an AV receiver is the beating heart of a home theater system. You’ll be hard-pressed to wire up any bookshelf speakers, floor-standing speakers, or subwoofers without one of these bad boys!

Ty Pendlebury has worked at CNET since 2006. He lives in New York City where he writes about TVs and home entertainment. Expertise Ty has worked for radio, print, and online publications, and has ...

January 2025 If you’re trying to get as close as possible to re-creating a genuine movie-theater experience at home, there’s no replacement for a good AV receiver. Soundbars are a great step ...

If you're looking to dig into the world of hi-fi systems that consist of a separate stereo receiver or integrated amplifier that powers a set of passive speakers — whether your passion is ...

JBL is no stranger to the world of audio, but what are some of the highest-rated products the company sells right now and how are they best used?

While soundbars have come a long way over the years, nothing beats a good Audio/Video receiver (AVR) with a discrete set of surround sound speakers for a truly immersive and cinematic surround sound ...

Q: Given your recent column regarding CDs, why not write a column with recommended CD players for home stereo systems? —B.Z., ...

Audioengine’s B1 has been around for years. The little music receiver connects to a stereo receiver or amplifier (via optical or RCA outputs) and adds the convenience of Bluetooth streaming. It’s a ...

by Dennis Burger and Adrienne Maxwell The Denon AVR-X1800H is an easy-to-use AV receiver that sounds great and has the necessary features to meet most people’s movie, music, and video-gaming needs.

Today’s home cinema receivers are more than just ... MORE: Our pick of the best AV receivers ...

Even as newer models are released, the tried-and-true 2021 Onkyo TX-NR6100 remains our top pick for the best AV receiver your money can buy. The Onkyo supplies the power and performance you need at ...

This is also an excellent receiver for Zone 2 and Zone 3 expansions down the line or if you already have speakers in different rooms in your home. Both zones feature dedicated stereo outputs for ...