20 Best 5 Channel Amp Home Theater (Jan 2023 Update)

I have a 7010 receiver and I decided to add a 7055 to improve the sound and fill up an open spot in my cabinet. I have the 7055 driving my three fronts speakers and the receiver is driving the rears and Atmos toppers. The 7055 made a noticeable improvement to the sound of the three front speakers. More dynamic and larger sounding. Nice bonus that it cosmetically matches my 7010 and looks great. It runs barely warm and is absolutely silent. Highly recommended.RickGr4

Great quality power amplifier highly recommended for any audiophile. Full compatibility with Marantz pre amp, easy setup, no configuration, full automation. Adds power.Officer

Purchased this to augment my 9-channel receiver in an 11-channel system (I was using an old Insignia stereo receiver to power the rear Atmos/ceiling speakers). Easy to setup, the trigger input works well to turn on the amp automatically when the receiver turns on. Using it to power the front L&R, center, and rear surrounds. Sound quality is good. Surprised that I have to turn the volume up to the same levels as before; since the Denon receiver is 140w per channel into 2 channels, I was expecting the 140w per channel of the Marantz to play louder, but it doesn't.Chuck

I purchased this receiver to replace its predecessor, which was also a Yamaha, but was 12 years old and beginning to get glitchy. Its predecessor was a higher end version with a bit more functionality. This receiver is really pretty much perfect. I chose it over the updated version of its predecessor because it is simpler. This receiver is very simple and straight forward to use – very easy to optimize sound quality, move through effects settings, control inputs etc. Per the description, it's optimized to drive a 5 speaker/sub woofer system, which is what we have, and it does that very well. Sound quality is on par with the more expensive receiver but I would say it's not quite as "deep". That's a tough characteristic to nail down, but it doesn't quite drive the edges (highs and lows) like the more expensive receiver. That said, it's a VERY minor difference and likely not noticeable by 99% of the human species (my wife can't tell). It makes up for that minor deficiency with sub-woofer performance and simplicity of operation. The remote is cleaner the the previous version and has a more positive and direct interface over functions. The LED display is also very clear and easy to see across a large room. Overall this is a VERY GOOD product, particularly for the ridiculously low price. I didn't give it 5 stars only because it's truly not perfect from an audio standpoint, which is the perspective of this review. If I was going strictly on audio value per $$ this would absolutely be a 5 star review.Bromhead24thofFoot

This Yamaha receiver is considered "entry level", meaning you're going to be missing some features and performance of higher end equipment. This may be true, but if you're looking for a good quality receiver, which will give you a nice home theater experience while not hurting the wallet too much, give this one a serious look. First off, let's get the few negatives out of the way. It doesn't support Dolby Atmos, or DTS-X, doesnt have Wifi, and it's feature set is a bit thin. But on the plus side, it supports Bluetooth, so you can stream music from your Bluetooth devices, has a decent assortment of inputs and outputs, supports 4K video, HDMI HDCP 2.2, and seems to be built with quality. It has up-converting ability, and a number of DSP modes for creating various effects, or just audio pass-thru for up to 5.1 audio. My impression of the quality of the audio from this receiver is that it is quite good for the price. With a decent set of surround speakers and a good subwoofer, I can fill my family room with wall shaking audio. Yes, on paper it's a bit thin on output power, but unless you're trying to fill a huge space, it will work quite well. To summarize, I feel the Yamaha RX-V385 is a well made entry level receiver which won't break the bank, but will give you a very enjoyable home theater experience. I'm very pleased with my purchase.VincentC

