A/V Receiver (Surround Sound Receiver) Buyer's Guide

An A/V receiver is the 'brain' of the home theatre, and in turn perhaps the most important home theatre component. All other audio video components connect to the receiver and are controlled by it. Considering the large number of receiver manufacturers and prices ranging from about $300 to upwards of $5000, buying an A/V receiver proves to be quite a challenge for most people. Depending on which store you visit and whom you speak with, everyone seems to have a preference over one brand or another and will try to sell you what in their opinion is the better product. But is that really the best choice for your home theatre? Without a doubt, the best way to choose a new receiver is to do the research yourself.

Whether this is your first A/V receiver or you already own one and are looking to upgrade it, the following should guide you in making the right decision.

1. Set a price range. Many receivers are very expensive and it is easy to spend a lot more than you planned, if you don't set a budget. Although we'd all like to own a flagship receiver, for most mid to high-end home theaters buying a top-of-the-line model is not necessary. Having a set price range will also help narrow the number of products for you to look at.

2. Look for a quality product. To begin, you'll want to check what the technical specifications of the receiver are and make sure that it is a well-built receiver.

Power (Watts): Most people know that a receiver with a higher power rating (watts per channel) can be turned up to be louder. However, what a lot of people don't realize is that increased amplifier power produces a much cleaner, more dynamic sound at any volume. When comparing power ratings between receivers, it is important to verify that they are measured uniformly. For example, typical mass market receivers rate each amp at 0.7% THD @ 1KHz as opposed to a full bandwidth under acceptable THD audible limits (<0.1%). This creates the illusion of more power to the unknowing customer. This is why a $300 mass market receiver appears to deliver as much or more power than a receiver twice the price.

Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): By definition, THD is the degradation of the output signal; usually expressed as a percentage. The smaller the THD rating of a receiver, the better quality sound it produces. Receivers with high THD ratings produce sound that sounds distorted (regardless of the volume level).

Power Supply: Weight does matter. Good linear power supplies are heavy and expensive. If possible, take a glance inside the receiver you're interested in. A good power supply should have a large and heavy transformer. The heatsinks should also occupy a large part of the inside of the receiver. Build Quality: Quality of construction and workmanship play important roles in a good quality receiver. Inspect the knobs and buttons on the front panel. Also take note of the connectors at the back. Are any of these parts flimsy? Are they well laid out? If there's even one part on the outside that seems flimsy, it makes you wonder what else the manufacturer skimped on internally.

Sound: After choosing a receiver based on the above specifications, take some time to listen to the product. Many low to mid priced receivers fall short on the quality of their processor and preamp sections. If the receiver is connected in a showroom, ask the salesperson to leave you alone for a few minutes. Switch the receiver to a surround sound mode with no source playing. Turn the volume half way up and balance all channels using the test tones. Walk around the room and listen for any noises coming from each speaker. If you do hear noises, the receiver likely has a noisy preamp section. In a midway position between all speakers listen for excessive background noise as well. Usually rear channels are most obvious. If you hear any hissing from the speakers, chances are this will annoy you in the long run while listening to surround sources.

If the receiver passes the noise test, the next thing to do is to make sure that the amplifier can deliver clean power to the speakers. Play a CD that has heavy bass. Listen to the bass notes for strain or clarity, and impact or the lack of it. If the notes seem to strain or lack impact, this indicates a weak power supply. This could be a problem if you don't plan to use a subwoofer in your setup. Next listen to the midrange and high frequency notes. The midrange should have a good balance throughout the 200 Hz - 4 KHz bandwidth and should be free from excessive boosting or attenuation with the frequency spectrum. The high frequency (above 4 KHz) should sound airy, natural and not overly bright. Receivers that sound bright must be carefully paired up with speakers with a subtle nature in the high frequency spectrum.

3. Features to look for: Make a list of features that are essential for your setup. Ask yourself exactly what you will be connecting to your receiver. Presumably you'll be connecting your surround sound speakers to this unit to watch movies and listen to music. Perhaps you also want to connect your computer and a turntable as well. Do you have or are you planning to install a pair of speakers in another room in your house? Or maybe in your backyard? These are all questions you'll need to answer before making your list of features. Keep in mind, the more features you choose, the pricier the receiver will be.

