Specifications

AUDIO/VIDEO RECEIVERS (AVRs)

In this guide we refer to Audio/Video receivers as AVRs and A/V receivers. It is

easy to be overwhelmed when trying to choose one. This is due to the dizzying array

of features that many brands offer. It seems that manufacturers are battling it out to

see who can incorporate the most features. There’s so many logos on the front pan-

els of AVRs such as Dolby

, DTS

, THX

, Audyssey

, etc. you wonder how they

have any room for controls. After all, it’s relatively easy for them to add features. It’s

just programming on a chip. However, the question is: Which features are really nec-

essary?

Currently, the four brands of receivers that are most popular with our custom-

ers are Onkyo, Integra, Denon, and Marantz. Onkyo and Integra are the same com-

pany. Also, Denon and Marantz are the same company. These AVRs, sound great,

are generally easier to setup then some of the other brands. Most of these receivers

employ Audyssey

room correction circuitry, which can be very important if your

room has less than ideal room acoustics. We’ll talk more about that later.

In this guide, we will briefly discuss some of the main features that are offered

in many AVRs. It’s a good idea to have a list of those that are important to you when

shopping for one.

In general, we advise our customers to be conservative when budgeting for an

AVR. In a home theater, the items you’ll keep the longest are your speakers. Well

made speakers (such as RSLs) can last for decades. The next item will be your TV.

TVs, especially those with LED backlighting can last for many years. The item you’ll

probably own for the least amount of time will be the AVR. It’s not that they’ll fail pre-

maturely. It’s the fact that the features change so often that people sometime feel the

need to upgrade periodically. So, we recommend that you don’t over-budget for an

AVR. You can achieve breathtaking sound with our speakers by getting an AVR in

the $500-$1,000 price range. We also suggest that you look for either a last year’s

model or factory-refurbished AVR for big savings. You can always call us for advice.

We can give you our opinion about what considering or make suggestions.