How To Choose A Home Theater Receiver - A Buying Guide

This is a guide on how to choose a home theater receiver. It seems like everyone does a ton of research on TVs, projectors, and speakers but not much research on receivers. In this video I cover the fundamental specs to look out for so you get the best receiver or amplifier for your home theater.
Buy the Denon X2700H on Amazon: amzn.to/3hnus6L
Buy the Denon X3700H on Amazon: amzn.to/3vQAnVC
Buy the Denon X8500h on Amazon: amzn.to/3eZyAqB
Buy the Emotiva XPA-3 on Amazon: amzn.to/3nXHetD
0:00 Introduction
0:55 Number of Channels
1:50 Choosing Speakers First
2:51 Wattage Ratings
3:46 Total Harmonic Distortion
4:25 Impedence (Ohms)
5:01 Marketing Tricks
6:20 Finding Actual Wattage
8:39 Mid-Range Receivers
10:03 Mid/High-End Receivers
10:28 Adding An Amplifier
11:15 HDMI Support
11:41 Room Correction
12:19 Number of HDMI Ports
12:43 Zones & Smart Home
13:10 Final Thoughts
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[@ChrisMajestic]

If you're looking for a less expensive alternative to the amplifier mentioned in the video, Emotiva now has a new line of amplifiers called "BasX". These are less costly but still offer great performance. I'm not sponsored by Emotiva or anything, I just really like their products. emotiva.com/collections/basx-series/products/basx-a5-five-channel-power-amplifier

[@bostonquad2068]

Inflate TVs do the same thing when they're only 10 bit panels

[@DynamicUnreality]

I'd check them out more, but the amp you linked doesnt even look like it has a sub pre out. Is there some reason this amp shouldnt need a dedicated sub out?

[@OdieuxChauve]

@@DynamicUnreality you plug the sub on the Denon because it's preout

[@DynamicUnreality]

@@OdieuxChauve The person I replied to offered these as a substitute for the Denon, not additionally. So there wouldn't be a Denon to plug a sub into, and no pre outs on the amps.

[@adspie]

Hi chris nice guide you have there, can you please make a content in PC home theater system? both gaming, watching movies and music?

[@ElSelcho77]

Came for some quick tips, left deflated and need to rob a bank or something :D

[@chris_0725]

Same :(

[@lllukiosas59]

Anything worth doing, worth doing well.

[@Felix-qk2xs]

You can get some really Good deals for used recivers

[@nawedahmed8168]

Same

[@Bkamron]

The effect these pretentious audio-fools have on regular people. I'm fine with my cheap panasonic component set, y'all can go to hell...

[@trustbuster23]

This is a good set of information. I would add a couple of things: (1) a good set of speakers will last you decades, but you will likely replace your receiver well before you replace almost any other part of your system, because there will inevitably be changes in audio formats (e.g. next generation of Atmos or whatever) that render the receiver obsolete long before your speakers. (2) if you buy a dedicated, (self) powered subwoofer (which you should), that will significantly drop the power requirements for the amplifier, because the deep bass frequencies draw a lot of power. (3) most people do not listen at reference levels where maximum wattage is required, that is very, very loud. You definitely do still get benefits at lower volumes. If you are spending significant $$ on a full home theater, I think it is not a bad strategy to divide your total home theater budget as follows: TV 30-40%, Speakers 60-70%, Receiver 10%. It is not unreasonable to think you will replace both the receiver and the TV/projector several times before you replace your speakers, assuming you are spending significant money on speakers now.

[@wagrram]

Cheers, my man, nice tips.

[@spencerjoplin2885]

TV prices have dropped to where $400 can buy a nice TV but merely an entry level receiver. You should update your percentage advice.

[@tedtimmis8135]

Interesting points but I think 10% is pretty low. You need to have an amplifier which can drive all of your speakers (in my case, 13, plus a sub). Also, AV receivers today are the hub of one’s gaming console, Blu-ray player, turn-table and TV. Mine also has 2 additional zones which I use for music in the back yard. Finally, the receiver is a streamer for online music such as Spotify or Tidal. Again, I use this feature all the time. I would say one should spend at least 30% on the receiver, 30% on the speakers, 30% on the TV and 10% on the sub. In my case, I bought Polk speakers RTI-A9 towers and the center and surrounds in the same class for around $3200, 7 ceiling speakers for around $800 and a Hsu sub for about $1200. For a receiver, I bought a Denon 8500H for $3400 and I bought a 75 inch Sony Bravia for about $3500. All were purchased around 3 years ago. I know the math isn’t exact but I’m glad I spent more on the receiver and together with the Polk speakers the system sounds fantastic.