Great entry-level AVR for both movies and music. I run a simple 2.0 setup with Polk Series III floorstanding speakers. I decided to upgrade my old, non-HDMI AVR for two reasons: 1) better sound quality for my 320 kbps music streaming, and 2) the ability to finally play audio from my Samsung Q60 TV through my stereo 2.0 setup (which also lacked an optical audio input). I also game on an Xbox One X and wanted to make sure that the AVR would be capable of smoothly passing through 4K HDR content. This receiver excels at all aspects. The music quality is surprisingly improved, particularly with the Compressed Music Enhancer function. I always thought all receivers would sound basically the same when it comes to simple music playback in stereo, but there's a noticeable improvement to my ears in terms of both detail and clarity. So far I prefer using the STRAIGHT preset in combination with Compressed Music Enhancer for listening to albums. On the 0-97 scale, I find 50-60 is generally loud enough for reasonable listening in my ~ 700 sq. ft. apartment living room. On the video side, I was able to get the HDMI ARC function working surprisingly quickly. I have the Xbox plugged into HDMI 1 on the AVR, and another cable running from HDMI Out on the AVR to my TV's HDMI ARC input. This lets me send consistent 4K HDR video signals from my Xbox, through the AVR and to the TV without any distortion or lag, and returns the audio through the speakers. Even though I don't have a surround setup, I typically use the Surround Decoder along with the Game preset for pretty good results. Audio from shows and movies streamed from my TV's various apps (Netflix, HBO etc.) also works well. I debated forsaking the video stuff and just getting a higher quality stereo amplifier, but the ability of this AVR to coordinate with my Samsung TV's Anynet+ features for media switching is what sealed the deal for me. Using the HDMI Arc setup described above, and after enabling HDMI control on this AVR, the AVR automatically 1) switches to TV audio whenever it detects a streaming app, 2) switches to the audio and video signals coming from the Xbox whenever I start it up, and 3) automatically switches to the audio channel I have my Chromecast Audio plugged into whenever I feel like listening to music. The AVR also passes the audio and video from my Xbox through while powered off – and the TV automatically switches on its onboard speakers when the AVR is powered off, no manual digging into TV settings required! The only potential drawback in terms of functionality is that using this ARC setup, the TV doesn't automatically switch in and out of Game Mode depending on the media source, since it's all being routed into the TV via the same single HDMI input. I don't mind leaving Game Mode on for movie streaming, but for those that would, you could alternatively connect your game system into another TV input rather than pass it through the AVR (though the game's audio would still be returned via ARC to your external speakers). The only other drawback so far is the YPAO calibration. It was easy to connect the mic and run the quick calibration, but the results were just awful! For some reason it turned my right (front) speaker down by 10dB, making music sound horribly tinny. I manually went in and restored it, now everything sounds great. I was hoping it'd automatically give me a more fine-tuned calibration on the order of a couple dB (without me having to figure it out by trial and error), but oh well. Overall a fantastic product, especially at this price.SamH

Great value bundle if you need all of the speakers. Sub has more than enough thump for small and medium rooms. Center and front speakers a little undersized, but they work well with the sub and the system delivers a nice theater surround if you set up the speakers properly. Very easy to install- straight forward old-fashioned style wired stereo and sub, nothing wireless (no interference!), no proprietary wires needed. Bluetooth pairs easily with one device at a time. System is recognized with no setup needed by Roku smart TV. Get the bundle if you need a complete system with all of the speakers, hassle free with easy setup. The included front and center speakers are serviceable, but if you already have better ones, then consider getting the standalone receiver instead.adfel

I just want to sayOMG! This thing is amazing. If you like going to the movies and enjoy the great sound then you’ll want this in your home. The sound makes it seem like you at the theater. I would definitely recommend this to all who enjoy watching movies and have great sound. Drawback. The higher you have the sound up the hotter the system gets. It should have come with a fan built in it. No problem for me . I mounted and small computer fan on mine. Keeps it nice and coolJohnny

Do not be fooled, this is an entry level home theater in a box solution. This is a $300 Yamaha RX-V385 receiver paired with speakers and a subwoofer that would cost $200-250. Do not expect audiophile quality sound just because it is from Yamaha. The sound quality is good enough from its price point. The subwoofer requires an active power source, a nice touch, in case the speakers are not to your liking. There is no output for a "B" set of speakers, which does bring the cost of entry down. There are also no audio streaming services built in, you must stream from your phone. Yamaha has a step up model that includes streaming for Pandora, SXM, etc. The jump is $150. If this is going in a man cave or the kids game room???? I installed this system in my friend's rec-room at his vacation rental. It filled the space well. I really did not tweak the sound at all after the setup mic. Everything sounded "fine" out of the box. But a bigger room would overwhelm the speakers otherwise. As far as video, you may see there are yellow RCA inputs for standard definition video signals. Don't let that fool you, at all. The receiver doesn't convert analog video for the HDMI/ARC signal. So if you are looking to use this receiver to hook up a VCR, you will need to buy an analog to digital converter box, which are roughly $15. The other work around is if your TV still has an RCA input, you can hook the "monitor out" to that. The remote feels kind of cheap, but then again, many remotes now days feel cheap compared to the wonderful ones of the 1990s. I tried out the FM radio tuner. It is hooked to an amplified TV antenna. The Yamaha tuner performed better than the Onkyo FM tuner upstairs, hooked to the same antenna. Sony's kit got over looked by me, is the fact their receivers use a proprietary connector and just a wire for their FM connection. That setup would render FM reception to nothing in the rural area blocked by a mountain. I saw no degradation of quality on a Ultra 4K disc between direct wiring the player to the TV versus passing through the receiver.MPP80

It?s a great ?first? receiver, or in my case a great ?kids room? receiver. Not that there?s anything at all wrong with the 393, just that what it does have is the minimum to do it?s job. For instance, instead of binding posts for all, it has spring clips for most of the the speaker wires. So don?t plan on using 12 gauge wires, and specifically you can?t use banana plugs for anything other than the front left and right and the center channel. With only 80 watts it?s not capable of driving larger speakers, especially if you divide up that power between 7 speakers. I combined mine with the Klipsch Reference Theater 5.1 kit and it sounds great. These speakers are just the right size for this receiver and a small room. Overall four stars for doing what it does well.PAUL

