Receiver | How To Buy A

A "channel" represents one speaker. The more channels, the more immersive the sound.

Ensure there are enough for every device (TV, PlayStation, Apple TV) plus one or two spares for future gadgets.

The first decision is deciding what you are actually hooking up. how to buy a receiver

Adds two rear speakers for better depth in medium to large rooms.

Required for Dolby Atmos or DTS:X , which add "height" channels to make sound feel like it's coming from above you. A "channel" represents one speaker

If you have a 4K or 8K TV, your receiver must be HDMI 2.1 compliant to pass those high-resolution signals through without losing quality.

Essential if you plan to connect a turntable without a separate preamp. The first decision is deciding what you are

Best if you only care about music . It typically powers two speakers and a subwoofer (2.1 setup).