UltimateAVmag.com: Buyer's Guide: AV Receivers: Premium Choice

	UAV Recommends. These components offer outstanding performance that is just short of the Ultimate, but still worthy of consideration for your system.


	Arcam DiVA AVR250 $1,599 Channels/Power: 7x75W Decoding: DD, DD EX, ProLogic IIx, DTS, DTS-ES Discrete/Matrix/Neo:6/DTS 24/96, proprietary DSP modes Ins and Outs: Three coax and three toslink digital audio, one 7.1-channel analog input, three component video, RS-232, one 12V trigger Features: Bi-amping for five channel systems, multi-source/multi-zone, backlit universal remote. The Skinny: Arcam's AVR entries are a refreshing reprieve from the "more is better" game of features and specsmanship that dominates the AVR market. The compact DiVA AVR250 is pure old school hi-fi, UK style with the main feature being its outstanding sound quality. The only area in which it let us down is its so-so video switching. So, don't let the longer feature sheets and more outrageous power ratings of the other AVRs fool you- this Arcam is a rock solid performer that makes sweet, detailed and dimensional sound for both music and cinema.
	Denon AVR-4806CI $4,000 Channels/Power: 7x140W Decoding: DD, DD EX, ProLogic IIx, DTS, DTS-ES Discrete/Matrix/Neo:6/DTS 24/96 Ins and Outs: Three HDMI (1.2), one DVI, two IEEE 1394(i.LINK), one IEEE 1394 Denon Link, three coax and four toslink digital audio, one 7.1-channel analog input, three component video, RS-232, one 12V trigger Features: THX Ultra2-certified, HDMI 1.2 switching with support for 1080p video and multichannel PCM, HDMI upconversion and cross-conversion, Audyssey MultEQ auto setup/Room EQ, XM Ready, multi-source/multi-zone, excellent multi-component remote. The Skinny: The weight of demands placed on today's AVRs is remarkable. In this new era these single-box solutions are required to set up your system for you and custom equalization, perform all the surround sound processing and amplification to the tune of 7.1-channels worth, and now they provide more flexibility as video processors than the $20K scalers of yesteryear. And a few glitches aside, the Denon AVR-4806CI does all of the above superbly. It handles even difficult speaker loads and sounds great doing it, and provides top notch video performance. And it can do so with Blu-ray and HD DVD since it's HDMI 1.2-equipped. Simply the best combination of pure performance with respect to both the A and the V in in AV receiver!
	NAD T 773 $1,799 Channels/Power: 7x110W Decoding: DD, DD EX, ProLogic IIx, DTS, DTS-ES Discrete/Matrix/Neo:6/DTS 24/96, proprietary Enhanced surround modes Ins and Outs: Four coax and two toslink digital audio, one 7.1-channel analog input, three component video, RS-232, one 12V trigger Features: High current toroid transformer in massive power supply, multi-source/multi-zone, backlit learning universal remote. The Skinny: Another entry from the hi-fi old school of the UK, NAD is one of the brands that allows discerning enthusiasts to walk into a specialty store and get better performance and service at the same prices of the mass-market box stores. The 773 is NAD's flagship AVR, and it shrewdly trades the bells and whistles found in the mass market AVRs for superb sound with both music and movies. Setup flexibility is achieved without sacrificing usability, and the overall performance stacks up with AVRs costing a lot more. In other words, typical NAD.
	Pioneer Elite VSX-59TXi $4,000 Channels/Power: 7x130W Decoding: DD, DD EX, ProLogic IIx, DTS, DTS-ES Discrete/Matrix/Neo:6/DTS 24/96, Windows Media Audio, proprietary cinema and concert DSP modes Ins and outs: Three coax and four toslink digital audio, one 7.1-channel analog, one USB audio, two i.LINK IEEE 1394,three component video, RS-232, two 12V triggers Features: THX Ultra2, 24/192 A-D and D-A conversion, automated setup and EQ with integrated microphone, transcoding of composite and S-Video to component video, multi-source/multi-zone, learning LCD touchscreen remote. The Skinny: In the year and change since we reviewed Pioneer Elite's top AVR, the price has dropped by five hundred bucks and the features and the features and performance that earned our recommendation undoubtedly haven't changed. The latest generation of flagship AVRs go a step farther in offering HDMI switching and other niceties, but this receiver is still loaded by standard with auto calibration and setup, video transcoding for simplified video switching, THX Ultra2 processing and more.
