How AV Receivers Improve The Audio Quality of Your Devices

Guest Writer — Sun, 23 Feb 2020 16:42:29 +0000

In our previous post, we talked about turning your room into a home theatre. We continue to explore the different types of Audiovisual systems and our main focus today will be the sound equipment.

For the visual entertainment find our TV reviews in the TV section here.

For a complete audiovisual experience, the great sound makes a huge difference, this is why cinemas continue to pull decent crowds. We will attempt to guide you to achieve as close to the cinematic experience as your wallet will allow you.

There are two types of sound systems; Home theatre in a box and AV receiver System.

Home Theatre In a Box (HTIB)

This is a bundled Sound system that consists of an amplifier, Tuner, DVD, couple of speakers in several configurations. 2.1, 3.1, 5.1. This can be either wired or wireless and currently, the most popular form contains a Bluetooth soundbar and a rated subwoofer.

Image Courtesy Audioholics

AV receiver System

For the average consumer a HTIB will suffice, but, for a premium sound experience, an AV receiver system is what you want to have.

The main component of this system is the AV receiver. This is a device designed to aggregate all your media via HDMI (Blu ray/DVD player, Gaming console, Cable TV, Media Box (android box or apple TV) inputs and deliver a singular video (to your TV/projector) and sound to several speakers depending on the input.

This amplifier is also capable of delivering the famed Dolby Atmos/DTS X (aka overhead sound) to your height speakers delivering the immersive surround experience similar to having the cinema to your living room.

This allows you to manage all your inputs from one console, mix and match compatible speakers, add and remove speakers at will and can power sound to another room (Zone 2).

Image Courtesy Electronichouse.com

Before hitting the shops to buy your AV receiver several things you need to consider.

What are your listening habits? Are you going to listen to music mostly or movies/videos/streaming? For music, you will need a beefy amp and for movies, you need to keep an eye on video formats compatibility.
How many inputs do you intend to connect? This can be your DVD players, streaming boxes (Apple TV, Roku, android box), Cable TV, turntable (phono) etc. Get one more input than you need.
Compatibility to video and sound formats. Watch out for 4K, HDR, DV, HLG and Dolby Atmos/ DTS-X.
Do you need to hookup more than one room? Add Multi-zone to your checklist.

Once you have this nailed down your must-haves you now pick the kind of configuration you want to end up with. Av receiver’s graduate from 2-13 speaker configurations (2.1, 5.1.2, 7.1.2, 13.2).

As you can see you will need several speakers. Majority of people start with two speakers (floor-standing) and an active subwoofer.

The Av receiver rating in terms of output will determine the kind of speakers you can use. Usually, the AV rating is to deliver 80w and will work with speakers rated 4-8 Ω.

Most receivers will calibrate the sound depending on the number of speakers you have and you can adjust this each time you add or remove a speaker.

In summary, an AV receiver combined with the right TV will have you re-considering going to the movies and probably turn your living room into your friends’ fav movie hub.

This article was written by David Kitonga as a Guest Post.

For More Posts Like This, Visit Gadgets Africa.

1. Find Your Visual Sweet Spot

The math is relatively simple—take the display’s diagonal screen size and multiply it by 1.5 to 2.5. That’s how far your couch, chairs, or other prime seating choices should be placed relative to the front of the television.

2. For Small Rooms, Try A Soundbar

For small rooms, consider getting a soundbar, which packs multiple speakers into a single low-profile, horizontal package. Some of the sleeker models can fit right below the screen, while others act as a kind of reinforced base, with the TV sitting directly on top.

3. Clear Space For Wall-Shaking Bass

Another simple audio upgrade comes from a subwoofer, a bass-only class of speaker that’s designed to literally vibrate the room. The key here is to make sure there’s enough space right against one of your home theatre’s walls and preferably in a corner.

4. Mount Up For Surround Sound

The best, but most complex, audio setup is full surround sound, which usually entails six total audio channels, or speakers—one for the centre, the right and the left, two for the rear, and one subwoofer. The biggest challenge, however, is generally rear-channel placement. Expect to go the distance and mount the rear channels in the wall (the upper back corners of most rooms work fine).

5. Sit Up Straight For 3D

If you plan on watching a lot of 3D content, get yourself a seat with a stiff back. Why? Because tilting your head to one side or the other can garble the 3D effect—meaning the sort of sprawling position typical to couch-based viewing is no good. So make sure your chair or couch faces forward, in a way that discourages slouching and lounging.

6. Kill Two Birds With One Curve

The subtle bend in curved-HDTV displays actually increases the total viewing angle to either side of the TV. Prioritizing this feature can take some of the fuss out of the overall home theatre setup.

7. Put on Headphones, And Sit Wherever You Want

A handful of newer products let you plug standard headphones directly into a remote control or give wireless capabilities. So if you’ve got good headphones, pair them with your tv and you can sit anywhere.

Stereo System Cost vs Performance

Balance what you want with your budget. You don’t have to buy a hi-end stereo receiver, but make sure the one you buy has all the features and connection options you need or plan to use in the future. Stereo receivers start as low as $120 and go up to over $1,000. Also, keep these tips in mind:

You don’t have to spend a fortune on cables and wires. Beware of 6-ft speaker wire that costs $100 or more.
Don’t assume a 20,000 shilling pair of speakers will sound twice as good as a 10,000 shilling pair of speakers. As prices increase there’s often only an incremental increase in quality. There are excellent expensive speakers, but there are also moderately-priced speakers that provide excellent performance for the price.

Home Theatre Archives | Gadgets Africa