Difference between a cheap and an expensive receiver

You might be wondering, do more expensive receivers sound better?

Well, the answer is not clear-cut. There are many factors that determine whether a receiver will sound good or not. For example, some people prefer to use their speakers instead of buying an integrated set with the receiver. Another factor is how much power you need for your space and what type of speakers you want to use. All these things affect how “good” any given receiver will sound.

There is no clear answer to this question, but receivers generally have the same functions regardless of cost. More expensive models may offer more features or better sound quality; however, that is dependent on factors like speaker preference and power requirements.

Receivers are designed to work with speakers, so if you have decent ones, then an inexpensive one is probably just fine for your needs. However, if you want surround sound capabilities and additional features like Bluetooth streaming or Wi-Fi connectivity, then you’ll want to go for a pricier receiver.

The more expensive receiver – the better the sound quality?

Generally, the more expensive receivers sound better. However, this is dependent on factors like speaker preference and power requirements.

For someone who prefers to use their speakers instead of buying an integrated set with the receiver or someone with space where they need more power (a large living room), it probably will not make much difference between expensive receivers. For those people, an inexpensive receiver will be just fine.

An even greater difference is the sound quality. An inexpensive receiver may not have any THX-certified features, and, as a result, it won’t produce near the level of audio that an expensive model can.

As you move up the price ladder, you start to find better DAC chips in AVRs. For music enthusiasts, this is important because it provides a cleaner and better sound.
When it comes to more expensive receivers, you also get extra speaker channels that support the immersive experience. This is ideal if you have a large home and want to enjoy surround sound in every room.

Expensive receivers give you more options

The biggest difference between inexpensive and expensive receivers:

• number of HDMI inputs (a cheaper model may have less than five)
• wireless connectivity features like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth aptX, or AirPlay compatibility
• voice control from Google or Alexa
• multiple zone capabilities for surround sound systems
• THX certified