While Dolby Atmos has captured the imagination of home theater enthusiasts it's still early days for atmospheric surround sound.
In the meantime we have high-performing, easy to use receivers such as the Sony STR DN1070.
This is a step up from last year's model, and now one of the best mid-level receivers you can get.
The Sony looks the same as before with a not too much macho front and a decent mix of controls on the front panel.
The menu system is just as friendly as before, and the same goes for the remote control.
There are some changes though.
The company has added in a couple of extra channels, which means it's technically a 9.1 receiver.
It only works as a 7.1 channel though, with no atmos.
But you can have as many as three different powered zones throughout your house if you want.
Features include Wi-Fi connectivity with Spotify Connect, AirPlay, Google Cast and the company's own SongPal multi-room app.
You also get six HDMI ports to choose from.
And these include full compatibility with 4K video.
While this may look like the 2015 model The performance of the DN 1070 is anything but alike.
This is a massive step up for both music and movies.
Music sounds clearer and gains more focus, while movies have extra punch and vocal clarity.
At $600 the Sony may not fit everyone's budget.
But if you don't need [UNKNOWN] and want great sound instead, it's one of our new favorites.
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