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The options for receivers in the market today are likely going to surpass the number of people looking for them. this is why instead of looking for any receiver, we are looking for the best receiver under $500. The options are still surplus here but the number one remains the ✅Sony STR-DH790 7.2-ch Surround Sound Home Theater AV Receiver.
Comparison Table for the Best Receiver under $500
Tap the images to get your Best Receiver under $500 on Amazon
| S/NO | IMAGE | NAME | FEATURES |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |   | Sony STR-DH790 7.2-ch Surround Sound Home Theater AV Receiver | WI-FI/ETHERNET yes REMOTE yes BLUETOOTH yes STORE Sony |
| 2 |   | Marantz NR1711 8K Slim 7.2 Channel Ultra HD AV Receiver | WI-FI/ETHERNET yes REMOTE yes BLUETOOTH yes STORE Marantz |
| 3 |   | Denon AVR-X3700H 8K Ultra HD 9.2 Channel | WI-FI/ETHERNET yes REMOTE yes BLUETOOTH no STORE Denon |
| 4 |   | Yamaha RX-V685 7.2-Channel AV Receiver | WI-FI/ETHERNET yes REMOTE yes BLUETOOTH yes STORE Yamaha |
| 5 |   | Onkyo TX-NR797 Smart AV 9.2 Channel Receiver with 4K Ultra HD | WI-FI/ETHERNET yes REMOTE yes BLUETOOTH yes STORE Onkyo |
| 6 |   | Sony STRDH190 2-ch Home Stereo Receiver with Phono Inputs | WI-FI/ETHERNET yes REMOTE yes BLUETOOTH yes STORE Sony |
| 7 |   | Denon AVR-S760H 7.2-Channel Home Theater AV Receiver | WI-FI/ETHERNET yes REMOTE yes BLUETOOTH no STORE Denon |
Best Receiver under $500
There are so many different reasons why you need a receiver in your home.
It might be to power your speakers for those who have speakers that are not powered.
There is also the option of improving on the already existing features of your speakers.
Regardless of which side you fall in, what is important is usually going to be getting the best.
When the options are many, it becomes even harder to get one and call it the best.
How to Identify the Best Receiver under $500
Some of the features to look out for when looking for the best in this category would include;
- The number of channels or the configurations available to the receiver
- How many colors it comes in and which other variations are available
- The different connectivity options available – wired and wireless
- If it is a smart receiver or not
1. Sony STR-DH790 7.2-ch Surround Sound Home Theater AV Receiver is the No 1 choice for the Best Receiver under $500
Just seeing that the first receiver on this list is from the Sony store is enough proof to assure you of quality.
Every time the Sony store is mentioned, we are sure of getting one of the best qualities in the market.
Regardless of what you are looking for in the electronics world, the Sony store has one product sitting top in that category.
For game consoles they have the PlayStation brand, for smartphones, we have the Xperia and BRAVIA for TVs.
For receivers, the Sony store gives us the STR-DH790 as one of the options when you want the best.
Features to prove this can be seen regardless of where you look, both inside and outside of it.
One of the first things that stand out for this receiver is the fact that it comes with a 7.2 channel configuration.
What this means is that 9 speakers which include two subwoofers can all be connected at the same time.
The ability for this receiver to play Dolby Atmos brings some added advantage to the sound quality this receiver will produce.
Breathtaking realism and all-around surround sound are gotten as it positionings the sound from every angle in the room.
Also, the DTS:X decoding is on hand to give you multi-dimensional sound which adapts to the speaker configuration in real-time.
The ability to decode difficult sound formats like the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X is gotten from the 3 DSPs present.
The exterior of this receiver is also built in such a way that it helps to maintain/improve the sound quality.
With a rigid beam chassis and a reinforced frame, vibration-induced distortion is reduced on this receiver.
Pros
- Comes with a powerful amplifier
- Both wireless and wired connection is a possibility here
- Has the advance DCAC as the auto-calibration technology
Cons
- Not a water-resistant receiver
Buy the Sony STR-DH790 7.2-ch Surround Sound Home Theater AV Receiver from Amazon by clicking on the image link above
2. Marantz NR1711 8K Slim 7.2 Channel Ultra HD AV Receiver
After the Sony store, we take a long stroll to the other side of town to find the second receiver on this list.
It is important to understand that when you are looking for the best, considering popularity is usually going to be unnecessary.
What our focus is one will be the quality that this store brings to the table and the Marantz store does that.
When you visit the market, this might not be a store that catches your eye but it is one worth checking.
For the best receiver under $500, the Marantz store puts its best foot forward with this amazing slim AV receiver.
It is a smart receiver and this is the first of many selling points this receiver brings to the table.
