Home cinema amplifiers

This is a fine and unusually good-looking home cinema amplifier from Yamaha – the only problem is the very stiff competition

This new flagship model from Onkyo is no slouch. In fact, we can't find anything to fault here, and that means a full five-star recommendation

Possibly the first bona fide alternative to the recognised class-leaders we've seen, this Marantz is well worth investigating

Best-receiver £1500+, Awards 2010. A hugely competent multichannel receiver that has the spec and performance to match its price

Best receiver £500-£1000, Awards 2010. There are dozens of reasons why the 'NR808 is amazing for the money, and a great Award winner

This amazing amp produces a wonderful, all-encompassing wall of surround sound that engages you right from the off

Another disappointing home cinema receiver from Sony, which seems to have lost its form of late

The Arcam AVR500 has a minimalist spec which may appeal to some, but not others

Three 3D-ready HDMI sockets are part of the decent spec list for the Pioneer VSX-520

Denon's accomplished AVR-1911 picks up where the award-winning AVR-1910 left off, but the competition is too fierce for that final star