Top of the (midpriced) heap: Sony STR-DG920
(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET Networks)Back in November, I asked the question, "What's the best midpriced AV receiver?"--but had to confess that we hadn't reviewed as many as we would've liked. Since then, Senior Associate Editor Matt Moskovciak and resident Audiophiliac Steve Guttenberg sequestered themselves in the CNET listening room and put several models to the test.
When the smoke cleared, the Sony STR-DG920 was at the top of the heap, with the Pioneer VSX-1018AH and Onkyo TX-SR606 impressing us as well. The Denon AVR-1909 sounded great and was packed with features, but that model's confusing remote control and Sisyphean setup duties relegates it to advanced AV nerds with plenty of patience. Rounding things out was the Yamaha RX-V663, with only two HDMI inputs and subpar video conversion. We recommend avoiding the Panasonic SA-BX500 altogether--even selling at a discounted price, it's far too underfeatured compared to the other receivers listed here. (We tried to get our hands on the Harman Kardon AVR 254, but a review sample wasn't available.) Check out our full comparison for the head-to-head ratings, links to the reviews, and hands-on videos.
All of the receivers tested were 2008 models. For 2009, Pioneer is the only major name that's announced its product lineup, but we're expecting news from Yamaha and Sony in the very near future. That should be followed up in the spring by new model announcements from Onkyo, HK, and Denon. Receivers will be a priority in 2009, so we're looking forward to reviewing the next crop of models as soon as we can. In the meantime, let us know what you think of the current reviews, and what you're looking forward to in the AV receiver realm for 2009.
(Credit:
Denon)
We like to encourage buyers to opt for a dedicated AV receiver over a home-theater-in-a-box system, but there's no doubt that buying separate components requires a little more AV know-how.
The benefit of separate components is that you'll get better sound and more features, and it's easier to upgrade in the future. The Denon AVR-1909 is a good example of this, as we felt its sound quality was a cut above the norm, and on top of three HDMI inputs, it offers strong support for older analog video connections as well.
The downside, however, is that it's tough to set up and use, even for accomplished home theater veterans like ourselves. If you're willing to put up with its ease-of-use quirks, the AVR-1909 performs well, but those looking for a more straightforward experience should look elsewhere.
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(Credit:
Pioneer)
Update (February 12, 2009): Check out our follow-up story, with full reviews of all the products mentioned here.
I receive a lot of e-mail asking why we haven't reviewed many AV receivers in recent months. First off, let me say: mea culpa. Reviews coverage of this category has suffered, mostly because AV receivers are among the most time-consuming products to analyze (because they now need to be examined in detail for their audio and video performance). But enough of the excuses; here's what we're doing to remedy the situation.
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