Just like a human translator helps you in communicating languages, an AV receiver helps you in communicating video and audio signals. Through an AV receiver, devices like home theatre, monitor, television, and video projector come to life when you connect them to another source. Well, a high-end AV receiver might cost you a lot but you can go for affordable ones.
Under $500, you have a wide range of selections but deciding can be hard when there are so many brands. A good AV Receiver is the polyglot of the electronics world, it can take inputs from many languages and shoot out signals in the type of output you want. Just like someone good at language needs to know many languages, an AV receiver must have different input ports to be able to generate many pictures and sounds.
If you want an AV receiver that connects to all your different gadgets, then you must go for the one with high-quality sound without any disruption to boost the media experience. However, you would surely not want an AV receiver punched in with hundreds of ports that make it stand out like a sore thumb in your living room. Opting for the right number of features, port selection, and good design that can fit with your home décor, would actually make a perfect choice. Moreover, buying an apt AV receiver can add life to your party alongside having the best music collection. It can bring connectivity seamlessly to your gatherings and it can play the perfect playlist or movie that everybody wants to see.
Most AV receivers just look like a black box with very few distinguishing factors in the front, therefore, knowing which features to look for can be hard. Some of the different features that today’s standard receivers house are Bluetooth connectivity, remote access, Wi-Fi, and others, making it tough to understand which is the right combination for you. Fortunately, we are here to make it simpler for you to choose from. We have listed 5 best AV receivers under $500 that can enrich your media consumption experience at an affordable price.
Best AV Receivers Under 500 dollars – Our Reviews and Comparisons
Sony STR-DH790 7.2-ch AV Receiver
Product Highlight
Sony STR-DH790 is an exceptional 4K receiver with immaculate Dolby Atmos audio that can enhance your home entertainment experience.
Overview of Features
Sony STR-DH790 provides you with a detailed 4K stunning picture through Dolby Vision support. It also has the latest HDR10 that recreates beautiful enhanced colors or a deeper experience. Besides, it comes with Auto Calibrated DCAC audio adjustments that optimize itself to small as well as large rooms. Lastly, it has seamless and Smarter Connectivity that can identify standby Bluetooth whenever it is near your phone.
What We Like About Sony STR-DH790
We are amazed by the cinematic sound that this AV receiver can produce. It has enhanced how you experience TV shows and movies. The audio that is being produced by the Dolby Atmos technology is unparalleled and it would be rare that you have experienced something like it. The DTS:X is providing a multi-dimensional surround sound, which is unbelievably amazing and changes your cinematic experience completely.
What We Don’t Like About Sony STR-DH790
If you are not very tech-savvy, you might not like the interface of the AV receiver. It could have had a better user interface. Navigating the menu is easy, however, it is not extremely intuitive.
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Yamaha RX-V683BL 7.2-Channel MusicCast AV Receiver
Product Highlight
Yamaha RX-V683BL with a 7.2 Channel sound output, is built with versatile connectivity to ensure excellent audio quality.
Overview of Features
Coming to the main features, Yamaha RX-V683BL can operate through voice control with the latest generation of Alexa or Echo Dot. Besides, it’s fully loaded with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Pandora, Spotify, and many more. Besides, it has a dynamic 7.2 surround sound channel that has a 105 W output. With such sound technologies, this AV receiver can transform you into an extraordinary zone with captivating audio. Above all, it provides a tool zone extra-base volume equalizer for any type of party.
What We Like About Yamaha RX-V683BL.
The most notable thing is the 24K gold plating provided through the manufacture enhancing protection and making sure high-quality audio is provided. It comes to you with six pairs of banana plugs that help in the easy installation of several speakers. This helps you create a home theatre seamlessly with the 100 feet of speaker wires available. However, we were impressed by the full 4K UHD support that can transform your video experience without degrading the quality.
What We Don’t Like About Yamaha RX-V683BL
On the downside, the audio calibration of the receiver is wonky at times and can require you to play around with the settings to make it optimal.
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Onkyo TX-SR494 AV Receiver
Product Highlight
Onkyo TX-SR494 is a standard 4K AV receiver but with a unique AccuEQ subwoofer that can totally change your everyday viewing experience.
