What to Buy > Audio 87 87 people found this article helpful The Best Budget-Friendly Stereo Receivers of 2024 Fill your space with all the sound you can handle By Erika Rawes Erika Rawes Writer University of Maryland Erika Rawes has written for Digital Trends, USA Today, and Cheatsheet.com and has tested dozens of consumer technology products for multiple tech sites. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on February 6, 2024 Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. In This Article View All In This Article Reviews What to Look For Frequently Asked Questions There is something to be said about the simple separation of left- and right-channel audio output. It's just about the music; some audiophiles say it's all you need. If that's what you're after, and your budget is modest, these are the budget receivers we like best. Best Overall Sony STR-DH190 Stereo Receiver PHOTO: Amazon $198 at Amazon $198 at Walmart $200 at Best Buy Pros Excellent value Great performance Clean design Cons Limited connectivity It’s challenging to do much better than Sony’s STRDH190 Stereo Receiver. It lacks frills such as Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity or any voice assistant integration, but it nails the basics and does so at a stellar price. It has plentiful ports and Bluetooth for wirelessly streaming music from a smartphone or computer. Lifewire / Jonno Hill The ultra-minimal design makes it look more expensive than it is. The 100W per channel stereo sound is excellent. This is not something for the more technical A/V fans out there, but this feels like a steal for the rest of us. Wattage: 200W (100W x 2) | Inputs: Stereo RCA (4), 3.5mm Headphone Jack | Outputs: Stereo RCA (1), Speaker Wire (4) | Dimensions: 11 x 17 x 5.2 inches Sony STR-DH190 Review Best Compact Fosi Audio BT10A PHOTO: Amazon $50 at Amazon Pros Palm sized Very affordable Bluetooth capable Cons Low power output If you want to take audio from your computer, tablet, or phone and get it to bigger, better speakers, the Fosi Audio BT10A is an ideal choice. It has Bluetooth connectivity with a range of 50 feet, so you can wirelessly stream music from your device. There’s also an AUX input if you want a wired connection. This is a simple unit with a few dials on the front to control the volume, bass, and treble. Its output is 50W per channel. Wattage: 300W | Inputs: Stereo RCA (2) | Outputs: Stereo RCA (2), Speaker Wire (4) | Dimensions: 16.9 x 12.2 x 4.7 inches Best for a Home Theater Sony 5.2 Multi-Channel 4K Receiver PHOTO: Amazon $348 at Amazon $350 at Best Buy $348 at B&H Photo Video Pros 5.2 multi-channel surround 4K HDR passthrough Bluetooth audio playback Cons Can’t connect speakers via Bluetooth The Sony STRDH590 5.2 Multi-Channel 4K Receiver delivers a stellar sound and loads of additional features and is ideal for a home theater setup. It has 5.2 multi-channel surround sound with a booming 145W per channel output, along with Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD audio that's better than the price tag suggests. Meanwhile, 4K and HDR (high dynamic range) passthrough compatibility means your TV can depict the vibrant images that come through the receiver without degradation. It also offers built-in Bluetooth wireless compatibility for playing music from your phone or other wireless devices, plus there's FM radio support with up to 30 station presets. The minimal black box design should fit well with any home entertainment system. Wattage: 725W (145W x 5) | Inputs: HDMI (4), Stereo RCA (4), Optical (1) | Outputs: HDMI (1), Subwoofer (1), Speaker Wire (5) | Dimensions: 11.75" x 17" x 5.25" Best Budget Moukey MAMP1 PHOTO: Amazon $70 at Amazon Pros Bluetooth compatiblity Extremely affordable Compact size Cons Busy design A dual-channel amplifier with 220W of peak power, the Moukey Bluetooth Amplifier offers Bluetooth streaming from a device that’s only 10 inches wide, 4 inches tall, and 8 inches deep. The compact device has several ports, including two RCA inputs, two 2.5-inch microphone inputs, a headphone jack, a USB port, an SD card slot, a 3.5mm AUX-IN port, and an FM radio antenna. On the front of the Moukey Amp are dials for adjusting the microphone volume and the echo, treble, bass, and balance, making this an ideal device for karaoke. Although this is a budget unit, you can use it for various purposes, from music to desktop audio. Wattage: 220W | Inputs: Stereo RCA (2) | Outputs: Stereo RCA (1), Speaker Wire (4) | Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 4 inches The Best Affordable Bookshelf Speakers of 2024 Lifewire / Jonno Hill What to Look For in a Budget-Friendly Stereo Receiver Connectivity How are you going to get your music into the stereo receiver? These days, many people opt for Bluetooth pairing with a smartphone, tablet, or laptop for convenient access to streaming services, although some receivers have Wi-Fi support to cut out the middleman. If there’s no wireless connectivity, check that the receiver has the ports you need for your audio equipment. Sound Quality Why even buy a stereo receiver if you’ll settle for so-so sound? While finding a stereo that delivers stellar sound (no matter your budget) is important, note that you’ll probably see more quality variance in your speaker selection—so splurge there if you can. Design Most stereo receivers are hulking black boxes, but even then, there are differences. Some are ultra-minimal, while others are busier-looking, and some go in other directions—like slim units ideal for rack setups. Consider the space you have. FAQ What’s the difference between a stereo receiver and a home theater receiver? The main difference between home theater receivers and stereo receivers is that stereo receivers are designed for music and audio. In contrast, home theater receivers are intended to serve as a hub for all your A/V equipment (including your video equipment). A home theater receiver will often have more channels to support surround sound, typically have HDMI inputs and at least one HDMI output, and it’ll be optimized with audio and video features like 4K passthrough and Dolby audio. How can you add Bluetooth to a stereo receiver? Some budget receivers don't come with native Bluetooth connectivity, but luckily, adding it is pretty simple. It just involves purchasing a wireless Bluetooth adapter. Plug it into your receiver, and you'll instantly be able to stream audio from any Bluetooth-enabled device. What's the best way to clean a stereo receiver? Receivers can be sensitive to harsh chemicals and get damaged when cleaned improperly. The best way to tidy up your receiver is to use compressed air to dispel dust on the surface and in the cavities, which can be especially useful if you open up the chassis. It's also recommended to occasionally remove the knobs, faceplate, or switches and clean any point of contact with contact cleaner, specially designed for cleaning electronics. The Best Home Theater Receivers Under $400 Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit