AV Receivers: How to Choose the Right One for Your Home Theater

Last updated: June 2026

Choosing the right AV receivers for a home theater setup is more complicated than most spec sheets suggest — especially once you factor in a specific room size, an asymmetric speaker layout, and whether your TV supports eARC or just basic ARC. In a 12×16ft room with carpet and two ceiling-mounted height speakers, the difference between a receiver that “claims 7.1.2 Atmos support” and one that actually calibrates height channels cleanly becomes audible within the first five minutes of a Dolby Atmos demo track. That gap between marketing copy and real-room performance is exactly what this guide covers.

For a fuller look at how these models stack up against dedicated home theater scenarios, see our AV receivers for home theater overview and the AV receivers reviews index.

Quick Answer: An AV receiver is the central hub of any surround sound system — it decodes Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio, switches HDMI sources, and amplifies signals to your speakers. For a 5.1 setup in a room under 400 sq ft, a 5-channel receiver rated at 80W per channel at 8-ohm is sufficient. For 7.1.2 Atmos with ceiling speakers, you need at minimum a 9-channel-capable receiver with HDMI 2.1 passthrough.

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At a Glance: 5 AV Receivers Compared

Model	Channels	Power	HDMI	Atmos/DTS:X
Yamaha RX-V385	5.1	70W @ 8-ohm	4K/60Hz, no eARC	No
Denon AVR-S570BT	5.2	70W @ 8-ohm	8K/4K120, eARC	Yes
Onkyo TX-NR6100	7.2	100W @ 8-ohm	8K, THX Certified	Yes
Denon AVR-X1700H	7.2	80W @ 8-ohm	8K/4K120, eARC	Yes
Yamaha RX-A4A	7.2	100W @ 8-ohm	8K/4K120, eARC	Yes (+ Auro-3D)

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What an AV Receiver Actually Does (And Why It Matters for Your Room)

Most buyers treat receivers like a commodity box — something that “connects speakers to the TV.” That’s accurate at a surface level, but the decision gets more nuanced once you’re working with a real room.

An AV receiver handles three distinct jobs simultaneously. First, it acts as an HDMI switch, routing video from your Blu-ray player, Apple TV, or gaming console to your display without signal degradation — though the HDMI version matters here, especially if you’re running a PS5 or Xbox Series X at 4K/120Hz. Second, it decodes multichannel audio formats including Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and the increasingly common Auro-3D. Third, it amplifies that decoded audio and distributes it across your speaker channels — and the power rating (watts per channel at a stated ohm load) determines whether it can cleanly drive your specific speakers without clipping.

Here’s the part that spec sheets downplay: rated output figures measured at 8-ohm impedance drop significantly when you connect 4-ohm or 6-ohm speakers. A receiver rated at 80W/ch at 8-ohm may deliver closer to 50–60W/ch into a 6-ohm speaker load — which is fine for most bookshelf speakers in a medium room, but becomes a real limitation if you’re running floor-standers with high peak power demands. Impedance compatibility (4-ohm / 6-ohm / 8-ohm rated) is listed in each product section below because it directly affects speaker matching decisions.

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1. Yamaha RX-V385 — Best Entry-Level 5.1 Receiver for Small Rooms

The Yamaha RX-V385 is a straightforward 5.1-channel receiver built for simple, smaller setups — and that’s both its strength and its hard limit. Manufacturer-stated output is 70W per channel at 8-ohm, which is adequate for a pair of bookshelf speakers in a 10×12ft to 12×15ft living room. Push it with 4-ohm floor-standers in a larger space and you’ll hear the dynamic headroom thin out during high-volume action sequences.

The HDMI situation is the biggest long-term concern. This receiver uses HDMI 2.0, which means 4K/60Hz passthrough only — no 4K/120Hz for gaming, no 8K support, and no eARC for audio return from your TV. If your TV already handles eARC and you’re watching Atmos content via a streaming app, eARC on the TV side means nothing here because the receiver can’t receive that signal. You’d need to connect your streaming device directly to the receiver’s HDMI input instead, which works but adds a cable run.