Let me start out and say I did my research on Receivers, I wanted a 2.0 Channel to run some Polk speakers in my office. I stubbled across this Onkyo on Best Buy website and I'm not disappointed! The wire connections are excellent quality, the power is awesome (80 Watts per Channel) and they drive my ES20 speakers perfectly. The DTS Neural X and Dolby Atmos Surround decoders are really cool technologies, they make the guitar and percussion on tracks sound lifelike. The included remote is very good quality as well. Don't let the price dictate the quality of this unit, I'm impressed by Onkyo. The dials, buttons and LCD screen are very nice as well. I'm using this receiver in an OLD SCHOOL way to drive passive Stereo speakers and it works perfect! I also appreciate the Bluetooth connection so I can stream TIDAL music from my Mac Book. The configuration menus let you fine tune the number of speakers, distance to your listening location, and even Frequency response! Such a cool receiver, very versatile. I would give this unit 6 out of 5 Stars, that is how much I love it.Matthew

I am not an audiophile but I do like the Onkyo TX-SR393. When my old home theater sound system went out, I was forced to find something that sounds halfway decent. Looked at the online reviews and prices and settled on this system. Good price and great reviews. Took me a while to set up due to needing a good quality HDMI cables for ARC and 4K signal. Once it was working it sounds great, even better than my old system. My one other recommendation is if you don’t intend on passing your other 4K components through the system don’t bother with getting a 4K sound system. I connect all of my 4K components (DVD, Apple TV, Firestick) directly into my TV, so I just wanted a good sound system at a good price. My Onkyo is connected directly into my TV too. I Let my Samsung 4K TV direct and connect all my components. Having said all of that, this system is a good choice.Doug

Absolutely perfect for my needs. Polk DB6501 components in all 4 corners and a pair of Polk db1040dvc subs wired down to 1ohm in the trunk. I tried the "budget brands" first thinking "I lucked out with one years ago, maybe it'll happen again." It didn't work out. The sub amp was faulty, twice. I wound up sending back the 2 SSL amps I purchased for this project, a 4-channel "1600 Watt" (more like 600 max) and a Mono "4000 Watt" (more like 1000 max) after they underwhelmed me. I can't vouch for the full potential of this amp until i upgrade my alternator, but after doing the "BIG 3" and new power cables to the trunk my voltage gauge still drops noticeably when i push it past about 60% on my alpine head unit. The power I am getting out of this amp is simply amazing just the same, and it's clean. Oh, and the 5th channel for the sub(s) is 1ohm stable. This amp is well worth the additional investment over what you would spend buying separate amps. This amp was easy to install, easy to setup, and easy to adjust. No heat issues. No shutdown issues. Surprisingly tiny. Takes up maybe 1/3 the space my separate amps needed. The only suggestion I would have for Polk is maybe make the terminals for the 5th channel speaker wires(sub(s)) a little larger. My 2 #12 fit in each, but just barely.P.

I installed the Polk Audio PA D5000.5 series 5 Channel Amp on my custom V8 Trike and the output sound I received was real music to my ears. The results is a live concert on my Trike.squiffy23

I purchased this amp to replace a Bose 5 channel amp In my Porsche. I mated it to an Alpine head unit. The ohms for the Bose speakers were low and required an amp that could handle the load. This amp can also handle 1ohm sub. The system sounds great, better than stock. The Amp is very clear and has enough power to make you ears bleed. Nice bit of kit.S.

Great little amp, but is not stable at one ohm. Did not disappoint because it was never advertised as being able to pull it off. One thing is this little amp has power. Amp is stable down to 2ohms. It will push your components and coaxials no problem. It will push 2 10 inch wired to 2ohms no problem.daadai.ajsxdft6z

This compact 5 channel amp along with a 10" sub really woke up the very disappointing factory stereo on my new pontoon. It's now a pleasure to listen tobuckshot944

I received the black a 5500 instead of the one listed above. I was confused at the beginning but I am satisfied with a product. Can you explain to me why I got the black a 5500 instead of what I ordered or are they the same product I don't want to go!?Luis R

Awesome clean amp. No noise what so ever. Lots of head room. I ran the amp 6 hours straight, when I touched the amp, surprised it was cool to the touch. Top notch unit.Ariel

I own a Polaris SLINGSHOT. This one Bluetooth amp has opened eyes and dropped jaws. It provides awesome sound on all levels and can work for any vehicle as long as you shield ????? it from water. I am impressed every time it turn it on. Highly recommend for those who would prefer to just deal with their phone, or classic car enthusiast that wish to keep stock units in. This amp is easy to hide and wire. Love Love love it. Because my slingshot is open to elements I will be purchasing a second just in case.Andre

Wanted an upgrade from a low end Denon receiver. Also needed a new sub, so figured I would get a new set. Small to mid size living room, this sounds nice. Watched a couple movies and it sounded great. I had to return the first one, 1 day in and the receiver blew, smoke and electric smell everywhere. I figure was just a dud. BB replaced no issues. Some issues with Apple TV, but some tinkering and googling has guides specific for this receiver. Passes 4k no problem from the Apple TV, just don't let it go to sleep. Connected to my Samsung TV with ARC hdmi port, the apple remote turns on the receiver and tv, happy wife, lol. Easy to use. Still tweeking, so many settings and options.Jason

