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

Onkyo TX-NR6100 vs Sony STR-AN1000

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 (4.6 vs 4.4). 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.

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 →

Ranked #4 in Best AV Receivers Under $1000

Sony STR-AN1000

4.4

$700

The STR-AN1000 is the compact / Sony-ecosystem pick. 360 Spatial Sound Mapping is genuinely interesting — virtual height effects without ceiling installs. Best for Sony 8K TV owners and existing Sonos households.

Strengths

— 360 Spatial Sound Mapping — Sony's proprietary virtual height channels (no ceiling speakers needed)
— Compact chassis — smallest 7.2 AVR in this round-up
— Native Sonos integration via Sonos Port — best fit for existing Sonos systems

Watch-outs

— 7.2 channels but only 100W into 6 ohms — less than spec at 8 ohms
— Sony's streaming app trails HEOS and MusicCast in third-party app support
— DCAC IX correction trails Audyssey and Dirac Live on tested accuracy

$700 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

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.

Sony STR-AN1000

Smallest chassis in this lineup. 360 Spatial Sound Mapping unique vs the Denon, Onkyo, Yamaha, and S970H. Native Sonos integration. DCAC IX trails room-correction systems on the other picks.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Onkyo TX-NR6100	Sony STR-AN1000
Channels	7.2	7.2
Power	100W per channel	100W into 6Ω
Gaming	VRR, ALLM, 4K/120	—
Room Correction	AccuEQ (Dirac Live paid upgrade)	DCAC IX
HDMI	6 in / 2 out (8K/60)	—
Features	—	360 Spatial Sound Mapping
Streaming	—	Sonos Port compatible

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