Best 4K Upscaling Receiver (AV Receiver) 2023

The technological boom has gifted us with many marvelous things, and the AV receiver is one of them. AC receivers are smart devices that can enhance the watching experience by improving the quality of the picture and sound.

But buying an AV receiver can be a pain in the neck if you don’t know how to choose the right product. A plethora of brands are manufacturing AV receivers, and it is quite hard to make the best buying decision.

Here in this list, you will find the top-of-the-line best A/V receiver under $500 that is perfect to pair with your home theatre and can satisfy you in every way. Plus, these devices belong to recognized brands and are the freshest models available in the market.

Sony has left a mark on the world, all thanks to the high-quality products they manufacture! STR-DN1080 (best 4k upscaling receiver) is a high-performance AV receiver from Sony that has multiple functionalities available for improving the quality of audio and video.

Decent Auto Calibration

The receiver system has a smart auto-calibration that helps it to calibrate itself for delivering extremely pleasing outcomes.

With this Best AV receiver for the home theater, you don’t have to tune the receiver multiple times as it gets optimized accordingly to the supply and the availability of speakers.

Supports 4K HDR

Get sharp and clear images with STR-DN1080 due to the HDCP 2.2 Compatibility.

It offers a better 4K experience as compared to other 4K AV receivers.

Connectivity

The users can connect their STR-DN1080 via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technology.

Establishing a connection with this AC receiver is an easy task, and you can do it quickly while referring to the instruction manual.

Outstanding Audio Output

With the help of Phantom Surround Technology, you can enhance the quality of output with few speakers. You can even attain a seven-channel audio output with five speakers only if you have Sony STR-DN1080.

Onkyo TX-SR373 is a compact AV receiver that looks brilliant and has a powerful mechanism.

The receiver system may appear basic, but it has all the required features needed in a receiver.

Flawless Connectivity

You can connect Onkyo TX-SR373 (best 4k upscaling receiver) with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi devices on the go. The pairing process is really simple, and Qualcomm aptX makes it even better with its interrupted playtime.

Audio Decoding For a Cinematic Experience

Onkyo TX-SR373 features DTS-HD Master and Dolby TrueHD that decodes the audio and creates a whole new definition of cinematic experience. The decoder controls the rate of audio, and it takes audio to the next level.

Easy Room Calibration

The great thing about Onkyo TX-SR373 is that it automatically calibrates the audio as per the size of the room and the distance of the speakers.

It also calibrates the frequency for crisp and clear sound.

Easy To Set Up

You don’t have to be a pro for setting up this budget stereo receiver for music. All you have to do is plug in the power cable, connect the HDMI and other input/output cable, and it is done. The instruction manual is a masterpiece, and you can learn the setup process easily with the help of diagrams explained.

When it comes to buying the best audio video receiver under 500, even proficient experts can get confused. There are so many features to look for in an AV receiver.

Below-mentioned is some of the crucial features you should consider in a device before buying it.

AV Receiver Channels

You might have seen that AV receivers come with numbering on the package like (5.1, or 7.1), it refers to the number of speakers and other equipment available in the device.

A 5.1 channel receiver has (5.) mid-range or high-range speakers, and also it has a low-end speaker (.1) or a subwoofer that’s the reason why receivers come with channel badges. 

The most common channels are 7.1 and 5.1 channels, which you will find on several devices.

On the other hand, receivers over 500 dollars have more powerful channels and can deliver a better quality experience.

The choice of channels is completely up to you, if you have a big room, then 7.1 or 7.2 channel equipment is excellent. However, you can also get a brilliant experience with a 5.1 receiver if you don’t mind mounting your own speakers.

Connectivity

AV receivers have come a long way from wired to Bluetooth, and now many devices even support Wi-Fi technology. If you want to operate the receiver from your smartphone, then you should buy the devices that offer greater Bluetooth compatibility and have a higher Bluetooth version.

In case you want to get an even better experience then you should select receivers that are compatible with Wi-Fi so that you can stream online without any interruptions.

Wattage

Wattage is again another important factor that impacts the performance of an AV receiver. Wattage is the total amount of power the receiver will supply to the speakers. You need to make sure the speakers of your system are capable of handling a great amount of power without any problems.

Wattage ranges from 500 watts to 30 watts based on the preference and demands of the customers. For making a good decision, you need to check the power consumption of your speakers and other attached equipment.

Every receiver with a different channel has distinct wattage consumption. Keep in mind that a more or less powerful receiver is of no use as you will not achieve the right balance needed for a perfect cinematic experience.

HDMI Ports

The back of an AV receiver can have more than five ports, which can make things quite confusing. Some of them even feature 6-7 HDMI ports, and that is enough to create confusion on whether to buy it or not.

The choice of HDMI ports is entirely up to you. If you want to connect multiple devices like gaming consoles, home theatre, and other smart gadgets, then HDMI ports are crucial.

You don’t buy AV receivers every day, and it makes it even essential to buy the best device. Make a checklist of the devices you want to connect, and then buy a receiver that has one or two more HDMI ports left for future use.

Price

All the products mentioned in this list are under 500, but you need to choose the one that suits your budget. Buy an AV receiver that has all the features you need. Don’t go for options that are too cheap as low as 100 dollars, as they don’t have a reliable build and cannot deliver an excellent cinematic experience.

Upscaling to 4K is good?

The 4K screen can display content with a lower resolution. On a normal 1080p screen, 1080p often produces better image quality than 1080p when upscaled to 4K. Still, upscaling isn’t magic – the image won’t be as sharp as 4K native.

Does my receiver need to support 4K upscaling?

The Blu-ray player or receiver used in an upconverting process does not need to be connected to a 4K TV.

Is it possible to disable 4K upscaling?

The TV can take a variety of input signals, but they are all upscaled to fit the screen. Upscaling 4K can only be prevented by maintaining a 1:1 image. You will receive a 35″ 1080p image in the middle of a 70″ 4K TV if you feed it a 1080p image.

Is picture quality improved by upscaling?

An image is upscaled if it is too small to fit on the display. If you had a 1080p screen, you could upscale a 720p video. A higher resolution image is first rendered before it is downscaled. Image quality is improved after downscaling.

How do Marantz and Denon differ?

Even so, Denon and Marantz have significant differences. Marantz receivers are softer, while Denon receivers are warmer. They perform the same way.