There’s also no automatic room correction. Every other receiver in this guide includes some form of auto-calibration — Audyssey (Denon), YPAO (Yamaha mid/upper tier), or AccuEQ (Onkyo). The RX-V385 has none of that, so you’re manually setting speaker distances, levels, and crossover frequencies from the onscreen menu. In a symmetrical room with speakers placed correctly, this is manageable. In a room with an L-shaped couch, a corner sub, and mismatched speaker distances, you’ll spend a frustrating hour with a sound level meter.

On the positive side: Bluetooth connectivity is built in, setup menus are among the clearest in this price range, and the unit runs cool even after three-hour movie sessions. For a first-time home theater build in a bedroom or small living room where you’re not yet running Atmos content, this is a functional starting point.

Who it’s for: First-time receiver buyers in rooms under 300 sq ft, running 5.1 with standard impedance (8-ohm) speakers, who aren’t gaming at 4K/120Hz or using Dolby Atmos yet.

Who should look elsewhere: Anyone with a PS5 or Xbox Series X, anyone planning to add ceiling speakers for Atmos, or anyone whose TV has eARC — the connectivity ceiling here will frustrate you within a year.

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2. Denon AVR-S570BT — Best 5.2-Channel Receiver Under $500 with 8K HDMI

The Denon AVR-S570BT punches above its price bracket in one specific area: connectivity. Four HDMI 2.1 inputs supporting 8K and 4K/120Hz passthrough, plus eARC on the HDMI output — that’s genuinely future-proof for gaming and streaming. Connect a PS5 and an Apple TV 4K and you’ll have 4K/120Hz gaming audio routed through the receiver with zero HDMI negotiation issues, assuming your TV’s eARC port works cleanly (more on that limitation below).

The Dolby Atmos decoding is real, but here’s the catch that matters for room planning: this is a 5-channel amplifier. “5.2” means five amplified speaker channels plus two subwoofer pre-outs. There’s no physical amplifier output for height channels. Denon includes Dolby Atmos Height Virtualizer, which simulates height audio through your existing 5.1 speakers using DSP — but height virtualization and actual ceiling-mounted height speakers are not the same experience. In a 12×14ft room during an Atmos soundtrack with overhead rain or helicopter effects, the difference between virtualized height and real upward-firing speakers is audible.

The Audyssey calibration included here is Audyssey LE — a simplified version of Denon’s full MultEQ XT32 system found on higher models. In testing conditions reported by users in mid-size rooms (roughly 12×16ft), the LE version corrects basic level imbalances but applies less precise frequency correction than the full Audyssey suite. Expect the room correction to get you 80% of the way there; manual tweaks for sub level and crossover will still be needed in most cases.

eARC works well when your TV’s eARC implementation is clean — Sony and LG models tend to cooperate without issues. Some Samsung TVs have historically had eARC handshake problems with certain Denon models, requiring a firmware update on the TV side to resolve. Worth checking your TV brand’s compatibility before buying.

For the best budget AV receivers comparison that includes non-Atmos options, that guide covers the complete sub-$400 tier.

Who it’s for: Buyers who want 8K/4K120 HDMI and eARC without spending $600+, are comfortable with a 5.1 speaker layout (not adding ceiling speakers), and primarily stream content through an Apple TV or Roku rather than running a large speaker array.

Who should look elsewhere: Anyone planning to add ceiling-mounted height speakers for true Atmos — you’ll need a 7-channel or 9-channel receiver to physically drive those height channels. The virtualizer is a compromise, not a replacement.

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3. Onkyo TX-NR6100 — Best 7.2-Channel Receiver for Balanced Performance

The Onkyo TX-NR6100 is the most capable amplifier in this group at its price point, and the THX certification is worth understanding in practical terms. THX certification isn’t a sound processing mode — it’s a third-party validation that the receiver delivers its rated output (100W per channel at 8-ohm) across all channels simultaneously, with a THD (total harmonic distortion) level below 1% at reference volume. What that means in a 14×18ft room with four 8-ohm bookshelf speakers and two ceiling-mounted height speakers: the TX-NR6100 has the headroom to drive all seven channels cleanly at moderate volume without the power supply sagging during dynamic peaks.

The 7.2 channel configuration is the real differentiator from the 5.2-channel Denon S570BT above. You get physical amplifier output for a 5.1.2 Atmos layout — five main channels plus two ceiling or upward-firing height channels, all driven simultaneously. In a dedicated media room with in-ceiling height speakers installed, this setup produces a noticeably different height channel presentation than any virtualized Atmos solution.