Thanks to Wi-Fi connectivity, you will enjoy music streaming thanks to the fact that this speaker is HEOS compatible.
The eco mode is another selling point for this receiver as it helps you with the reduction of power consumption.
The Marantz store takes the eco mode to another level here as it can be used without a reduction in sound quality.
Being a receiver with a 7.1 channel configuration, you can connect 7 surround speakers and a subwoofer to it.
When this receiver is connected to modern HD TVs, you will enjoy 8K HDMI upscaling and all the quality it brings.
Amazing sound decoding allows this AV receiver to reproduce some difficult sound formats with a level of ease.
These formats would include the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X which come together to give the most immersive sound available.
Pros
- This receiver comes with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity
- Different ports for wired connection are available
- Amazing technologies to improve sound output
Cons
- Not suitable for outdoor use
Purchase the Marantz NR1711 8K Slim 7.2 Channel Ultra HD AV Receiver from Amazon by clicking the image link above
3. Denon AVR-X3700H 8K Ultra HD 9.2 Channel
It is impossible to talk about quality receivers if you are not going to mention the Denon store in the conversation.
This is one store that has spent time to understand the needs of their users and then went on the solve them.
They might not be the most popular name in the sound market but when it comes to receivers, they are top.
For their AVR-X3700H receiver, you are going to be looking at everything you ever dreamt of in a receiver.
Quality is the other of the day, whether it is outside you are considering or how it is made inside.
The first shocking feature is the fact that this receiver comes with a 9.2 channel speaker configuration.
What this means is that you can connect 9 stereo or surround sound speakers and two subwoofers all at once.
With 9 amazing speakers all having an output wattage of 105 watts and two subwoofers, quality sound is assured here.
This Denon receiver comes with a dimension that is measured to be 17.1” X 14.9” X 6.6” and weighs about 27.6 pounds.
This is your receiver if you need one for gaming and music streaming or one to use with voice assistance.
When this receiver is connected to your TV, you are going to be getting clean pictures with advanced video processing.
One of the reasons for this is the fact that this Denon receiver comes with both the 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz pass-through.
This gives you a lag-free gaming experience thanks to a variable refresh rate, quick frame transport, and auto-low latency mode.
There is also the dynamic HDR and HDR10+ feature available to give your pictures and videos clarity, contrast, and color.
Pros
- Comes with 7 HDMI inputs and 3 HDMI outputs amongst other wired connection options
- An on-screen setup assistant is built-in
- Amazing technology to improve the sound gotten
Cons
- This receiver is not Bluetooth-enabled
Get the Denon AVR-X3700H 8K Ultra HD 9.2 Channel on Amazon by clicking the image above
4. Yamaha RX-V685 7.2-Channel AV Receiver
Whenever you are talking about anything sound, it is important to mention the Yamaha store amongst the best.
Firstly, it is because, in all honesty, this is one of the best stores to find quality sound components.
Asides from the sound market, the Yamaha store has also ventured into other markets providing quality and being the best there.
Coming back to sound components, we are looking for the best receiver under $500 and this store brings the Yamaha RX-V685.
Everything about this receiver is quality, from how it is built outside to how much quality is inside.
The first feature we look at controls and this store gives its users the best option in every situation.
When you are sitting far from this receiver, you are going to enjoy control thanks to the presence of a wireless remote.
However, when you are close to the system, there are buttons and knobs scattered all over the front for you.
In both cases, the LED screen in front will show you the instructions in real-time, making control easier.
You can connect internet here thanks to the Wi-Fi connectivity and this gives you the privilege to enjoy more features.
One is the fact that it makes your system compatible with some of the most amazing internet services for music.
Voice control is another feature that is made possible using Wi-Fi connectivity to pair it with Alexa or Google.
The sound decoding on this receiver allows you to playback some of the most difficult sound formats in the market.
They can playback the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X which gives you an immersive sound that is second to none.
Pros
- Comes with different wired connection options
- There best video quality when paired with 4K HD TVs
- It comes with Bluetooth connectivity also
Cons
- Lower output wattage when compared with others
Purchase the Yamaha RX-V685 7.2-Channel AV Receiver from Amazon by clicking the image link
5. Onkyo TX-NR797 Smart AV 9.2 Channel Receiver with 4K Ultra HD
There is always going to be amazing quality when you visit the Onkyo store as long as you want a receiver.
Over the years, this is one store that has made a name for itself as it continually gives its all into making quality.
For the TX-NR797, we are going to start with connectivity as it comes with both wired and wireless connection options.
Thanks to Bluetooth connectivity, you can connect any Bluetooth-enabled device to this receiver without the use of wires.
There are also different wired connection options available to you when you use choose to use this Onkyo receiver.
