A stereo receiver is considered to be the core of the home theater. It has surround sound capabilities, and digital audio and video processing option. In simple terms, it received audio and video signals from different sources and processes them to give loud sound and clear video. The output can be seen on TV, monitor, video projector while the inputs can come from TV, radio, DVD players, and likewise. It can amplify the audio without losing the quality. Check out the top 10 best stereo receivers under 500 in 2022 and turn your audio and video experience richer.
Contents
- Table of the Best Stereo Receiver Under $500:
- 01. Yamaha 5.1-Channel 4K Ultra HD AV Receiver
- 02. Pioneer 5.1-Channel AV Receiver
- 03. Yamaha 5.1-Channel 4K Ultra HD MusicCast AV Receiver
- 04. Denon 7.2 Channel AV Receiver
- 05. Denon 5.2 Channel Full 4K Ultra HD AV Receiver
- 06. Onkyo 7.2 Channel Network A/V Receiver
- 07. Yamaha 7.2-Channel AV Receiver with Bluetooth
- 08. Denon 7.2 Channel Full 4K Ultra HD Network AV Receiver
- 09. Onkyo 7.2 Channel Network A/V Receiver
- 10. Sony 2 Channel Stereo Receiver
- Buyer’s Guide – Things To Keep In Mind
- Surround Sound
- Video Switching
- Network Connection
- Power Ratings
Table of the Best Stereo Receiver Under $500:
01. Yamaha 5.1-Channel 4K Ultra HD AV Receiver
The product features under Amazon’s Choice for 5.1-channel surround sound. The audio quality is clear and crisp. The Bluetooth connectivity enables wireless music streaming. It supports various standards of HDR and it is compatible with Dolby Vision and Hybrid Log-Gamma for incredible contrast and smooth tone. You can also connect Bluetooth headphones for private listening. Besides, it has rich bass production and scene buttons for optimal output.
02. Pioneer 5.1-Channel AV Receiver
This stereo receiver has Ultra HD 4K 60-FPS pass-through and it is an advanced sound retriever for dynamic response. The inbuilt Bluetooth system helps in wireless operation. It is an ideal choice for boosting your home theater for a rich experience with authentic audio quality. It supports all the latest HDR video standards and it is one of the most affordable stereo receivers with high-quality output. Moreover, 5.1-channel delivers up to 140W power for clean audio reproduction.
03. Yamaha 5.1-Channel 4K Ultra HD MusicCast AV Receiver
This is one of the most advanced Stereo receivers and it works with voice assistant Alexa. Therefore, you can give commands for its operation. Moreover, you can add up as many as 9 additional audio units. This is a 5.1-channel surround music system and it comes with Bluetooth connectivity, Wi-Fi connectivity, Spotify connect, Airplay, Tidal for wireless music streaming. There are thousands of internet radio stations to listen to all day. You can enjoy the 4K video at 60FPS pass-through. For better control, you can download the AV controller app.
04. Denon 7.2 Channel AV Receiver
One of the best things about this stereo recorder is that it can even work with Amazon Alexa. This has high current power output for all the channels and the maximum power is 165 watts for a single channel. This will decode in high resolution and is a powerful 7-channel amplifier. This will allow you to have a wireless music streaming and the best thing about this is that you can even control it with an app. The HEOS app will allow you to stream from a variety of music in any of your devices. This is compatible with 2.8 to 5.6MHz DSD files.
05. Denon 5.2 Channel Full 4K Ultra HD AV Receiver
This is another powerful stereo recorder which has a high current power output for all channels. This will deliver high power and the maximum power per channel is rated at 140 watts. This has also got built-in Bluetooth, which will allow you to connect it to any compatible device and listen to music. In addition to this, there are five HDMI inputs and has a full frame of ultra HD. The HDCP 2.2 signal handling is for HD-copy protection. This is very easy to set up and there is an onscreen guide.
06. Onkyo 7.2 Channel Network A/V Receiver
With the rated power of 170 watts per channel, this stereo recorder has dynamic audio amplification. This has the smooth analog signal which will reassemble the audio signal in its original form. You can also send amplified network with Powered Zone 2 speakers. This will also allow you to pair speakers in another room. This is backed by DTS:X and Dolby Atmos. This will support 4K HDR and has built-in chromecast. The DTS Play-Fi will enable to play music from any app. In addition to this, it has also got Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Spotify, and AirPlay.