It’s a great product but this was the first time I ever buy a home theater system with wires that I have to clip and measure to install. I didn’t even have wire cutters or anything around me. I used scissors and it was very annoying. The product itself is cool. Installation was the annoying part. I’ve never been so annoyed before. But after I cut and measured out the wires, I was able to install and it was done. There was also a lag in audio/video that corrected itself because this system comes with a mic that also listens to the room’s tone and auto-tunes itself. Overall, good buy. Just the whole wire thing. Made a 5 star go to 3 for sure.NancyM

This combined receiver and speaker set sound excellent. Receiver is a base unit that works well as a game or entertainment setup. Speakers sound great considering their small size. Biggest issue is that the receiver does NOT support HDMI 2.1. The supposed free update does not involve firmware, instead you will be required to send in your receiver to get a board replaced. So you buy as new receiver and have to send it in for a who know how long to get the update. If you don’t need HDMI 2.1 you can’t beat the price and features.MntMan

When deciding to replace my car's OEM radio, I decided on this unit for its features. Installation was straightforward and was able to program a few stations right away. Sound is INCREDIBLE! However, it's not perfect. It does have a great many features, but to access those features gets a bit confusing. It's not exactly intuitive like my old radio was. That one you had one button for each function. On this one, the center knob controls ALL the functions. I suppose it will just take a while to get used to it (and quite a few visits to the instruction manual), but I really like the looks and the sound.dvrgary

This is a great amo with plenty of power to power 2 kicker ks 6×9 and 2 kick ks 6 1/2 nch speakes and also a kicker 12” comp 2 subwoofer system slunds great and i would recommend to anyone.Solty34

My first one pioneer is 8604 4channels excellent. Install years 2010 until today. Still good on my 2006 Acura Tsx 225k miles now. Now! This is my Second pioneer 9705 5channels. 2017 Accord Touring v6. Stock deck+8channel Lc8i Am using Skar speakers x4 100Rms each. +2ohm skar subwoofer 10inch 800watts 400rms. Sounds so clean. Love pioneer amp and Skar speakers. Dont forget buy OFC copper 4gauge power wire. 100% copper help ur power so much better. Rockville RWK4CU 4 AWG Gauge 100% Copper Complete Amp Installation Wire Kit OFC $49.95john_ly20095

So, it's been a year and about 3 months since I purchased this amp; and the only thing I can say is that this monster is awesome. It's paired with my McIntosh MC 352 as part of my (7-channel) Home Theater system. This amp is wonderful; it's clear, great on the high end and produces some solid lows. I was hesitant about the brand versus the Mac but my doubts have been dismissed. Used it as my 2-channel listening setup while my Mac was being serviced and I was impressed. Great amp; no regrets a year later.New User

I don't say this lightly. Audiophiles are a peculiar bunch. This amplifier is amazing, is made in America, and unequivocally rivals silicon-based audiophile amplifiers costing 3X to 5X more. This amplifier opens up music in a way I didn't think an amplifier would or could. Suddenly I can hear detail in a way that only headroom from power on demand can produce. My source material is nothing exotic, MP3s encoded at whatever bit-rate, but even with such mundane digital sources the music comes alive. I know such platitudes are commonly used, but if you have good ears and you normally use the amplifier built in to your AVR, you'll hear the difference immediately. This amplifier is simply amazing and an unbelievable bargain. This amplifier is VERY heavy (I had to get new audio equipment furniture to accommodate its weight), but does not get very hot (I put a digital optical thermometer on the case and transistors directly while cranking it), suggesting high efficiency. This amplifier literally draws as much power from the wall as electrically possible. Most amplifier specifications lie. The way you can tell is to calculate the power output capacity from the AC draw. Compare your amplifier's rated AC input draw vs. power amplification claims. Your normal 3-prong AC socket is rated for 15 amps. Most US AC is 120 volts. Thus the absolute maximum you can draw from the wall is 1800 watts. No amplifier is 100% efficient. This amplifier requires the circuit be dedicated to it. It wants the full 1800 watts. Add up the power output per channel multiplied by the number of channels multiplied by the amplifier's efficiency (typically between 50% and 85%) and you get the maximum possible RMS power amp output to the speakers. Amplifiers can briefly peak above their rated power input by drawing power from their built-in capacitors, but these peaks are very transitory and driving to these levels consistently will very quickly cause at a minimum in a well designed amplifier a blown fuse, but more typically audio clipping, and at worst equipment failure. I don't want this to be about me, but I have extensive audio background, having run a professional recording studio for years with equipment costing 100's of thousands, and am a professional musician and home theater enthusiast for decades. This amplifier is a bargain in a way that makes AVRs built-in amplification capabilities insulting. I'm not sure how much is widely known about this amplifier, but if you knew who the source manufacturer is (I do), you would agree. This amplifier puts more expensive and well known brand names to shame. Those other amp's are simply not competitive with this Monolith in engineering, sound quality, features, warranty, or price.Brian

