Verdict
All guidesResearchMethodologyAboutContact
Head-to-head · Best AV Receivers Under $1000

Onkyo TX-NR6100 vs Sony STR-AN1000

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

Onkyo TX-NR6100 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.5 vs 4.3). The gap is mostly about Buyers who want THX-certified sound, strong amplification and full 8K/120Hz gaming pass-through at the best price in the class. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Onkyo TX-NR6100
Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best AV Receivers Under $1000
Onkyo TX-NR6100
$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 AmazonFull review →
Sony STR-AN1000
Ranked #4 in Best AV Receivers Under $1000
Sony STR-AN1000
$948as of Jun 7

The STR-AN1000 is the spatial-audio specialist: its 360 Spatial Sound Mapping conjures height and width from a standard speaker set, and reviewers loved the result. What Hi-Fi gave it a full five stars, StereoNET called it "muscular and dynamic," and Tom's Guide praised its "smooth sonic steerage of objects." The trade-offs are bloated bass without parametric EQ and a slightly thinner connectivity set, which keep it just behind the all-rounders.

Strengths
  • — 360 Spatial Sound Mapping creates convincing height and width without ceiling speakers
  • — Crisp, precise, punchy sound that reviewers say balances detail and drama
  • — Sounds bigger and more authoritative than its modest power spec implies
Watch-outs
  • — Bass can sound bloated and there is no parametric EQ to tame it
  • — Only two of the HDMI inputs are 8K-capable
  • — Connectivity and input count trail some rivals at the price
$948 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

How they stack up

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.

Sony STR-AN1000

Sony's 360 Spatial Sound Mapping is a feature none of the rivals here offer, conjuring height and width without ceiling speakers in a way the Denon AVR-X2800H, Onkyo TX-NR6100 and Yamaha RX-V6A all rely on physical layouts to achieve. The trade-off is bass control: with no parametric EQ it trails the Audyssey MultEQ XT calibration of the Denon AVR-X2800H, and it offers fewer eight-K HDMI inputs than the Yamaha RX-V6A.

Specs side-by-side

SpecOnkyo TX-NR6100Sony STR-AN1000
Channels7.27.2
Power100W per channel (8 ohm, 20Hz-20kHz, 2ch driven)100W per channel (6 ohm, 1kHz, 1ch driven)
CertificationTHX Select—
HDMI6 in / 2 out (3 inputs HDMI 2.1, 8K-capable)6 in / 2 out (2 inputs 8K-capable)
Video8K/60Hz, 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM, Dolby Vision8K/60Hz, 4K/120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10
Audio FormatsDolby Atmos, DTS:XDolby Atmos, DTS:X, 360 Spatial Sound Mapping
Room CorrectionAccuEQD.C.A.C. IX auto calibration
StreamingSonos-ready, Chromecast, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, Wi-FiChromecast, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Sonos, Bluetooth
Expansion—Wireless SA-RS5 rears, SA-SW subwoofers
← See the full ranking of best av receivers under $1000