If you want the best sound quality, it all starts with getting the best stereo receiver. Whether you want to improve your home theater’s audio or simply have a receiver that connects with your Amazon Alexa, our team of experts has you covered. We’ve combed through hundreds of the highest-rated stereo receivers on the market to formulate our list of the top five.
As is the case with all products that our team has reviewed, we formulated our rankings based on an unbiased review process. While our team usually reviews more automotive-related items, we’ve spent countless hours researching products in the audio industry from the best car amplifiers to the best car stereo systems.
In this article:
- 5 Best Stereo Receivers
- #1 Best Overall: Sony STRDH190
- #2 Best Value: Yamaha R-S202BL
- #3 Best AV Receiver: Marantz SR5015
- #4 Onkyo TX-SR393
- #5 Denon DRA-800H
- Stereo Receivers Buyers Guide
- Our Review Standards
- Frequently Asked Questions
5 Best Stereo Receivers
#1 Best Overall: Sony STRDH190
The Sony STRDH190 is our review team’s choice for the Best Overall stereo receiver on the market. This stereo receiver can produce a power output of 100.0 watts to two speakers at 8.0 ohms with a speaker impedance ranging from 6.0 to 16.0 ohms. This two-channel receiver features a phono input, four stereo RCA audio inputs, and stereo RCA output. With the four analog audio inputs, you’ll be able to connect your receiver to CD players, turntables, and recording devices.
The stereo receiver has a couple of built-in features, built-in Bluetooth connectivity, and a tuner with a built-in FM radio with 30 preset stations. For minimal distortion, the receiver has a power amplifier while a remote control is included for fine-tuning and tweaking your home audio. This stereo receiver has compatibility with both stereo systems and smartphones, including both Apple and Amazon devices.
Our Rating: 5 out of 5
Key Features
- Four analog audio inputs
- Built-in Bluetooth connectivity
- Comes with a remote control
What Customers Are Saying
The Sony STRDH190 holds over 5,500 customer reviews on Amazon. Customers are overwhelmingly positive in their reviews, with 91 percent of reviewers rating this two-channel stereo receiver 4 stars or higher.
#2 Best Value: Yamaha R-S202BL
Our review team recognized the Yamaha R-S202BL as the Best Value stereo receiver on the market. The stereo receiver has four RCA audio inputs and one RCA output. This hi-fi receiver is compatible with Bluetooth and smartphones, so you’ll have easy access to streaming services such as Tidal, Pandora, and Spotify, amongst many other music streaming apps. With the receiver’s Eco Mode, you’ll be able to set the standby mode to drop to 0.5 watts automatically.
Every last detail of this stereo receiver is optimized for maximum power and minimal interference, making it one of the best stereo receivers out there. This stands true for the power transformer, as it is positioned near the amp circuit for peak power supply. Additionally, the signal ground and power supply ground connect at one point to achieve a higher signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio.
Our Rating: 4.7 out of 5
Key Features
- Features an Eco Mode
- Optimized for maximum power
- Bluetooth compatible
What Customers Are Saying
Over 4,000 customers have left reviews on Amazon for the Yamaha R-S202BL. Almost 75 percent of all reviewers rate this product a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.
#3 Best AV Receiver: Marantz SR5015
The Marantz SR5015 was recognized by our review team as the Best AV receiver on the market in 2022. This AV receiver (AVR) features six high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) inputs and two HDMI outputs, which are both High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) 2.3 compliant. This AVR additionally features a dedicated 8K input, phono, and aux inputs, as well as analog and digital inputs. This means that you can connect to DVD, Blu-ray players, and subwoofers for a full surround sound system.
This AVR has a built-in home entertainment operating system (HEOS) and Amazon Alexa voice control connectivity while it also connects with Google Assistant, Siri, and even Wi-Fi. You will also be able to enjoy multi-room audio as it supports the latest object-based audio formats which include Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Dolby Vision. It should be noted that this stereo receiver has seven channels of amplification.
Our Rating: 4.6 out of 5
Key Features
- Built-in HEOS
- Supports multi-room audio
- HDCP 2.3 compliant
What Customers Are Saying
The Marantz SR5015 has only around 150 customer reviews on Amazon, but the vast majority of these reviews are positive, as 87 percent of reviewers rate this AV receiver 4 stars or higher. A total of 74 percent rate this product a faultless 5 out of 5 stars.
