Audio Receiver Information

Home Theater Receivers

In case you have not gone for the up gradation of your home theater receiver for a few years now, then it is most certainly time to do some catching up which will help you grab the best deal. You all must know that the basic function of a receiver is to process audio signals, followed by feeding these to the speakers. However, this category has undergone some serious progression and has moved into wilder territories. Receivers now function as a central point of a complete entertainment system, including smart input switching, video scaling, audio signal processing, media streaming, automatic calibration and system control.

Power Output

When buying a new receiver, the very first thing you should look out for is the power output, besides a great savings deal of course. It is understandable to want high power, but do not just go with numbers. It is advisable to go for high power, which measures at a low rate of distortion. Ultimately, the amount of power you require will depend upon the sensitivity of your speakers along with the room dimensions.

Speaker Output

The number of speakers you require depends upon your own personal choice. However, for a complete home theater system, it is ideal to have at least 5 speakers along with 1 sub-woofer (5.1). However, many people may prefer to go for a fuller experience, with 7.1 or 9.2 systems. Many companies offer multiple-speaker sets through name your price deals.

Ports and Terminals

 It is true that receiver performs an important function of feeding audio signals into the speakers, but a complete home theater system is held together by means of inputs. The receiver is basically an interchange which receives signals and directs them to an appropriate place.

A receiver should have at least 3 HDMI inputs and 1 HDMI output, suitable for a game console or cable box. For a system with more components, a receiver with a higher HDMI will be required. Some additional audio/video inputs are analog stereo inputs, coax and digital optical.

Audio/Video Processing

Earlier, a receiver with DTS or Dolby decoder was considered to be a fairly good choice. But in the recent times of multiple audio formats, a receiver should be able to handle most of these. Additionally, some receivers also come with processing settings and surround-sound modes.

The better quality receivers now can handle more than audio signals. Video processing chips, available with Anchor Bay, HQV, Marvell, etc. can scale up the signals and allow you to have a great picture by adjusting the video settings.

Remote Control

While receiver controls the home theater system as a brain, the actual charge lies with the remote. Basic receivers are often accompanied by basic remotes that can often become frustrating to use. However, the new age receivers come with universal learning remotes that can control your entire gear quite efficiently while offering great savings.

Multi Zone Distribution

Most of the good receivers are capable of distributing signals (both audio and video) to different independent zones (listening and viewing) of a room. Some receivers also come with active speakers, additional stereo amplifier or amplified speaker terminals to provide you with a better experience.

Greentoe.com houses a rich collection of home theater receivers which you can buy through name your price offers. So, hurry and grab the best deal!