Do You Need an Amp for In-Ceiling Speakers?
If you’re working on the perfect home theater setup, you’ve likely considered in-ceiling speakers. They’re harder to install, true, but the sleek, flush-mounted profile really …
Receiver/Amplifier
HDMI Switches: What Are They and Are They Useful?
An HDMI switch allows you to feed multiple HDMI sources – whether mini, micro, or standard (our guide on the differences) – to a single …
How to Connect a Preamp to an AV Receiver – Step by Step w/ Pictures
Okay, so you have a preamp that you need to hook up to your AV receiver. Even though your AV receiver already has a built-in …
Does a Receiver Affect Sound Quality
If you thought the video equipment part of your home theater was complicated, then buckle up! The world of AV Receivers and what they can …
Are AV Receivers Good For Music?
A quality receiver can be one of the best investments you make when developing your own home theater system. When I first started planning my …
Does a Soundbar Replace a Receiver?
It isn’t unusual for someone to need to downsize their sound system to a soundbar setup, or for someone to start their setup by purchasing …
You No Longer Need a Receiver for Surround Sound Setups!
Everyone who considers a home theater system is new to set up and components at some point. For me, my first tentative steps into the …
AV Receivers Can Improve Picture Quality: But Not Always!
AV Receivers are a complicated and sometimes misunderstood component of home theater systems. It’s not incredibly clear what they do with all that bulk. Sure, …
Surround Sound Channels Explained: 2.1, 5.1, 7.1, 9.1, and More!
When you’re setting up a surround sound system, you’re going to run across numbers like 2.1, 5.1, 7.1, 7.1.2, 9.1, and beyond. As you see …
How Much Power Do Speakers Need? Speaker Specs Explained
This can feel like a complicated and overwhelming question when putting together your home theater. With specs from wattage, speaker sensitivity, decibels and more, it …