#4 Onkyo TX-SR393
With capabilities to support Dolby Atmos and DTS:x playback, the Onkyo TX-SR393 is a high-quality A/V receiver. The stereo receiver can power 155.0 watts per channel and support 4K/60p and HDR video pass-through. This receiver features Onkyo’s AccuEQ system calibration, which analyzes data and calibrates audio response to optimize speaker performance in different listening environments.
In an effort to integrate your audio system and TV, the receiver has a vocal enhancer for clear dialog and a custom transformer for the most optimized sound quality. This receiver also includes a zone B line-out to distribute home cinema sources to a component with an analog RCA line-in, such as a hi-fi system or wireless headphone dock. Additionally, the receiver features four ARC-ready outputs.
Our Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Key Features
- Can support HDR video pass-through
- AccuEQ system calibration
- Supports DTS:x playback
What Customers Are Saying
Over 400 customers have left reviews on Amazon for the Onkyo TX-SR393. Most customers are pleased with this stereo receiver, with 69 percent of reviewers rating this product a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. Generally, reviewers are pleased with their purchase.
#5 Denon DRA-800H
The Denon DRA-800H is a two-channel stereo receiver. The receiver has connectivity technology for HEOS, Apple AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB, and HDMI. Featuring a symmetrical layout, double differential digital to analog converter (DAC) circuit, and analog preamp circuits, this stereo receiver’s circuits won’t interfere with the power supply. With low impedance drive capability, the receiver will work well with a range of floor-standing and bookshelf speakers.
The stereo receiver has two subwoofer outputs, three digital audio inputs, and five HDMI inputs, with all five HDMI inputs having access to HDCP 2.3 processing. The receiver also features an oxygen-free copper (OFC) winding power transformer which helps deliver 100.0 watts of power per channel. For easy A/B switching, the receiver has dual high-grade five-way binding posts with A+B speaker select. Additionally, an optional auto Eco mode reduces power consumption.
Our Rating: 4.3 out of 5
Key Features
- HDCP 2.3 processing
- OFC winding power transformer
- Dual high-grade five-way binding posts
What Customers Are Saying
The Denon DRA-800H only has around 300 reviews on Amazon, but most customers rated this product highly like all the other best stereo receivers. A total of 66 percent of reviewers couldn’t be any happier with this stereo receiver and rate it a faultless 5 out of 5 stars.
Stereo Receivers Buyers Guide
Stereo receivers can be quite complicated beasts to get your head around, with quick purchases more of a rarity in this market. As these products are so feature-laden and technical, we recommend exercising caution prior to purchasing a receiver and reviewing buyers guides like the one featured below.
AV Receiver Vs. Stereo Receiver
Although this article is focused on stereo receivers, it does feature a few AV receivers. Each type of receiver has its own merits, but what differentiates the two? Below is a brief explanation of each type of receiver.
- AV receivers: An AV receiver is built to perform in a home theater setting. It acts as the brain behind the audio system as it receives, interprets, and processes TV audio signals coming from the cable or dish box to ultimately send it to the TV and speakers. If you prefer watching movies to listening to music, then this is the receiver for you.
- Stereo receivers: A stereo receiver is primarily designed for listening to audio. This type of receiver features two amplifiers that power your two stereo speakers. If you prefer to listen to music than watch movies, then this is the receiver for you.
Price
Price is something that matters to everyone, whether it’s saving money or simply not being overcharged. According to CostHelper, you should expect to pay anywhere between $200 to $600 for a high-end stereo receiver. However, multi-channel receivers can cost upwards of $2,500.
At the end of the day, we don’t put too much emphasis on the approximate costs of stereo receivers, as they do range so drastically in price. We recommend shopping around a little bit to find any available deals or rebates because as we’ve discussed, the cost of a stereo receiver can be quite substantial.
Our Review Standards
To select the five stereo receivers in this review, our team searched the web for top products, looking at factors like customer ratings, price, superlatives, and Prime shipping eligibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top five stereo receivers?
According to rigorous research and review conducted by our team of experts, in order, the top five stereo receivers are the Sony STRDH190, Yamaha R-S202BL, Marantz SR5015, Onkyo TX-SR393, and the Denon DRA-800H.
Is Yamaha a good audio brand?
There are a lot of stereo system parts, speakers, and receivers that Yahama sells. One of Yamaha’s stereo receivers, the Yamaha R-S202BL, ranked second in our list for the best stereo receivers on the market.
What is a good receiver for home theater?
Out of the stereo receivers that our team of experts has researched and reviewed, the Marantz SR5015 is the best receiver for home theater. This isn’t a home theater receiver by design, but it will undoubtedly work well to create great sound in your home.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
