Home Audio Receivers

Home audio receivers are an entertainment staple in every city home for the sound enthusiast who relishes listening to good music, for the film buff who enjoys the entire audiovisual experience, and even for the family who enjoys bonding over popcorn and a good sports game, all from the coziness of their own living room,

Although it has become an essential component in everyday life, the audio receiver itself is often overlooked. But in order to fully appreciate the audio or visual experience, it is important to select the right home audio receiver that is tailored to your entertainment needs. Different individuals have different preferences, but there are always a few things in common that people look for in their “ideal” home audio receiver.

Those who enjoy movies usually prefer a home theater model, with surround sound features. These models offer digital processing modes that allow you to “convert” ordinary stereo music or the film’s background score into a convincing surround sound. Another popular feature of home theater receivers is automatic speaker calibration. This means that the receiver can process and instantly adjust the sound of the loudspeakers to fit your living room.

The receiver must have enough powers for its corresponding speakers and for the room where it is supposed to be situated. The larger the room, the more power is needed for the sound to fill it.

But the true home audio receiver connoisseur knows that volume isn’t everything. Even at lower volumes, the receiver with more wattage is capable of producing a more detailed and dynamic sound.

Another factor, total harmonic distortion (THD), would mean that the receiver has cleaner amplification, the smaller the rating. Most ratings for receivers are below 1%, but in this case the tiniest decimal point makes a difference. The best deal is a THD below 0.1%.

One must also look for an audio receiver with high-current power. The climactic sound effects and crescendos in music and film scores might sound just fine at first, but such intense peaks take their toll on an average receiver. Eventually, the sound becomes flat and dull. However, those receivers with high-current power are equipped to take on this challenge, making the surges of sound more dramatic and involving.

These days, convenience always takes the cake. Home audio receivers usually come with a remote control device. The best remotes are multibrand, since they are usually able to control not just the AV components made by the receiver’s manufacturer, but components of other brands as well. This makes for a “universal remote” feel. Another distinct feature of a high-end remote is that it is capable of “learning”, that is to say, you can program it to control new components, and you can pre-program it to execute a string of commands by pressing a single button.

Another great feature of some home audio receivers is that they are multi-room capable, and can play different things in different areas of the house simultaneously.

There are many other features that people look for in good home audio receivers, and this is only a glimpse at the usual considerations. Perhaps it will serve as a guide for the would-be buyer; perhaps it will inspire you to take a look at the various audio receivers that are out in the market. The bottom line is this- don’t be dazzled by snazzy appearances or heavy advertising, take the time to see if the home audio receiver you want really is tailored to your preferences.