How to build a home theater audio system in 2026 — what an AV receiver actually does, how to read channel notation like 5.1.4, the receiver brands and models worth buying (Denon, Marantz, Yamaha, Onkyo, Sony), how room correction differs (Audyssey vs Dirac vs YPAO), and how to choose speakers (mains, center, surrounds, Atmos heights, subwoofer) from KEF, SVS, Klipsch, ELAC, Polk and others — with an honest take on where to spend and where to save.
Denon
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AV Receivers and Home Theater Speakers: A 2026 Buyer's Guide