Best Surround Sound Receivers
The best surround sound receiver is different from your old stereo receivers because these receivers provide 7.1 channels and can do video switching. Because the latest surround sound receivers are equipped with different features such as HDMI capabilities, you have to be informed on what receivers cannot do this and that so that you will be able to purchase the best surround sound receiver for you.
To make this easy for beginners to understand, here are the three categories of receivers based on the price range.
Under $300
The basic level surround sound receivers can do everything that is essential to a basic home theatre. However, because it is cheap, the materials used to make this is very lightweight and possibly of low quality. The power ratings are not consistent and rangers from fifty to one hundred watts in each channel and because it is not expensive, the quality of the sound output may be compromised.
Receivers with enough connectivity options are usually enough for most people. The features are not really important to them as they just need something that enables them to have the feel of a surround sound system.
$301 to $600
These are mid-range priced surround sound receivers. It is typically loaded with features and connectivity choices. It also has a strong HDMI function. Unsurprisingly, mid-range surround sound receivers are more solid and sturdy than those sold below $300.
They are more expensive and more often than not, eat up a huge amount of space in your table top or room.
There are now mid-range receivers that have Dolby TruHD and DTS-HD Master audio decoding - these are the soundtrack types used by Blu-ray and HD DVD discs. Because these are just recently launched formats, it can be confusing. However, onboard decoding can offer future compatibility with new formats. You also have an option to choose the surround modes such as Rock, Jazz, Cathedral, and more.
It can display setup and general navigation using your tv plus it has a remote control which can be programmed and modified. The more costly units boast LCD screens and keypads.
$600 and up
When you have the budget to splurge on a surround sound system, you can buy the more expensive ones that have true power ratings, abundance of features, and the best sound quality. The downside is that because it has a lot of features, some of which may be new to the users, it may cause you to have a hard time in setting it up.
Bottom line is that you should know how much you are willing to spend on a surround sound receiver. You can browse the internet for models with corresponding prices so that when you visit their stores, you already know what you are looking for that is surely within your budget. Also, make sure that your purchase comes with a money-back guarantee as well as service warranty so that in case that it is not compatible with you current sound system, you can just return it to the store and have it replaced or exchanged for something else if money-back is not an option.
