Receivers & Amplifiers

Best Portable AV Receiver for Commuters, Ranked

Seven stereo and AV receivers compared on weight, footprint, inputs and Bluetooth. The Pyle PDA29BU.5 leads at 2.91 lb for anyone who values a genuinely small box.

Best Receiver for Home Stereo by Watts and Inputs

A ranked look at five receivers for a home stereo setup, from a 1.96 lb desktop amp to a 5.2-channel Yamaha, with the trade-offs named for each.

Receivers & Amplifiers

Best Audio Amplifier for Passive Bookshelf Speakers

A ranked comparison of five audio amplifiers, from a 1.25 lb Class D desktop unit to a 7.2 lb monoblock car sub amp, with the trade-offs named.

Receivers & Amplifiers

Best Budget AV Receiver for a 5.1 Living Room

Six AV receivers ranked by channels, HDMI generation and warranty length, with the Yamaha RX300A leading a 5.2-channel field that includes picks from Denon, Sony and Onkyo.

Receivers & Amplifiers

Best Low Cost Stereo Amplifiers by Power and Inputs

A ranked shortlist of seven affordable stereo amplifiers, sorted by inputs, cabinet size and published warranty, with the Fosi Audio V1.0G leading the field.

Receivers & Amplifiers

Best 8K AV Receiver for Content Creators: Denon Wins

Five 8K-ready 7.2 receivers compared on HDMI count, pass-through spec, warranty and weight. The Denon AVR-S970H leads; the Sony STR-AZ1000ES wins on power.

Receivers & Amplifiers

Best A/V Receiver by Channel Count and HDMI

Five a/v receivers compared by channel count, HDMI 2.1 inputs and warranty. The Sony STR-AZ5000ES leads at 11.2 channels, with a Yamaha for tight budgets.

Receivers & Amplifiers

Best Smart AV Receiver for Podcasters Who Record

Seven receivers ranked for podcasters, from the Sony STRDH190 with phono and Bluetooth to the Donner MAMP4 with dual mic inputs and echo control.

Receivers & Amplifiers

Best Vintage Hifi Amplifiers by Power and Inputs

A verdict-first roundup of six vintage-styled amps and helpers, from a tube integrated with a VU meter to a Bluetooth adapter that revives an old receiver.

Receivers & Amplifiers

Best Slim Audio Receiver: Marantz NR1510 Leads

A ranked shortlist of six slim audio receivers, from a 1.96 lb desktop amp to a 4.1-inch Marantz. Every pick tied to a room, a rack and a source.

Receivers & Amplifiers

Best Stereo Receiver Amplifier for Turntable Setups

A phono input, 100W x 2 into 8 ohms, A/B speaker switching: the Sony STRDH190 is the pick for a turntable-led setup. Four alternates cover karaoke, desktops and tight budgets.