This amazing receiver comes with a unique 5.2.2 channel decoding and an output wattage of about 220 watts per channel.
It is originally a 9.2 channel receiver which can also be used with a 5.2.4 or 7.2.2 channel configuration.
All these channel configurations are made possible due to the amazing sound decoding that this receiver comes with.
The sound decoding is what makes it possible for this receiver to reproduce the most difficult sound formats.
There is Wi-Fi connectivity here alongside the ethernet port and these two combine to give you a smart AV receiver.
These give you access to stream content from places like TIDAL, Pandora, Amazon Music, Deezer, Spotify, TuneIn, and others.
The TX-NR797 can join the existing Sonos home sound system in your home or can be used to start one.
Asides from the Sonos system, it can be used to share sound as part of other multi-room systems like Chromecast, AirPlay 2, etc.
You are going to have an enhanced IMAX signature experience thanks to the optimized DTS:X sound technology available here.
Pros
- A THX-certified receiver
- Gives you amazing picture quality when connected to your TV
- Wired and wireless connectivity is available
Cons
- Not a waterproof receiver
Click the image link to buy the Onkyo TX-NR797 Smart AV 9.2 Channel Receiver with 4K Ultra HD from Amazon
6. Sony STRDH190 2-ch Home Stereo Receiver with Phono Inputs
We are going back to the Sony store as there is no better place to look when we want the best.
Quality is something that is always assured here regardless of what you are looking for in the electronics world.
An example is now that we need the best receiver under $500 and the Sony store is giving us a second option.
The Sony STRDH190 just like the other Sony receiver on this list comes with an abundance of amazing features.
Connectivity is the first here as you are going to enjoy both the wired connection options and the wireless option.
Some of the wired options that are available to this speaker include 2 digital coaxial input ports and 2 AUX input ports.
There are only a few devices that cannot be connected using these available wired connection options but this isn’t a problem.
Most of these devices will come with Bluetooth connectivity and can connect with this receiver as it is Bluetooth-enabled.
You also have the AM/FM feature on this receiver and it comes with the ability to store up to 30 channels.
The choice of how many speakers play your sound and how they play it is put in your hands here.
Thanks to the A/B selector, you can decide if you want to use our speakers in zones or all of them together.
For the best performance, you are advised to use speakers which have an impedance between the range of 6 – 16 ohms.
Control is another replacement where this amazing receiver wins the battle over the others with buttons, knobs, and a remote.
Pros
- Both wired and wireless connectivity is available
- Amazing technologies to improve performance
- Comes with the A/B selector feature
Cons
- Not as powerful as some of the other receivers here
Click the image link to get the Sony STRDH190 2-ch Home Stereo Receiver with Phono Inputs from Amazon
7. Denon AVR-S760H 7.2-Channel Home Theater AV Receiver
We are going to end this list with as much quality as we started and this is already evident.
There is nothing that says quality than a receiver from the Denon store and the numbers are there to back it up.
The focus throughout this research has been quality rather than how known the store is in the market.
That being said, we are taking a closer look at the AVR-S760H and all the amazing qualities it brings to the table.
This is a 7.2 channel receiver and the uniqueness of this is the fact that you can connect two subwoofers.
Connecting two subwoofers on their separate ports will also help improve the sound quality through better bass output.
Also, how other devices are connected to this receiver is important and here you have several options for this.
There are 6 HDMI input ports and one HDMI output port to help you connect devices to this receiver.
3 of the 6 HDMI input ports are 2.1 input ports which encourage 8K upscaling on all devices when connected.
Thanks to the different technological advancements here, sound components that are good are made even better.
One of such is the Dolby Height Virtualization Technology which is on hand to give you the best of sound realism.
There is also voice control available on this receiver when the ethernet port is used to connect it to the internet.
With this, you can access and stream music live on places like Deezer, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Spotify, Pandora, TIDAL, etc.
Pros
- Different wired connection options
- Wireless remote control included in this package
- Comes with an LED display
Cons
- This is not a Bluetooth enabled receiver
Purchase the Denon AVR-S760H 7.2-Channel Home Theater AV Receiver from Amazon by clicking the image link
Conclusion on the Best Receiver under $500
What you are looking for is the best and that will be the one that offers you the most features.
The mistake we make most times is thinking that this is going to be found in a popular store.
The chances are high in stores like that but sometimes the best is found in a store that lacks popularity.
With our definition of the best, we focused our research on quality more than any other thing.
The result is these seven amazing receivers when you are looking for the best receiver under $500.
However, the number one receiver in this category remains the ✅Sony STR-DH790 7.2-ch Surround Sound Home Theater AV Receiver.
So, click now to get yours while the product is still in stock.
