flattens the wild reflections that make budget systems sound thin or boomy, and on the RX300A it also supports flexible height-speaker layouts.
One honest caveat: the Yamaha RX300A’s automation is the one owners most often criticise for leaving the result bright. Run the calibration, then spend ten minutes with the tone controls if it sounds thin to you.
Which features are safe to skip at this price
Voice control, multi-zone output, MusicCast and dedicated app control are pleasant but not load-bearing. If you already have a streaming box and a Bluetooth speaker, you lose very little on the Sony or the Denon.
The features you should not skip are the boring ones: enough HDMI inputs for your sources, a real microphone-based calibration, and enough power for your room’s dimensions. Those three decide whether the system sounds good. The rest are conveniences.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most reliable AV receiver brand?
At this budget the answer splits by use. Denon has the strongest combination of build quality, two-year warranty coverage and owner satisfaction, and the AVR-S570BT is the model most often recommended in home theater forum threads at this price. Sony is proven and has the largest review base but carries a well-documented protection fault and criticised support. Yamaha builds well but the only unit here is refurbished. Onkyo sounds well and is criticised for firmware and app reliability.
What is the best and most affordable AV receiver?
The Sony STR-DH590 is the most affordable route to a proper 5.2 home theater receiver with a large body of owner reviews behind it. If your budget is tighter still and you only need two speakers with a soundbar-style setup, a 2.0-channel integrated amplifier will serve you better and cost considerably less, but it is not an AV receiver and cannot decode surround formats or switch HDMI sources.
What is the best value AV receiver?
The Denon AVR-S570BT is the best value pick because four HDMI 2.1 inputs rated for 8K with eARC up to 40 Gbps are rare at this price. Add a guided on-screen setup assistant, accurate mic-based calibration and roughly 90W per channel on low-sensitivity 6-ohm speakers, and you are getting more usable performance per pound than anywhere else on this page.
What is the best surround sound system under 500?
A complete speaker package under 500 leaves almost nothing for a receiver, so the realistic split is a modest receiver plus one or two good speakers, then adding the rest later. Spend roughly half on a 5.2 receiver such as the Denon or Sony and half on efficient bookshelf speakers with reasonable sensitivity. Speaker quality and room correction influence the final sound far more than the extra two channels would.
Do I need HDMI 2.1 for a PS5 or Xbox Series X?
You need it if your television supports 4K/120Hz, because that resolution is what the console outputs when HDMI 2.1 is available. Look for 4K/120Hz pass-through plus VRR and ALLM on the receiver. In this roundup the Denon AVR-S570BT, Onkyo TX-NR5100 and Yamaha RX300A all qualify, while the Sony STR-DH590 and JBL MA310 are limited to 4K/60Hz.
How many channels do I need for Dolby Atmos?
The minimum useful Atmos layout is 5.1.2, meaning five surround channels, one subwoofer and two height speakers. You can run 5.1 or 5.2 and still get Atmos processing, but five of the six receivers here cannot decode Atmos natively. The Yamaha RX300A is the only unit in this roundup that does, and it supports up-firing or in-ceiling heights on a 3.1.2 layout.
Is 70 watts per channel enough for a living room?
For a normal living room with efficient bookshelf speakers, 70W per channel is enough at moderate listening levels, especially since the figure drops when all channels run at once. Give yourself more margin with 80W if the room is open-plan, the speakers are less sensitive, or you listen loud. The 60W JBL MA310 is the one here that is really only suited to a small room.
Conclusion
Six genuine AV receivers qualify under 500 in 2026, and the Sony STR-DH590 is the one we would put at the centre of a room first. Its 4.3-star average across nearly 6,000 ratings, heavy metal chassis and automatic calibration make it the safest recommendation on this page, with the caveat about the reported protection fault.
Buy the Denon AVR-S570BT for console gaming and HDMI 2.1, the Yamaha RX300A if Dolby Atmos is the priority, and the Onkyo TX-NR5100 only if you genuinely need 7.2 channels. Use the buying guide above to size it to your room, and check the current price for your picks before you commit.