Head-to-head · Best AV Receivers Under $1000

Denon AVR-X2800H vs Onkyo TX-NR6100

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Denon AVR-X2800H comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.6 vs 4.5). The gap is mostly about Home-theater buyers who want the most polished, fuss-free all-rounder for a small-to-medium room with next-gen console support. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best AV Receivers Under $1000

Denon AVR-X2800H

4.6

$1,299as of Jun 7

The AVR-X2800H is the safest all-rounder under $1000, pairing Denon's mature, open sound with a complete modern feature set. What Hi-Fi handed it a full five stars and Empire four, both praising precise Atmos imaging and an authoritative, well-spread soundstage. Three HDMI 2.1 ports cover 8K and 4K/120Hz gaming, and Audyssey MultEQ XT makes calibration painless. The only real catch is that 8K is limited to half the inputs.

Strengths

— Rich, spacious, well-balanced sound that reviewers say outclasses its predecessor and most rivals at the price
— Three HDMI 2.1 inputs handle 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz with VRR and ALLM for next-gen consoles
— Audyssey MultEQ XT room correction is genuinely effective and beginner-friendly via the on-screen Setup Assistant

Watch-outs

— 8K support is limited to three of the six HDMI inputs, not all of them
— Street price has crept up over its predecessor and can flirt with the $1000 ceiling
— 95W per channel is adequate but not class-leading for large, demanding rooms

$1,299 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #2 in Best AV Receivers Under $1000

Onkyo TX-NR6100

4.5

$649as of Jun 7

The TX-NR6100 is the value-and-power pick: a THX Select-certified 7.2 receiver with a genuinely muscular amplifier and full HDMI 2.1 gaming support. Z&K Electronics scored it 90/100 and AVForums praised its impressive moments under load, though both flag AccuEQ as the weak link versus Audyssey. For buyers who want THX modes and clean 8K/120Hz pass-through at the lowest sensible price, it is hard to beat.

Strengths

— THX Select certification with four dedicated THX listening modes (cinema, gaming, music, surround EX)
— Powerful, driving amplifier reviewers describe as punchy with strong dynamics
— Three full HDMI 2.1 inputs deliver 8K/60Hz, 4K/120Hz, VRR and ALLM

Watch-outs

— AccuEQ room correction is less sophisticated than Audyssey or Dirac
— No Dirac Live without stepping up to pricier RZ-series models
— Some owners report firmware quirks and HDMI handshake issues

$649 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Denon AVR-X2800H

Steps above the Denon AVR-S970H with stronger amplification, Audyssey MultEQ XT (versus the S970H's lighter MultEQ) and a more refined, open presentation. It lacks the Dirac Live upgrade path and the THX modes of the Onkyo TX-NR6100, but reviewers consistently rate its out-of-the-box sound and ease of setup higher than the Yamaha RX-V6A and the Sony STR-AN1000.

Onkyo TX-NR6100

Brings THX Select certification and a punchier amplifier than the Denon AVR-X2800H or Yamaha RX-V6A, making it the value-and-power choice. Its AccuEQ room correction trails the Audyssey MultEQ XT in the Denon AVR-X2800H and the calibration in the Denon AVR-S970H, and it lacks the Sony STR-AN1000's 360 Spatial Sound Mapping, but no rival here delivers more raw performance per dollar.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Denon AVR-X2800H	Onkyo TX-NR6100
Channels	7.2	7.2
Power	95W per channel (8 ohm, 0.08% THD, 2ch driven)	100W per channel (8 ohm, 20Hz-20kHz, 2ch driven)
HDMI	6 in / 2 out (3 inputs 8K-capable)	6 in / 2 out (3 inputs HDMI 2.1, 8K-capable)
Video	8K/60Hz, 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM, Dolby Vision, HDR10+	8K/60Hz, 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM, Dolby Vision
Audio Formats	Dolby Atmos, DTS:X	Dolby Atmos, DTS:X
Room Correction	Audyssey MultEQ XT	AccuEQ
Streaming	HEOS, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi	Sonos-ready, Chromecast, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
eARC	Yes	—
Certification	—	THX Select

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