- In this report
- Overview
- Features
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April 2008
Important features Receivers
Some models have expanded their repertoire to accommodate newer technologies, such as satellite radio. Models with XM Radio tuners currently outnumber those that support Sirius. (To receive satellite radio, you need an external antenna and to pay an ongoing service fee.)
On higher-priced new models, you might also find support for HD Radio, a free digital form of AM/FM. We expect to see this feature in more models, at lower prices, in the future.
A rising number of models also permit Apple iPod docking. The receiver will charge the iPod, play its audio and video (using the receiver's remote or console controls), and perhaps show track selections on the console display.
Some receivers have a USB port, which allows you to play music stored on your computer. A few models can route video and still images stored on a computer or on a memory card inserted into a slot on the receiver to a TV. Others may include an Ethernet port, which gives the receiver access to music, photos, videos, and other content stored on a home network. New receivers coming on the market will offer Bluetooth wireless connectivity so you can listen to music stored on cell phones or MP3 players.
Another example of versatility is the ability to play music in more than one room. Many receivers have a B-speaker connection that lets you power a remote pair of stereo speakers so you can listen to the same source in a few locations.
A step up from that is multizone capability. That enables you to use different input sources in different rooms—say, listen to the radio in the bedroom while another family member watches a DVD movie in the living room (the main zone). A few high-priced models have three-zone capability. Some receivers provide power for the additional speakers; with others, you might need a separate power amplifier.
Connections matter more on a receiver than on any other home-theater component. A stereo receiver will give you analog-audio inputs and outputs; many will have analog-video inputs and outputs too, such as composite-video and S-video, and component-video. Multichannel receivers add digital-audio inputs and outputs and analog-video connections. Newer models might have HDMI connections, which are important if you are planning to use HD video sources, such as an HD DVD or a Blu-ray player. All those video jacks let you route video signals through the receiver to the TV. Some multichannel receivers convert composite-video or S-video input to component-video or HDMI output (still standard definition). You can select the source on the receiver without having to change inputs on the TV.
Multichannel receivers might also have analog 5.1 or 7.1 audio inputs. Those accept input from a DVD player with a built-in digital-audio decoder, an outboard decoder, or other components with multichannel analog signals, such as a DVD-Audio or SACD player. USB inputs connect to a digital media player or a computer.
Clear labeling, color coding, and logical grouping of jacks can help avert glitches during setup. Front-panel inputs are handy for temporary connections, say, to a video game or digital camera.
Controls are another important consideration. Tone controls adjust bass and treble, letting you satisfy your personal preferences. A graphic equalizer breaks the sound spectrum into three or more sections, giving you more control over the audio spectrum. Instead of tone controls, some receivers come with tone presets such as "jazz" or "rock," each accentuating a different frequency pattern. Often you can also create your own styles.
DSP (digital-signal processor) modes use a computer chip to duplicate the sound characteristics of a concert hall and other listening environments.
A loudness switch amplifies the highest and deepest sounds to produce richer sound when the volume is set low, and in midnight mode reduces loud sounds and amplifies quiet ones in Dolby Digital encoded soundtracks.
A settings memory, sometimes called "one touch," lets you store settings for each source to minimize settings when switching between sources. A similar feature, loudness memory, is limited to volume settings.
Onscreen display lets you view the receiver's menus on a TV screen, a squint-free alternative to using the receiver's LED or LCD display. Switched AC outlets (expect one or two) let you plug in other components and turn the whole system on and off with one button.
Automatic setup and speaker-balancing features are improving, appearing even on lower-priced models. More models also have onscreen setup to simplify the process.
A tape monitor lets you listen to a recording as it's being made, or patch in signal-processing equipment such as an outboard graphic equalizer.
Automatic or seek-radio tuning searches for the next in-range station at the touch of a button. Most models have a station-preset feature that lets you store 20 to 40 of your favorite stations for easy recall.
To catch stations too weak for the seek mode, receivers also have a manual mode. Direct tuning of frequencies lets you tune to a radio station by entering its frequency on a keypad.
