AV receiver — the centre of home entertainment

You can independently choose and buy an AV receiver in the corresponding catalog. Below we will talk about what is important to pay attention to when choosing a device.

Content from networks

Without support for the DLNA protocol, perhaps, not a single existing AV receiver with a network connection can do. This universal standard, adopted by almost all electronics manufacturers, allows devices to transmit and receive streaming video and audio over a network. Your receiver may receive such a signal, in particular, from a computer, media player or other device that is provided for by the standard and supports it. Before using DLNA in the menu of the receiver, you only need to select the appropriate signal source. And thus the receiver will play the role of a network media player.

The new receivers, in addition to a variety of audio and video inputs, also have an Ethernet port, Wi-Fi (with external antennas) and Bluetooth

And that is not all! When connected to the Network, an AV receiver (say Denon AVR-X5200W) can use streaming and on-demand content selection as a content source. In the first case, we get access to a huge number of Internet radio stations (for example, vTuner) and TV channels in real time. In the second case, you can choose the content to your liking. As an example, let's take the Spotify Connect service with access to thousands of audio recordings.

Full HD to Ultra HD

There are already a lot of Ultra HD (4K) TVs, and there are still not enough films in this resolution, to put it mildly. Owners of such TVs will benefit from the ability to increase picture resolution (upscaling) from Full HD to Ultra HD. Without the use of this technology, each Full HD pixel "works out" four pixels of the 4K TV screen. When upscaling, each pixel "depends" on others — the picture is processed by the receiver's processor according to certain algorithms. This visually enhances image clarity — something for which, in fact, the Ultra HD standard and related TVs were created.

Noise canceling system in Pioneer AV receivers

If you have a Full HD TV, and you sometimes watch low-quality video (for example, movies from the 60s and 70s), then the image most often deteriorates due to various noises. And although more recently, knowledgeable people recommended turning off noise reduction, now these technologies work correctly and efficiently. Modern video noise reduction in an AV receiver, such as the Pioneer VSX-924-K, works in three ways. Gaussian noise is suppressed (looks like evenly distributed "grain"), step noise (spoiling smooth colour and brightness transitions), and mosquito noise, which appears as a translucent fringing of contrasting edges. All this works in a complex and in modern models of AV receivers it is often a non-disabled function.

Almost all receivers are ready to receive Ultra HD signal (at 60 fps) for both movies and games. By the way, some Onkyo models are also equipped with special multi-channel sound modes for games (divided into genres — action, sports, etc.). Therefore, a receiver with acoustics connected to a PC or console can give a lot of sound experience in games. However, even without a special mode, the sound will be impressive, because even a set of a low-cost receiver and Hi-Fi acoustics sounds better than computer speakers.

High-Resolution Audio and other "chips" for music lovers

Perhaps, using a powerful audio system based on the receiver exclusively for a home theater is not entirely correct — sometimes moviegoers want to listen to music. Moreover, a good receiver with appropriate acoustics will eliminate the need for a separate stereo system. For starters, AV receivers have recently been equipped with top-notch DACs (digital-to-analogue converters). Therefore, they not only play movie soundtracks with excellent quality, but also play music. Almost all new models already support high-resolution recordings (High-Resolution Audio).

The parameters of the usual music CD are 44.1 kHz and 16 bits, while the parameters of Hi-Res recordings reach 192 kHz and 32 bits. The advantage is more accurate preservation of the original analogue signal. This means that when playing we get the best sound quality of music. The disadvantage is that such records take up a much larger amount of memory, however, this is currently no longer a particular problem. Increasingly, receivers support the DSD format, which is different from those in which CD copies (WAV, FLAC, etc.) are encoded. The standard was originally created by Sony and Philips for use in SACD (Super Audio CD) optical discs. The ability to receive it via HDMI, USB or network is already used in some receiver models (for example, Marantz NR-1605). As for the availability of Hi-Res phonograms, here the process is also very active — now a lot of new and not very high-definition music is becoming available (for example, on the site www.hdtracks.com and others like it).

Also, music lovers should pay attention to AV receivers with amplified front channels. This makes it possible to use the already existing powerful floor acoustics for its intended purpose — to listen to classic stereo. These receivers often use improved components to improve the sound quality, especially in the amplifier circuits of the front speakers. And for music, a mode is provided when digital circuits are turned off to minimize their effect on the sound (this mode is called Pure Direct or similar). In addition, sometimes the front speakers can be connected in Bi-Amp mode (two rather than one channel of amplification per speaker is used). This will help to “rock” the most difficult acoustics to lift. And for some models like the Pioneer VSX-924-K, you can use an additional pair of speaker terminals to connect a stereo pair of "zone 2" — located, for example, in the next room.

Smartphone instead of player

The phone is quite suitable for the role of a source of musical recordings, not only on a walk, but also at home. And not only MP3 files, but also recordings without quality loss in sound (like FLAC and AIFF). However, the sound quality of the entire system will largely depend on the connection option.

