Video:Advanced Functions to Consider When Buying an AV Receiver
with Tom KnightAn AV receiver can serve any number of functions in a home theater set-up, so it's good to know some of them when buying one. This video from About.com will offer some advice on which functions to consider when buying an AV receiver.See Transcript
Transcript:Advanced Functions to Consider When Buying an AV Receiver
Hi! This is Tom Knight for About.com. Today, we're here to talk about advanced features to consider when buying an AV receiver.
Wi-Fi and Different Media Ports in AV Receivers
AV receivers have more bells and whistles than ever. Here are a few bells and whistles to look for. Does it support networking? Does it have Wi-Fi? Wi-Fi makes it easy to add newer features or upgrade. Wi-Fi allows streaming from external audio or video libraries.
Newer receivers may feature compatibility with Apple's AirPlay standard. This allows media streaming from iTunes, or even an iPhone or iPad. You may also want to look for functions like internet radio or built-in satellite radio reception. Some receivers let you plug in a dock or have a built-in slot for an iPod Touch or an iPhone. You might want to look for other ports like USB or a memory card slot.
Using Video Devices With an AV Receiver
One of the main features of an AV receiver is to use it as a hub for all of your video devices. You'll want to make sure you have plenty of HDMI connections. You'll want to have connections for your cable box, your Blu-Ray player, your game consoles, and any other devices you might want to use. The latest standard is HDMI 1.4, which ensures that features such as 3D will transmit successfully.
Upscaling Technology
Many of today's receivers have excellent upscaling technology. This allows a standard definition DVD to simulate a high-definition image. This might not be necessary if your DVD or Blu-Ray player has upscaling technology already. But if not, many AV receivers have excellent implementations of upscaling technology.
Other AV Receiver Features
Some receivers come with remote calibration, which means they have microphones or sensors to map the shape of the room. This allows the receiver to optimize the output for the best sound quality. Multi-zones are handy for remote speakers. With multi-zone, you can have one source play to one set of speakers in one room, and another source play to another set of speakers in another room. For example, you can be watching a movie in the main zone in your living room, while at the same time, you're sending a different signal to another zone on the patio.
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