AV Receivers
The Best AV Receivers for Around $1000
You want an AV receiver that feels like an upgrade, not a semester of homework. Around $1000 is the sweet spot. You get real power, modern HDMI for gaming, room correction that actually helps, and streaming that does not make you swear at your phone. Below is a people first guide that blends hard specs with what owners keep praising or grumbling about after months of use. I will also tell you who each model suits so you do not play return roulette.
Sony STR AN1000
Sony’s 7.2 channel STR AN1000 is built for living rooms that do it all. You get 6 HDMI inputs and 2 outputs, support for 8K and for 4K at 120 frames, plus VRR and ALLM. Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping widens the sweet spot and helps a lopsided room feel more coherent. Owners like the fast menus and the way it plays nice with recent Sony TVs through Acoustic Center Sync, which lets the TV act as your center channel. Dialogue anchors to the screen and stays there. Power numbers use a different test method than some rivals, so ignore headline watts and focus on the real story, it has plenty of punch for efficient speakers in a medium room. Casting from Android is easy with Chromecast built in, AirPlay 2 is onboard for iOS folks. The two knocks you will see, there is no phono stage for a basic turntable, and no full pre outs for adding big external amps later. If you do not plan to bolt on power amps and you want great TV integration, this one is easy to live with.
Denon AVR X2800H
Denon’s X2800H is a 7.2 channel model with three high bandwidth HDMI inputs that handle 8K and 4K at 120 frames. If you own both new consoles and a gaming PC, that extra headroom is practical. The built in phono input keeps a moving magnet turntable plug and play. Audyssey MultEQ XT remains the draw. You run several mic positions, then use the mobile app to trim a bit of bass, nudge a roll off, and save a curve that suits your room. Owners describe the experience as set it once and relax, with fewer boomy room surprises after calibration. Streaming runs through HEOS, which is stable and simple if you add Denon Home speakers later. The common complaint is also about expansion. There are dual sub outs, but there are no full pre outs for external amps on the main channels. If you want easy vinyl, predictable setup, and a little more HDMI flexibility, Denon makes a strong case here.
Onkyo TX NR7100
Onkyo packs nine channels of amplification into the TX NR7100, so you can run 5.1.4 today without an extra amp. The headline feature is Dirac Live room correction included. Dirac is excellent at smoothing bass peaks and getting better seat to seat consistency, which is why enthusiasts talk it up. The NR7100 also brings THX certification and the modern gaming video stack. Owners who struggled to tame bass with lighter correction tools often report a bigger before and after here. If your space is open concept, reflective, or otherwise feisty, Dirac at this price is a gift. The tradeoff is simple, stock can be patchy, so when you see it in the wild, move.
Yamaha RX A2A
Yamaha’s RX A2A sits a little under the thousand mark and brings the usual Yamaha strengths, solid construction, a calm noise floor, and reliable day to day behavior. It supports 4K at 120 frames and 8K passthrough on its HDMI platform and includes YPAO room correction for quick setup. Owners praise the stable HDMI behavior and the MusicCast app for multiroom playback. If you want a receiver that feels refined, looks clean on a shelf, and just works, Yamaha makes that case well. Audiophiles who prefer Yamaha’s house voicing often call it easy to listen to for long sessions. If you want the largest room correction toolbox, Dirac and Audyssey give you more tweakability, yet in many rooms YPAO lands a tidy, balanced result with minimal fuss.
Marantz Cinema 70s
Want the classy look and that relaxed Marantz voicing without a bulky chassis. The Cinema 70s is a slim 7.2 model with 6 HDMI inputs and 1 HDMI output, and 3 of those inputs handle 8K and 4K at 120. You get HEOS for multiroom, a moving magnet phono input for simple vinyl, and the familiar Marantz face that does not scream equipment rack. Owners call out the easygoing sound that stays smooth at low volumes, the tidy auto setup with Audyssey MultEQ, and the sheer convenience of a receiver that actually fits in narrow furniture without cooking itself. The tradeoffs are predictable. You have 7 channels rather than 9, and you are not buying a platform meant for big external amps. If you value a low profile design, care about two channel tone as much as movies, and still want modern HDMI and streaming, the Cinema 70s is a very civilized pick that often dips close to this price bracket during sales.