I wasn't expecting the heavens to open up and for angels to sing to me when I powered up and played music through this amplifier. I mean, all an amplifier does is make something louder, right? What sort of audio revelation could possibly occur? I've got a pretty high-end Yamaha AVR. Surely it's amplifiers are pretty good. I was partially right, and partially wrong. The "make the sound louder" part I got right. The part I got wrong, and am darn happy about it, is that utilizing a good quality amplifier DOES make a big difference. I figured the hefty weight of the amplifier was just a trick meant to fool consumers into thinking they were getting something substantial, significant. As it turns out there IS a reason audio equipment engineers use certain components and some of them weigh a bunch. Wrestling a 93 lb amplifier into place & hooking it up is no small feat. It isn't squirrelly like balancing a folding chair or a fussy child, it's just plain HEAVY. The weight is mostly the dual toroidal transformers, although the amplifier IS built like a tank. When putting it in my rack I was afraid I'd scratch my shiny new amp (as shiny as jet black can be). I didn't. I think everything else was at risk from the amp, not vice versa. Hookup was darn simple, but take note of a couple of things: 1st is the RCA vs. XLR switch. It's small, unobtrusive, and easy to miss. I did. That lasted a hot second of pondering why sound didn't come out until I switched it to match what I was using for inputs. 2nd is there are two power switches: one on the back of the unit (SUPER handy since I, and probably most, turn the amp on via trigger from something else) and the one on the front panel in the form a largish button that glows blue when the amplifier is operating. Music I've listened to ad nauseum for years suddenly has a new sonic appeal to my ears. I'm not sure why the channels are labeled the same way as you'd label speaker connections: front, right, center, left surround, etc. other than convention. The audio decoding is done by whatever source you're using. The amplifier just makes that a lot louder. Since each amplifier essentially lacks as its own independent channel they could have just numbered them from 1 to 7 and let you plug whatever into whatever. That makes sense to me. I suspect what makes sense to me would confuse the masses, although I would think people that are going to buy such a capable and ample amp are intellectually a notch above your average stereo/AVR buyer. I've long had a discussion with a friend about whether it makes sense to upgrade audio gear. My thought being that each component can only detract from the sound, like panes of glass. My friend's being that the digitized source material using lossy CODECs, like the omnipresent MP3 format, is so inherently flawed it makes no difference what sort of electronics you throw at it. He's wrong. I'm right. Again. Buy one of these things if you like music and your budget and muscles can handle it. I have been very pleasantly surprised. Wait, a minute, what was that sound? I think I just heard heavenly trumpets with accompanying vocals. Could just be my imagination.Brian

Like the amp. Very good. A lot of power. More then I thought for sure. One thing would be nice if you had a switchable mode on the channels so just incase you didn't have all the rca runs. You need to use y adapters. Other then that. Awesome. Even a hi level incase you didn't have rca. Awesome amp and very clean.Jack R

Great replacement for factory amps in my older BMW (2002 BMW Z3). Amp was packaged very nicely in multiple boxes for the mail. Install was easy and straight forward. All my speakers are 4-Ohm so it isn't crazy loud but I can now hear my music with the top down. I can speak to longevity as I installed it just last week (July 10, 2021), but so far its been great for me.Gregory D

Sound quality and Volume 2nd to none. I Replaced all door speakers in my wife's SUV with these. I also, put the 5 channel 700watt amplifier and an 8" 600watt shallow mount Sub and bass knob. PERFECT for a mother of 3. SOUND=AMAZINGBryant L.

Amazing amp! Able to achieve a crisp note throughout the high to end!! Totally impressed with system now that it's been properly tuned!life_and_asset_guy

This is the first surround system I have purchased and I would consider it an entry-level system. However, it sounds excellent. If you are currently reliant on tv sound or a soundbar, I highly recommend making the upgrade to this system. It is miles better than your typical soundbar and really adds to any type of cinematic experience. Additionally, it is very easy to set up (for the most part). If you are not hearing sound, I recommend turning up the volume. It took ~70 volume on our system for any sound at all to come through. Naturally, I did not have it turned up past 50 initially for fear of it being too loud and it took a bit to crank it up and confirm that the system was in fact working correctly. Happy listening!JETT

Originally I ordered a Yamaha YHT-1840 having read various reviews and discussed it with the Norwich team. Due to the delay in restocking the Yamaha I changed to the Onkyo system as it was available at the same price. Setup was pretty easy and it sounds really good in 5.1 mode in a moderate sized room (5.5m x 3.5m). This is a great starter home cinema system and its nice to have the option of Dolby Atmos even if limited to 3.1.2. Many thanks to the team for making it easy to change my order and prompt delivery.Fred01

