A receiver is one of the most important pieces of equipment for your home entertainment system. It brings all the components together and allows them to work seamlessly. You can have all the speakers in the world, but without a receiver to power them, you will not get the optimal sound quality.
This is why seeking out the best AV receiver under $200 is what we are going to take a look at today. Now, this price point would be considered a small budget. However, this does not mean that you can’t get a really solid system within this price range. Technology has come a long way and you can most certainly find a great receiver to obtain the sound quality that you desire.
Read Also: 10 Best Tower Seakers Under $200 2022 – Reviews & Guide
You will be surprised at the many choices that are available to you. All you have to do is decide on which models fit your needs in terms of brand and features. There is no question, that you can enhance your home theater system with the right choice receiver. Below, we have searched out and found some of the best AV receivers for your money so that your decision-making process is a bit easier.
Enjoy the subtlest nuances of studio-quality sound in higher than CD quality with High-Resolution Audio. Passion for music unites every component from signal to speaker so it feels like the artist is performing right in front of you.
A true two-channel enthusiast amp, enjoy all your stereo sound sources. The STR-DH590 also lets you connect and control Bluetooth headphones for private listening or to reduce late-night disturbances.
This Sony 5.2 channel home theater receiver makes your favorite movies and music more immersive by creating virtual surround sound effects with two speakers. S Force Pro Front Surround technology creates an immersive audio experience, while 4K HDR pass through delivers vibrant video quality on compatible displays.
Enjoy wireless connectivity with this Sony 5.2 channel home theater receiver via Bluetooth, and listen to your favorite tracks with a built-in FM tuner.
I bought this receiver to replace my Onkyo TX-SR608. The 608 had been a great receiver for me for several years, but I wanted a little more power and needed an HDMI pass-through. The 373 has one less channel than the 608 and is rated at 135 watts per channel, but in reality, it has plenty of power for my setup. I have Polk Audio RTi A7 floor speakers, CSi A6 center speakers, RTi A3 bookshelf speakers for rear surround, and a BIC F12 subwoofer. With this setup, everything sounds great!
The sound is fantastic with movies and music. There are plenty of audio settings to get the right sound. I like that Onkyo continues to support Apple’s AirPlay which lets you play music from your Apple devices wirelessly through your home stereo system.
The only thing I don’t like about the receiver is the lack of a USB port on the front panel. However, several models have this feature and cost more than this model. If you’re not an audiophile and just want a good quality receiver at an affordable price then this is a good choice.
3. Onkyo TX-8020 2 channel Stereo Receiver
I am a fan of Onkyo’s stereo receivers because I believe their quality for the price is unmatched. The TX-8020 is no exception. I bought this receiver to power my Polk Audio RTI A9 floor standing speakers and it does a great job.
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I have connected two Polk Audio monitor 50s as my front left and right channels, two Polk Audio CS10s as my center channel, and two Polk Audio Monitor 30s as my surround channels. I am running them with a 12 gauge Monster speaker wire.
This receiver has plenty of power to push those speakers, even when listening at a very high volume and the sound quality is excellent. I did not expect to be blown away by the sound quality improvement over my previous receiver but the difference was noticeable right away!
The sound stage is wide and the audio separation between channels (front left, center, front right) is very good. In addition to being able to hear instruments separately, you can also hear them coming from different locations in the room as well.
The only thing that keeps me from giving this receiver 5 stars is that I can’t connect a second subwoofer using preamp outputs. They only have one output for a subwoofer which means if you are running dual subs.
The Onkyo TX-SR373 is perfect for the home theater enthusiast on a budget. It offers 4 HDMI inputs and includes cutting edge features like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support, 4K video pass-through, HDCP 2.2 support, and built-in Bluetooth for convenient wireless streaming from your favorite apps and devices. Or stream audio from your device with ease using the built-in Bluetooth wireless technology.
Onkyo is one of the few companies to offer updated firmware that supports Dolby Atmos height virtualization processing when used with speakers that don’t have dedicated height channels. This allows you to enjoy the full benefits of Dolby Atmos sound even if you’re not able to install overhead speakers in your home theater setup.
In addition, it also supports DTS:X playback which uses object-based audio to allow sounds to be placed freely within the three-dimensional space of your room, allowing for a more realistic experience.
The TX-SR373’s AccuEQ equalizes your surround sound to suit the unique shape of your room and furnishings while AccuReflex ensures phase coherence between up-firing “height” speakers and conventional.
I purchased this receiver to pair it with a pair of KEF LS50 speakers. I’ve owned several receivers in my life and I’m very sensitive to sound quality, so I’ve always been hesitant to purchase an inexpensive stereo receiver. However, I’d been looking at the Pioneer SX-10AE for some time and decided to give it a go. I was not disappointed!
The SX-10AE provides superb sound quality that rivals receivers that are substantially more expensive (5x more expensive). Additionally, the build quality of the unit is fantastic. The front panel is made of thick aluminum which adds extra weight and helps reduce vibrations. The buttons/knobs feel great and operate as they should.