AccuEQ room calibration runs in about 6–8 minutes with the included microphone. Based on user reports from forum discussions, AccuEQ handles asymmetric room layouts reasonably well — correcting left/right level imbalances and basic frequency compensation — though it tends to be more conservative with EQ curve shaping compared to Denon’s Audyssey MultEQ XT32 at higher price points.

Two things to watch: the Onkyo Controller app has a documented history of losing connection to the receiver over Wi-Fi, requiring a receiver restart to re-pair — a minor annoyance during normal use but irritating if you rely on the app for volume control from the couch. Second, some users running LG C-series OLEDs have reported eARC audio dropout events linked to TV firmware updates, which Onkyo has addressed in subsequent receiver firmware releases. Keeping both devices updated is the practical mitigation.

The TX-NR6100 is also one of the few receivers in this price tier with AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, and Bluetooth — covering every wireless streaming scenario without needing a separate streaming device connected via HDMI. That streaming flexibility makes it attractive for living rooms where the receiver doubles as the primary music playback hub.

See the full best AV receivers under $500 breakdown for context on where the TX-NR6100 sits relative to the sub-$500 field.

Who it’s for: Buyers building a 5.1.2 Atmos setup with actual ceiling speakers in a room between 12×16ft and 16×20ft, who need a full-power amplifier with THX-validated output and complete wireless streaming flexibility.

Who should look elsewhere: Anyone heavily reliant on a smartphone app for daily control — the app instability is a real friction point. Also: apartment dwellers with thin walls, where 100W/ch headroom is more amplifier than you’ll ever safely use.

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4. Denon AVR-X1700H — Best 7.2-Channel Receiver for Atmos with HEOS Integration

The Denon AVR-X1700H separates itself from the S570BT with two meaningful upgrades: full Audyssey MultEQ XT room correction (versus the stripped-down LE version) and seven amplified channels for true Atmos height speaker operation. At 80W per channel at 8-ohm, it’s rated 20W lower than the Onkyo TX-NR6100 — but the calibration quality difference between MultEQ XT and AccuEQ matters more in practice than that 20W gap for most residential listening levels.

Here’s how Audyssey MultEQ XT works in a real room: you place the included measurement microphone at eight positions around your primary listening area (three to five minutes of work), and the receiver takes impulse response readings to calculate speaker distances, level corrections, and frequency compensation. In a 12×16ft room with an asymmetric speaker layout — say, the right front speaker 18 inches closer to the side wall than the left — MultEQ XT typically corrects a 2–4dB level imbalance and applies a notch filter at the room’s primary standing wave frequencies. One consistent behavior: Audyssey tends to under-level the subwoofer by 2–3dB in most rooms, requiring a manual +2dB trim on the subwoofer level after calibration. It’s a known quirk, easy to correct, but worth knowing upfront rather than wondering why the bass sounds slightly thin after auto-calibration.

HDMI connectivity is thorough: six inputs supporting 8K and 4K/120Hz passthrough, two outputs, and eARC on the primary HDMI output. With a PS5, Xbox Series X, Apple TV 4K, and a 4K Blu-ray player, you’d use four of the six HDMI inputs and still have two spare. The eARC link to a compatible TV (LG OLED, Sony Bravia XR, Samsung QN series) passes Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio from streaming apps natively without needing a separate HDMI source.

HEOS multiroom audio is Denon’s proprietary whole-home audio platform. It allows the X1700H to act as a zone player alongside other HEOS-compatible devices — useful if you already have Denon or Marantz components elsewhere in the house. For new buyers, the HEOS ecosystem is an additional consideration; Yamaha users in a MusicCast household would find the Yamaha RX-A4A a more natural fit.

For readers also comparing receiver brands across the full range, the best AV receiver brands guide covers long-term reliability data and service network differences between Denon, Yamaha, Onkyo, and Marantz.

Who it’s for: Buyers running a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos setup who want the best auto-calibration accuracy in this price tier, already use Denon/Marantz equipment, or have Alexa throughout the house and want voice control over receiver volume and input switching.

Who should look elsewhere: Buyers who prioritize raw power output over calibration quality — the Onkyo TX-NR6100’s 100W/ch and THX certification provide more amplifier headroom for large rooms or speaker arrays with lower sensitivity ratings.