Got this to replace a Sony unit I bought 17 years ago (it died). I almost hate to say it, but the (discount retailer) Sony sounded better, and would synthesize surround via Dolby PL 2, which this Onkyo doesn't appear to be capable of (note I haven't downloaded the online manual yet). Maybe with better speakers this system will sound better; the rather basic included speakers aren't anything to write home about. I needed a new receiver that does surround sound for my home theater as well as functions as a decent amp to accompany my phonograph, play CD's or just listen to radio. I checked the reviews, scoped out the specs, investigated my wallet and decided on this machine. The unit scared me a little at first as it had been a few weeks since I bought it and it didn't seem to be producing sound through its speakers–just the TV speakers at first. Playing a little with settings didn't seem to have any effect; after completing Initial Setup, I switched the TV off, which also switched off the receiver. I turned the receiver back on, selected Tuner, then FM, lo and behold the speaker set came on. Obviously there's a touch of a learning curve to this, so downloading the manual will happen very soon. Fair Comparison time: I paid around $350 for the Sony system around 2003. This rig is only slightly higher and nearly 2 decades have gone by, so for the price point I have to say the Onkyo system is doing well so far. Yes, I would recommend this as a good quality budget system. Be advised that without more control over the sub it's a little boomy.David M.

I've always liked decent quality sound, however it took a backseat while bringing up the family. I had a cheap LG All in one Home Cinema system which recently went bang so decided it was time to get something a bit better. I wanted something that I could plug all the AV inputs into the back and just have one HDMI going to the TV, with a passthrough to make it easy for my Wife to watch Sky. I also wated the ability to play internet radio and Spotify as I am hoping to do away with the 2,000 + CD collection to free up some space. The Amp was very easy to set up and the setup of the speakers was easy using the microphone. Initially I just used my existing LG speakers but within a week decided I should put some decent speakers with this so have now paired it with a set of Cambridge Audio speakers. It is absolutely brilliant, and my Wife loves the fact she can ask Alexa to put the radio on as she struggles to see the remote control.GrowlingDog

Bought as an updated AV amp, particularly wanted one smaller than our previous model for a reduced size TV cabinet/stand. Standard width but significantly smaller in height but delivers good output and doesn't feel cramped at the back for all the surround sound speaker and HDMI ports etc- only supports 5.1 but this was all we were requiring. Settings interface is a little bit clunky and feels a touch dated. but standard type of menu cascade which didn't pose too many navigation issues. Particularly liked the surround sound set up using an included microphone and cardboard tower- took about 15-20mins having to reposition 6 times but not particularly onerous and will probably a one off procedure unless you change your room setup/speaker arrangement. Overall good value unit.Bruce_Mac

I was looking to replace a 10-year old AV receiver and preferably wanted a slimline form factor. The Marantz NR1510 ticked that box for me but also has some great features, some of which I had not expected. First of all it's performing really well in my 5.1 system and sounds great with Blu-Rays as well as streaming through the Netflix app on my TV. Since it has ARC, I am able to route the audio from my TV to my surround speakers. I really like that I can Airplay straight to the receiver so in no time I can have music playing from my phone or my laptop. I don't even have to turn the receiver on, it just comes on automatically (and shuts down on its own too) and automatically switches to the correct HDMI input. With my old receiver I'd have to turn it on, find the correct HDMI input and then start playing music, but with this I don't have to worry about that. It also doesn't run very warm at all. My previous receiver was a heat monster so that's a great upgrade for me. I also really like using the app which allows me to change volume and input if I'm not close to my remote, which I don't really have to use much now as my phone can do it all. I've also been playing music through my front two channels and it sounds great. I've tried it through streaming via Spotify, Tidal, hi-res tracks via a USB stick as well as a CD player and it has all sounded good to me. It comes with Heos capability which uses an app and that contains lots of options for streaming. The only quirk of Heos is that you can't actually fast forward or seek forward or backwards in a track, which is a little odd. On the whole I find it much quicker to Airplay but it's great to have options. I've also set up a network drive that allows me to play my library of files from my CD collection and that has worked well so far. Once set up (which was easy), the Marantz gets out of the way and just lets me get to my video or audio content, whether it's live TV, Blu-Rays or video and audio streaming services, and sounds great while it does it, which is really what AV receivers should do.cghayes66

Good speaker set up for the price. Dialogue is clear, and multiple settings plus adjustments let most tv, streaming, and Bluray/4k sound good. Subwoofer connects easily to the soundbar with bluetooth, and the satellite speakers attach to the subwoofer. Has 4 presetting, each which can be adjusted, Game, Direct, Movie, Music. The Movie and Direct settings seem to produce the best sound, but depending on the source of the media, one has to switch around. One note, because of the wireless blutooth connection between the speaker and subwoofer, wifi signals to other devices like a Roku which may be closely located to the speaker are reduce. For example, with the speaker turned off, the Roku will get around 140mps, but with it on that falls to around 102-112. The hand held remote provides a digital viewing screen allowing the user to see the settings as they make changes which is very useful. In addition, as changes are made to the pre-set alternative, audible call outs are also made.1221

