An AV receiver with 9.2 surround sound represents one possible manifestation of a surround system within a home theater room. The members of this heavyweight class score with a high range of functions that reflect the latest state of the art. The AV receivers are all very powerful, but differ in nuances. In combination with the right speakers, the powerful AV-Receiver 9.2* create a sound-filled home theater.

AV receiver 9.2 Denon, Onkyo, Pioneer.

❶ Denon AVR-X3600H 9.2-channel AV receiver.

Advantages and disadvantages
++ High ease of use during setup
+ 8 HDMI inputs
+ 3 HDMI outputs
+ USB in the front
+ Bluetooth and WLAN
+ Dolby Atmos
+ Multiroom thanks to HEOS
+ integrated phono input
+ compatible with common voice base stations
+ 11.1 operation possible
+ playback of popular streaming providers
– Remote control design could be improved
Verdict: Denon’s compact AV receiver stands out with a strong price-performance ratio. Here, the almost exclusively positive reviews speak a clear language.
The common voice assistants Apple Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant can be controlled. All known streaming providers are accessible. Beyond that, the Denon setup helps a lot with the setup.
Friends of gaming benefit from the advantages of the Auto Low Frequency mode in combination with the right TV. By the way, it is possible to purchase the AV receiver with a speaker set.

 

❷ Onkyo TX-RZ830(B) 9.2-Channel AV Receiver.

++ THX Certified Select sound performance
spatial calibration through AccuEQ
+ 6 HDMI inputs
+ USB, WLAN, Bluetooth
+ phono input
+ Internet radio
+ FlareConnect as a multi-room solution
+ wide streaming offer
+ compatible with Sonos
+ Dolby Atmos
+ DTS.X
+ 4 K
– No USB interface in the front area
Conclusion: With the help of AccuEQ, the spatial calibration, i.e. the inclusion of the components, succeeds in no time with the measuring microphone. Music lovers benefit from FlareConnect to control each room individually with music. This musical infrastructure paves the way the numerous streaming providers. Those who like to listen to FM radio align the throw antenna included in the feature set. THX in particular provides cinema-like sounds.

 

❸ Pioneer VSX-LX304(B) 9.2 AV Receiver

Advantages and disadvantages
++ IMAX Enhanced
+ Sound optimization through MCACC
+ Multiroom through FlareConnecet
+ controllable via Sonos app
+ IMAX Enhanced
+ 7 HDMI inputs
+ 2 HDMI outputs
+ 2 x USB
+ WLAN, Bluetooth
+ Internet radio
+ Dolby Atmos
+ Hi-Res Audio
+ DTS:X
+ Lightweight
+ AirPlay for iPhone and Co
– automatic calibration only one profile
– no analog video signals forwardable via HDMI
– too simple design of the remote control

Conclusion: This model from Pioneer represents the cheapest device compared to the other AV receivers 9.2. Despite this fact, it includes an enclosed measuring microphone for setting up the speakers. The lightweight with a weight of only 10.8 kg includes all current video standards. The IMAX Enhanced certificate creates an immersive experience. Nevertheless, limitations show up in the calibration and the forwarding of video signals exclusively via HDMI.

 

❹ Denon AVR-X4500H 9.2 Premium AV receiver in black.

++ high quality setup wizard
+ 8 HDMI inputs
+ 3 HDMI outputs
+ WLAN, Bluetooth, USB
+ Multiroom thanks to HEOS
+ integrated phono input
+ streaming music
+ compatible with Alexa
+ Dolby Atmos, Auro 3D
+ HLG + HDCP 2.2
+ AirPlay 2 for iPhone and Co
– Alexa Dot additionally required
– Remote control without lighting
Verdict: Dolby Atmos is only one of the numerous audio formats of the powerful AV receiver. Furthermore, the multi-channel amplifier brings razor-sharp images to the home screen with video formats such as Dolby Vision and HLG. The integrated setup wizard provides the optimal prerequisite to construct the surround sound in the home theater. The included Eco mode has a power-saving effect.

 

❺ Denon AVR-X4500H 9.2 Premium AV receiver in silver.

