It used to be a lot simpler to find the best stereo receiver for your needs since most people only used receivers for their home audio system, but today the addition of video devices and the multitude of audio/video sources makes the choice more demanding. So here are a few tips to keep in mind as you shop for a stereo or digital receiver.
First of all make sure that the receiver that you choose to be the brain of your home entertainment center will be able to support all the devices that you intend to use with it. These days video and audio can come from a variety of sources including camcorders, digital video recorders, DVD players, cable or satellite boxes, video game systems, cd players and so on. You will need to have corresponding inputs for however many devices that you intend to use. So plan ahead and make sure the receiver you buy will fit your needs that way. You will have to pay more for a digital receiver that carries a plethora of input connections, but it will be worth it in the long run.
Also be sure that the connections for both audio and video match between your components and the receiver. Most devices can support a standard composite cable connection, but for your best video sources you will probably want some S-video connections that produce a better screen picture with more detail. On the audio side, if you are using surround sound as many people are these days, make sure that the audio connections from your components match the inputs on your receiver. For digital equipment it is usually either an optical or coaxial connection, but whichever it is, be sure that the connections on both ends will match.
Then be sure that the receiver will be sufficient for your room size. Most rooms will take about 50 watts per channel to power the speakers sufficiently, but larger rooms may require 75 watts per channel and very large rooms can use 100 watts per channel to fill the room up with sound.
You also will need to match the receiver to your speakers too as some speakers use different ohm ratings to accomplish their sound purpose. An ohm has to do with how much resistance there is to the current being sent from the receiver. If you match an 8 ohm receiver with a set of 4 ohm speakers you may damage your receiver because of all the overwork that it has to do to keep up with the current demand from the speakers. So just make sure that you match the receiver requirements to the speaker set that you have.
Finally, don't assume that price is the definitive guide for quality. Many reviews of the best stereo receivers have concluded that high quality equipment does not always cost more, so read the reviews, shop around thoroughly and follow the suggestions given above and you can make a good stereo receiver purchase.