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5. Yamaha RX-A4A AVENTAGE — Best 7.2-Channel Receiver for Demanding Rooms

The Yamaha RX-A4A sits at the top of this group in both price and capability, and the gap from the Denon AVR-X1700H to the RX-A4A is substantial enough that it warrants a direct “is it worth the jump” assessment.

What you’re getting that the other receivers here don’t offer: YPAO-R.S.C. (Reflected Sound Control) calibration, which goes beyond standard speaker level and distance correction to analyze reflected sound in your room and apply compensation for early reflections — particularly relevant in rooms with hardwood floors and parallel wall surfaces that create flutter echo. Auro-3D decoding is also exclusive to this tier; Auro-3D uses a different height-layer architecture than Dolby Atmos, and while content availability is narrower, it’s a legitimate third height-audio format with a growing release library. The Surround:AI feature analyzes audio content scene-by-scene and adjusts DSP parameters in real time — useful for broadcast TV that switches between dialogue, music, and action rapidly, though it adds a layer of processing that some users prefer to disable for dedicated movie playback.

The AVENTAGE construction itself is measurably different from standard consumer receivers. Yamaha’s H-shaped cross member chassis and anti-resonance feet reduce vibration transfer to the internal power supply and output stages — a real engineering difference, not just a marketing claim, that affects long-term component reliability under sustained high-power operation.

Seven HDMI inputs and three outputs give you more source and display flexibility than any other receiver in this guide. Running two displays — a projector in a dedicated theater room and an OLED in an adjacent sitting area — simultaneously is a legitimate use case the RX-A4A supports natively.

MusicCast multiroom audio is Yamaha’s ecosystem equivalent to Denon’s HEOS. It’s Wi-Fi based, which is more reliable than Bluetooth for whole-home audio, and compatible with other MusicCast speakers and receivers if you’re in the Yamaha ecosystem. AirPlay 2 and Chromecast built-in add cross-platform streaming without being locked into MusicCast.

One honest note for buyers considering the price jump: in a room under 14×16ft with standard carpet and modest speaker sensitivity (87–90dB/W/m), the audible difference between this receiver’s YPAO calibration and the Denon X1700H’s Audyssey MultEQ XT is not night-and-day. The RX-A4A’s advantages become most apparent in larger, harder rooms (bare hardwood, vaulted ceiling above 9ft, parallel reflective surfaces) where reflection control processing makes a perceptible difference. For a dedicated media room build with controlled acoustics already in place, some of that YPAO-R.S.C. overhead is working less hard.

For readers considering the home theater receiver with Bluetooth comparison that covers MusicCast and HEOS ecosystem differences in detail, that breakdown includes streaming reliability testing across Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modes.

Who it’s for: Buyers building a dedicated 7.2-channel home theater in a room with acoustically challenging surfaces — hardwood floors, high ceilings, parallel walls — who want the most complete calibration system and are committed to Yamaha’s MusicCast ecosystem for whole-home audio.

Who should look elsewhere: Buyers in carpeted, acoustically treated, or smaller rooms who won’t realize the full benefit of YPAO-R.S.C.’s reflection control. At this price point, the capability gap versus the Denon X1700H is room-dependent — measure your room first.

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How to Match an AV Receiver to Your Room: The Practical Breakdown

This is the section most buying guides skip entirely. Spec sheets tell you the receiver’s rated output; they don’t tell you whether that output matches your room, your speakers, or your actual listening habits.

Channel Configuration: Start With How Many Speakers You’re Running

The channel numbers in a receiver’s name (5.1, 7.2, 7.1.2) describe the amplified output channels, not just a software decoder count. A 5.2-channel receiver like the Denon AVR-S570BT has five physical speaker amplifiers and two subwoofer pre-outs. A 7.2-channel receiver like the Denon AVR-X1700H or Onkyo TX-NR6100 adds two more amplifier channels — which you can assign to rear surround speakers (7.1 layout) or height speakers (5.1.2 Atmos layout), but not both simultaneously without adding a separate external amplifier.

For a 12×14ft living room with a couch 8ft from the front wall: a 5.1 setup is acoustically appropriate. Adding rear surrounds at 7.1 in a room that small compresses the rear soundstage and can create phase cancellation with the front stage. For that room size, 5.1 or 5.1.2 (with ceiling speakers) is the more useful configuration.

