A refined 5.2-channel receiver from Anthem's acclaimed MRX line, delivering 100 watts per channel with audiophile-grade amplification. All seven HDMI inputs are version 2.0b with HDCP 2.2, supporting 4K/60Hz and Dolby Vision passthrough at 18 Gbps. The HDMI board is hardware-upgradeable to HDMI 2.1 for future 8K support. ARC Genesis room correction provides studio-grade calibration that sets this receiver apart from mass-market competitors.
audio Devices
Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar (2023)
Bose's premium single-bar solution delivers Dolby Atmos through an HDMI eARC connection — but there is no HDMI input for passthrough, so all sources must connect directly to your TV. The rear panel features four 3.5mm jacks for Bose-specific accessories: a Bass port for a wired subwoofer connection, an ADAPTiQ port for the included room calibration headset, an IR receiver port, and a service data port. A USB-C port is reserved for service use only.
This compact Dolby Atmos soundbar connects to your TV via HDMI eARC or optical — both cables are included in the box. When using eARC, it supports lossless Dolby TrueHD and full Dolby Atmos; optical connections are limited to Dolby Digital 5.1 and compressed Atmos via Dolby Digital Plus. There is no HDMI passthrough input, so all source devices must plug directly into your TV.
Three of the six HDMI inputs deliver full HDMI 2.1 bandwidth at 40Gbps — enough for 8K@60Hz or 4K@120Hz gaming with VRR and ALLM on a PS5 or Xbox Series X. The remaining three handle standard 4K@60Hz sources at 18Gbps. A single HDMI output with eARC keeps the cable run to your TV clean while supporting lossless audio formats. Two optical and one coaxial digital input cover older source gear, and a built-in MM phono stage means you can connect a turntable without an external preamp.
Three of the six HDMI inputs on this 7.2-channel receiver are full HDMI 2.1 with 40Gbps bandwidth for 8K@60Hz and 4K@120Hz passthrough — enough for a next-gen console, a streaming box, and one more high-bandwidth source. The remaining three inputs handle 4K@60Hz sources just fine at 18Gbps. eARC on the main monitor output delivers lossless Dolby Atmos from your TV back to the receiver. A built-in phono preamp and front-panel USB port round out the analog and digital source options.
Every one of the nine HDMI ports on this 9.4-channel receiver runs at full HDMI 2.1 bandwidth — all six inputs and all three outputs support 8K@60Hz and 4K@120Hz passthrough. That's a standout feature in the mid-range segment where many competitors limit 8K to just two or three ports. Four independent subwoofer pre-outs allow precise bass management across multiple subs. Dual optical and dual coaxial digital inputs cover legacy source components, while a front-panel USB port handles hi-res audio up to 24-bit/192kHz.
All seven HDMI inputs on this flagship 9.4-channel receiver are full HDMI 2.1, delivering 40Gbps bandwidth for 8K@60Hz and 4K@120Hz passthrough on every single port. That means no juggling which source goes into which input — everything gets full bandwidth. Four independent subwoofer pre-outs with both RCA and XLR connections give serious flexibility for multi-sub setups. A front-panel 6.3mm headphone jack hides behind a trap door alongside a USB port supporting hi-res audio up to 24-bit/192kHz.
The Devialet Dione is a one-piece 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos soundbar with 17 custom drivers and 950W of total power. A single HDMI 2.1 eARC port handles all connections to the TV and passes uncompressed Atmos from TrueHD sources. The optical TOSLINK socket covers legacy TVs without eARC, and the Gigabit Ethernet jack steadies streaming over AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and UPnP. Power is via a figure-8 IEC C7 cord — there is no pass-through HDMI input and no analog inputs, so every source must route through the TV's eARC link.
JBL's flagship 11.1.4-channel system ships with detachable wireless rear surround speakers and a 10-inch subwoofer. Three HDMI 2.0b inputs accept source devices with 4K Dolby Vision passthrough — but at 18 Gbps bandwidth, there is no 4K 120Hz gaming passthrough. The eARC output delivers uncompressed Dolby Atmos to the soundbar from your TV's apps. An Ethernet port provides reliable wired networking alongside Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
This 3.1.3-channel soundbar with a center up-firing speaker delivers Dolby Atmos and DTS:X through its HDMI eARC output. The single HDMI input supports 4K 60Hz passthrough with Dolby Vision, VRR, and ALLM — but tops out at HDMI 2.0 bandwidth, so there is no 4K 120Hz passthrough for gaming consoles. An optical input provides legacy TV compatibility, and a USB port is available for firmware updates.
LG's flagship 9.1.5-channel soundbar system includes wireless rear speakers and a subwoofer for full room Dolby Atmos coverage. The single HDMI input operates at 18 Gbps bandwidth — enough for 4K 120Hz passthrough at reduced color depth (4:2:0 8-bit) but not full 4K 120Hz 4:4:4. The eARC output handles lossless Atmos and DTS:X audio from your TV. An optical input and USB port round out the wired connections.
All six HDMI inputs on this premium 9.4-channel receiver are full HDMI 2.1, matching its sibling the Denon X3800H with 40Gbps bandwidth on every port for 8K@60Hz and 4K@120Hz passthrough. Four independent subwoofer pre-outs support sophisticated multi-sub bass management — a feature typically reserved for separates. The receiver pairs dual optical and dual coaxial digital inputs with five analog stereo inputs and a dedicated MM phono stage. An Ethernet port and front-panel USB round out the wired connectivity.
