WHAT IS AN AV RECEIVER AND WHY SHOULD I CARE?
You will need an AV receiver to experience the best surround sound. The AV receiver is the hub of your home audio system. Receivers accept all audio and video sources, including satellite and cable TV, DVRs, DVDs, and Blu-ray players, as well as gaming consoles. It then distributes the sound from these sources to your surround system, accurately powering all of your speakers.
THX Certified receivers range in price from $500 to $5000. The price difference is often defined by product features and technologies. High-end receivers feature a number of listening modes, calibration technologies, and video processing. Higher priced receivers may also be upgradeable via firmware updates in case a new technology appears on the market.
When deciding on the right AV receiver for your system, start by making sure there is enough amplifier power to drive the speakers for your particular room size. Then, evaluate the various processing modes. If you play video games or enjoy movies in surround sound, THX Listening modes, and THX Loudness Plus will greatly improve the experience. In addition, you should try to pick a receiver with enough inputs (HDMI, component, etc.) for your home entertainment system.