The unit comes with all of the features one might expect from a high-end unit such as built-in Bluetooth, AM/FM radio, phono pre-amp, separate bass/treble controls, direct energy amp design for cleaner audio reproduction, and auto standby mode when not in use, etc…
Overall, I’m thrilled with this unit and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a high-end stereo receiver without breaking the bank.
5.2-Channel Bluetooth Home Theater Receiver System, Digital Stereo Amp – 1000 Watt Power, Built-in Bluetooth Wireless Streaming Receiver, 4 x HDMI Input & 1 x HDMI Output, FM Radio w/ Digital LCD Display, ID3 Tag Song Readout Info, Surge Protection.
1000 Watt Power: The Pyle 5.2 Channel HiFi Home Theater Amplifier Receiver is perfect for your home entertainment system. Gives you 1000W peak power to be used for speakers and subwoofers w/ 4-16 ohms impedance allowing you to enjoy high-quality amplified audio.
Bluetooth Compatible: The professional integrated high-powered stereo receiver is equipped with Bluetooth wireless music streaming. Works with today’s latest devices including smartphones, iPhones, iPad, and computers with hassle-free receiver pairing.
4K UHD TV Support: The AV digital amp box is equipped with a 4K Ultra HD TV, 3D, and Blu Ray video pass-through support with dedicated RCA subwoofer output. Connect and stream audio/video from external devices via USB, RCA, 3 HDMI, and optical/digital audio.
7. YAMAHA R-S202BL Stereo Receiver
The Yamaha R-S202BL Stereo Receiver is a great way to start or expand your home audio system. This simple to use and feature-packed stereo receiver delivers up to 100 watts of power per channel at 8 ohms for robust sound reproduction from a wide variety of music sources.
Choose from analog and digital audio inputs, including support for high-resolution audio formats. Connect a turntable to the phono input, stream music from your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth, or play tunes from your MP3 player or other portable devices using the front-panel USB port.
The R-S202BL also includes an AM/FM radio tuner with 40 stations preset memory, so you can listen to your favorite radio broadcasts with the press of a button.
Yamaha has designed the R-S200 series with advanced circuitry that eliminates interference noises and ensures a high signal-to-noise ratio for clear and detailed sound reproduction. And it has an elegant design with a brushed aluminum finish that will complement any decor.
The Pyle 6-Channel Bluetooth Home Audio Amplifier gives you 1500W peak power which can be used for multi speakers w/ 4-8 ohms impedance allowing you to enjoy high-quality audio. Perfect for your PA and home theater entertainment.
The personal portable digital amp box works with today’s latest devices including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and computers as it is equipped with Bluetooth wireless music streaming with hassle-free receiver pairing.
The integrated indoor stereo receiver supports iPod or MP3, USB, micro SD, AUX playback, built-in FM radio w/ digital LCD, audio input, and REC + subwoofer output RCA (L/R) connectors. Also features 2 ¼” microphone inputs.
The professional sound-amplifying device features a MIC talk-over function which when activated the current music or audio being played will be temporarily halted. This function is used in paging, voice-over, and announcements.
The Home Audio Amplifier is equipped with Bass and Treble adjustment controls for a more customized sound experience. It also features a blue LED illuminated volume knob which also serves as a power indicator.
The Onkyo TX-SR494 AV receiver is a powerful and affordable entry point to the world of immersive audio. It offers 5.2 channels and 160 watts per channel, which is more than enough for most smaller rooms.
This model also offers a high level of connectivity. It has six HDMI inputs, including one HDMI input on the front panel for easy connection to your favorite devices. The HDMI connections support 4K/60p video, as well as HDR (HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision, and BT.2020).
Onkyo’s AccuEQ room calibration system ensures great sound from any setup. There’s even a subwoofer EQ option to get the best sound from your subwoofer.
The TX-SR494 supports the latest object-based surround formats: Dolby Atmos and DTS: X. The system lets you enjoy 5.2 channels of surround sound plus two height channels for an immersive listening experience that truly envelops you in sound.
This is a very good system for the price. I am impressed with the sound quality and features. It has a lot of inputs and outputs and can be used with a variety of hardware. It has many features that rival more expensive brands it has more features than some more expensive brands I looked at. The Bluetooth works perfectly, I was able to quickly sync my phone with it and play music through it in no time.
The only drawback (for me) is that there are no physical volume controls on the unit itself, you have to use the remote control or the knob on the front of the unit to adjust the volume which is kind of inconvenient if you don’t have room for the unit on a table or shelf in your room and have to mount it on a wall or inside an entertainment center cabinet where you can’t see/reach the front knob or have access to the remote.
It does come with a little credit card-sized remote but I don’t like using those because they’re easy to lose and break. If it had physical volume buttons on it, I would give this 5 stars, maybe in the future, they will add that feature.