After buying that brand new HDTV you just want to get home and enjoy your new gear. But don’t forget the sound system. Hopefully I’ve convinced you not to buy a home theater in a box system, but if not, read my last post.
Let’s take a quick look at the centerpiece to any home theater audio system, the receiver.
Home Theater Receiver
The receiver acts as a bridge between everything in your home entertainment system, and it powers your speakers. In short it connects everything together, which is a tall order for one box.
Input/Output (I/O) is a key feature. Generally the box utilizes multiple video (and audio) inputs and a single video output to your TV. This allows you to kick back and switch between source devices on your home theater system through one remote. It’s a huge convenience.
Input/Output
Given today’s technology, look for receivers with HDMI input/output capabilities. But make sure your new receiver has a video output to match the video input of your new HDTV – likely HDMI.
Audio Inputs
A full set of 5.1 analogue audio inputs or HDMI v1.1 (or better) is a must have for your new home theater receiver. And if you’re dabbling in the high def disc formats in the future, you’ll be all set for future upgrades.
Almost all current receivers can decode Dolby Digital and DTS – the audio formats found on a basic DVD. A digital audio connector from your DVD to receiver is sufficient to feed it the surround sound from DVD soundtracks.
But newer audio formats (because of Blu-ray and HD DVD) are starting to hit store shelves – TrueHD and DTS-HD. With an HDMI version 1.1 (or greater), you’ll be upgrade ready if your new Receiver has HDMI version 1.1 (or greater) inputs available. Don’t believe the hype that you need HDMI 1.3 for these new audio formats.
Nitty Gritty on Home Theater Receivers
Home theater receivers today can do it all for less than $500, but upgrades can soar well beyond $1000 – especially high end. Quality receivers are made by Yamaha, Onkyo, and others. But NAD, Adcom, Rotel and Arcam carry the impeccable reputation of truly high end gear.
Contrary to popular belief, receivers don’t contribute to sound quality. The speakers produce the sound and tonal quality, but receivers can detract by under-powering speakers or causing distortion.
Be sure your receiver can adequately power your new speakers by matching total power output of the receiver with the recommended power input range of the speakers. Receiver’s power output is measured as follows: total watts per channel continuous (RMS), 20Hz to 20 KHz. Accept no other measure of a Receiver’s power – regardless of vague “1000 watt receiver” you’ll find on some product specs. That’s simply not sufficient information.
Impedance is another important measurement, but in North America all speakers and receivers deal exclusively in 8 Ohms; beware of anything else. The Federal Trade Commission requires an 8 Ohm de-facto standard for impedance.
That’s covers the bare necessities for Home Theater receiver shopping in today’s market. If you’re a home heater newbie, feel free to leave a comment and ask questions.
