Used AV Receiver Buying Guide: 6 Top Picks Reviewed

Buying a used AV receiver is one of the better-value moves in home theater — if you know what to look for. The risk isn’t that used receivers fail more often than new ones; it’s that buyers miss a compatibility problem or skip a firmware update and blame the hardware. A unit that’s two generations old may lack HDMI 2.1 bandwidth or current Atmos decoding, which matters more for some setups than others.

These six receivers appear below as reference points across the used and entry-level market. The AV Receivers hub covers the broader category if you’re still orienting — this article focuses on what each of these units actually is, and what to verify before buying one secondhand.

Top Picks

Denon AVR-S570BT AV Receiver

The Denon AVR-S570BT is a current-generation 5.2-channel receiver with four HDMI 2.1 inputs, 8K passthrough, and Bluetooth streaming. It supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, which makes it a legitimate starting point for a 5.1.2 Atmos layout — though with five amplified channels you’d need an external amp for the height pair or accept running four main channels plus one dedicated height. Power rating sits at 70 watts per channel into eight ohms, which is enough for most bookshelf and tower pairings in a room under 20 feet.

What it doesn’t include is room correction worth leaning on. The AVR-S570BT ships with Audyssey MultEQ — the base tier, not MultEQ XT or XT32. Owner reports and AVS Forum threads consistently note that base MultEQ does an adequate job at target level setting and basic delay calculation, but its filter resolution is coarse compared to what the X-series units offer. If calibration quality matters to your workflow, this is the ceiling on what the S-series can do. The Denon AVR-X1700H moves up to MultEQ XT if that’s a deciding variable.

On the used market, the S570BT is recent enough that used copies carry most of their warranty value and current firmware. Verify the HDMI board is intact — HDMI input failures on entry receivers are the most common secondhand issue, and four inputs give you room to work around one dead port if needed.

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Sony STRDH590 5.2 Channel Surround Sound Home Theater Receiver

The Sony STRDH590 is a 5.2-channel receiver with Bluetooth, four HDMI inputs with 4K HDR passthrough, and Dolby Vision support. It does not support Dolby Atmos or DTS:X — that’s the most important specification to confirm before buying one used. If you’re building toward an object-based surround layout, this unit stops at 5.1 processing with no path to height channels or overhead decoding.

What it does well is simple, stable stereo and 5.1 operation. Owner consensus points to the STRDH590 as a reliable workhorse for living room setups where the priority is a clean signal path to a 5.1 speaker array without configuration complexity. Sony’s implementation here is deliberate minimalism — fewer setup variables, fewer points of failure. For a bedroom theater or a second-room system driving a compact 5.1 surround array, that’s a genuine advantage.

There’s no Audyssey on this unit — Sony uses its own automatic speaker calibration (D.C.A.C.), which sets levels and delays but offers limited EQ correction. Verified buyers note the calibration pass is fast and functional. For users who would rather skip room correction entirely and set levels manually, the simplified approach is easier to trust than a black-box Audyssey run.

The STRDH590 appears frequently on the used market at prices that reflect its age and spec ceiling. Verify all four HDMI inputs pass signal before purchase. If Atmos support is a future goal rather than a current one, look at the best entry-tier AV receivers for current units that include it at this price tier.

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Denon AVR-X1700H 7.2 Channel AV Receiver

The Denon AVR-X1700H is a 7.2-channel receiver with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, built-in HEOS, and Alexa voice control. It ships with six HDMI inputs — two of them HDMI 2.1 with 8K passthrough and 4K/120Hz support, which matters if you’re running a current-generation gaming console. Power is rated at 80 watts per channel into eight ohms.

Room correction is Audyssey MultEQ XT, one step above base MultEQ but below XT32. The XT tier adds a modest improvement in filter resolution and a slightly wider subwoofer crossover adjustment range. Owner reports on AVS Forum describe consistent results with the X1700H’s Audyssey implementation when the mic placement process is followed carefully — multiple measurement positions, mic at ear height, away from room boundaries. Running Audyssey carelessly produces mediocre results on any tier. Running it carefully, the XT implementation on this unit is a functional calibration tool, not just a setup convenience.

Seven amplified channels opens the 5.1.2 Atmos layout without needing an external amplifier — two mains, center, two surrounds, and two height channels all driven natively. That’s the practical argument for this unit over the S-series if an Atmos build is the goal. For deeper context on how the X1700H sits relative to the rest of the Denon lineup, the best mid-tier AV receivers roundup covers comparable units at this tier.

