Head-to-head · Best AV Receivers Under $1000

Denon AVR-S970H vs Onkyo TX-NR6100

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Onkyo TX-NR6100 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.4 vs 4.6). The gap is mostly about console gamers and HT users willing to pay extra for Dirac Live room correction — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #5 in Best AV Receivers Under $1000

Denon AVR-S970H

4.4

$649

The AVR-S970H is the budget Denon pick. Same brand engineering and HEOS streaming as the X2800H, with cuts at the right places: fewer 8K HDMI ports, less power, entry-tier Audyssey. Best for users who want Denon reliability under $700.

Strengths

— Cheapest 7.2-ch AVR with Dolby Atmos in this lineup
— Denon HDMI 2.1 with 8K/60 on 1 input — covers a single 8K source
— Audyssey MultEQ (entry tier) room correction included

Watch-outs

— Only 1 HDMI port supports 8K/60 — the X2800H has 3
— 75W per channel — lowest power in this round-up
— Audyssey MultEQ entry tier — less calibration depth than X2800H's MultEQ XT

$649 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best AV Receivers Under $1000

Onkyo TX-NR6100

4.6

$799

The TX-NR6100 is the gaming home theater pick. VRR, ALLM, 4K/120 across multiple HDMI ports, plus the Dirac Live upgrade path — no other sub-$1000 AVR comes closer to a pro install setup. Best for users with a PS5 / Xbox Series X who want every gaming feature flag enabled.

Strengths

— Dirac Live room correction available as a paid upgrade — class-leading EQ
— Best gaming AVR pick — VRR + ALLM + 4K/120 confirmed on multiple HDMI ports
— 8K/60Hz passthrough on 3 HDMI inputs

Watch-outs

— Dirac Live upgrade adds ~$350 to total cost — base AccuEQ trails Audyssey
— Onkyo's brand support has wavered post-bankruptcy; warranty service variable
— Heavier and warmer than the Sony STR-AN1000

$799 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Denon AVR-S970H

Cheapest Denon in lineup. Fewer 8K HDMI inputs than the AVR-X2800H. Less power than every other pick. HEOS streaming on par with X2800H.

Onkyo TX-NR6100

Only pick with Dirac Live upgrade option. Best gaming feature support. Slightly more power per channel than the Denon AVR-X2800H. Warranty support trails Denon, Yamaha, and Sony.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Denon AVR-S970H	Onkyo TX-NR6100
Channels	7.2	7.2
Power	75W per channel	100W per channel
HDMI 8K	1 input	—
Room Correction	Audyssey MultEQ	AccuEQ (Dirac Live paid upgrade)
Streaming	HEOS	—
Gaming	—	VRR, ALLM, 4K/120
HDMI	—	6 in / 2 out (8K/60)

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