Does a receiver really make a difference in a surround sound home theater?

Question

Does a receiver really make a difference in a surround sound home theater?

Answer 1

Some of the newer sources (BluRay) have higher encoded sound tracks on the disk.  (DTS master, Dolby true HD, PCM uncompressed).  

Only the newer / better receviers will decode these sound tracks properly.  The older receivers and HTIB (Home theater in a box) will decode it, but not to it's fullest potential.  They will use older codecs to decode the sound.  Not nearly as good.

To answer your question bluntly, it all depends on the recievers capability.  

Most electronics stores, you won't really be able to hear the difference.  You have to compete with the people playing the latest 50 cent track in the car audio section way too loud.

From the prices that I have seen lately, to get the equipment that does all of this, it will cost you about $600 for the receiver.

Answer 2

Well - you almost cannot have a decent home system without one.

You can buy the el-cheepo $300 sharp/sony/lg/samsung "systems" -but these do basically 1 thing: play dvd's.

You need something that can take:

- Sound from a HD cable box or HD sat recevier

- Sound from a xBox/PS3

- Sound from a BluRay player

So that all your 5.1 surround sound devices can use the speakers.

A receiver with LOTS of extra inputs is needed for this.

(I am about to have a HD Cable box, HD Sat receiver, BluRay, HD-DVD and xBox360 in my system: 5 devices).

We have not even gotten to having HD Radio, iPod connections or Sat radio connections.

So a good AV Receiver is becoming the "Heart" of a home entertainment system.

Answer 3

Absolutely! Especially if you set it up 5.1 (5 speakers) or 7.1 (7 speakers)

The speakers that are built in to TV's are not powerful enough if you want that home theater experience.

Answer 4

Receiver are used to take information in from your source may it be DVD, Blu-Ray, or Cable box. Most sources output either a stereo sound or a 5.1 surround. Receivers decode information from your source and outputs these to your speakers. The better the receiver the better the output and the more choices of sound you have.

Newer receivers even have volume levelers so commercials don't blare at you and they give you options for nigh-time viewing so you receive the same effects at a lower volume if you have a family or roommates.

Receivers can also improve the quality of sound you hear. Small nuances stand out more and the effects are more realistic.

Hopefully this answers your question.