Advice on receivers and amplifiers
How may speakers do you want to connect?
Connect 2 speakers to a surround receiver and listen to music in stereo. You can expand with rear speakers, a center speaker, and a subwoofer for a real movie theater experience. Don't need surround? A stereo receiver or amplifier is enough for you. The number of channels dictates the number of speakers you can connect. A 2.0 means 2 speakers without subwoofer. A 5.1 setup consists of 5 speakers with a subwoofer.
What kind of speaker do you want to connect?
The power of a receiver often isn't very relevant when you choose your speaker. With average use, most receivers can handle any speaker just fine. You only need a powerful amplifier for large speakers or when you want a very loud volume. If you're not sure, it's better to have too much than too little power.
Do you want to stream music?
Easily stream music from your iPhone, iPad, or computer with iTunes in high quality via AirPlay. You need to use Bluetooth for other smartphones and tablets. You can play a music collection on your laptop, PC, or network drive via DLNA. You can browse through your favorites via a smartphone app.
Do you want to stream music online?
Connect a receiver to your network and make an internet connection. This way, you get access to thousands of radio channels. Do you have a Spotify or Deezer subscription? You can choose a receiver with streaming service. You can navigate through your playlists via the app of the receiver. You can also control a receiver with Spotify Connect via the Spotify app itself.
Do you want to listen to noise-free radio?
If you want to listen to radio with your receiver without interference, choose a receiver with DAB+ radio. Thanks to the digital reception, all your channels sound noise-free. Compared to AM/FM radio, DAB+ has more advantages. You receive even more channels, for example, and you get extra information on weather reports or sports results. You can also pick radio stations by name. This way, you won't have to search long between frequencies.
What kind of videos do you want to watch?
If you want to use a receiver to transfer an image to your TV, you need an AV receiver with HDMI. A stereo receiver or amplifier can't handle an image signal. All AV receivers support Full HD signals. Do you want to be completely future-proof? A receiver with the better Ultra HD is a smart choice.
Do you want to watch razor-sharp movies?
With 4K, also known as UHD or Ultra HD, you can enjoy razor-sharp images. This resolution is about 4 times higher than with Full HD. You need a television with at least 4K resolution for this. But that's not the only thing. To make everything work seamlessly, you can also choose a 4K blu-ray player and receiver with UHD support.
Which devices do you want to connect?
Connect your Blu-ray player, gaming console, and other devices to your receiver. You can switch between inputs on the receiver and you only need to run 1 HDMI cable to your TV. The number of inputs differs per receiver. There are also receivers with an extra connector for a projector. You need a phono input for a record player.
Do you want sound in multiple rooms?
Many receivers and amplifiers allow you to play your music in multiple rooms at the same time. Connect an extra amplifier or a second pair of speakers to a zone2 or zone3 and the sound plays in 2 or 3 rooms at the same time. An extra zone only works for stereo sound. You can control the volume for each room separately.
Is your home cinema complete?
Complete your home cinema or private concert hall with a set of good speakers, a fitting Blu-ray player and the right cables. Use the latest High Speed HDMI cables to be sure every function works well.