[@johnmitchell2741]

Thanks for the info.Ive had a powered sub sitting in the closet for a year.Ive been pushing 4 large 15'' speakers with this Yamaha he was just showing. I'm gonna hook sth sub up today🤗

[@stevegyivicsan4215]

Trust buster was as helpful as Chris, the more info the better chose, which saves me money and headache. Thx sincerely old school Steve aka city Steve.

[@mike6340]

Chris, wanted to say thanks for finally allowing me to understand the whole HT AVR versus dedicated Amplifier concept. I have often wondered how those dedicated amps came into play. Now I understand that no matter what kind of money you are paying for an AVR, a dedicated amp will be necessary once your speaker quality and quantity hit a certain threshold.

[@mrkennedy2218]

Chris, this breakdown was not only thorough, but concise and simple. I appreciate you taking the time to make this video. It so happens that I'm presently deciding between the Denon 3700h and 4700h, so seeing this opened my eyes to achieving higher performance speakers despite the receiver wattage limitation. On a side note, I just wanted to point out that the receivers are $100 -$300 more today than when you first uploaded this video.

[@tfk40]

If you have relatively sensitive speakers, 88 db or higher, 70 - 80 wpc is plenty. Unless you are trying to listen at concert levels 100db+, your speakers will never draw their full power requirements. Yes, having more/cleaner power is always better, but you don't have to spend $3000 to feed your speakers 200 wpc to get a great sounding system.

[@Wuozlinga]

Dude what would I do without your brilliant straight to the point videos. You helped me choose my projector, surround system, screen, receiver, ...Thank you very much!

[@YurandX]

I chose Denon x2700h for my Klipsch F1, C20 and four B2 speakers. What was mind blowing to me was the room correction feature - i specifically chose denon because of audysseyXT - it has everything i need for my room and the difference between EQ OFF / set manually by me / EQ ON is so drastic that i cant believe i used to listen to music on my 20 year old Sony receiver before :P

[@fudrud]

As someone who works in the AV industry, great video and a great starting point for almost everyone looking at receivers. I always find it intriguing to me when customers ask for the best receiver and I never have understood why (I know why, they just didn't do research).

[@rogerflorida1498]

You made alot of good points. Things I was not aware of. My ears will thank you when I have everything set up.

[@waltb8028]

Another great video! You just dropped a ton of info. I had to piece all this info together from hrs of reading and KZbin. A couple of weeks ago I ended up with the Marantz 7706 and I love it. Keep up the good work!

[@waynepollard6879]

much better video than the computer generated voice videos which really suck ! thank you!

[@Smiller0]

THIS VIDEO IS AMAZING! Chris clearly answered questions that I have had for years about Ohms, distortion, and the correlation between amp and pre-amps.

[@bwallace1182]

Currently looking to build a 5.1 system. This has been one of the most clear and informative videos I’ve seen. Nice work!

[@MikeSmith-rh5gc]

How did KZbin know that I’m looking at receivers? Strange. Good informative video

[@jeevanraj4168]

Great video. I am glad I found your channel. Nobody explains this much details. Even someone does, they just make it complicated to understand. You are doing a great job. Keep it up👍🏾

[@jasonbourne4155]

Chris - thank you very much for a great primer on what-you-need-to -know when buying an AV receiver. Many of the sales folks don't offer this unbiased, real-world information. Keep up the great work!

[@itmm92]

Awesome review with real use cases ! That's a gold point of view that most videos don't show. Thank you !

[@jasontew5851]

It is a great thing that you are helping us understand the best way to make a choice on the receiver for our home theater. Thank you very much for your advice.

[@arthurdent9281]

A ton of good info in this one! Going to come back to this again later after I move and get ready to set up my home theater. This cleared up a lot of things that I was very fuzzy on!

[@peat381low8]

Thank you so much for this video. I tried searching articles online to explain this stuff the way you do in this video. I have yet to find one as clear as you.

[@Valur109]

This is the best video I’ve come across for first time AVR buyers. Thank you!!

[@DG-america]

Thank you for helping me understand the key points of what to look for. I'm just breaking into audio and am trying to understand as much as possible. you explain things very well for new audiophiles to help us feel better about the choices we are sure to make. Thanks again.

