How to Optimize Your Home Theater System With the Right Audio Receiver

Your audio receiver is the linchpin of your home theater system. It coordinates between your speakers, audio and video sources and receives AM/FM radio. It’s important to choose a good audio receiver because the quality of your home viewing and listening experience rests a great deal on the receiver. When you’re shopping, consider these steps to optimize your home theater system with the right audio receiver.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Home theater system

1. Match your receiver’s power to your speaker’s power. The receiver provides the power for the speakers, so you’ll want to make sure it has enough juice to take full advantage of the speakers you have. Find out the wattage and amperage rating on your speakers (located on the back, near the jacks) before you shop.

2. Focus on video switching if you’re going to use your receiver to watch DVDs or satellite television. The ability to switch between a CD player and your television with one button is underrated. Find an audio receiver with a remote so you don’t have to constantly get up and down to switch.

3. Choose a receiver that focuses on what you listen to. Most receivers play DVDs and music adequately, but you can ask your local stereo representative for advice about a receiver that best fits your needs.

4. Check your receiver’s THD. This stands for total harmonic distortion, and is a measure of how well you receiver holds the quality of sound with increasing volume. THD is measured as a percentage of noise. The lower the THD percentage, the better the quality.

Tips & Warnings

• Shoot for an audio receiver with a THD of less than 0.1 percent.
• Always read the manual for any components of your home theater system before installing or using them.
• When setting up or adjusting the wires on your home theater system, always make sure it is powered off and unplugged.

[dukylout]

on 5/3/2008 I recently invested in a home theater system with these specifications. I need to know what I should be looking for in a receiver. I want to use the sys. for DVD/CD/SAT. If anyone has any recommendations or
specifications for a compatible receiver I would appreciate your help. Thank you.

System power 1000 watts

Powered Subwoofers

Impedance: 8ohm

Sensitivity 91dB

Frequency Response: 60Hz – 20Hz

Dual 6.5 Subwoofers



Center Channel

2-4”Mid bass

1” Tweeter

Impedance: 6ohm

Sensitivity: 89dB

Frequency Response: 150 Hz-20 kHz



(2) Front Panel Speakers

4” Mid bass

1” Tweeter

Impedance: 6ohm

Sensitivity: 89 dB

Frequency Response: 70Hz - 20 kHz



(2) Rear and Surround Speakers

4” Mid bass

1” Tweeter

Impedance: 6ohm

Frequency Response: 70Hz – 20kHz

Sensitivity: 89db