A mid-level home theater system shows an AV receiver in its usual context. This set up consists of large-screen LCD television, an AV receiver (the large unit on the lower middle shelf), a Sky+ HD satellite TV box, and a DVD player (and a Blu-ray Disc-capable PlayStation 3game console). The equipment is on a TV stand.
The term "receiver" basically refers to an amplifier, typically at least a two-channel stereo model, that has a built-in radio tuner. With A/V receivers, the basic functionality is to receive an audio signal, amplify the audio signal to drive multiple speakers, and allow pass-through of the corresponding video signal to a display device such as a projector or a television. The receiver performs tasks that would otherwise require numerous separate pieces of equipment, such as preamplifiers, equalizers, multiple power amplifiers, and so on.
As home entertainment options expanded in the 1980s and 1990s, so did the role of the receiver. The ability to handle a variety of digital audio signals was added. More amplifiers were added for surround-sound playback. Video switching was added to simplify changing from one device to another, though this role diminished again once TVs began supporting multiples of the same type of input connector.
The term audio/video receiver (AVR) or Home Theater Receiver is used to distinguish the multi-channel audio/video receiver (home theater receiver) from the simpler stereo receiver, though the primary function of both is amplification.
AV receivers may also be known as digital audio-video receivers or digital media renderers.[2]
The AV receiver is classified as an audio frequency electronic amplifier. But with the addition of several features in the 2000s, AV receivers in the 2010s generally have significant additional functionality.
Features
Channels
Stereo receivers have two channels of amplification (thus two separate amplifiers), while AV receivers may have more than two. The standard for AV receivers is five channels of amplification (thus five separate amplifiers), usually referred to as 5.1 receivers. This provides for a left, right, center, left surround sound and right surround sound speaker to be powered by the receiver.
In the 2010s, 7.1 receivers became more common and provide for two additional surround channels, left rear surround and right rear surround. The ".1" refers to the LFE (low-frequency effects/bass) channel, the signal of which is usually sent to an amplified subwoofer unit. 5.1 and 7.1 receivers do not usually provide amplification for this channel. Instead, they provide a line level output. The user then either buys a separate monophonic power amp for their subwoofer or obtains a powered subwoofer cabinet, which contains an integrated power amplifier.
Amplifier power
Audio amplifier power, normally specified in watts, is not always as significant as it may seem from the specification. Due to the logarithmic nature of human hearing, audio power or sound pressure level (SPL), must be increased by ten times to sound twice as loud. This is why SPL is measured on a logarithmic scale in decibels (dBs). An increase of 10dBs results in a perceived doubling of loudness. Another complication with human hearing is that as the SPL decreases the perceived volume of the low and high frequencies decreases faster than the central frequencies around 2 kHz.[3]
There are different standards for rating amplifier power depending on country, manufacturer, and model. Other factors also come into play: distortion, headroom, speaker efficiency. As well, some lower-price point manufacturers advertise the peak power of an amplifier, rather than its root mean square (RMS) power. Thus, it is possible for an amplifier with a specified lower power to sound louder than an amplifier with a specified higher power. Because of these factors, it is not easy to compare the perceived loudness of amplifiers solely from their specified power in watts.
Decoders
AV receivers usually provide one or more decoders for sources with more than two channels of audio information. This is most common with movie soundtracks, which use one of a variety of different types of encoding formats.[4]
The first common soundtrack format was Dolby Pro Logic, a surround sound processing technology. This format contains a center channel and a surround channel mixed into the left and right channels using a process called matrixing, providing a total of four channels. Receivers with Dolby Pro Logic decoders can separate out the center and surround channels from the left and right channels.
With the introduction of the DVD, the Dolby Digital format became a standard. Dolby Digital ready receivers included inputs and amplifiers for the additional channels. Most current AV receivers provide a Dolby Digital decoder and at least one digital S/PDIF input which can be connected to a source which provides a Dolby Digital output.
A somewhat less common surround sound decoder called DTS is standard on current AV receivers.
When Dolby Labs and DTS introduced technologies to add a rear center surround channel, these technologies found their way into AV Receivers. Receivers with six amplifiers (known as 6.1 receivers) will typically have both Dolby and DTS's technologies. These are Dolby Digital EX and DTS ES.
