Most consumers no longer feel a compelling need to buy another AV receiver, since the cost is no longer an absolute necessity. Betting on 3D has not justified itself. Despite the rapid decrease in the price of all the necessary equipment, the problem of the lack of really decent stereoscopic movies limits the number of people willing to join this technology. The stock of 3D-players is still very small. That is why the 2011 Pioneer lineup is aimed at a much larger group of people, namely the fans of Apple devices.
Eyes on the essentials
The main thing you should pay attention to is the HDMI version, the number of such inputs, the presence of the second output and the port on the front panel. The latest incarnation is currently 1.4a, which is different from the previous 1.Three things to consider.
The first is 3D compatibility. Even if your 3D player and display support 3D, but your receiver doesnāt, you canāt play 3D Blu-ray discs in stereoscopic format.
Players with two HDMI-outputs are a workaround, but if you have a second 3D-source, such as Playstation 3, it ceases to be convenient. So, if you want to have stereo picture and surround sound in your cinemas, there is no alternative to AV receiver upgrade.
The second innovation with HDMI 1.4a serves as an audio return channel. It allows to leave one HDMI wire between the receiver and the display, both for picture transmission from players and for sound transmission from the built-in TV tuner to the audio system.
Canāt call this feature vital, since all TVs have an audio output anyway, more like a nice little thing. Of course, the TV must have a port of the same version.
Well, and the third is built into the HDMI-connector local network, but it is so far a little demanded part, since all network devices are still using mainly LAN-connector. A saving, one might say, for the future.
From the same position of protection against obsolescence, you should take a receiver with HDMI inputs to spare. If three or four are enough today, you will probably need more in the near future. Cameras, cell phones, handheld players, tablets ā all now equipped with HDMI output. Naturally, it is more convenient for a handheld when there is a jack on the front panel of the receiver. Owners of two displays many people prefer to watch movies on a projector and TV programs on the TV will benefit from the second output.
Another feature is important for fans of handheld players and multimedia phones. These are various accessory ports for iPod family compatibility, USB, built-in AirPlay and Bluetooth.
There arenāt any common standards in the genre yet, its development is too dynamic. So it makes sense to clarify what models of receivers are best suited for your existing player. The broadest support for Apple products, here almost every device is equipped with a wired interface, and many manufacturers have already added a radio channel.
Working with local networks
The use of local networks is becoming more and more widespread in home cinema. Itās clear to the naked eye that this is where the future belongs, as discs are living out their last days. At the moment, most receivers are equipped with a LAN-connector, but its functionality is still in its infancy. As a rule, it is limited to support for DLNA sound.
In this case, essentially, a computer or a player plays music, directing a standard data stream to a receiver, which performs digital-to-analog conversion and plays the role of an amplifier.
The advantage of this technology is the widest compatibility with digital audio formats, the disadvantage is the complexity of control. For convenience, such systems require an iPad or Android tablet with special software as a remote control.
Somewhat more convenient is UPnP function where the receiver itself plays the role of a player finding files on network storage. Their range is limited by the capabilities of the AV receiverās decoder, but apart from the OSD menu, no additional controls or extra programs on the computer are required.
As a rule, receivers with UPnP support similarly can play audio files from USB. Coming of the network video in the receivers has not yet taken place globally, this is a matter of the near future.
It is worth noting some things that have lost their meaning nowadays. For receivers, itās primarily analog switching. We are not talking about multi-channel analog audio output, its role is retained. But stereo pairs, S-Video, composite, component, as well as S/PDIF though not analog are hardly needed anymore.
It is worth paying attention to their presence if the existing theater components have only these obsolete outputs. HDMI has successfully replaced them all and is available in all devices which can be purchased today for video and audio playback. There are only two exceptions. These are Wii game consoles equipped only with component output, and specialized CD players equipped with a stereo pair or S/PDIF.
The latter are not particularly relevant in conjunction with the receivers, as in the creation of the latter the requests of music lovers are of secondary importance. Often a Blu-ray player will be enough as a CD player in an AV system, while serious audiophiles should have a closer look at the usual stereo amplifiers.
What criteria do you need to select a modern receiver? For a long time such criteria have been support for all the latest standards of audio tracks and the availability of actual ports for display and all signal sources.
But now to find on sale the device without HDMI and full compatibility with Blu-ray discs is unreal. Unless itās on the secondary market. So new features come to the fore. These include media networks, portable devices, and 3D.
What are the key factors to consider when choosing an AV-receiver and determining its amplification capabilities?
What are the key aspects to consider when choosing an AV-receiver for optimal amplification performance?
Can you provide more information about the AV-receivers test? Iām particularly interested in understanding the amplification capabilities and how they perform on different fronts.
The AV-receivers test is a comprehensive evaluation of the amplification capabilities of different models on the market. This test typically assesses factors such as power output, distortion levels, frequency response, and signal-to-noise ratio to determine the overall audio performance of each receiver. Additionally, the test may also evaluate features like surround sound processing, connectivity options, and compatibility with various audio formats. Overall, the test provides valuable insights into how each receiver performs in terms of sound quality, versatility, and overall user experience.
How do AV-receivers fare in terms of amplification for all types of audio signals and inputs?