Power Output and Impedance: What the Numbers Actually Mean

Receiver power ratings are measured at a specific impedance (usually 8-ohm) with a specific total harmonic distortion (THD) allowance. A receiver rated at 80W/ch at 8-ohm, 0.06% THD is delivering clean power at that spec. Connect 6-ohm speakers — common with European speaker brands — and that same receiver is working harder per channel. Connect 4-ohm speakers without verifying the receiver’s 4-ohm stability rating, and you risk thermal protection triggering during sustained high-volume passages.

Practical rule: if your speakers are 6-ohm, verify the receiver is rated for 6-ohm operation (all five receivers in this guide are, according to their published specs). If you’re running 4-ohm floor-standers — Klipsch Forte, Polk Reserve series, similar — check the receiver’s 4-ohm stability specification specifically.

Room Correction: What Audyssey, YPAO, and AccuEQ Actually Fix

Every auto-calibration system — Audyssey (Denon), YPAO (Yamaha), AccuEQ (Onkyo) — does the same three base tasks: measures speaker distance to set time alignment, measures speaker output level to set channel balance, and measures room frequency response to apply EQ corrections. The differences between them show up in precision and depth.

Audyssey MultEQ XT (in the Denon X1700H) applies frequency correction across eight measurement positions and uses a more complex filter set than Audyssey LE (in the S570BT). YPAO-R.S.C. (in the Yamaha RX-A4A) adds reflected sound analysis on top of the standard corrections — relevant in hard-surface rooms. AccuEQ (in the Onkyo TX-NR6100) is competitive with MultEQ XT in level and distance correction, with a different EQ filter approach that some users find subjectively more neutral.

One universal truth across all systems: auto-calibration sets a starting point, not a final destination. The subwoofer level trim after calibration (typically +2dB from Audyssey’s setting), the crossover frequency adjustment for bookshelf speakers, and the manual level check for height channels against a reference track all require human verification. A $12 SPL meter or a free calibration app on a phone takes 15 minutes to confirm what the auto-cal system actually set.

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HDMI 2.1, eARC, and Compatibility: The Honest Explanation

The “8K HDMI” and “HDMI 2.1” labels on receiver boxes need context. HDMI 2.1 specifies a 48Gbps maximum bandwidth, which supports 4K/120Hz, 8K/60Hz, and VRR (variable refresh rate for gaming). However, not all “HDMI 2.1” ports on receivers are full 48Gbps — some manufacturers implement a 24Gbps version (technically HDMI 2.0 bandwidth in a 2.1 physical port) that doesn’t support all HDMI 2.1 features.

All five receivers in this guide implement 8K/4K120 HDMI passthrough (except the Yamaha RX-V385, which is HDMI 2.0 only). For gaming at 4K/120Hz with VRR, confirm the specific receiver’s HDMI certification documentation — or check whether the gaming console’s signal passes through cleanly at 4K/120Hz in VRR mode with a brief test.

eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) requires HDMI 2.1 specification on both the TV and the receiver, and carries lossless audio formats (Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD MA, Dolby Atmos object-based audio) from the TV back to the receiver. Standard ARC carries only lossy compressed audio (Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1). If you watch Dolby Atmos content through Netflix or Disney+ on your TV’s built-in app, eARC is how that Atmos signal gets to your receiver. Without eARC, that same content arrives at your receiver as Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 — technically Atmos-tagged but with significantly reduced audio information compared to the full object-based stream.

The Yamaha RX-V385 does not support eARC. All other receivers in this guide support eARC.

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Who Should Buy a Mid-Range Receiver vs. an Entry-Level One

The jump from the Yamaha RX-V385 to the Denon AVR-S570BT adds eARC, Dolby Atmos decoding, and 8K HDMI. In 2026, with most streaming platforms delivering Atmos audio and 4K/60Hz becoming the baseline for gaming consoles, that jump is worth making even for buyers who aren’t running ceiling speakers. The RX-V385 is a receiver that made sense in 2019; its connectivity ceiling is genuinely limiting now.

The jump from a 5-channel receiver to a 7-channel receiver (S570BT to X1700H or TX-NR6100) is worth making only if you’re adding physical height speakers or rear surround speakers. For a 5.1 speaker setup with no plans for height channels, the extra amplifier channels are unused hardware. For a 5.1.2 Atmos build with in-ceiling speakers already in place or planned, a 7-channel receiver is the minimum requirement.