The sound quality of the entire system is magnificent! I watched Top Gun (1986) and even with a movie with not so great sound, it came through the speakers very nicely! You can hear the thunder of Jurassic Park's dinosaurs (especially the T-Rex's stomps). My issue is with the subwoofer intermittenly going on and off, which essentially effects the surround sound speakers it has attached. I still haven't figured how to best resolve this, so that is why I'm giving it 3 stars. It does get annoying that the surround sound goes on and off very often. They should give instructions on how far apart the subwoofer and base need to be. That is my next (and last) troubleshooting solution to do. I did take 2 stars for that because it is a two-tier issue. It effects the subwoofer and the speakers attached to it. If you can get it to work properly, you'll enjoy the sound quality for the price.R. Rojas

Just bought this two days ago so this is my initial impressions. For reference, I also have a Vizio M512a-H6 on another TV. This one is the M51ax-J6. I didn't want to spend $500 for another M512a-H6 so I figured this one would be perfect for a second TV. The good — It sounds great, not as immersive as the M512a-H6 but I expected that since it doesn't have upfiring speakers for better Atmos performance. But for a second TV in a small room it sounds excellent. Setup was relatively easy, even with my very tempermental TCL tv that doesn't get along well with most soundbars. The subwoofer has more than enough bass for a small room but it can also depend on where you place it in the room. You will get the best response by placing it in a corner or against a wall. For a large room it would be a bit small. Now the reason I didn't give it 5 stars. The subwoofer (and surrounds) cuts in and out for 2 or 3 seconds every once in a while. The way it's designed with the surround speakers connecting to the subwoofer, unless you want to run very long speaker wires (the ones provided are maybe 20' so not all that long) from the front of the room to the back of the room, you can't really place the sub very close to the soundbar unless you put the surround speakers in the front of the room which kind of defeats the purpose of having a 5.1 system, or unless you have a very small room and can run the wires from the front to the back of the room. No easy way to do that in my room. Even so, the subwoofer is maybe 12' from the soundbar, so not that far away, and it still cuts out a lot. At this point I'm not sure if I'll return it or not but it's very frustrating watching movies or TV with the subwoofer and surrounds cutting out several times during the movie. Will do some more troubleshooting between now and the end of the return period to see if I can get it working right.TheDogFather

My system is HUMMING….3 WEEKS after purchasing!! It is a GREAT SOUNDING SYSTEM-VERY LOUD/POWERFUL-1000 WATTS!! But unfortunately, it is going in and out, plus HUMMING after ONLY 3 WEEKS. I want to keep the system, but ONLY if it performs like it did when I first hooked it up. I am awaiting Customer Service. Hopefully, they will FIX this issue…so I can CONTINUE to enjoy my SUPERB SOUNDING Home Theater System!!Jacqulyne

The system arrived pretty fast, easy set-up and the sound is perfect…. I really like this system with the bluetooth. karaokee fonction etc… I like the idea to play music via bluetooth from my cell phone. Listening to a movie is very interesting….You can enjoy listening to the music at a low volume and still have the nice clear note and you have that base feeling too….It does have radio function but we don't use it so I can't tell if it works good.. I've purchased 2 good wireless mics and it works amazingly too… Easy plug and play, we are very satisfied. I also like the option to adjust the speakers level at your own room set-up, Another important thing I like is if you shutt the system off at a high level, the volume goes down automaticaly by itself so you don't accidently turn it on at a unwanted high level…Very good purchase… My daughter will buy one soon.zl1tpi

I bought this system for my garage. The fiber optic little door broke off during installation. The fiber optic did not work. I called the support and they said change the tv setting. That was not the problem so i hooked it up through the rca cables. Not as good as fiber optics. I am not impressed with the loudness. It said in the discriptions that it is very loud and hurt their ears. NOT. Never recieved a new reciever with working fiber optic cable.Terry Billings

This should be a 5 star review, unfortunately for the past 4 months I've had progressively more HDMI dropouts. This is aggravating when playing FPS games on the PS5. After testing with an OnkyoTX-NR6050 I know that 4K/120 does work just not on my unit. A 3 year warranty is great but, having to pay $70 to ship it to the authorized repair center and be without it for an unknown amount of time is not. It's incredible when it works but I worry about longevity, something I shouldn't have to do at this price point. I've owned Onkyo high end gear for the last 25 years and most were fine, a few had to go in for repairs.DanielS