Some models have expanded their repertoire to accommodate newer technologies, such as satellite radio. Models with XM Radio tuners currently outnumber those that support Sirius. (To receive satellite radio, you need an external antenna and to pay an ongoing service fee.)
On higher-priced new models, you might also find support for HD Radio, a free digital form of AM/FM. We expect to see this feature in more models, at lower prices, in the future.
A rising number of models also permit Apple iPod docking. The receiver will charge the iPod, play its audio and video (using the receiver's remote or console controls), and perhaps show track selections on the console display.
Some receivers have a USB port, which allows you to play music stored on your computer. A few models can route video and still images stored on a computer or on a memory card inserted into a slot on the receiver to a TV. Others may include an Ethernet port, which gives the receiver access to music, photos, videos, and other content stored on a home network. New receivers coming on the market will offer Bluetooth wireless connectivity so you can listen to music stored on cell phones or MP3 players.
Another example of versatility is the ability to play music in more than one room. Many receivers have a B-speaker connection that lets you power a remote pair of stereo speakers so you can listen to the same source in a few locations.
A step up from that is multizone capability. That enables you to use different input sources in different rooms—say, listen to the radio in the bedroom while another family member watches a DVD movie in the living room (the main zone). A few high-priced models have three-zone capability. Some receivers provide power for the additional speakers; with others, you might need a separate power amplifier.
Connections matter more on a receiver than on any other home-theater component. A stereo receiver will give you analog-audio inputs and outputs; many will have analog-video inputs and outputs too, such as composite-video and S-video, and component-video. Multichannel receivers add digital-audio inputs and outputs and analog-video connections. Newer models might have HDMI connections, which are important if you are planning to use HD video sources, such as an HD DVD or a Blu-ray player. All those video jacks let you route video signals through the receiver to the TV. Some multichannel receivers convert composite-video or S-video input to component-video or HDMI output (still standard definition). You can select the source on the receiver without having to change inputs on the TV.
Multichannel receivers might also have analog 5.1 or 7.1 audio inputs. Those accept input from a DVD player with a built-in digital-audio decoder, an outboard decoder, or other components with multichannel analog signals, such as a DVD-Audio or SACD player. USB inputs connect to a digital media player or a computer.
Clear labeling, color coding, and logical grouping of jacks can help avert glitches during setup. Front-panel inputs are handy for temporary connections, say, to a video game or digital camera.
Controls are another important consideration. Tone controls adjust bass and treble, letting you satisfy your personal preferences. A graphic equalizer breaks the sound spectrum into three or more sections, giving you more control over the audio spectrum. Instead of tone controls, some receivers come with tone presets such as "jazz" or "rock," each accentuating a different frequency pattern. Often you can also create your own styles.
DSP (digital-signal processor) modes use a computer chip to duplicate the sound characteristics of a concert hall and other listening environments.
A loudness switch amplifies the highest and deepest sounds to produce richer sound when the volume is set low, and in midnight mode reduces loud sounds and amplifies quiet ones in Dolby Digital encoded soundtracks.
A settings memory, sometimes called "one touch," lets you store settings for each source to minimize settings when switching between sources. A similar feature, loudness memory, is limited to volume settings.
Onscreen display lets you view the receiver's menus on a TV screen, a squint-free alternative to using the receiver's LED or LCD display. Switched AC outlets (expect one or two) let you plug in other components and turn the whole system on and off with one button.
Automatic setup and speaker-balancing features are improving, appearing even on lower-priced models. More models also have onscreen setup to simplify the process.
A tape monitor lets you listen to a recording as it's being made, or patch in signal-processing equipment such as an outboard graphic equalizer.
Automatic or seek-radio tuning searches for the next in-range station at the touch of a button. Most models have a station-preset feature that lets you store 20 to 40 of your favorite stations for easy recall.
To catch stations too weak for the seek mode, receivers also have a manual mode. Direct tuning of frequencies lets you tune to a radio station by entering its frequency on a keypad.
