Sony STRDH 590
Let’s face it, Sony’s been in the game a long time and they know their stuff. They’ve struggled in the 2000s thanks to heavy competition from competitors such as Samsung and Vizio, however, the one thing they’ve never compromised on is quality. And when it comes to quality their AV receivers have consistently been near the top of the heap. Take their 5-channel STRDH 590 amp, it isn’t crammed with oodles of features, but this diminutive receiver can rock. If you have a 4K TV, the Sony STRDH makes a good companion since all four of its HMDI inputs support 4K video pass through. Along with that the amp also has built-in Bluetooth for wireless audio streaming. If you’re space is unable to accommodate surround speakers the 590 has a feature called virtual front surround, which allows the receiver to approximate surround channels simply by using your front speakers. In addition to these features, the Sony 590 has the ability to make average speakers shine. The 590’s audio is crisp and clear, while it also produces ample amounts of bass.
Denon AVR-S540H
Next on the list is Denon’s AVR-S540H. Like Sony, Denon is one of the most recognized names in the home theater industry. The S540H is about as feature rich as an AV receiver can be in this price range. When compared to the Sony STRDH 590, the 540H packs-in an additional HMDI input giving it a total of 5. Three of its inputs include all sorts of 4K goodness such as 4:4:4 Pure Color sub-sampling, HDR, BT.2020 pass-through, Dolby Vision compatibility and HLG. In addition, the Denon AVR-S540H has built-in Bluetooth for wireless music streaming and also includes a front USB input in order to stream high-definition audio. Like the Sony’s 590, the Denon AVR-S540H makes up for its lack of features with solid sound quality. So if you’re looking for a good sounding 5-channel amp, the Denon S540H should be on your short list.
Yamaha RX-V485
The Yamaha 485 packs quite a punch! Unlike other 5-channel receivers, the 485 has an ample array of features. Thanks in part to its inclusion of Yamaha’s multi-room audio system MusicCast. The 485 includes both Bluetooth and WiFi, but with MusicCast the Yamaha RX-V485 can integrate itself into a home audio network. Also, thanks to its inclusion of MusicCast, its possible to grab a set of wireless MusicCast 50 or MusicCast 20 speakers and use them for surround speakers in a home theater setup. For video, the 485 can run the normal armament of 4K features through its HDMI inputs such as HDCP 2.2 , 4K Ultra HD, HDR10, Dolby Vision, Hybrid Log-Gamma and BT.2020. And is usually the case with Yamaha, the 485 doesn’t disappoint in the sound department. The 5-channel amp is good with music and equally impressive for movies.
Yamaha RX-V385
The Yamaha RX-V385 is the little brother to the 485. As such, it lacks some of the features of its bigger brother, but it’s nearly equal in sound quality. The diminutive 385 does include built-in Bluetooth for wireless music streaming. Similar to the Sony STRDH 590, the Yamaha 385 includes a feature called Virtual Cinema Front which is able to approximate a surround sound experience even when all of your speakers are placed at the front of the room. As is the case with most modern AV receivers, the 385 supports most 4K video features such as HDCP 2.2, HDR10 / Dolby Vision / HLG and BT.2020. All-in-all, the Yamaha RX-V385 combines solid sound quality and features with an affordable price.