This is a really hard item to get at the moment. I waited 6+ months to finally find one in stock at it MSRP from another store (i really wanted it to get from Best Buy for the points but after 6 months of waiting, they still don't have them in stock). Anyway on to the receiver; Great build quality and very easy to use. My favorite part is I can adjust the crossover for each speaker. Unlike the Pioneer VSX-LX505, where you can adjust the crossover but for just the Large setting (and then you only have Large or Small options for the speakers). This was the turn off with the Pioneer and why I got the Onkyo instead. Onkyo is also $100 less for basically the same AVR with a little more. For Movies: I have it in a 5.2.2 Atmos configuration and for movies it sounds amazing after DIRAC calibration! I guess my only issue is that, while it has 2 subwoofer outputs, they are not separate; instead it's more of an internal RCA-Y adapter. When calibrating you can only adjust 1 subwoofer. I had to get an SPL meter to manually adjust the second subwoofer. For music: If you have 8ohm and High Sensitive Speakers (say 91db or above) then the 120watts in Stereo\Pure mode is plenty of power. In fact, this receiver mated very well with my Klipsch RF82 towers — nice warm clean sound even at very high volumes; enough bass where a Sub is not needed. HOWEVER, those Klipsch belong in another room, and I actually have my B&W 683 S2 towers connected to the Onkyo. These are low sensitive speakers and have low impedance drops from 8ohm to 3ohms, therefor are very hard to drive and need power. The TXRZ50 handled them fine and not much noticeable for movies. For music however, you can tell the Onkyo just didn't have enough juice to power the B&Ws to their full potential, even when BiAmp'd and in Pure mode. Therefor, I have an external power amp to drive my front stage. CONNECTION: Plenty of connections in the back, I have my XBOX ONE and UHD Player (Dolby Vision and HDR passes through without issues – just make sure you use 48Gbps HDMI cables). Bluetooth works great and stores multiple devices (you just need to connect and disconnect from the actual device and not the Onkyo). I have HDMI eARC connected to my Sony X95J. It works flawlessly, sony remote controls Onkyo volume fine and passes through Pause\Play\Next options to my blu-ray, however, every now and then the AVR will auto turn even when the TV is off (i assume this is the TVs fault when checking for auto updates). The receiver also does not get hot even at reference levels (I should add, I do have my front stage speakers connected to a separate amp, and my equipment is inside the BDI corridor entertainment center which has vents everywhere which that helps with the heat,). Overall this receiver packs so many things at just $1,300. There are no other receiver at this price that can compete.StarvMarv

This reciever is the best in multiple catagories. I have previously tried a comparable Denon AVR and the Marantz SR5015. The RZ50 was clearly the winner here. The RZ50 is as of now is one of the best receivers for both Home Theater setups and Music enthusiasts. The DIRAC calibration is extremely easy to use and accurate. I highly recommend this receiver and will urge others to get this for their HT setups. I have had older Onkyo receivers and they have never failed to amaze me 🙂 -LEE406QuasimodoMummyNapkin427LE

I purchased a BasX A3 and connected it to a Marantz 6012 receiver. My reason for purchase was similar to DMK's review/intentions. My front L&R (Focal Aria 926) and center speaker (LSIM706C) crave more power, and it seemed that the Marantz could deliver but only when pushed. Not long after I purchase the Marantz, I ordered an AC Infinity AIRCOM T10 to help with cooling. Due to the Emotive taking up the front three channels it has helped the Marantz maintain its cool. I have also noticed a more vivid sound, and better clarity. As a consumer of a moderately priced item you want it to work and fulfill what it was intended to do. However, your mind and ears also tell you everything is great; helping to rationalize the purchase. The Emotiva BasX A3 WORKS! My opinion was validated when others heard the before and after, and said, "This sounds so much better" #worthit The amplifier is very well constructed and aesthetically pleasing. I am very pleased with how the item arrived. Double boxed, well insulated with Styrofoam, and a little bit of 'theater' with the black material the surrounded the amplifier. I also purchased 3 XRCA Analog RCA Cable (very well made). The customer support has been outstanding (Thanks Bret).Jeff

I have had many components over my audio journey of over 40 yrs. My favorites have always been the "Monster Receivers" of the mid to late '70's. I finally purchased two over the last few years via on-line auction (Sansui 9090 and the Marantz 2325). I had them serviced by a very competent audio repairman here in Pittsburgh who replaced what was needed. They sounded perfect but had to sell them due to job loss. When I got back on my feet I went shopping for the same components on e-bay and found that they were selling for 2-3 times ($2k-$3.5k) more than what I paid back in 2012 and 2014. They were unaffordable for me. Anyhow I purchased some new integrated amps and returned them. They just don't sound right. They included a Cambridge audio integrated amp over $1200 and a Rogue integrated that approached $2000. Sent it back too. I ended up buying a 50 year old Sansui 2000A that is in great shape but lacking the power (39 Watts) , although it sounded MUCH better than the prementioned Rogue and Cambridge. Much more midrange and over all great sound. I noticed it had a Pre-out and thought a great idea would be to buy a separate amp because the Sansui's pre amp was much better than the integrates I had just returned. WELL what a differences! This two channel Amp is perfect for these purposes. I'm beyond happy with my choice. Bottom line is that this amp is perfect for adding some power to the lower powered classic receivers from the '70's. Make sure the receiver has a "Pre-Amp Out" and have a competent repairman to check the preamp section of the component and you'll be very happy. This will work with Marantz, Sansui very well.MBF