No home theater is truly complete without an AV receiver. This piece of equipment controls your entire home theater experience by performing the following functions:
- Acts as a user interface for your home theater by managing the remote control receiver, display on the television, and display on the AV receiver's face.
- Switches and connects all audio and video sources in your home theater. When installed correctly, you should easily be able to switch the audio or video sources that you desire to listen to such as TiVo or a DVD.
- AV receivers amplify the sound in all of your speakers by up to five times.
- The device is necessary to decode various surround-sound formats like analog and digital.
- You have the ability to tune in radio programming if you wish.
Specific Benefits of Having an AV Receiver in Your Home Theater
An AV receiver offers exceptional benefits, such as the ability to play video games with intense and realistic sound effects. Another major benefit is that an AV receiver easily adapts to its surroundings. For example, if you live in a house with high ceilings or tiled flooring that normally affects sound quality, having an AV receiver allows you to overcome these obstacles to an excellent home theater experience.
Besides the improved user experience offered by an AV receiver, you should notice a decrease in your electricity costs as well. That is because the unit allows you to keep electronics you aren't currently using turned off to conserve energy. With no real downsides to having an AV receiver, it's a smart choice for anyone who wants to feel like they're at the theater without ever having to leave home.