[@MikeBouchard]

this is great. you filled in so many gaps in my knowledge of home theatre setups. I've had pretty nice 5.1 build for over 12 years with about 2 receiver upgrades along the way, and just assumed I had speakers and receiver paired well without actually knowing. After watching, I understand what I actually need to look for and just realized you labelled this video as THE BASICS! lol. I'm caught up with basic knowledge now

[@marramgg]

Great video. Don’t feel like I’m lost anymore. Just overwhelmed.

[@ProjectileGrommet]

This is such a high quality presentation of this information. It’s hard to come by someone skilled enough to make this so clear to laypeople

[@SKRUBL0RD]

this is way more info/comprehensive than i thought it would be, great info for newbies and people who haven't upgraded in years.

[@monopoly2170]

Fantastic video! I didn’t realize how complex this would be, but you did a really great job making it understandable!

[@troysims1119]

just found your channel, some great information for my new house build that has a dedicated home theatre. You definitely have me rethinking and researching better what I want to do. Thanks for the content!!!

[@NJMcBride]

Hey Chris, your video on how to choose a home theater receiver was awesome. You have a great dynamic and personality and I comprehended what I need to know in making my decision for my home theater system. Good man and keep up the great work.....Cheers bro

[@alice20001]

This was an amazing overview. Deep enough to get some differences but not to deep that you get lost. Exemplary use of examples

[@leonardtatendamaridzo9407]

This is what i was looking for. Thank you and keep up the great work.

[@Eric-hz4cm]

Fantastic information for beginners like me trying to choose the perfect Home theater setup. Love the pre-amp explanation made it very clear. Thank you.

[@ryanr.5458]

Awesome video, Chris! By far the most helpful explanation on receivers I've found!

[@Saroumanos]

Great effort buddy... 13 mins of pure knowledge here.

[@RonkeyRong]

Really helpful vid. I went with a high end soundbar for my setup but definitely wanted to learn more about building a system in the future and this is a lot of great knowledge all compressed to one location.

[@Masterdurge]

Sir, this guide was so informative and helpful. Thank you for putting the time into making this. 2 years out and this helped a ton in getting started and building my setup. Much appreciated.

[@emarnik]

Mannnnnnnnnnnnn @Chris Majestic when I tell you I haven’t learned this much from a KZbin video in forever!! I feel so much more informed now. Purchasing a LG C1 OLED and have been researching for weeks which Denon AVR receiver to copp, and invariably speakers as well. Too bad you don’t live next door so I can run these questions by you live lol Thank you 🙏🏾

[@Deathtank75]

I have an Onkyo HT-S3705 5.1 4k. and I'm super happy with it! 🥰

[@titan2793]

I am happy I found this video. Right now, there are several Receiver at the 599 prices. I was leaning towards the Sony STR-AN1000 but notice the wattage rating is at 6ohm. I appreciate the simple and clear instructions. thanks again for the video.

[@billpeirce7127]

Thanks. I learned alot. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. God bless you and your family.

[@richardpells5974]

Brilliantly explained. I need to watch this several times. But I will and my knowledge will be vastly improved. Thanks for making such great videos.

[@ajayr8781]

This was pure bliss to my ears. It came across at the right time, especially when I've been looking fir a proper amp fir my Linn klimax speakers. Thanks

[@Bean-sz7sr]

I went from a old Denon AVR3300 to a Denon AVR-X1600H and so far so good! I'm just using 5.1 setup and it seems to do pretty good. 👍🏽👍🏽

[@dajuice4200]

I have been looking for this type of info. Thanks. Enjoyed the video and your knowledge and delivery. New subscriber

[@blakeforrest9600]

Damn this is the video I needed to see. My old man gave me his old main speakers today but wouldn’t give up his reciver, 300 watt rms and I was about to pop on down and grab a cheap home theatre in a box solution and swap out two speakers from it. Man you saved me some heart ache

[@jlsnr]

What a information flow, man! Great work!

[@vytla18]

Hey Chris...thats awesome info all in one video...great work 👍🏼👍🏼

[@ernestovillanueva1004]

Hello Chris, thanks for the info it has been very very helpful. Now I can understand better what kind of receiver or amplifier I need to start my new sound system.

[@ThomasAT86]

One of the better videos on that topic, thank you Chris, great job!