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Sony STRDH190 2-ch Home Stereo Receiver

The Sony STRDH190 is a two-channel stereo receiver with Bluetooth and phono inputs. It has no HDMI, no surround decoding, no room correction. The channel count, power rating (100 watts per channel into eight ohms at rated distortion), and feature set are entirely oriented toward stereo listening — turntable setups, bookshelf speaker pairings, and simple two-channel audio in a room where the TV is handled separately.

This is the right unit for a narrow use case and the wrong unit for every other one. Buyer confusion around the STRDH190 in the used market almost always traces to treating it as a home theater receiver — it isn’t one. It doesn’t decode surround formats, and it has no video switching. If a buyer’s need is an AV receiver for a 5.1 or Atmos layout, the STRDH190 is the wrong tool entirely.

Where it earns a recommendation is the stereo-only use case: a dedicated music room, a desktop speaker setup, or a turntable system where the phono input and clean two-channel amplification are the whole job. Owner reviews consistently praise the phono stage for the price tier and describe the Bluetooth implementation as stable and latency-free for casual listening.

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YAMAHA RX-V385 5.1-Channel 4K Ultra HD AV Receiver

The Yamaha RX-V385 is a 5.1-channel receiver with Bluetooth, four HDMI inputs, and 4K Ultra HD passthrough. It does not support Dolby Atmos or DTS:X — same ceiling as the Sony STRDH590 in terms of surround decoding. Power is rated at 70 watts per channel into eight ohms. There is no room correction system; Yamaha omits automatic calibration at this entry tier.

What the RX-V385 offers is Yamaha’s reputation for build quality at the entry level and a stable, straightforward operating system. The receiver’s menu structure is simple enough that setup without calibration assistance is practical — set speaker distances and levels manually using an SPL meter or the receiver’s internal test tones and you’re done. Verified buyers in longer AVS Forum threads describe it as unusually reliable over years of use, which matters more in the used market than in the new-unit market where return windows are available.

No Atmos, no Audyssey, no HDMI 2.1 — but for a 5.1 surround system in a room where those specifications aren’t required, the RX-V385 performs the core job without unnecessary complexity. The Yamaha Aventage series is the relevant comparison if the budget extends to Yamaha’s higher-performance tier.

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YAMAHA R-S202BL Stereo Receiver

The Yamaha R-S202BL is a two-channel stereo receiver with Bluetooth. Like the Sony STRDH190, it has no HDMI inputs, no surround decoding, and no room correction. Power is rated at 100 watts per channel into eight ohms. It’s aimed at the same two-channel listener — someone building a stereo music system rather than a home theater.

The R-S202BL’s practical advantage over the Sony in a head-to-head comparison is build quality perception — the Yamaha feels denser in hand, and owner reviews consistently describe it as running cool and quiet over extended listening sessions. Neither unit offers room correction, so the comparison reduces to phono input (the Sony has one, the Yamaha does not at this model level), Bluetooth stability, and which amp section pairs better with the specific speakers being driven.

For stereo setups where a turntable is part of the chain, the STRDH190’s phono input is a meaningful differentiator. For setups running powered speakers or passive bookshelf speakers from a streaming source, the R-S202BL is the stronger build at a comparable price tier.

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Buying Guide

Understanding Channel Count Before You Buy

Channel count is the first specification to match against your speaker layout — and the place where the most used-market mismatches happen. A 5.2-channel receiver powers five speaker channels plus two subwoofer outputs. A 7.2-channel receiver adds the amplification headroom for two additional channels, either surround back or Atmos height speakers.

The number that matters is amplified channels, not marketed channels. Verify the spec sheet rather than the box copy. A receiver that markets “7.2” may ship only five amplified channels and require an external amplifier for the rear positions.

Atmos and DTS:X Decoding — What’s Actually Required

Dolby Atmos decoding and DTS:X decoding are format licenses, not hardware features. A receiver either has them or doesn’t, and the used market includes many units from the 2016, 2019 window that were sold before object-based audio was standard at entry price points. The Sony STRDH590 and Yamaha RX-V385 are current examples of units without Atmos support.

