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:
Sarah Tew/CBS Interactive)
For most home theater enthusiasts, midrange AV receivers represent the best value, and the Yamaha RX-V663 falls right into the midrange class. When we first set up the RX-V663 in the CNET listening room, our first impressions were positive, as it bested the Sony STR-DG920 in a head-to-head test.
On the other hand, we ultimately found it hard to recommend due to its paltry HDMI connectivity, poor upconversion quality, and other design quirks. If you're all about sound quality and can put up with these issues, the RX-V663 is worth looking at; otherwise, you'll probably be better off with one of its competitors, such as the aforementioned Sony, the Pioneer VSX-1018AH or Onkyo TX-SR606.
Read the full review of the Yamaha RX-V663.
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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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