When you are ready for the best all-in-one receiver we have ever heard, step up to the Arcam AVR31. While it only has 7 powered channels built-in, it is — from a pure audio standpoint — the best sounding receiver we have heard to date, and it has some outstanding tech to help you get the best sound for those of you with more than one subwoofer.

First, if you are reading this far, you are probably a lover of high-performance audio gear and know all about the importance of the DAC (or Digital to Analog Converter). The AVR31 uses two ESS 9026PRO audiophile DACs with ESS reference voltage regulators.

Also, as a high-performance person, you might have heard about Class G amplifiers. The ultimate amp would be pure Class A, which sounds amazing, but runs very hot when you get into higher power. Class G runs at pure Class A up to a point, then switches over to Class AB. It may only have 7 powered channels built in, but it is also by far the heaviest unit on this list weighing in at 40 pounds with its huge power supply. The sound of this Arcam is something special — akin to big, separate components.

You will have a lot of expansion options as there is processing in the AVR31 for 15 channels. Even cooler, there are 4 assignable outputs. If you are not going all the way to 9.1.6, you can assign up to four individual subwoofer outputs and each can be calibrated independently. For those of us who like multiple subs, this is just fantastic.

From a tech perspective, you get full support for HDMI2.1 with 8K@60fps and 4K@120fps plus Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG. Airplay2 and Google Chromecast are also present, and the Arcams are the only ones on this list with the better version of aptXHD Bluetooth. There is a MusicLife app that lets you stream most of the popular services, and it is set up for Roon too.

Whether you are a fan of Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, or Auro 3D, it can decode any of those, which also makes the Arcams unique in this group.

Dirac is one of our favorite room correction systems and you’ll get the latest Dirac Live with the AVR31 — plus the option of purchasing Dirac Live Bass, which does an incredible job of blending subwoofers to your main speakers.

If you want to start out with the very best sound, with all sorts of expansion options, the AVR31 is our top choice. It is not cheap, but nothing else has everything you get with this great home theater receiver.