[@stefm6764]

Wow man, one of the best most informative videos I've ever seen regardless of subject

[@rlam1999]

This is an excellent video. I thought I knew about surround sound setups but I was clearly mistaken. Thanks for the thorough info

[@pseudocode6506]

Super useful video. I'm new to this coming from soundbars previously so all the impudence and wattage stuff was confusing. Thank you for your clearly explained video!

[@volt8ge]

I’ve been searching for and watching a few videos like this one… yours is the BEST!!! Thank you, love your stuff, never shave (I don’t know where that saying comes from)

[@barney6888]

Well done video. People need to know that audio/video is intentionally designed to be just short on what you originally started out looking for. Before you know it, you are budgeting thousands and most of that will go to features you will actually never, ever use or need. Get the best speakers you can afford and then be honest with yourself - how much does it really mean to me to watch a movie. You'd be really amazed just how good a smart budget will sound. Don't overspend !!

[@Connor-nv9io]

Thank you, I’m researching home theaters and this helps a lot!

[@Karen-kl6bb]

Hi Chris! Whew, that was a lot of information. I am in the process of getting my unfinished basement finished. I did not know it was going to be as complicated as I now think it’ll be when it comes to choosing speakers/receivers, etc. You certainly sound like you know what you’re talking about, so I hope I can help me along the way by answering questions for me as they arise. Thanks in advance!

[@bblair1985]

This guy's my new fav KZbinr. Top quality on these videos man.

[@zackzaga2286]

This guy knows how deliver information! Very articulate and knowledgeable ❤

[@AndelARD]

Great video. Was looking for an explanation like this on KZbin found that here. Good job man!! Like the buying guide as well.

[@marksman303]

This was a huge help. Very informative. Thank you sir.

[@patentmonkey]

Thanks, Chris. Great straightforward explanation!

[@jwhiteker1]

Great information Chris. I used to be totally up to speed on tech. Ive lost touch for a while. Pretty sure you just caught me up from where i left off about 10 years ago. Great, simple explanations. 👊

[@insidethelif3]

Thank you, probably the best articulated video on this topic

[@AaronWelcher]

This is pretty thorough, clear and helpful. great video

[@anthonyf3957]

I got a great price on a Denon AVR-S750 last year and I have been very happy. It powers my 5.1.2 home theatre set-up and all of my analog sources as well. It also works with Alexa and does a great job streaming audio from a variety of sources including my DLNA server.

[@EverythingIsBoffo]

Super helpful video! Thanks for this 🙌🏼

[@newtechgs7471]

Love your presenting style Chris! Great info on the inflated THD ratings

[@nathanmclain9027]

Excellent explanation. To the point, easy to understand. Well done.

[@thomaspirog3616]

Yeah, great information for someone starting out. Word of advice, look for sales, buy amps and speakers second hand, take time to build the system. It's taken me almost 10 years of saving to get my ideal system. You can get there sooner, but you will spend more money.

[@curmudgeoniii9762]

Thank you .... just startging researching this subject and wow.... you hit the nail on the head. I will have to rewatch this one at least 5 or so times. Am anxious to get to your other videos also. Subscribed and will look forward to being educated. Your preseentation is very very good also. Best Regards

[@thereviewer583]

I've always liked Denin products due to 2 zone support. This new unit has added Bluetooth support that expands its capabilities even further. Setup was very easy and the sound and picture quality is excellent. Definitely recommend this product.

[@atgn-0088]

Great video! Definitely some good knowledge here that I'll keep in mind when it's time to upgrade.

[@monijam1]

Good video, thanks. I'd also add that if people cross their receivers over at 80hz and let their subs handle the bass then they can get by w/ a less powerful receiver since it won't have to handle the lower bass region.

[@ChrisMajestic]

This is a great point that I had in my notes but forgot to mention in the video. Thanks!

[@iamMrBChen]

A noobie qs, what is subs?

[@38WorksGr8]

@@iamMrBChen subwoofer

[@aluckyshot]

Great smooth presentation, nice job.

[@mohamma6]

Chris, you are amazing sir! I have struggled to find intuitive explanations to help me select the AV Receiver most appropriate for my Harman/Kardon HKTS16 and you have summarized all the research I was looking for. Guys like Audioholics are great but too advanced for my purposes!

[@o.c.g.m9426]

I thought the same thing when I first started this expensive hobby 2 months ago. I did plenty of "Mellenial" research and was lead from one video to another

[@cheesegyoza]

Thank you for this I am looking for a new receiver for my system and I know some key things to look for now!

