Denon AVR-1613

Denon AVR-1613

Even just a few years ago, many home theater receivers required optional iPod docks that were clumsy to set up and featured primitive on-screen user interfaces. The Denon AVR-1613 ($399.99 direct) has baked-in iPod and AirPlay capability, and sits squarely in the mainstream end of Denon's lineup. It's a solid receiver and a good buy as an up-to-date centerpiece to a home theater system, even though it clearly shows signs of its 1990s-era roots. Design, Inputs, and FeaturesMeasuring 5.9 by 17.1 by 13.0 inches (HWD), the The AVR-1613 weighs just over 18 pounds. A front-panel USB input makes it easy to pop in a thumb drive, or access the stored contents on an iOS device while charging it simultaneously. The power cord is hardwired, which is unfortunate if it fails down the road, but it's not a big issue for a lower-priced receiver. In standby mode, Denon claims the AVR-1613 draws just one tenth of a watt. There are five HDMI inputs—one more than the Yamaha RX-V473 ($449.99, 3.5 stars)—including a convenient port on the front, which is great for plugging in a smartphone, tablet, or laptop computer.