| The home theater receiver (also referred to | | | | television to the computer. |
| as an AV Receiver) not only provides power to | | | | |
| the speakers, but serves as an integrated | | | | * The receiver should also able to |
| control center for all of your components, | | | | accommodate optical or digital audio |
| often times providing both audio and video | | | | interfaces, as well as older style analog |
| switching. | | | | left/right cabling. In other words, it should |
| | | | be backwards compatible with older technology |
| The receiver is both the smarts and the power | | | | so that you can upgrade existing components |
| behind a home theater system. It takes the | | | | at will. |
| audio signals from all of your source | | | | |
| components, performs any needed decoding and | | | | * While stereo receivers only support two |
| post-processing, amplifies the signal to | | | | speakers, home theater receivers support |
| power your home theater's array of | | | | surround sound, or multiple speaker systems. |
| loudspeakers, and controls the playback | | | | The most basic configuration is 5-1 surround |
| volume. For video signal, the receiver | | | | sound, which includes five speakers and a |
| performs the necessary switching and outputs | | | | subwoofer to deliver bass. Newer |
| it to your TV. With all this functionality, a | | | | configurations include 6-1 and 7-1 surround |
| receiver is one of the more complex and | | | | sound, or seven and eight speaker systems |
| expensive components in a home theater or | | | | respectively, with a subwoofer included in |
| home audio system. | | | | each case. |
| | | | |
| * The most important factor in connecting | | | | * A receiver might also support a second set |
| theater components today is using the newest | | | | of remote surround sound speakers. These |
| interfaces available. High-definition | | | | speakers might be located in a bedroom or on |
| televisions use an interface called | | | | a sundeck. Remote surround sound speakers can |
| High-Definition Multimedia Interface. HDMI | | | | be activated separately from the main speaker |
| combines digital audio and video together. If | | | | system. |
| your HDTV does not have the HDMI interface, | | | | |
| your receiver will be ready when you upgrade | | | | * To easily set up a surround system, look |
| the HDTV in the future. | | | | for a receiver that offers automatic |
| | | | calibration. These receivers come with a |
| * Digital Versatile Disc and compact disc | | | | small microphone and front microphone port. |
| (CD) players, computer graphics cards, liquid | | | | The microphone is placed in the area where |
| crystal display (LCD) monitors and portable | | | | you would like the sound to be optimum, such |
| electronic devices like digicams and cell | | | | as on a facing couch at ear-level. By |
| phones are all migrating to a new audiovisual | | | | engaging the calibration program, the |
| standard called Unified Digital Interface | | | | receiver emits a series of signals and sound |
| (UDI). UDI is compatible with the HDMI used | | | | effects, electronically measuring when each |
| on HDTVs. With UDI input and output ports on | | | | speaker output reaches the microphone. The |
| your receiver, you will be able to take | | | | receiver speaker channels self-adjust so |
| advantage of the latest interfaces for Dvd/Cd | | | | that, regardless of speaker distance, sounds |
| players and portable devices. A receiver with | | | | reach the microphone at the same time. This |
| a UDI-out port can also connect to a | | | | creates a perfect sweet spot. |
| UDI-enabled computer graphics card to stream | | | | |