After reviewing many receivers, I've picked these as my favorites. My list of top pick receivers is presented in alphabetical order.
Pioneer VSX-91TXH
Pioneer receivers have been popular since the 70s, long before we were even thinking about high-definition and home theater. A lot has changed in thirty years; we’ve gone from a simple stereo receiver, two speakers and a turntable to home theater systems with six or more speakers, multiple digital surround sound audio formats and high-definition video displays, and that requires an AV receiver with high performance that’s also easy to use. With that in mind, the Pioneer Elite VSX-91TXH is one of the most affordable receivers with high-definition home theater performance and it’s easy to set up and use. For $1,000, the VSX-91TXH has the right combination of features and performance, such as MCACC, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio.
Sunfire TGR-3
The SunfireTGR-3 sounds good, it’s built well and it’s easy to use. Rather than present a laundry list of features, suffice to say that the TGR-3 seven-channel, powered multiroom, DSP upgradeable and Ethernet equipped AV Receiver with two HDMI inputs and a Motorola Symphony 150 MIPS processor will provide all of the connectivity, processing clout and horsepower to satisfy demanding high-end users. It’s also a great sounding AV receiver.Yamaha RX-V661 A/V Receiver
Yamaha, also widely known as a musical instrument manufacturer offers a full line of home theater receivers. The RX-V661 receiver is a moderately priced receiver ideally suited as the centerpiece of an affordable home theater system. At $549.95 it’s got all the basics, it’s loaded with useful sound-enhancing features, and pretty easy to setup and use. The Yamaha RX-V661 is a well-designed, good sounding seven-channel receiver that stands out because of its large selection of movie watching and music listening DSP modes and SCENES. Its natural, uncolored sound quality makes it a great choice for a mid-priced receiver as the heart of a system.