Do Expensive AV Receivers Sound Better than Cheap Ones?

We discuss whether or not higher priced AV receivers can sound better than inexpensive ones. Many factors determine sound quality such as the ability for the receiver's amp section to supply distortion free wattage to your speakers. What do you get with the more expensive receivers that can lead to better sound quality? Watch this video to find out.

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AV Receivers

5.1 Speakers

Floorstanding speakers

Subwoofers

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[jamesh]

Answers the question in the first minute of the truly are a force for good in this world.

[turbs]

You sir have guts to say the answer so soon. I still watched the rest of the video out of respect and interest.

[nellight]

What I like about Gene is he explains everything as simple as possible with measurements to back up his statements. His goal is to educate every audio and video enthusiast and help us getting the best out of our money. This video is worth watching. Keep it up Gene!

[CorvetteCoonass]

I got the Sony STR-DH1080 and while it was around $500, it sounds absolutely amazing! So lively and dynamic! I'm sure it isn't that great by a technical standpoint, but my ears love it regardless!

[paulcampbell]

I run an install company and have been installing for about 20 years, and while what he says is generally true with regards to measurements, a lot of these perceived differences would only be audible if you are running larger speakers full range, at high volume, especially with transients. If you use the internal crossover to hand off to a powered subwoofer, you are taking such a huge amount of responsibility off the receiver and improving its ability to perform, that you probably won't hear deficiencies in real word situations.

[dastiffmeisterman]

Brilliant video. I've owned lots of AV amps, from Denon, Yamaha and Pioneer. I've had flagship amps from all three manufacturers including the Denon AVC-A1SR, Yamaha DSP-AX1, Pioneer SX-LX85 and I've also used budget amps from them. The difference from a listening point of view is 2 fold from my experience, it comes in power in AV soundtracks and refinement in music presentation. On the budget receivers you get impressive AV performance at quiet to normal levels but music in 2 channel mode is weak, on the high amps you get real power in AV soundtracks, room shaking ability and in 2 channel music listening you get level of quality that can match dedicated stereo amps, highly acceptable. Your video does an excellent job of explaining why. Personally I wouldn't recommend people buy a budget amp today, you are much better off if you buy a 2nd hand flagship amp from 10 years ago which are available for similar prices and just using the 2nd HDMI output from your bluray to the amp purely for the audio. You will get vastly better sound quality and most people do not need Atmos processing because its so difficult to install the full array of speakers.

[majorxdf]

Why in the heck the channel only has 146k subscribers is beyond me. Should be in the millions.

[ericvillano]

Not all of us are out buying, or can afford to drop 2 or 3 grand on a stereo receiver, or amplifier. So, what about the differences between, say a Marantz, Harman Kardon, Yamaha, Onkyo, or Denon costing between $400 and $700, by comparison to a Sony, JVC, Pioneer, Kenwood, or Technics costing between $100 and $350? That's what I'm interested in on my budget. I suspect a large majority of listeners are looking at receivers in those price ranges.

[geneg]

Back in the later part of 2017 I found that I was listening to more music over watching movies. At the time I was using a Denon AVR- 4311CI as a pre-amp with Wyred 4 Sound and Emotiva amps. Prior to the Denon I had a Onkyo TX-NR906 (HDMI board failure resulted in the Denon). My front speakers are Mirage OMD-28's. The Denon did a good job for movies but when listening to music the sound was tinny and dull. One day while at a Best But Magnolia Design Center I had the opportunity to listen to a Arcam AVR-550. Other AVR's in the listening room from Denon, Marantz, Integra, and Pioneer. All the aforementioned AVR's cost over 2k and the only model I remember was the Pioneer SC-LX901 because we have the Pioneer in our living room.

No room correction was applied to any of the AVR's. Switching back and forth between the AVR's while listening to music the wife and I liked the sound of the Arcam over the other's. My wife does not share my interest in the hobby and is very frugal.
The source used was a OPPO 205 and the speakers were B&W 804 D3's. There were other people in the listening room and everyone agreed the Arcam sounded the best and it was the most expensive at $3, 200. The Denon came in last place, the wife and I thought the Pioneer SC-LX901 was the second best sounding and the Marantz and Integra were tied in 3rd place.

