How can you add Bluetooth to a stereo receiver?

Some budget receivers don't come with built-in Bluetooth connectivity, but a wireless receiver is a simple fix. Plug it into your receiver, and you'll instantly be able to stream audio from any Bluetooth-enabled device.

How do I connect a subwoofer to a stereo receiver?

Connect the subwoofer to the output of the receiver. Some receivers will have specific subwoofer outputs, while with others, you may need to connect to a speaker output. Our handy guide explains how easy it is to connect your subwoofer to your stereo receiver using RCA or LFE cables or via the speaker output if your subwoofer features spring clips.

What's the best way to clean a stereo receiver?

The best way to tidy up your receiver is using a can of compressed air to dispel dust on the surface and in the cavities, which is especially useful if you open up the chassis. It's also advisable to occasionally remove the knobs, faceplate, or switches, and clean any point of contact with contact cleaner, which is specially designed for cleaning electronics. Harsh chemicals could damage your receiver, so try to avoid using them.

The Best Mid-Range Home Theater Receivers

A home stereo receiver and amplifier next to a single bookshelf speaker — If your home stereo system sounds great for music and movies, it will do well for karaoke. Photo: IvanWuPI / Getty Images

The best mid-range home theater receivers offer generous port variety to support all the video and audio technologies you use.

After examining dozens of mid-range models, here are the best options for most home theaters.

Note: Prices are subject to change.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Denon AVR-S960H at Amazon $675

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Best 5.1:

Yamaha RX-V385 at Amazon $350

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Best Value:

Sony STR-DH790 at Amazon $500

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Best 7.2:

SALE

Onkyo TX-NR696 at Amazon ~~$625~~ $290

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Easiest on the Budget:

Sony STR-DH190 Stereo Receiver at Amazon $198

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Best Overall

Denon AVR-S960H

$675 at Amazon

TL;DR: The Denon AVR-S960H is a solid choice for just about anyone.

Why We Recommend It

Gamers, movie buffs, and sports fans can all appreciate what the Denon AVR-S960H offers.

It supports 4K/120Hz pass-through, variable refresh rates, and an auto-low latency mode for the best gaming experience.

Pros

8K pass-through
Built in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Up to 7.2-channel surround

Cons

Somewhat pricey

You can watch movies in up to 8k, and the receiver has six HDMI-in ports and two HDMI-out ports for connecting devices.

Only one of the HDMI inputs supports 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz video pass-through and upscaling (this port also supports eARC), but having six input ports means you can connect your PS5, FireTV stick, and BluRay player and still have three extra HDMI ports available.

The AVR-S960H allows for up to 7.2-channel surround sound. It boasts a seven-channel discrete amplifier with 90 watts (8 ohms) per channel and dual subwoofer outputs for booming bass.

If you connect a good projector and surround sound system, you’ll have a movie theater-like experience at home. The S960H supports Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, and other audio and video technologies.

Plus, you can take advantage of Wi-Fi, Airplay support, and even voice assistant control via Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant.

Amazon buyers give this product 4.4 out of 5 stars, and 70 percent give it 5 out of 5 stars.

Best 5.1

Yamaha RX-V385

PHOTO: Amazon

$350 at Amazon $350 at Walmart $350 at Best Buy

TL;DR: Provides many of the features you need—4K support, HDMI with HDCP 2.2, Bluetooth, and 5.1-channel surround sound support.

Why We Recommend It

The Yamaha RX-V385BL is a good choice for a receiver that will do the job at a reasonable price.

It provides many of the features you need—4K support, HDMI with HDCP 2.2, Bluetooth, and 5.1-channel surround sound support—yet it doesn’t cost a fortune.

The package includes a YPAO microphone to auto-calibrate the sound to your specific space.

Pros

Affordable
4K support
Includes mic for room calibration

Cons

No Wi-Fi

You are giving up the more advanced features like 8k pass-through, a second HDMI output port, Wi-Fi, and compatibility with voice assistants with this receiver.

It has four HDMI inputs and only one output, but that’s usually sufficient for most people.

The RX-V385BL also has Bluetooth for wireless connections and supports Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD Master Audio.

Overall, this model is a good option for people just starting with a home theater system or those who primarily watch movies and shows. Sports fans and gamers may prefer a different option.

Amazon buyers give this product an average 4.5-star rating, and 77 percent give it a perfect 5-star score.

Best Value

Sony STR-DH790

PHOTO: Amazon

$500 $448 at Amazon $448 at Walmart $500 at Best Buy

TL;DR: A lot of excellent excellent features at a fair price.

Why We Recommend It

The STRDH790 offers a lot of value with a long feature list and solid performance.

It provides four HDMI inputs and one HDMI output, which should be sufficient for most home theaters. The receiver has a 4K pass-through, so you can get a beautiful picture without compromising quality.

It also supports 3D, HDR10, and Dolby Vision, so you get the best possible quality out of your devices.

Pros

Automatic setup with included microphone
Great pricing for the features
Clear markings for 5.1 and 7.1 channel use

Cons

No Wi-Fi

Unfortunately, this model lacks Wi-Fi compatibility or an Ethernet port but does have Bluetooth. You can even use your smartphone to power the receiver.

Audio is where this model shines, though. It’s hi-res compatible, and you can set up a 5.1- or 7.1-channel surround sound system uniquely calibrated to your space.

The build quality is impressive, too, and this receiver should last quite a while.

Over 2,000 Amazon buyers have reviewed this receiver and give it average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars.

Best 7.2

Onkyo TX-NR696

Onkyo Home Audio Smart Audio and Video Receiver

PHOTO: Amazon

$625 $290 at Amazon $730 at Walmart $650 at Best Buy

TL;DR: A 7.2 receiver with loads of ports, 3D and 4K pass-through, Wi-Fi, and a whole lot more.