Dolby introduced Dolby Pro Logic II to allow stereo sources to play back as if they were encoded in surround sound. DTS introduced a similar technology, Neo:6. These decoders have become common on most current receivers.
As the number of playback channels was increased on receivers, other decoders have been added to some receivers. For example, Dolby Labs created Dolby Pro Logic IIx to take advantage of receivers with more than five channels of playback.
With the introduction of high definition players (e.g. Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD), yet more decoders have been added to some receivers. Lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoders are available on many receivers.
While Dolby Digital has been the standard for television and video games, Dolby Digital Plus has been adopted for online streaming services such as Netflix, and adds a much higher bit rate and can support more channels.
Dolby Atmos and DTS:X adds in ceiling height channels.
DSP effects
Most receivers offer specialized digital signal processors (DSP) made for handling various presets and audio effects. Some may offer simple equalizers and balance adjustments to complex DSP audio field simulations such as "Hall", "Arena", "Opera", etc. that simulate or attempt to replicate the reverb as if the audio were being played in the places through use of surround sound and echo effects.
AV inputs/outputs
The AV connections are arrayed in a patch bay at the rear of a unit. Shown here is a 2012 Yamaha AV receiver. The top cover of the unit, which is normally attached, has been removed. In the enlarged view of the image, all individual connectors are marked and described.
There are a variety of possible connections on an AV receiver. Standard connectors include:
USB (usually involves special computer circuitry to read video formats from a file system)
Analog audio connections usually use RCA plugs in stereo pairs. Inputs and outputs are both common. Outputs are provided mainly for cassette tape decks.
Analog audio connections using XLR (Balanced) connectors are uncommon, and are usually found on more expensive receivers.
Some receivers are also equipped with phono inputs, for connecting a turntable with a magnetic cartridge, although many receivers are lacking this input. In the last years, since vinyl players are gaining popularity, there are some manufacturers of A/V receivers which are offering a phono input on some models. Some receivers also have a selector for either MM/MC cartridge type, or even an impedance selector for cartridge, or some May have more than one Phono input. This feature is mainly offered to allow people owning a turntable to connect it and listen to their vinyl collection. Most receivers will only play in stereo, either front or main speakers, but some receivers may play on all speakers depending on the manufacturer and model.
Digital connections allow for the transmission of PCM, Dolby Digital or DTS audio. Common devices include CD players, DVD players, or satellite receivers.
Composite video connections use a single RCA plug on each end. Composite video is standard on all AV receivers allowing for the switching of video devices such as VHS players, cable boxes, and game consoles. DVD players may be connected via composite video connectors although a higher bandwidth connection is recommended.
S-Video connections offer better quality than composite video. It uses a DIN jack.
SCART connections generally offer the best quality video at standard-definition, due to the use of pure RGB signalling (although composite and S-Video may alternatively be offered over a SCART connector). SCART provides video and audio in one connection.
Component video has become the best connection for analog video as higher definitions such as 720p have become common. The YPbPr signalling provides a good compromise between resolution and colour definition.
Some AV Receivers can convert from one video format to another. This is commonly called upconversion or transcoding. A smaller number of receivers provide for de-interlacing of video signals. For example, a receiver with upconversion, deinterlacing and upscaling can take an interlaced composite signal at 480i (480 lines per frame sent as a field of 240 even numbered lines 0,2,4,8...478 followed by a field of 240 odd numbered lines 1,3,5,...479) and convert it to component video while also deinterlacing and upscaling it to a higher resolution such as 720p (720 lines per frame with all lines in normal sequence 0,1,2...719).
Radio on AVRs
AV receivers though primarily used for amplification may or may not have an inbuilt AM/FM radio tuner among other features such as LAN connectivity for various Internet applications and some with multi-room audio solutions.
Even though some AVRs may have an AM/FM tuner it is not a primary or mandatory function as an AVR still remains an amplifier.
Some models have HD Radio tuner. Also some models May have a digital Radio, DAB/DAB+, for some markets.
Some models have Internet radio and PC streaming access capabilities with an Ethernet port.