	Sherwood Newcastle R-965 $1,999 Channels/Power: 7x120W Decoding: DD, DD EX, ProLogic IIx, Dolby Headphone, DTS, DTS-ES Discrete/Matrix/Neo:6/DTS 24/96, MPEG multichannel,13 proprietary DSP modes Ins and Outs: Two coax and seven toslink digital audio, one USB digital audio, one 7.1-channel analog input, three component video, MM phono, RS-232, two 12V triggers Features: 24-bit A-D and 24/192 D-A conversion, transcoding of composite and S-Video to component video for simplified video switching, A/V sync delay, multi-source/multi-zone, backlit remote with LCD screen. The Skinny: Conceived as a combination of Sherwood's 965-series separates into a single box, the R-965 AVR has a clean, understated fit 'n finish, exceptional build quality with a massive power supply, features that matter, and outstanding performance that reminded us of the glory days when Sherwood was a heavyweight in the stereo receiver game. Although the user interface wasn't the slickest we've seen, we were able to forgive and forget when we heard thunderous and yet delicately detailed sound coming at us from jet-black backgrounds. This AVR combines power and finesse.
	Sony STR-DA5200ES $1,299 Channels/Power: 7x120W Decoding: DD, DD EX, ProLogic IIx, , DTS, DTS-ES Discrete/Matrix/Neo:6/ DTS 24/96, Neural Surround, proprietary DSPs Ins and Outs: Three HDMI (1.2a), three coax and five toslink digital audio, one 7.1-channel analog input, three component video, MM phono, RS-232, three 12V triggers Features: HDMI 1.2 switching with support for 1080p video and multichannel PCM, HDMI upconversion and cross-conversion w/Faroudja deinterlacing, Amplification Relocation allows bi-amping for 5.1-channel systems, Auto calibration and room EQ, XM Ready, multi-source/multi-zone The Skinny: This Sony AVR has a feature set and performancve that would have cost flagship coin just a couple of years ago. In fact, its price dropped two hundred bucks in the time we had it in for review! It was effortless in driving even difficult speakers, and sounded terrific doing it, if just a little dry. Interaction with the GUI was inconsistent depending on the source, and the 480i deinterlacing wasn't up to snuff. But pass through with HD sources was excelelnt, and even the phono stage sounded terrific. Miraculous for the price!
	Sunfire Ultimate II $4,995 Channels/Power: 7x200W Decoding: DD, DD EX, ProLogic IIx, , DTS, DTS-ES Discrete/Matrix/Neo:6/ DTS 24/96, DSP mode and Holographic Imaging Mode Ins and Outs: Six coax and four toslink digital audio, one 7.1-channel analog input, two component video, IEEE 1394, MM phono, RS-232, two 12V triggers Features: 24/192 A-D and D-A conversion, transcoding of composite and S-Video to component video for simplified video switching, , multi-source/multi-zone, backlit learning remote with LCD screen. The Skinny: Although the Ultimate receiver doesn't quite live up to its name in sheer transparency or feature set, it may be the ultimate in ease of use and it does offer a rich, tubey sound that is muscular and yet easy on the ears. The compact chassis is handsomely finished and solidly constructed. We'd like to see HDMI switching and couple of other feature updates at this lofty price, but overall this receiver still matches the other top echelon AVRs even if it doesn't supplant them. Certainly the ultimate in AV comfort food!
	Yamaha RX-Z1 $2,799 Channels/Power: 6x130W (2x45 for "presence" channels/surround back channels) Decoding: DD, DD EX, ProLogic II, DTS, DTS-ES Discrete/Matrix/Neo:6/DTS 24/96, proprietary DSP modes simulating 41 venue programs w/61 variations Ins and Outs: Three coax and seven toslink digital audio, one AC-3 RF, one 5.1-channel analog input, three component video, MM phono, RS-232, one 12V trigger Features: 24/192 D-A conversion, multi-source/multi-zone, learning LCD touchscreen remote. The Skinny: This one-time Yamaha flagship is getting long in the tooth, but the basic guts and performance are there in such strength that we'll recommend this AVR as long as Yamaha wants to manufacture it. Today's AVRs offer more channels, which may or may not appeal to you, and more advanced video switching and upconversion for simpler connectivity. But this Yamaha has all the power, finesse and detail to get the job done in all other respects, and then some.
	Yamaha RX-Z9 $4,500 Channels/Power: 7x170W (2x50 for "presence" channels/surround back channels) Decoding: DD, DD EX, ProLogic IIx, DTS, DTS-ES Discrete/Matrix/Neo:6/DTS 24/96, proprietary DSP modes simulating 51 venue programs and 71 variations Ins and Outs: Four coax and nine toslink digital audio, one i.LINK IEEE 1394, one 7.1-channel analog input, six component video, MM phono, RS-232, one 12V trigger Features: Automated setup and EQ with integrated microphone, transcoding of composite and S-Video to component video with Faroudja deinterlacing with DCDi and upconversion to 480p, 720p or 1080i, multi-source/multi-zone, learning remote. The Skinny: The embarrassment of riches that are the RX-Z9 aren't quite as embarrassing by today's flagship standards as they were back in '04 when we first laid eyes and ears on this baby. Today, HDMI switching and some other meaningful features can be found on AVRs costing less scratch. But the rest of this Yamaha's feature set was so far ahead of the game that it still does more than hold its own, and its sound quality and inner detail with everything from LPs (yep!) to simulated surround keeps this powerful AVR entrenched in the Ultimate classification of performance.