Why We Recommend It

This innovative Onkyo model is another good pick for features and flexibility. You get nine HDMI ports (seven in, two out), so you won’t have to worry about running out of spots or purchasing an HDMI switch.

It supports 3D and 4K pass-through for a stunning picture and boasts many sound technologies that take it above some of the cheaper models on this list.

With 165-watt per channel output coupled with Dolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, DTS decoder, and DTS-HD Master Audio, you’ll get exceptional surround sound quality and clarity.

Pros

Powerful sound
4K and 3D pass through
Wi-Fi ready

Cons

Some odd design choices

On top of the sound and video perks, the receiver has dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplay, and Chromecast built-in, and it works with Google Assistant for voice commands. What’s not to love?

This isn’t the most affordable option, and the front of the receiver has a lot of blank space that takes away from the overall aesthetic.

But, these drawbacks aren’t enough to outweigh all the benefits the TR-NX696 provides, as this is one of the better receivers available in this price range.

Amazon buyers give this product an average 4.2 star rating.

Easiest on the Budget

Sony STR-DH190 Stereo Receiver

PHOTO: Amazon

$198 at Amazon $198 at Walmart $200 at Best Buy

TL;DR: A budget-friendly option for music lovers.

Why We Recommend It

An extremely affordable option, the Sony STR-DH190 stands out as a receiver for music and vinyl lovers in particular who might appreciate this model because of its clean sound with minimal distortion.

It has a total harmonic distortion rate of only one percent; some other models on this list come in at ten times that rate.

Pros

Very affordable
Good for purists
Low harmonic distortion

Cons

No HDMI ports

The STR-DH190 uses four analog (RCA) audio inputs and one analog audio output. You can plug in your turntable via the phono input, and there’s a headphone jack as well.

The two-channel receiver has Bluetooth but lacks Wi-Fi, HDMI, and many technologies on a home theater receiver designed for movies or gaming.

However, this model might be worthwhile if you’re a music buff who wants pure sound.

Amazon buyers give this product a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

What to Look For

The home theater receiver, also called an AV receiver or surround sound receiver, provides most of (or maybe all) the inputs and outputs for connecting all your entertainment equipment.

The core features to consider when shopping for the right fit for your setup include power output, surround sound formats, and connectivity.

Power Output

The power output capabilities of home theater receivers vary depending on the price you are willing to pay, the room size, power requirements of your loudspeakers, and the brand you're considering.

Sales hype and specifications can be confusing and misleading, so make sure you take your time to understand what the numbers mean.

Surround Sound Formats

The main feature attraction of home theater receivers for most consumers is the ability to provide a surround sound listening experience.

Even the most basic home theater receivers offer several options, including standard Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Surround decoding.

More advanced Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding (which are the primary formats used on Blu-ray Discs) is also more commonplace as well as (depending on the manufacturer) additional surround processing formats.

Also, as you move into mid-range and higher home theater receiver models, surround sound formats such as DTS:X, Auro3D, or Dolby Atmos audio may be included or offered as options. However, DTS:X and Auro3D Audio often require a firmware update.

In addition, be aware that including the various surround sound formats also dictates how many channels a home theater receiver may be equipped with—which can range from a minimum of 5 to as many as 11.

Connectivity

All home theater receivers provide speaker connections, output for connection of one or more subwoofers, and several audio connection options, including analog stereo, digital coaxial and digital optical and video connection options that may consist of composite and component video.

However, composite/component options are becoming less available to receivers of each successive model year due to the increasing use of HDMI.

HDMI can pass both audio and video signals through a single cable. However, depending on how HDMI is incorporated, access to HDMI's capabilities may be limited, so ensure the model you select supports the connections and resolutions you need.

Other Features

In addition to core features, depending on the brand/model, you may have one or more of the following advanced options available to you:

Automatic Speaker Setup: Almost all mid-range and high-end home theater receivers provide a built-in automatic speaker setup system. It includes a built-in test tone generator and special plug-in microphone.
Multi-Zone Audio: Multi-Zone is a function where the receiver can send a second source signal to speakers or a separate audio system in another location.
Wireless Multi-Room/Whole House Audio: Some home theater receivers can wirelessly stream audio to compatible wireless speakers connected via a home network.
Bluetooth: Another addition found on most home theater receivers is Bluetooth. This feature lets users stream audio files directly from a compatible Bluetooth-enabled portable device.
Hi-Res Audio: Another option for home theater receivers is accessing and playing two-channel hi-res audio files. Hi-Res audio applies to any music file with a higher bitrate than the physical CD (16-bit linear PCM at a 44.1-khz sampling rate).

FAQ

How can you add Bluetooth to a stereo receiver?

Some budget receivers don't come with built-in Bluetooth connectivity, but a wireless receiver is a simple fix. Plug it into your receiver, and you'll instantly be able to stream audio from any Bluetooth-enabled device.
How do I connect a subwoofer to a stereo receiver?

Connect the subwoofer to the output of the receiver. Some receivers will have specific subwoofer outputs, while with others, you may need to connect to a speaker output. Our handy guide explains how easy it is to connect your subwoofer to your stereo receiver using RCA or LFE cables or via the speaker output if your subwoofer features spring clips.
What's the best way to clean a stereo receiver?

The best way to tidy up your receiver is using a can of compressed air to dispel dust on the surface and in the cavities, which is especially useful if you open up the chassis. It's also advisable to occasionally remove the knobs, faceplate, or switches, and clean any point of contact with contact cleaner, which is specially designed for cleaning electronics. Harsh chemicals could damage your receiver, so try to avoid using them.