The simplest option is to take the signal from the headphone output using a stereo jack-to-jack or jack-to-tulip cable. Some receivers (for example, Onkyo TX-NR535) have a connector for such a cable right on the front panel (do not confuse it with a calibration microphone or trigger output connector). The method is simple and convenient (everything can be adjusted directly on the gadget), but not the highest quality: the music is played in the smartphone, and then the signal passes through the receiver amplifier.

You can also try to connect the gadget and the receiver via USB (it is also often displayed on the front panel, such as the Marantz NR-1604). The quality in this version is higher — the source file is decoded by a high-quality stationary system. It is not very convenient that playback control in this case is usually available only from the receiver, but the gadget can be recharged from the USB port of some receivers. Android smartphones allow this option to work in the "memory card" mode, and the owners of Apple gadgets have much more opportunities. With the USB cable included with your iPhone/iPad/iPod, you get high-quality sound with control from the gadget itself.

Connecting the iPhone and iPad to the receivers is made extremely simple — connect it with a standard cable to the USB port and start your favorite tracks

But what about the video? With a cable connection for Android owners, there is MHL technology (in English — Mobile High-Definition Link), which requires the use of a special HDMI-microUSB cable. Naturally, before purchasing it, you should make sure that your equipment supports MHL. For owners of "apple" gadgets, you will need a special interface adapter cable from Apple — but you are unlikely to want to buy it — the "wired" version is successfully replacing wireless technologies.

Extra cables — down!

The receiver actually has two wireless technologies — Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Bluetooth allows you to play stereo from compatible gadgets — this technology has become very common lately. The quality is better than via the analogue input, but still worse than via USB. But ease of use — the maximum. It is even more convenient if your devices (both the gadget and the receiver, for example, such as Sony STR-DN1050) support the built-in NFC technology — in this case, the process of “getting to know” the devices comes down to the fact that, for example, you just need to bring a smartphone to the front panel of the AV receiver — that's it, the system is ready to work, it remains to call the player on the smartphone and start playback.

Smartphone and tablet can be used as a remote control to set up and control your home theater

There are also "chips" for the implementation of which Wi-Fi is indispensable. In particular, it is through Wi-Fi that many AV receivers can be controlled from the touchscreens of Apple and Android smartphones and tablets. Often the software shells provided free of charge by receiver manufacturers even have the same name and the same control interface for both platforms. Conveniently, this usually does not require a Wi-Fi router (although you can with one). When controlling from a gadget, it should be remembered that, usually, it does not provide the execution of a single command — turning on the receiver (exiting the stand by mode), since, in this mode, Wi-Fi is most often turned off.

Apple owners can use AirPlay, a technology that allows you to transfer video and audio to a playback device via Wi-Fi. Before AirPlay, Apple had Apple's AirTunes technology, which was responsible only for sound — these technologies, of course, are incompatible. Android, of course, tries to keep up, and has a similar Miracast technology. It supports the streaming of what the gadget is currently playing — synchronously, without delay. In addition, for owners of HTC smartphones, a variant called HTC Connect is available in Yamaha and Pioneer receivers using the DLNA protocol.

Automatic setting

A modern AV receiver controls a whole acoustic complex, which can include more than a dozen speakers (columns). Their work is affected by the room where they are located — the high-quality tuning of such an array "by ear" is an outstanding matter. This task is simplified with the use of automatic tuning systems. At the same time, both built-in systems of both the receiver manufacturers themselves and third-party manufacturers are used, for example, Audyssey from the brand of the same name in many models of receivers Onkyo, Anthem, etc., MCACC (from Pioneer) from Pioneer, YPAO (from Yamaha) — from Yamaha receivers.

Such systems work simply and even an inexperienced user will understand them. An external microphone is connected to the receiver (often it is already included in the kit) and installed at the place of the future listener and viewer. Then the self-testing (calibration) process starts, during which silence must be observed and nothing has to be done. The system will work out a series of test sound signals and come into compliance — you will have to, if desired, adjust individual parameters to your liking.

Sounds new

The latest receiver models (released in 2015) provide support for new sound formats — DTS:X and Dolby Atmos. We should pay tribute to Dolby Laboratories — Dolby Atmos is still much more famous. Speakers for this format include two in-ceiling (or ceiling-facing) speakers to make the sound even more immersive. DTS:X doesn't even require that, and the format is compatible with Dolby Atmos (but not vice versa). And, besides, it allows you to highlight (raise the volume), say, a dialogue channel, on any acoustic configuration — however, only if the sound track is recorded in DTS:X. However, we should not worry about the difference in standards. New models from some manufacturers, such as the Onkyo TX-NR646 and TX-NR747 receivers, just in case, support both new formats. As it was with conventional Dolby Digital and DTS. Although, there are models like the Denon AVR-X5200W that only support Dolby Atmos. Now we have to wait for the release of films with the appropriate soundtracks.

And speaking of traditions...

And finally, one more feature of AV receivers — they all have a radio in their composition! The FM band is a must, and often LW and MW to boot. After all, the very name "receiver" is translated as "receiver" — perhaps that is why the tradition is observed to this day. So with each generation, receivers get new "chips" and keep the old ones.