Harman Kardon AVR 225

Above-average sound quality; front-panel bass and treble controls; Super Audio CD/DVD-Audio 5.1 input; six digital inputs; Stereo Direct analog-bypass mode; abundant features list; two-year parts-and-labor warranty.

Lacks A/B speaker switching; no phono or component-video inputs.

This is a superb-sounding receiver with plenty of features, but its easy-to-use ergonomics really set it apart.