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The top brands in receivers, Sony, Denon, Onkyo, Pioneer, and Yamaha, are all major brands with many years of experience manufacturing receivers.
Receivers are a better buy than ever, providing better quality sound and more features at lower prices. Here are the price ranges you can expect to pay:
Stereo Receiver (two channel, without video capabilities): $150 to $250.
Home Theater Receiver: $350 to $1,000 will buy you a lot of power and features.
Home Theater Receiver: Over $1,000 for a very high-end receiver capable of supporting a THX home theater system.
Stereo: If you do not use your receiver to play movie or television soundtracks, and if you do not plan to invest in multi-channel audio players and discs (SACD and DVD-Audio), then a stereo receiver (two speakers, possibly with the addition of a subwoofer), is all you need. Buying a stereo receiver will reduce the cost you have to pay for a receiver, and simplify your set-up by eliminating many of the plugs that will come in your rear panel.
Multi-Channel: Receivers that are multi-channel refer to the ability to play audio in surround sound. Multi-channel receivers can decode audio signals for five or more speakers (left front and right front, right rear and left rear, and center). The receiver also provides amplification for each of these speakers. There are three types of surround sound, each produced by a different company. Movies are encoded with one or more types of surround sound, and receiver manufacturer license one or more types of surround sound decoding to be built into their systems. Each surround sound manufacturer has several sub-types:
When you see a receiver described as 2.1, 5.1, 6.1, or 7.1 channel, the “.1” rating refers to a low frequency bass channel, which is sent to a subwoofer. Some 2 channel stereo receivers do not have a separate base channel, so you should take this into consideration when you shop. The bass channel, if you connect a subwoofer to it, provides extra bass to your music and soundtracks. A subwoofer also enables you to use smaller speakers as your stereo or surround speakers, while still having deep base response usually associated with larger speakers.
The receiver provides amplification to the speakers that are attached to it, with the exception of the subwoofer, which requires its own amplifier.
Amplification is the amount power sent to drive each speaker. A 7.1 channel receiver rated 7 x 125 watts is capable of delivering 125 watts to each of its seven speakers. How much power do you need? It depends on several factors:
Assume you'll need at least 50 watts per channel for a 12-by-20-foot room, and 85 watts per channel for a 15-by-30-foot room. If you have large speakers and/or listening at high volumes, buy a receiver with more wattage.
The bottom line is that most receivers from major manufacturers deliver quality that sounds great to most listeners. If you want to delve into the numbers, here is a brief guide:
All receivers have an AM/FM radio tuner. Some will also receive signals for HD (high definition radio), XM or Sirius Satellite Radio (these services require a monthly subscription), and/or internet radio. Buy a receiver that can play the broadcast bands you want to hear.
Receivers vary in height, width, and depth. If you audio equipment cabinet has limited space or shelves that are not adjustable, make sure the receiver you are considering will fit.
What controls are in the front panel of the receiver? Controls to adjust treble and bass are available in all receivers, but you may want to adjust midrange, or have even finer adjustments. What controls are there to enable you to balance the multiple speakers in your surround sound system? A complaint about some receivers is that they do not enable the user to increase the front-center speaker or the rear speakers to optimal levels.
Most receivers come with a remote control. Receivers have many capabilities, so the remote controls tend to be complex. Look for a remote control that operates intuitively and has buttons and knobs that are easy to manipulate.
Many of the receivers available today are packed full with capabilities and features. Here are a few of the more popular or interesting ones:
The back panel of a receiver has the plugs and connectors to hook up your DVD player, CD player, phonograph, iPod, etc., as well as your speakers and subwoofer. Prior to shopping, count all the devices you plan to connect to the receiver, inventory the types of connectors they use, and make sure you buy a receiver with a sufficient number of connectors.
When evaluating the design, focus on functionality. Test the unit by using both the front panel and the remote control to operate the full range of functions for the unit. Switch between audio/video source, adjust the volume, the front to rear balance, the left to right balance, the bass and treble, etc. In terms of style, most receivers have a high tech look. If you want your audio/video cabinet or rack to present a unified appearance, you should establish one color for all you components. You will have the most options if you select black, as this is the most common color for audio components.