What's A Receiver Or Amplifier ?

  JUST A BRIEF DESCRIPTION

A/V Receivers do all the things with the press of just one button, they are the hubs and nerve centre of all Home Cinemas big or small. Used to hook up Blu Ray players, Media Centres and DVD players as well as your normal CD players and alike. They can to most people be daunting and rather mind boggling but that is not the case, If you can plug a one end of a lead into another socket then your 99.9% there.. 'What that's it' I hear you say ?....yep that's it, so take a look below at the receiver I own and you'll admit it is a thing of High gloss beauty, If you want high-quality surround sound, you need a high-quality A/V receiver.

   Fig 1. The Pioneer VSX921

 

Put simply, you need an AV Receiver (also commonly referred to as a Home Cinema Receiver) to enjoy movie soundtracks in all their digital splender. A/V receivers offer at least five channels of audio amplification (but now even up to 11 channels can be driven), enough to power two front speakers, two rear speakers, and a centre speaker along with a subwoofer, hence the 5.1. (Most subwoofers come with built-in amplifiers.) Stereo Receivers, power only two speakers at once. If you're a music fan who doesn't care to much about watching movies in surround sound, a stereo receiver is the way to go, and many purists argue that stereo receivers are the best choice for high-end music. But, if movies are your thing, or you like the idea of a receiver that's designed to serve as a command centre for all of your audio and video components, then a A/V receiver is a must in my eyes. And keep in mind that A/V receivers offer a music specific features that stereo receivers don't even come close to. In other words, the answer is to get yourself down to your local dealer and have a demo, its as simple as that.

 

 

LOOK AT THE REAR ON THAT.

 

 

Fig 2. The rear of the Pioneer

 

This is where most people get a little 'Scared' as most of my friends say or put off, there is really no need to be as its ever so easy and that's the point of my blog to show you how easy and simple it really is. These days most components have a HDMI output and that is what sends the video and audio to your display, all you have to do is place your newly acquired receiver in-between the 2 and your away, what that's it?, yes honestly that's it. 99.9% of new receivers have a microphone that you plug in and press the start button and it will sort out all the room EQ and test tones for you 'Brilliant'

 

You can basically just do as you do on your home PC just plug and play. The only thing I would say is the amount of leads you need depends on how many components you own, my wife used to go on and on and on and well you get the idea, about the amount of wires around the back of our system and that's my point round the back is where they are, so all I can say is out of sight out of mind.

Below is the front of my Home Cinema in my lounge and the only lead you can see on display is my iphone lead, have a look

 

Fig 3. The Doctors Home Cinema (Lounge)

 

Prices here in the UK are now at there most cost effective as they have ever been(despite the recession ),and the VSX 922 the latest Mid-range receiver from Pioneer is now selling from anything from £269-£350.00 so there are bargains to be had out there for sure, as the new 2013 models come out early this year..as I am writing there is the SC 2022. prices from £589.00, so a price for and from every budget, however there are plenty of other brilliant brands out there and please check out the list I have set up below. I prefer Pioneer, but that's just personal preference.

 

 

THE OTHER BRANDS

 

Pioneer

Onkyo

Yamaha
Sony
Marantz
Denon

But please just go out and have a look around, ask your local dealer or should I say seek out your local Hi-Fi dealer and get yourself a demo, talk to them they are here to help you and the more you ask the more they'll explain. Richersounds (0333 900 0054) is a good place if you don't know your local dealer mine however is my very friendly staffed Technosound.(01908 604949) give them a call they are open to newbies or the experienced alike.

 

Next 'Speakers Big or Small?' and 'Do I Have Room?'