This slimline 7.2-channel receiver squeezes six HDMI inputs into a chassis just 105mm tall — three of those inputs are full HDMI 2.1 with 8K@60Hz and 4K@120Hz passthrough at 40Gbps. The slim form factor makes it ideal for tight AV cabinets where a full-size receiver won't fit. One optical and one coaxial digital input handle legacy sources, while three analog RCA inputs and a dedicated MM phono stage cover turntables and CD players. Dual subwoofer pre-outs allow a two-sub setup for better room coverage.
The Onkyo TX-NR6100 is a 7.2-channel THX-certified AV receiver built around six HDMI inputs and two HDMI outputs. Only the first three HDMI inputs are true HDMI 2.1 with 8K60 and 4K120 support — the remaining three inputs are HDMI 2.0. Both HDMI outputs are HDMI 2.1. On the audio side it carries five stereo RCA analog inputs including one MM phono input with dedicated ground post, two mono RCA subwoofer pre-outs, zone-2 line out, and European-model front pre-outs. Mains power is a detachable IEC C14 3-pin inlet, standard for full-size receivers.
This THX-certified 9.2-channel receiver offers seven HDMI inputs — three rear ports and both outputs run at full 40Gbps HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, while the remaining four inputs (including a front-panel port) cap at 24Gbps. Dirac Live room correction comes included out of the box, a feature most competitors charge extra for. A component video input is a rare find in 2021 for connecting legacy gear. Six analog stereo pairs, a dedicated MM phono stage, and both optical and coaxial digital inputs round out the extensive connectivity.
This flagship 9.2-channel THX-certified receiver packs seven HDMI 2.1 inputs with 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz passthrough at up to 40 Gbps on the first three ports. Dirac Live room correction comes built in, a premium feature rarely included at this price. It supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X with full 11.2-channel pre-outs for external amplification. A phono input and Zone 2/Zone 3 outputs add analog versatility alongside modern AirPlay 2 and Chromecast streaming.
The Polk Signa S4 is an entry-level 3.1.2 Dolby Atmos soundbar with a wireless subwoofer and Polk's VoiceAdjust dialog-boost processing. Its single HDMI port supports eARC — handing off uncompressed Atmos from a modern TV over one cable — while optical TOSLINK and a 3.5mm analog input cover older sources. The rear USB-A port is for firmware updates only, not media playback, and optical and analog inputs cannot carry Dolby Atmos (eARC required for Atmos). Power is a detachable 2-prong figure-8 cord, so a universal IEC C7 replacement fits if you lose the original.
This mid-range 3.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar provides one HDMI input and one HDMI eARC output, but the input is limited to HDMI 2.0b — meaning no 4K 120Hz passthrough for gaming consoles. For the best gaming experience, connect your console directly to the TV and route audio back via eARC. An optical input adds backward compatibility with older TVs that lack HDMI ARC support.
Samsung's 2024 flagship 11.1.4-channel soundbar finally adds full HDMI 2.1 passthrough with 4K 120Hz at 10-bit 4:4:4 color — a major upgrade for PS5 and Xbox Series X owners. Two HDMI inputs with 40 Gbps bandwidth handle everything from gaming consoles to Blu-ray players without forcing a direct TV connection. The eARC output delivers lossless Dolby Atmos and DTS:X from your TV's streaming apps. An optical input provides backward compatibility, though it cannot carry Atmos metadata.
At just 40 mm deep, this ultra-slim 3.1.2-channel soundbar sacrifices connectivity for form factor. The only audio connection is a single HDMI Mini (Type C) port with eARC support — Samsung includes a Mini-HDMI-to-HDMI cable in the box. There is no optical input, no HDMI passthrough, and no analog audio jack. All other media sources must connect directly to your TV, which sends audio back to the soundbar over eARC.
Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Plus (2022)
The AMBEO Soundbar Plus delivers a 7.1.4 virtual surround experience from a single bar with nine drivers and dual built-in subwoofers. Its HDMI 2.1 eARC output handles uncompressed Dolby Atmos TrueHD from the TV, while two HDMI 2.0 inputs pass 4K HDR signals through for source devices. A mono RCA subwoofer pre-out lets you add the matching AMBEO Sub wirelessly or a wired subwoofer. Power arrives via a detachable figure-8 IEC C7 cord at the rear — standard replacement cables work worldwide.
Sonos’s flagship soundbar packs 11 drivers including dedicated height channels into a single bar for Dolby Atmos playback without rear satellites. A single HDMI eARC connection handles all audio from your TV, but there’s no HDMI passthrough — so you lose one TV port. Ethernet and Wi-Fi keep it connected for AirPlay 2 and Sonos multiroom, and an included optical-to-HDMI adapter covers older TVs without ARC. The catch: Dolby Atmos requires a Dolby Digital Plus or TrueHD source over eARC, not just any HDMI connection.
The Arc Ultra is Sonos’s most capable soundbar, featuring the new Sound Motion woofer that replaces three conventional drivers with a single flat transducer — delivering dramatically deeper bass from the same form factor as the original Arc. Its HDMI eARC port is rated for HDMI 2.1 bandwidth at 48 Gbps, ensuring lossless Dolby TrueHD Atmos passthrough from any source. This is also the first Sonos soundbar with Bluetooth connectivity alongside Wi-Fi 6E. Like its predecessor, there’s no HDMI passthrough — every source must route audio through your TV first.
The second-generation Beam adds HDMI eARC and virtual Dolby Atmos to Sonos’s compact soundbar in a package that fits under any 40-inch or larger TV. The upgrade from ARC to eARC means it can now receive lossless Dolby TrueHD audio from Blu-ray players and gaming consoles routed through the TV. At 651 mm wide, it’s roughly half the size of the Arc, yet still handles 5.0 virtual surround with five Class-D amplifiers. An included optical-to-HDMI adapter covers older TVs without an ARC port.
