Top Picks

A/V Receivers

Top Pick of the Year: Denon AVR-X8500H AV Receiver
(October/November) Thirteen 150-watt class-AB amplifier channels plus Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Auro-3D decoding make Denon's massive receiver the beast to beat in the A/V receiver realm. With an ability to handle up to 7.1.6 or 9.1.4 installations out of the box, the company's flagship model is the last word in immersive audio and also offers voice control via Amazon's Alexa. $3,999, usa.denon.com

Denon AVR-X3400H A/V Receiver
(April) This mid-level model packs the right mix of features for someone looking to power a 7.1 surround setup, or a basic 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos/DTS:X rig with overhead speakers. Onboard AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect sweeten the deal. $999, usa.denon.com

NAD T758 V3 A/V Receiver
(May) NAD's BluOS-powered 7-channel model sets itself apart from the A/V receiver pack by featuring Dirac Live LE room correction along with Dolby Atmos processing. The T758 also features the company's Modular Design Construction, which allows for upgrades via swap-out modules to avoid the technical obsolescence that receivers are subject to. $1,300, nadelectronics.com

Yamaha RX-V685 A/V Receiver
(October/November) This affordable 7-channel model from Yamaha enables a basic 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos/DTS:X installation, but also adds the company's MusicCast technology for wireless surround and multiroom speaker setups. $599, usa.yamaha.com

Onkyo TX-NR787 A/V receiver (See Top Value)