With the many varied options an AV receiver offers, one may be left in a dilemma, thinking about which type stands as the perfect AV receiver to purchase for your home system. The Ultimate Guide: How to Choose the Perfect AV Receiver will clear up the fog.
An AV receiver can be classified based on how many speakers it can power and how powerful enough it is to accommodate them. However, with the many different audio and video (AV) receiver models, how does one pick the best that caters to their needs and gets the job done?
Below are important guidelines to consider when considering the perfect AV receiver.
The Ultimate Guide: How to Choose the Perfect AV Receiver
1. Determine your needs
When purchasing an AV receiver, one should consider the specific requirements necessary before purchasing it. For example, factors such as the size of the room, the number of speakers being connected, and the intended use come in handy.
2. Consider Dolby Atoms and other advanced audio technologies
Dolby Atoms is the surround sound for bigger rooms accommodating high speakers. Note that receivers cannot support second-zone audio; the AV receiver transmits two separate audio streams simultaneously. When choosing a receiver, ensure it handles different audio formats and has the proper channels.
3. HDMI features and connectivity options
Every receiver has both HDMI inputs and outputs on the rear. Additionally, HDMI is an essential connection in the TV and home theatre world making it useful when choosing an AV receiver.
4. Consider Wireless and streaming capabilities.
Most AV receivers have both the WIFI and Bluetooth features. Having an AV receiver with WIFI and Bluetooth features will benefit you by providing more ambiance. This makes using the AV receiver and surrounding speakers possible in one go.
5. The AV receiver brands and models
AVR-S660H 5.2 Ch. 75W 8K AV Receiver with HEOS® Built-in
Some receivers are more potent than others, meaning the more power an AV receiver has, the more you will have to pay to purchase it. An example of a good model receiver is the Denon AVR-SR605H pictured above.
6. Budget considerations
Before rushing to get the best AV receiver for use, it is important to do in-depth research on prices to work around a designated budget and get the best AV receiver at a reasonable price.
7. Future-proofing and upgradability
It is essential to always keep in mind and anticipate changes in AV receiver models and develop plans that may counteract or support the upgrade in the future.
8. Power and amplification
For instance, having a sound system in a small room requires a moderately powerful AV receiver compared to a big room that may need more power to amplify and boost the sound to cover the large area.
9. Reviews and recommendations
Looking for product reviews from reputable sites can give you insights into customers’ experiences. The Marantz SR6015 pictured below has a number of good recommendations.
Marantz Black. SR6015. AV RECEIVERS
Expert opinions can also come in handy when dealing with highly sensitive projects. It would be much better to outsource an expert’s opinion for a few hundred bucks rather than have to change the entire system for lack of good decision-making.
The Ultimate Guide Takeaway
The whole reason an AV receiver exists in the first place is to give or make exceptional home theatre system experience surround sound exceptionally good. Personal preference and a good understanding of an AV receiver’s functionality and the tasks it can handle are vital to consider before purchasing one for your home theatre/sound system.
Understanding AV Reveiver
What is an AV receiver?
An electronic component that takes audio and video signals from various sources and sends them to the respective outputs. It interprets and then processes the video/audio signal before sending it to destinations like the TV and speakers.
Setting Up and Optimizing Your AV Receiver
For anyone looking to upgrade or add an AV receiver to their collection of home gadgets, below are some steps to consider before or while at it;
1. Thoroughly testing and fine-tuning the system
This is one of the first steps to attaining optimum performance from your receiver. Ideally, the left and right speakers should be the same distance from the listening position and off the wall behind them. This will give surround sound flexibility and an adequate response after setting up.
2. Setting up network connectivity and streaming capabilities.
With wireless (WIFI) connectivity, the AV receiver can transmit signals transferred to TV as video signals for streaming purposes. The AV receiver serves as the central hub for home theatre systems. It provides seamless integration for both audio and video sources. The network (Ethernet) port allows the AV receiver to connect to a wired home network, offering a more stable connection for streaming content and online services.
3. Configuring audio and video settings to optimize performance
While in your home theatre settings, much content is still being processed in stereo format. Therefore, it is advisable to have surround sound by switching the stereo option to Dolby surround, DTS, or any favorite type in the settings. This also applies to the video configuration settings, which allow sound signals to be transferred from the TV to the home theatre device via the AV receiver.
4. Powering on the receiver and completing the setup
Once all this is completed, the AV receiver is turned on, and test runs are made to establish whether a proper connection has been established to complete the setup.
5. Correctly placing the receiver and establishing connections
Many modern surround sound AV receivers have an added feature that allows one to correct problems caused by the room in which the receiver is placed.
With the help of this room correction software, the AV receiver can be placed at or close to 80HZ after proper calibrations.
6. Calibrating the room and setting up speakers for optimal sound
Most, if not all, AV receivers come with an auto-calibration setup. Setting it up helps measure the speakers and room and helps set the speakers’ levels and distance. For example, optimize the speaker performance to pair with its surrounding for better calibration systems. When it is finally time to press play! The AV receiver should run for a day or two to warm it up and sound its best before any critical listening.
7. Maintaining and updating the AV receiver regularly
The AV receiver is usually a delicate gadget if not handled carefully. Thus, proper maintenance, such as software cleaning, is important to avoid any malfunctions in the future. Also, researching and keeping tabs on current trends in AV receivers is essential just in case an upgrade is needed.
In summary, the ultimate guide: How to Choose the Perfect AV Receiver
Today, an AV receiver handles more than audio signals. In many ways, it is the central processing unit of a home theatre or sound system. Our clear and concise guide will save you time and provide insight into spotting the best AV receiver for your budget and preference.
For instance, a home cinema experience with an AV receiver would be more exciting. It brings your audio experience to life and can help you easily manage your AV components.
Interested to learn more about AV receivers? Read our pros and cons of AV receivers and how they differ from amplifiers in the audio experience.