Which One to Choose
Start with channels and room shape
If you want 5.1.4 with four height speakers, prioritize the Onkyo TX NR7100 for nine internal channels. If you will stick with 5.1.2 or 7.1, Sony, Denon, Yamaha, and Marantz fit the bill and free some budget for speakers or a sub. Extra channels buy layout flexibility more than raw loudness, which is why nine channels matter most when you want two pairs of heights.
Match room correction to your problem
Rooms with strong bass peaks, odd openings, or asymmetry benefit most from advanced correction. Dirac Live on the Onkyo is particularly good at cleaning the low end and evening out multiple seats. Denon’s Audyssey MultEQ XT is predictable and friendly for first timers. Sony’s D.C.A.C. IX is fast and 360 Spatial Sound Mapping can hold a wide sweet spot for guests. Yamaha’s YPAO is the set it and enjoy option that rarely makes a mess. Marantz uses Audyssey as well, which is a nice fit for a living room where you want better balance without diving into deep menus.
Count your high bandwidth HDMI sources
If you run a PlayStation 5, an Xbox Series X, and a 4K at 120 frames PC, the Denon’s three high bandwidth inputs save you from cable musical chairs. Sony gives you two such inputs, which is fine for many setups. The Onkyo and Yamaha support the same modern formats, while Marantz Cinema 70s covers 8K on three inputs and keeps the output simple. Check what you actually need today and what you might add later, then buy the board that matches your stack.
Decide how you stream and where your speakers live
If you already own HEOS speakers, the Denon and the Marantz drop right in. If your household casts from Android phones and lives in Google Home, the Sony feels natural. If you want a tidy rack and a calmer visual design, Yamaha tends to win the beauty contest. If your room is large and you want four heights without external amps, Onkyo is your friend. Place the receiver inside a tight cabinet. The Marantz slimline is made for that, and it runs cooler than full height boxes, which matters more than most people think.
Owner feedback
Sony STR AN1000 owners mention smooth TV integration, quick UI, and useful phantom speaker mapping for wider seating. They call out the lack of a phono stage and no path to big external amps as the main misses.
RELATED: Sony STR-AN1000 Review
Denon AVR X2800H owners talk about stable HDMI behavior, clear menus, and Audyssey’s knack for taming boom. They like the three high bandwidth inputs for gaming and the simple phono hookup.
RELATED: Denon AVR-X2800H Review
Onkyo TX NR7100 owners credit Dirac for the biggest before and after on bass and seat to seat consistency. They also like having nine onboard channels for Atmos without extra spend, with the usual complaint about spotty availability.
Yamaha RX A2A buyers appreciate the quiet background, the solid build, and the relaxed voicing for music. They value MusicCast for adding more rooms later.
Marantz Cinema 70s owners praise the clean tone at low to moderate volumes, the compact chassis that actually fits furniture, and the simple one cable TV hookup with eARC. People who want heavy metal at reference level in a big room will lean to a standard height receiver instead.
What to buy for three common use cases
For a mixed living room with a recent Sony TV, the Sony STR AN1000. Acoustic Center Sync is a real quality of life upgrade and the feature set checks the boxes.
RELATED: Sony STR-AN1000 vs. Denon AVR-X2800H
For a gaming household that wants three high bandwidth HDMI inputs, simple vinyl, and predictable calibration, Denon AVR X2800H. It’s the practical pick.
For a room that fights you, or a listener who wants 5.1.4 on day one, Onkyo TX NR7100. Dirac plus nine channels gives you the strongest structural fix under a grand. If you can’t find it, Yamaha RX A2A is the calm, low drama choice for 5.1.2 or 7.1, and Marantz Cinema 70s is the elegant solution when you need a slim design with modern features.
Final advice
Buy the receiver that fits the room you have, not the room you wish you had. If you are not chasing external amps later, the lack of full pre outs on these models will never matter to you. Spend the leftover budget on placement, a measurement mic, and a subwoofer if you do not own one. That is how systems at this price bracket start sounding expensive.
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