A/V Receiver Buying Guide

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Price	Description	Good Pick  (see all A/V Receivers)
$	Entry level A/V receivers start at around $175 and range up to $300. You’ll find 7.1 surround sound, DTS decoding, and satellite radio capability at this level, but you’ll trade off HDMI and video processing features. Most A/V receivers in this range don’t put out a lot of power, so they’re better suited to apartments and smaller rooms. Stereo purists should note that a few manufacturers, notably Harman/Kardon, still offer analog stereo receivers at this price.	Harman Kardon AV Receivers AVR130 Receiver Compare prices at 2 stores $289 - $298
$$	The most attractive feature in A/V receivers from $300 to $600 is HDMI connections, which ensure that these receivers will be useful for years to come. You’ll find higher wattage, wider frequency response, and a greater range of connections in these A/V receivers. If you’re looking for enhanced Dolby or DTS decoding, make sure the A/V receiver supports all formats, as some could become obsolete in the next three years.	JVC RX-D411 Compare prices at 9 stores $350 - $550
$$$	Audiophiles only need look at models over $600. You’ll get 100 watts per channel and multiple-room audio control that lets people listen to different sources throughout the home. HDMI is a must at this price level and frequency response should be smooth across the entire spectrum from 20Hz to 20,000Hz.

shop talk

Another term for speakers, this tells you how many separate speakers an A/V receiver supports. Stereo uses two channels, while 5.1, 6.1, and 7.1 surround systems use front, center, and rear speakers—the number before the period—and a subwoofer.

A connection based on the RCA jack standard that can carry high-definition video by splitting it into red, green, and blue signals. This format is being phased out in favor of HDMI.

Digital Theater Sound is a surround-sound format that uses less compression than Dolby Surround, resulting in what some consider higher-quality audio.

The range of sounds that an A/V receiver can reproduce, measured in hertz (Hz). The range of human hearing runs from 20Hz at the low end to 20,000 Hz at the high end. A/V receivers with better frequency response provide fuller, more natural sound.

High Definition Multimedia Input is the new standard for connecting digital components. These bundled cables can transmit larger amounts of audio and video data than other connection types.

The amount of resistance that a circuit provides to an electrical signal, measured in Ohms. Speakers with higher impedance need more wattage at higher volumes, which can damage an underpowered A/V receiver.

A fiber-optic connection used to transmit digital audio data between an A/V receiver and other components. Although popular in high-end components for the past decade, optical connections are losing ground to HDMI connectors.

The standard for analog audio connections in A/V receivers and components, it uses two bundled cables (one red and one white) to carry the signal.

The amount of power that an A/V receiver sends to each channel. Care must be taken in matching speakers to an A/V receiver, as too much wattage can destroy the speakers.