LOUNGE WIZARDS

Any of these six AV amplifiers will magically turn your living room into a cinematic paradise.

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Regular readers of this magazine will know that if you are looking to replicate the audio-visual experience of going to the cinema in your own home, there is no substitute for installing a proper surround-sound system with a dedicated AV amplifier and suitable speaker package.

Yes, soundbars are great - but they're not that great; even the best ones fall short on genuine heft and the ability to deliver convincing three-dimensional sound. That's where AV amps - and this round-up of six top models - come in.

We start with three relatively affordable products and, with our final three, move into more premium territory. Cheaper AV amps are often effective at providing good surround-sound and usually come laden with features, but it is only by paying a bit more that you can achieve the kind of scale and sound quality that could justifiably be described as cinematic.

More expenisve AV amps also provide more channels, allowing you to better incorporate features such as Dolby Atmos.

As for that suitable speaker package, a good rule of thumb is that, to make sure your amp and speakers are making the most of each other, you should be looking for a package that costs around twice the price of your amplifier.

Finally, when it comes to installing your AV amp, make sure you leave plenty of space around it for ventilation - once a film gets going things can soon hot up.

Denon

AVR-S670

£599

Is this the entry-level Denon AVR we have been waiting for?

Denon's X-series AV amplifiers and receivers have been hugely successful, and it's probably fair to say that it completely dominates a big chunk of the AVR market.