1
Denon AVR-S980H 7.2-Channel Receiver
The way in for a room that already has good speakers: seven channels at 90 watts each, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, and HEOS streaming to the rest of the house.
Home cinema sound at three budgets
Cinema sound can be built in steps. A capable receiver brings Dolby Atmos and streaming to speakers already in the room; a matched speaker set with its own receiver changes the room outright; and a set designed for cinema-grade playback belongs to a room given over to films.
Entry
Mid-range
2
Klipsch Reference Dolby Atmos Home Theater + Onkyo TX-NR7100 9.2-Channel Bundle
A matched Klipsch Reference set and the receiver to drive it: floorstanders, a center and two bookshelf speakers, ready for Dolby Atmos.
Estimated retail value $1,799.99 As of Oct 23, 2026
Splurge
3
Klipsch THX-5000 6-pc Surround Sound Home Theater System Black
What the extra buys: a six-piece set designed for cinema-grade playback, titanium compression drivers behind Tractrix horns, and a dedicated subwoofer amplifier.
Estimated retail value $11,829.94 As of Oct 23, 2026
Side by side
| 1Denon AVR-S980H 7.2-Channel Receiver | 2Klipsch Reference Dolby Atmos Home Theater + Onkyo TX-NR7100 9.2-Channel Bundle | 3Klipsch THX-5000 6-pc Surround Sound Home Theater System Black | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Denon | Klipsch | Klipsch |
| Form | 7.2-Channel Receiver | Floor Standing | — |
| Power Handling | 90WPC | 400 W | 100 watts continuous / 400 watts peak |
| Connectivity Technology | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HEOS, HDMI eARC | Other | Wired |
| Operation Mode | — | Dolby Atmos | Surround |
| Horn Design | — | 90x90 Tractrix Horn | 10 x 6" Tractrix Horn |
| Driver Material | — | Spun Copper IMG Woofer; LTS Aluminum Tweeter with Kapton Suspension | Titanium dome compression drivers and Cerametallic cone woofers |
| Included Components | — | (2) R-625FA Floorstanding Speakers, (1) R-52C Center Speaker, (2) R-41M Bookshelf Speakers, (1) Klipsch R-12SW 12" Powered Subwoofer, (1) Onkyo TX-NR7100 9.2-Channel 8K/4K Network A/V Receiver | 3x Klipsch THX-5000-LCR, Klipsch THX-5000-SUR set, Klipsch KA-1000-THX Subwoofer Amplifier, Klipsch THX-1200-SW Subwoofer, Grille Covers |
How to choose
Start with what the room already has. A receiver amplifies and decodes for speakers you own; a complete set replaces the speakers and, at the middle step, brings its own receiver; a cinema-grade set still needs a receiver chosen to drive it.
Then the floor. Floorstanding speakers need space either side of the screen, while compact two-way speakers leave the floor clear.
Last, the features that outlast a season: Dolby Atmos for sound from above, and streaming such as HEOS if the system should also play music around the house.
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Where these picks come from: Amazon