Yamaha RX-V665BL

CNET rating: 3 stars out of 5 (Good)

The good: Four HDMI inputs; onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding; XM- and Sirius-ready; upconverts analog video signals to 1080p; automatic speaker calibration system; dual subwoofer outputs.

The bad: Similarly priced Onkyo offers six HDMI inputs; cannot assign audio inputs; poor image quality on upconverted analog video signals; doesn't sound as good as previous Yamaha receivers; onscreen display looks outdated; cluttered remote.

The cost: $348.00 - $549.97

The bottom line: Yamaha's RX-V665BL includes more features than its predecessor, but it doesn't sound as good, has poor video upconversion quality, and doesn't let you assign digital-audio inputs.

Technology November 3, 2009

Midrange AV receiver roundup

Prices on AV receivers range from as little as $100 up to several thousand, but most home theater buyers focus in on the "sweet spot," where you get most of the important features and performance for the least amount of money.

We tested the midrange models from nearly all the major AV receiver manufacturers to see how they stack up, and after completing our roundup we came away with some clear picks depending on what you need for your home theater.

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