They had a open box Arcam AVR-550 and I purchased it. There was an issue initially with setting up the room correction (Dirac). Once it was set up the proof was in the sound. The open box AVR-550 was only discounted $200 so I returned it and decided to purchase a new one instead. None were in stock and ETA for a new was over month until it was received. So then I decided to have a look at the Anthem AVM-60. I already had a Wyred 4 Sound ST-1000MKII that I had been using with my Denon and a Emotiva XPA-3. I gave the Anthem AVM-60 a try and while it was nice we felt it was lacking in the 2 channel sound for music when compared to the Arcam.

I then came across a used Arcam AVR-850 for a price of $3, 100 and I purchased it. Maybe it is the Dirac room correction but once I starting using the Arcam over the Denon it felt like a blanket had been removed from my speakers. I was initially looking at replacing my speakers (Mirage OMD-28's) but once I incorporated the Arcam into my system the thought of replacing my speakers was no longer needed.

I am using a Oppo 205, Bluesound Vault 2i. along with Tidal for music listening.

[TCPUDPATM]

First time here. As a computer enthusiast and a novice electronics enthusiast, you’re perhaps the only person who is actually speaking my language!
So excited to explore your channel and reviews in my quest to buy a good receiver!

[jonathanhiener]

Gene, great to see the high production quality video, it's like a higher def version of audioholic's videos of a few years ago! Unfortunately I'm often strapped for time these days, so these short, sweet, and to the point videos are great in addition to the livestreams. Keep up the great work!

[davidpurpura]

Your audio reviews are IMO the best. Yes to all the comments you made regarding cheep vs expensive receivers. I use to work at a few hi-fi stores back in the day and definitely have played with and have done critical listening on many types of AV gear. Having good clean proweful amplification and pre out voltage has always been a key thing I would point out to customers.
Personally today my home Theater has a Marantz AV8802 and I have 3 old bit good Adcom amps along with 11 ga wore and 2 SVS PB 16 ultra, so great sound is not a problem.

Keep the straight no nonsense reviews coming. And OMG I'm so over all the crazy hype all the marketing folks use to use on all the crazy expensive speaker wire.

[drummerkev]

I’m glad you acknowledged the Denon AVR-X8500H at the end of this video simply because I don’t have the room for separates.
And the 8500 does sound freakin amazing! But again, it’s a $4000 AVR! Great video as always Gene!
Thank you!

[markmiller]

That was an excellent presentation. I liked what you said at the end about the receivers from 20+ years ago: "It was just a different time, it was a more civilized time for a different era." Very creatively said.

[AlanColePhotography]

Hi Gene. Thanks for all the time you spend on these analyses.

Your assumptions, stated frequently, were:
4-ohm speakers
playing full-range
at reference volume.

This might represent your room with esoteric speakers and no budget constraints, but for at least me, with 8-ohm speakers rolling into powered subwoofers, this baseline is irrelevant.

The real-world question is closer to: How much AUDIBLE difference is there at reference level between a $1, 000 AVR and a $20, 000 stack of separates in a 15x20x8' properly treated home theater with 5.1 8-ohm (rated - given lower-z dips) speakers rolling into properly-placed powered subwoofers of sufficient power to pressurize the room?

No qualms with your build-quality analysis - business is business - and I have neither gear, time, knowledge nor desire to validate your measurements (and I trust you), but your initial listening environment premise might not represent very many people who are more concerned with spending enough to get the best sound they will be able to HEAR vs. spending 20x as much to get the best measurements that they would never be able to pick out in blind listening in their own non-esoterrically-equipped theaters or listening rooms.

Maybe do an analysis like that in the future, with general breakpoints where you believe an audible advantage might be obtained.

Thanks as always!

[THEleatherface]

The microphone choices in these videos are different eras. This was part of the Tribble era 🤣. Great content as always so a huge thank you, Gene

[xklbr]

Don’t know wtf you were talking about, but now I’m researching all this stuff . Awesome video

[magellanmax]

I just bought a Marantz NR1711, which by all accounts is a 'budget' model for this brand but it plays phenomenally well in my small living room where output at lower volumes is sufficient . It has preamp outputs which will enable me to hook up an amp later if I need to service a bigger space and drive some bigger speakers.

[-Iron]

Note to self: Anything below $3, 000 is shit. Now to explain this to my wife.

[tomo]

I feel like the kid who walks into the wrong classroom in middle school. I thought my $700 receiver was expensive. I'll show myself out.