Overview of Features
Whether it’s family movie time or a gaming night with your friends, Onkyo TX-SR494 can deepen your enjoyment quotient with great sound and smart features. Well, it can produce 4k at 60 frames per second through its HLG and HDR10 technology along with 7 channels of high-current power to choose the suitable speaker layout. Further, it outputs 5.2.2 Channel Dolby Atmos and has seamless playback through DTS:X. Overall, it has a unique AccuEQ with subwoofer EQ housing an AccuReflex and 160 W of power surging through with reproducing booming sounds.
What We Like About Onkyo TX-SR494
Notably, it gives you an impressively powerful 160 watts per channel that will produce high musical notes. Besides, Onkyo TX-SR494 provides you with a reimagined Dolby Atmos height visualizer that makes movie nights at home much more pleasant. It even brings to you a booming subwoofer.
What We Don’t Like About Onkyo TX-SR494
Contrastingly, it lacks Bluetooth connectivity or long speaker wires. Since it is a lesser-known brand the warranty and service are also questionable aspects.
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Denon RCD-N10 Hi-Fi All-in-One Receiver
Product Highlight
Denon RCD-N10 is an all-around receiver that is extremely compact and provides highly sophisticated performance with a minimal footprint.
Overview of Features
Denon RCD-N10, built with exceptional sound, also has a matte black finish with a minimalist design. Its compact design complements your style that would even blend in well with your home’s interiors. Moreover, it can stream HEOS through Alexa voice activation, creating multiroom sound output. Lastly, Denon RCD-N10 comes with a built-in Wi-Fi and AM FM tuner along with a headphones jack so that your sound possibilities are endless.
What We Like About Denon RCD-N10
The highlight of this AV receiver is that it gives you an all-in-one experience through its Japanese precise technology delivering multi-dimensional audio. The excellently calibrated wireless audio system also helps in creating a tangle-free media experience that is unmatched. Above all, it can connect to gaming consoles, high-end computers, and more and provide an overall aesthetic experience.
What We Don’t Like About Denon RCD-N10
Since it is extremely compact with many features in it, heating issues have been present. Moreover, firmware update issues are present that can cause the device to freeze at times.
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Pioneer VSX-1131 7.2-Channel AV Receiver
Product Highlight
Pioneer VSX-1131, with singular MCACC technology, is built-in with a 7.2 Channel AV receiver that allows you to connect to your favorite music sources with the support of its Wi-Fi/Bluetooth technology.
Overview of Features
This AV receiver has a three-dimensional sound production through Dolby Atmos technology and the latest Dual Band Wi-Fi network connections allow to stream Deeze, Tidal, TuneIn, and more. Moreover, it can release a full band with HDMI and create 4K Ultra HD at 60 frames. Pioneer VSX-1131 even comes integrated with in-built Wi-Fi and Bluetooth that help you in connecting to smart devices. Above all, it has an exclusive audio calibrated system called MCACC with Reflex Optimiser in it that can turn your ordinary room into an ultimate entertainment zone.
What We Like About Pioneer VSX-1131
It can bring you upscaled super-resolution technology that can match any widescreen television. It gives you an innovative subwoofer technology, which is synchronized sound production. At such a low cost, we also appreciate how it brings you Dolby Atmos technology to create a three-dimensional sound sphere. It helps you create an immersive experience enhancing the richness and clarity of every sound you hear.
What We Don’t Like About Pioneer VSX-1131
On extended use, Pioneer VSX-1131 can get extremely noisy that might disrupt your music sessions. Moreover, the transformer becomes hot when several devices are connected. Hence, this compromises the durability of your device.
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Now that you know the 5 best AV receivers under $500, you can pick any one. However, if we have to suggest one, then we can safely say Sony STR-DH790 is a perfect choice. The crisp image reproduction, the high-grade sound, and easy immediate Bluetooth connectivity are all winning aspects for us. Various other brands have their advantages and perks through unique design, higher port selection, and more. However, the immense brand value and build, brought to you by Sony is something irreplaceable.
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