Surround Sound Decoding: Dolby Digital and DTS (Digital Theater Sound) convert a movie soundtrack into six distinct channels. This creates rich sound that travels from speaker to speaker following the on-screen action. Every modern receiver should have the latest versions of both these decoders. Current receivers don't provide decoders for the surround formats found on Blu-ray and HD DVD discs - Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD. These formats are presently decoded by the high definition players themselves.

THX certification: THX is a home theater component certification program created to ensure the high quality audio and video technology used in films is more accurately reproduced in a home theater setup. THX certified components sound more natural, produce a more distinct dialogue, less distortion and reproduce the lowest bass notes with more precision and clarity. A THX logo on the front panel of the component indicates that the component is THX certified. Five different THX logos exist indicating performance categories based on room size. The "THX Certified" logo is found on components that are recommended for setups where the screen viewing distance is 6-8 feet. "THX-Select" and "THX-Select2" are recommended for viewing distances of 10-12 feet, and "THX Ultra" and "THX Ultra2" are intended for viewing distances of greater than 12 feet.

Remote Control: The receiver is the centerpiece of your home theater. You want to control all the components without leaving your sofa. A universal remote will let you take control of all of the components, however, usually these components have to be from the same manufacturer. A programmable (or learning) remote will let you control just about any component by any manufacturer. A higher-end remote with an LCD screen will tell you at a glance what component is on, and what it's doing, but generally doesn't offer any additional functionality.

Audio/Video Inputs & Outputs: Make sure that the receiver has enough inputs and outputs to connect all of your components to it, for a quick, easy control of your home theater. You should definitely look for a receiver that offers HDMI inputs and an HDMI output. HDMI connections will allow you to take full advantage of all up-converting DVD players, as well as Blu-ray and HD DVD players. Four versions of the HDMI standard currently exist - to learn more about HDMI please read the "Making the HDMI Connection" feature at www.canadahifi.com.

In order to enjoy high resolution audio from DVD-Audio and SACDs, the receiver must have multi-channel analogue inputs or HDMI version 1.2 or better inputs. Many current Blu-ray and HD DVD players also require analogue inputs to send high resolution audio to the receiver. If you plan to connect a turntable in your setup, look for a receiver that has a Phono input. Otherwise, you will need to purchase a separate phono stage. Of course, outside of these connections the receiver should also offer a healthy number of composite, S-video and component inputs and outputs to ensure compatibility with older components.

Automatic Speaker Calibration: This is a very useful feature, which goes by various names depending on the manufacturer, found in most mid to high-end receivers. Automatic calibration uses a microphone (usually supplied) to analyze the acoustical output at one or more positions in the listening area. The receiver sends test signals to each speaker in turn, then uses the signal from the microphone to adjust channel level and time delay settings for each speaker. Higher-end receivers offer more advanced calibration systems capable of making a wide variety of acoustical adjustments.

Multi-Zone (or Multi-Room): Many receivers allow you to connect a second set of speakers in another room, allowing you to listen to a second source simultaneously. Some receivers even come supplied with a second remote to control your receiver in the other room. These are the most common key features shared by A/V receivers on the market today. If you want to learn about all the features that a particular receiver has, a good place to check out would be the manufacturer's website. There you will get the full details on each receiver, which are not always readily available in stores.

4. Visit retailers with your list. Tell the salesperson what your price range is and what features you are looking for in a receiver. Make sure you visit a few stores since each store carries a limited number of brand names. You may be surprised to find how many different manufacturers of receivers there actually are after visiting a few stores. Write down the model numbers of the receivers that are shown to you by the salesperson. You can then look up these specific models on the manufacturer's website and read the full feature list and specifications. If the store has your receiver of interest hooked up in a home theater setup, play around with it. Experience how easy or difficult it is to change certain settings and inputs as well as how friendly the remote is. If a particular store does not have the receiver connected, chances are that some other store has it.

Once you are satisfied with your selection of a receiver, decide which store you will buy it from. Generally you would choose a store with the most competitive price, however if you think that you might have questions or require some assistance with your setup after your purchase, consider buying from a store that has friendly and easily approachable staff.

And make sure to take your time when evaluating receivers because a receiver is arguably the most important part of any home theatre. So good luck and happy listening!