The jump from mid-range to the Yamaha RX-A4A is justified by room acoustics, not channel count. In a 14×20ft dedicated media room with hardwood floors and a 10ft ceiling, the YPAO-R.S.C. reflection control earns its price premium. In a carpeted 12×14ft room, the performance gap narrows considerably.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does an AV receiver do that a regular amplifier doesn’t?
An AV receiver combines a multi-channel preamplifier, power amplifier, Dolby Atmos/DTS:X audio decoder, and HDMI switcher in one chassis. A standard stereo amplifier handles only two channels and has no HDMI input or surround decoding. For home theater with more than two speakers or a surround sound system, an AV receiver is the functional hub that manages all source switching, audio decoding, and amplification.

How many watts per channel do I actually need for a home theater?
For a room under 300 sq ft (roughly 12×14ft to 12×16ft) with speakers rated at 86–90dB sensitivity, 70–80 watts per channel at 8-ohm is sufficient for reference-level listening. For a larger room (over 400 sq ft) or speakers with sensitivity below 86dB, 100W/ch provides more dynamic headroom. The key measurement is speaker sensitivity, not room size alone — a 91dB/W/m speaker needs roughly half the amplifier power to reach the same volume as an 85dB/W/m speaker.

Do I need eARC if I’m connecting a streaming device directly to my receiver?
No — eARC is specifically for routing audio from your TV’s built-in streaming apps (Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV app) back to your receiver. If you use an external streaming device (Apple TV 4K, Nvidia Shield, Fire TV Stick) connected directly to an HDMI input on your receiver, the audio goes directly from the streaming device to the receiver without needing the TV’s eARC port. eARC matters when you rely on the TV’s built-in apps as your primary streaming source.

Can I connect 6-ohm or 4-ohm speakers to any AV receiver?
Most modern receivers support 6-ohm speakers without issue — all five models in this guide are rated for 6-ohm operation per manufacturer specs. For 4-ohm speakers, check the receiver’s published 4-ohm stability rating specifically. Running 4-ohm floor-standers on a receiver not rated for 4-ohm loads will trigger thermal protection at higher volume levels and potentially shorten the receiver’s output stage lifespan.

What is the difference between Dolby Atmos and DTS:X?
Both are object-based surround sound formats that add height channels to a standard surround mix. Dolby Atmos is more widely available across streaming platforms (Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+) and physical Blu-ray releases. DTS:X carries the same spatial audio concept with a different encoding approach and slightly more flexibility in speaker placement requirements. Most content is released in one format only — having a receiver that decodes both means you’re covered regardless of which format a title uses. Every receiver in this guide except the Yamaha RX-V385 decodes both.

Should I buy a refurbished AV receiver to save money?
Refurbished receivers from authorized resellers (Denon Certified Refurbished, Yamaha Factory Recertified) come with a manufacturer warranty and are a legitimate way to access higher-tier hardware at lower cost. The main risks are cosmetic wear, potential firmware lag if not updated, and the absence of original packaging. Used receivers from private sellers carry more risk — HDMI board failures and capacitor degradation are the most common issues in receivers over 5–7 years old. If the used receiver is pre-HDMI 2.0 (pre-2016 models), the connectivity limitations alone make it a poor value relative to a current entry-level unit.

How do I know if my room needs a 5.1 or 7.1 speaker layout?
The practical guideline is room size and listening position geometry. In rooms under approximately 350 sq ft where the listening position (couch or chair) is within 5–6ft of the rear wall, adding rear surround speakers (7.1 layout) places them too close to create a convincing rear soundstage. For those rooms, a 5.1 layout delivers cleaner surround imaging. In rooms over 350 sq ft where the listening position is 8ft or more from the rear wall, rear surrounds at 7.1 add genuine spatial depth. Height speakers (5.1.2 or 7.1.2 Atmos) are a separate consideration and work in most room sizes, provided the ceiling height is at least 8ft.

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For the complete breakdown of AV receivers for home theater setups by room type and budget, and to browse the full AV receivers category for additional reviews and comparisons, those guides cover configurations from 2.1 desktop setups to full 9.2.4 Atmos builds.