If an Atmos layout is the goal — even a 5.1.2 layout with two ceiling speakers — verify the receiver explicitly lists Dolby Atmos decoding in its specifications, not just Dolby Digital. The two are not the same. Resources like our AV Receivers hub and Audioholics’ specification breakdowns are reliable places to cross-check manufacturer spec sheets.

HDMI 2.1 and Why It Matters for Gaming

HDMI 2.1 support determines whether the receiver can pass 4K/120Hz signals — relevant if a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X is in the source chain. Receivers without HDMI 2.1 inputs cap at 4K/60Hz, which doesn’t affect movie watching but eliminates high-frame-rate gaming through the receiver’s switching stage.

The workaround is connecting the console directly to the TV and using HDMI ARC or eARC to route audio back to the receiver. That’s a functional solution and many installations use it. But if clean signal routing through the receiver is the preference, verify HDMI 2.1 port count — not all HDMI inputs on a given receiver will be 2.1 rated. The Denon AVR-X1700H, for example, has two HDMI 2.1 inputs out of six total.

Room Correction — Tiers and What They Actually Do

Audyssey MultEQ is Denon’s room correction system, and the tier matters. Base MultEQ runs eight frequency measurement bands. MultEQ XT runs 544 bands for the main speakers. MultEQ XT32 — available on the X3000-series and above — runs 8,192 bands for the subwoofer and 1,024 for mains. The resolution difference between base and XT32 is audible in rooms with bass problems.

Audyssey run carefully is a legitimate calibration tool. Use the provided microphone, take measurements at five to eight positions across the listening area, and verify the result with an independent measurement tool (REW with a MiniDSP UMIK-1 is the standard workflow). Audyssey run carelessly — one measurement position, microphone too close to a wall — produces results that many buyers blame on the receiver rather than the process. The best 7.1-channel receivers roundup covers units where MultEQ XT32 appears at mid-range price points, which is the relevant comparison for buyers who want the full calibration capability.

What to Verify When Buying Used

Firmware version matters more on AV receivers than most secondhand electronics. Manufacturers push firmware updates that fix HDCP handshake bugs, HDMI compatibility issues, and streaming service authentication failures. A receiver running firmware from 2019 on a current streaming device may exhibit connection failures that look like hardware problems but resolve with an update.

Before purchase, ask the seller for the firmware version or model revision. After purchase, update firmware before running room correction calibration — corrections applied over outdated firmware may not reflect the receiver’s actual signal processing behavior. Check each HDMI input with a known-good source. Run the receiver at moderate volume for thirty minutes and verify the output stays consistent across all channels. These three steps catch the majority of secondhand problems before the return window closes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it worth buying a used AV receiver instead of a new entry-level unit?

It depends on what the used unit offers that new entry-level receivers don’t. A used mid-tier receiver from three or four years ago often includes better room correction, more amplified channels, and stronger build quality than a new receiver at the same price. The risk is HDMI compatibility with current sources — verify the HDMI version supports your devices before purchasing.

What’s the difference between Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital on a spec sheet?

Dolby Digital is the standard 5.1 surround format used on most DVDs and broadcast audio. Dolby Atmos is an object-based format that adds height information — it requires a receiver with explicit Atmos decoding and physical speaker positions for height channels. A receiver that lists only Dolby Digital will not decode Atmos tracks, even if you add ceiling speakers.

Does a stereo receiver work for home theater use?

Not effectively. Stereo receivers like the Sony STRDH190 or the Yamaha R-S202BL have no surround decoding, no HDMI switching, and no subwoofer management beyond a fixed pre-out in some models. They’re the right tool for music-only rooms. A movie setup with a center channel, surrounds, and subwoofer requires an AV receiver with the corresponding channel count and surround decoding.

Should I run Audyssey room correction on a used receiver I just purchased?

Run it after updating firmware and after the receiver has been powered on for at least an hour to reach operating temperature. Take measurements from multiple positions across the primary listening area — five positions minimum. Verify the result with REW if possible. Audyssey on a used receiver produces the same results as on a new receiver; the calibration is based on the room, not the unit’s age.

How do I choose between the Denon AVR-X1700H and the Denon AVR-S570BT for a used purchase?

The X1700H offers two more amplified channels (seven versus five) and a higher-tier Audyssey implementation (MultEQ XT versus base MultEQ). If the goal is a 5.1.2 Atmos layout without an external amplifier, the X1700H handles that natively. If the layout stays at 5.1 and calibration precision is a lower priority, the S570BT covers the use case at a lower price point on the used market.