07. Yamaha 7.2-Channel AV Receiver with Bluetooth
The stereo recorder supports DTS:x and Dolby Atmos and has 7.2 channel surround sound. This is even compatible with Alexa for voice control. There are volume equalizer, extra bass, sync input, party mode, and many other functions. With the Add Audio, you can set it in nine rooms through musiccast. This also supports 4K HD Ultra as well as HDR video. There is also Bluetooth and HDCP 2.2. The power output is rated at 90 watts per channel and there is also phono input for connecting your favorite turntable.
08. Denon 7.2 Channel Full 4K Ultra HD Network AV Receiver
In this stereo recorder, there are 8 HDMI inputs and comes with full HDCP 2.2 support. There are many other inputs and is ready to feed a projector and TV. The consumption of watts in standby motion is 0.1 W and this also compatible with Alexa for voice control. This can be controlled with the HEOS app and will allow you have access to music from unlimited sources. The rated power is 105W/channel and it will also fill bigger rooms with Denon sound. This is AilPlay compatible and enables iOS connection sharing.
09. Onkyo 7.2 Channel Network A/V Receiver
Made up of metal, this stereo recorder has the rated power of 210 watts per channel. This supports the traditional surround sound as well as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. This is also compatible with Dolby Vision and has HDMI 7, HDR 10, and HDCP 2.2. You can also bring the audio to another room as it has got powered zone speaker outputs. There is also a dedicated DAC network along with analog audio playback. You can even connect it to the internet and it has also got Bluetooth. This is also compatible with radio, Spotify, TuneIn, and many others.
10. Sony 2 Channel Stereo Receiver
In this stereo receiver, there is an FM/AM tuner. There are two audio outputs and you can also easily connect it to your television. In addition to this, the speaker can easily be connected to a DVD player and PlayStation 3. With the 2-Channel stereo receiver, it will give you powerful Hi-Fi performance. There is also an auto standby which will enable you to save energy. This comes from a very reputed brand and you can even connect it to your smartphone to listen to music.
Buyer’s Guide – Things To Keep In Mind
The traditional stereo receivers had two channels but today, most of them have multi-channel. Buying a 5.1-channel stereo receiver is better and you can always buy the upper ones for better output. Before you can buy a stereo receiver to amplify your home theater, there are a few things you should know about.
Surround Sound
If you want to experience surround sound, you have to buy 5.1 channel or above. Otherwise, you will never get the true surround sound experience. Moreover, you should buy such a stereo receiver that has provision for upgrading in the future. It is because you can turn your 5.1-channel into 7.1 or even 9.11 in the future for better audio quality. Moreover, you have to ensure the receiver supports Dolby Digital as most of the DVD format has encoded Dolby Digital for awesome 5.1 experience.
Video Switching
If you are buying a stereo speaker, you should be acquainted with Upconverting term. Most of the TVs include multiple input and outputs for video players. With video switching option, it is more convenient to run all video sources with sound through the receiver. With Upconverting, the stereo receiver can convert standard definition to high definition.
Network Connection
As the technology has advanced, we have voice assistant. If you already have Amazon Alexa or Google Home at your home, you should buy a stereo receiver that is compatible. This way you can control the receiver with your voice. Apart from that, most of the receivers listed above have Bluetooth connectivity which is the least thing brand can do. Moreover, some receivers have Wi-Fi connectivity to stream from your smartphone directly.
Power Ratings
The power ratings determine how loud the sound output will be. The more expensive models are likely to have more power ratings. Therefore, while buying a stereo receiver, you should compare with other models to buy the best one.
Apart from these, you should buy a stereo receiver from a popular brand such as Pioneer, Sony, Yamaha, Denon and likewise. They are the leaders and their products are true value for money. These brands have different series and you should do your research properly before buying.
Conclusion
A stereo receiver is a must to turn your home theater into something bigger just the way you imagined it to be. There are many affordable stereo receivers available under 500 dollars and we have listed them from popular brands with balanced parameters. Depending on your budget, you should shortlist a few and compare them closely to buy the best one for your home.
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