[@goran.radulovic]

Great factual video usefull to everyone who buys AVR-s. I especially liked the part explaining the wattages as that's the place where many manufacturers try to be shady

[@markcorbyn1180]

Wow this video is gold! So much useful info. Thank you!

[@holmesd5003]

I learned so much in a very short time, Thank you!!

[@jjustin5177]

You did a great job with the information and the time. Thank you very much for your Knowledge and sharing it with us.

[@dsarcevic]

Chris, thanks for this video. I am in the process of buying the Denon AVR-X2700H to power those floor standing Klipsch R-26 speakers that you showed. It's for my bedroom, so the power is more than enough.

[@donmorton4597]

Excellent video. Very informative and eye opening. Great job.

[@DadsGarageDIY]

Great stuff. Really appreciate explaining this in a why that I can understand. I feel much more educated now. Thanks so much.

[@gent2205]

You are THE channel I go to for everything home theater.

[@pyrofful]

Super helpful thanks. I have learned to "buy once and cry once." So now I know I can't afford a system that I want at this time. Thanks for the info detailed enough but not to into it where I couldn't follow!

[@BooYaa253]

This is exactly the kind of information you need when starting with HI-FI. What you get everywhere else is either rocket science like from audioholics (very good channel btw) or irrelevant information you don't really need or in some cases complete crap. This video should be played in every HI-FI store for guidance. Thank you sir.

[@salvadorepozzi8646]

Terrific channel... Thanks for the clear and concise information

[@mguarin912]

Fantastic effort. Thanks for helping me get back up to speed.

[@harshgw23k]

Y o u are the boss Chris!! You read my mind and put a video on a topic I am wondering about!

[@wallybambasi]

I learned a lot today. Thank you very much. Now I know what to look for in my next reciever

[@EandVEntertainment]

Thank you for this video. This was a big help.

[@brettterence]

Thank you Chris, this was a really interesting and informative video.

[@mattf3761]

This was very very helpful and interesting. The first time I’ve seen your channel.

[@renatobesson]

So much useful info in 13 minutes. Thanks!

[@moeelgato]

Wow great video bro , great information. I really appreciate it.

[@tedd1091]

Chris, I don't know how I found your channel but this video was very informative

[@andy372]

excellent information and review, I feel I can confidently design my home theater

[@speedcanada1]

Chris, kudos on a great video! It can sometimes be complicated to explain this stuff to "civilians" but I think you did a great job. There are things that you likely generalized or simplified for expediency, but that is understandable. I fully agree with the comments you made regarding the cheaper HT AVRs and their inflated specs, but there is a point in the lineup where the quality goes up quite a bit (as does the price), and some of those generalizations start to fall short. The top-end AVRs from Yamaha, Marantz, Denon and others are often quite capable of running full systems without the need for large power amps. I'm using a 7.2.4 setup in my HT (appx 1800cuft, so not large but not small). My main layer speakers are all Energy RC series (RC-70, RC-LCR, RC-R) from the mid-2000s - medium efficiency at 91 main, 89 centre, 87 surrounds, rated for 250W, 200W, and 125W respectively. The height speakers are Polk OWM3s (8ohm/89dB/100W). I am running dual PSB Subsonic 6i subs. I am running this whole setup from a Marantz SR7013 AVR (using my old Yamaha RXV1200 to amplify the 4 height channels). I actually had some Adcom power amps that I needed with the Yamaha and then with a previous Denon AVR3310ci, but got rid of them when I found my previous Marantz SR7007 had ample power to run the (then) 7.1 system. The SR7013 has enough balls to play plenty loud when watching movies even with very dynamic soundtracks like the John Wick or Transformer films. Am I running it at "reference level"? Well, when the wife and kids are away I may run it at -10dB or even a little higher on the AVR (Audyssey calibrated), and this is as loud in my MLP as I've ever experienced in a movie theatre. The only time I've noticed compression (and it may be in the subs, or may be in the soundtrack itself) is during Transformers age of Extinction. All that to say that a higher-end (though consumer grade) AVR can run a full 9.1+ system of speakers rated for higher maximum wattage at more than adequate levels unless your room is exceptionally large.

[@westeamreviews]

Hi Chris, Great video! Definitely some good knowledge here that I'll keep in mind when it's time to upgrade. :)