Advantages and disadvantages
++ High-quality setup wizard
+ IMAX Enhanced technology
+ 8 HDMI inputs
+ 3 HDMI outputs
+ compatible with Alexa
+ WLAN, Bluetooth
+ Music streaming
+ phono input
+ Multiroom thanks to HEOS
+ Dolby Atmos
+ Auro 3D
+ AirPlay 2 for iPhone and Co
– Echo Dot required for Alexa
– Improvable remote control
Conclusion: Dolby Atmos is only one of the numerous audio formats of the powerful AV receiver. Furthermore, the multi-channel amplifier brings razor-sharp images to the home screen with video formats such as Dolby Vision and HLG. The integrated setup wizard provides the optimal prerequisite to construct the surround sound in the home theater. The included Eco mode has a power-saving effect.

 

Summary of the AV receivers 9.2

On the whole, the receivers* under review can justifiably be placed in the upper mid-range. The latest sound and video formats are largely available in the Denon AV receivers. The possibility to stream music and enjoy it in multi-room is part of the basic equipment. Furthermore, the integrated calibration techniques enable an automatic sound adjustment in the specific home theater room.
There is definitely room for improvement in the included remote controls, which lack illumination and/or high-quality workmanship considering the price. If you want to use the voice assistant, you will need an Echo Dot as an additional device.

 

AV receiver with Dolby Atmos for the cinema feeling at home

An AV receiver with Dolby Atmos represents a device with high-quality 3 D audio format. Thanks to this feature, home theater rooms convince with one of the key qualities of large cinema halls.

 

AV receivers with Dolby Atmos

Dolby Atmos

Dolby Atmos is a specific form of surround sound from Dolby Laboratories, which has been on the market for several years.
This application is known mainly from cinemas, where this standard is widely used. For example, Dolby Atmos is one of the two components of Dolby Cinema.
Dolby Cinema is a new concept that takes the approach of revolutionizing the cinema experience. Specifically, it uses new sound and image concepts. In addition to being used as a modification in smartphones, Dolby Atmos is being applied to AV receivers.
Dolby Atmos is downward compatible, meaning it can be used for 5.1 or 7.1, for example. The format meets with wide acceptance in the cinema landscape. Initially, existing films were subsequently mixed into Dolby Atmos.
After the format gradually became established, however, films were mixed directly into Dolby Atmos. In principle, Dolby Atmos as a new system is technologically above the predecessor systems 7.1 or 5.1.
However, the sound can be derived for these simpler systems. The integration of the technology first took place in commercial cinemas. In the course of this process, Dolby Atmos increasingly found its way into private home theaters.

 

Advantages of an AV receiver with Dolby Atmos

The name Dolby Atmos stands for a special audio quality. To be emphasized with an AV receiver with Dolby Atmos is the interaction between AV receiver and loudspeaker.
For example, the 5.1 system has a finite number of speakers, in this case there are 5 of them.
Each of these speakers outputs the same sound. The big difference between Dolby Atmos and predecessor systems represents the way the sound is handled.
An AV receiver with Dolby Atmos can assign a specific sound to each speaker. AV receiver users benefit immensely from Dolby Atmos.
This allows the number of speakers to be increased. In other words, speakers can be placed on the ceiling that can realistically reproduce an approaching storm front.
There are special ceiling speakers on the market that are suitable for the reproduced sound objects in the upper listening area of the home theater room. In addition, front or surround speakers can also be installed.

In principle, the possibility of installing speakers is infinite. The listening room corresponds to the cinema room. In this room, sound objects can be positioned in different places. For this reason, the use of additional boxes is relevant and thus more authentic sound output. The following situation: Inside a Blu-Ray player there is a DVD in Dolby Atmos mix. In addition, the TV set could play this format. Only and only the AV receiver is not able to play Dolby Atmos. In this case, the AVR handles the output of the sound in downward-compatible surround sound. It is therefore possible to play Blue-Ray DVDs in Dolby Atmos format via an AV receiver without the corresponding configuration. In contrast, an AV receiver with Dolby Atmos provides the optimal surround sound.

 

Role of the speakers for Dolby Atmos

In the context of Dolby Atmos, the number of speakers plays a central role, as does their subsequent positioning. Dobly Atmos combinations have different manifestations. One possible form is represented by the common 5.1 system.
Another variation is for example the 5.1.2 surround system. Here, the last number stands for the sum of the individual ceiling speakers. Two pairs of height speakers are also possible, resulting in a 5.1.4 surround system.
An indispensable prerequisite for the use of the 3 D format is the basic ability of the AV receiver to play the audio format. In addition, the sum of the speakers in the home theater room determines the required AV receiver. Thus, if you want to serve 11 channels, you need an 11-channel AV receiver.