Finding the Right 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver
The receiver is the nerve center of your home theater system. Choosing the right one can give you the theater-like experience that you are looking for.
What Does an A/V Receiver Do?
- Audio and video sources like CD and Blu-Ray players plug into the home theater receiver or connect up via Bluetooth or another wireless system. It decodes data from those sources and drives output devices like screens and speakers. It also acts as a control center, letting you pick which media sources you want to use. Some even act as receivers for FM or digital radio.
- A 5.1 channel receiver is designed to drive a 5.1 surround sound speaker system, the smallest true surround setup. A 5.1 surround sound system consists of left and right front speakers, left and right rear speakers, a center speaker, and a subwoofer for low-frequency sounds. A receiver that isn't set up for this kind of audio won't be able to decode it properly.
How Do I Choose a 5.1 Channel Receiver?
- Find a receiver that delivers enough power to drive your speakers. More power allows a higher maximum volume and also lets you turn the sound up more before it starts distorting. The right power for your receiver will depend on what your speakers can handle as well, so check them carefully.
- Impedance measures how difficult it is for electricity to pass through the speaker wiring. The important thing here is that your receiver and speakers should be compatible. Bose makes receivers and speakers, so it's easy to find a set that matches up.
- Choose a receiver with enough HDMI ports for all of the devices that you want to plug into it, and ideally a couple of spares for future devices. Not everything uses HDMI though, so you may also need optical and RCA inputs to connect up your speaker system. Some receivers also have Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity as well as USB inputs, allowing you to control your home theater system from a smartphone or tablet instead of the remote control.
What Else Do I Need to Get the Sound I Want?
- Your home theater system needs a full set of speakers and a subwoofer to sound the way it should. Your choice of speakers plays a huge part in getting the right sound quality. Some speakers, like Bose's Acoustimass subwoofer, are set up specifically to provide powerful sound effects during movies, while others are designed primarily for music.
- If 5.1 isn't immersive enough for you, you can upgrade to a 7.1 or even larger home theater system. A 7.1 or larger receiver can also be used to drive a multi-room audio setup using Bluetooth or another type of connection, as it can power a 5.1 setup in your home theater plus a set of stereo speakers elsewhere.
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