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Q:
How much power do I need?
A: In general, the louder you like to listen,
the larger your room, and the less efficient your speakers
are, the more power you need. As you shop for receivers, however,
keep in mind that even if you don't listen loud, you may still
want a more powerful amplifier. In fact, the biggest benefit
of higher power isn't volume, it's increased dynamics and
improved sound quality.
Another important factor to remember
is that not all receiver wattage ratings are directly comparable.
Pay particular attention to the range of frequencies, or bandwidth,
listed next to the receiver's power rating. For audio components,
"full bandwidth" is considered the entire frequency
range of human hearing — 20-20,000 Hz.
Full-bandwidth power ratings are a
more conservative measure of power than ratings derived using
a narrower range of frequencies. So a receiver that delivers
100 watts per channel at 20-20,000 Hz is actually more powerful
than one that delivers 100 watts per channel at 40-20,000
Hz.
Note that some home theater receivers
list full-bandwidth rated wattage for stereo operation, but
do not specify bandwidth for their 5-channel home theater
modes. For such receivers, you should assume that the 5-channel
wattage is not full-bandwidth rated.
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Q:
What specs should I look at when shopping for a receiver?
A: Although all specifications can be technically
important, they most likely aren't all equally important to
you. Concentrate on the specs and features that will affect
your enjoyment the most. For example, if you never listen
to the radio, why worry about tuner specs?
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Q:
I'm interested in music, not home theater. Am I wasting my
money buying a receiver with Dolby Digital and other types
of surround decoding?
A: If the receiver has everything you're
looking for in terms of quantity and quality of power, inputs
and outputs for connecting all your components, convenience
features, and price, then it's definitely not a waste of money.
Home theater's popularity has resulted
in more and more receivers (even inexpensive models) that
include Dolby Digital processing. Since the surround sound
decoder only accounts for a relatively small percentage of
the cost, don't avoid a receiver that's perfect for you in
every other way.
Additionally, the multichannel capabilities
of a home theater receiver can offer benefits even to the
hardcore music-only fan. Two up-and-coming high-resolution
audio formats, SACD and DVD-Audio, are capable of delivering
audio in the same 5.1-channel speaker configuration employed
by Dolby Digital. A stereo receiver won't let you enjoy such
discs in their full multichannel glory, but a home theater
receiver equipped with a 5.1-channel input will!
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Q:
Why are a lot of newer Dolby Digital receivers touted as having
Dolby Pro Logic II processing? Doesn't Dolby Digital decoding
leave Pro Logic in the dust?
A: Dolby Digital is a much more advanced
surround technology than Dolby Pro Logic, yes, but it's only
available on DVDs, HDTV broadcasts, and some digital satellite
programs and video games. Dolby Pro Logic II is designed to
help you get more convincing multichannel sound from Dolby
Surround-encoded soundtracks, like those found on many VHS
tapes and stereo television broadcasts.
Dolby Pro Logic processing provides
4 channels of sound — front left, center, front right, and
a limited-bandwidth, mono surround channel. Apply Pro Logic
II processing to the same Dolby Surround source, though, and
you'll enjoy 5.1-channel sound, including
full-bandwidth, stereo surrounds and a subwoofer channel.
It's a great way to get crisper, more three-dimensional sound
out of older surround sources. Pro Logic II can even transform
stereo music into exciting multichannel sound.
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Q:
If the receiver I want doesn't have a dedicated subwoofer
output, can I still hook up a subwoofer?
A: Yes, as long as the subwoofer has speaker-level
inputs and outputs. You can hook up this type of subwoofer
in line between your receiver and main stereo speakers. Run
one set of speaker wires from the receiver's "A"
speaker outputs to the subwoofer, and then run another set
of speaker wires from the subwoofer to your main stereo speakers.
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Q:
Can I use the "B" speaker outputs on a stereo receiver
for surround sound?
A: Definitely not. Your receiver's "B"
speaker outputs provide the exact same stereo signal as its
"A" speaker outputs. (The "B" speaker
outputs are useful for connecting a second pair of stereo
speakers for some other area in or around the house.)
Surround sound, on the other hand,
consists of multiple audio channels, which carry different
portions of a soundtrack. These channels must be decoded by
a multichannel surround sound processor.
Q:
When I run "A" and "B" speakers at the
same time, how much power will go to each speaker?
A: That depends on whether the receiver's
outputs are wired in series or parallel. If wired in series,
your total power decreases by about half when you switch from
"A" to "A+B." Four speakers then share
this lower output. Your overall volume will decrease, but
impedance will increase so the amp runs cooler and is less
likely to overheat.
If wired in parallel, your total power
is somewhat increased when you switch from "A" to
"A+B" because the amplifier is presented with a
lower impedance (ohm load). Four speakers then share this
higher output. (Be aware that when an amplifier is presented
with a lower impedance, it tends to run hotter and produce
more distortion.)
Note: Some receivers only offer output
for one set of speakers. And some that do have two sets of
outputs don't offer an "A+B" option because they
are only equipped to power one set of speakers at a time.
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Q:
How is a dual-room/dual-source receiver different than a receiver
with "A" and "B" speaker outputs?
A: There are two main differences. The first
is that dual-room/dual-source receivers allow you to send
signals from different sources to each room. For example,
you can enjoy home theater thrills from a DVD in your main
listening room while a housemate listens to a favorite CD
in the second room. Note that these receivers can only send
stereo signals to the second room, not multichannel home theater
sound.
The second difference is that dual-room/dual-source
receivers usually do not power a second set of speakers. In
most cases, they feature preamp-level outputs for the second
room that require an additional receiver, amplifier, or a
set of powered speakers in your remote listening area. However,
if a dual-room/dual source receiver is described as having
powered outputs for the second room, then
all you'll need for your second room is a set of speakers.
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Q:
How many speakers total can I connect to my receiver?
A: Any home theater receiver allows you to
connect a minimum of five speakers, including a front left
and right pair, a center channel speaker, and a surround pair.
You can always add a subwoofer if desired. Some advanced receivers
allow you to connect an additional one or two "back surround"
speaker(s) for use with 6.1-channel sources such as DTS-ES
or Dolby Digital EX-encoded DVDs.
For stereo listening, you can connect
an "A" pair for the room where the stereo is located,
and a "B" pair for another room (as long as your
receiver has two sets of main speaker outputs). Hooking up
even more pairs of stereo speakers is possible, but it requires
an external speaker selector that both provides more speaker
outputs and protects the receiver against low impedance loads.
Tip: Many receivers will not let you
run the "B" and surround speaker outputs simultaneously.
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Q:
Do all receivers have inputs and outputs for connecting my
external equalizer?
A: No. To enable use with all of your A/V
components, EQs (and other external sound processors) require
that the audio signal flow out of the receiver, through the
equalizer, then back into the receiver before it's amplified
and sent to your speakers. To add an equalizer to your system,
you'll need a receiver with either a tape monitor loop or
a preamp-level output/main-in loop. Look for a front-panel
button on your receiver labelled "Tape Monitor,"
or preamp-out/main-in jacks on the back panel to make sure
a graphic EQ will work with your system.
If your receiver doesn't have a tape
monitor or preamp-in/main-out loop, you can still connect
a graphic EQ for use with one specific component in your system.
If you want to use the EQ with a cassette deck, for example,
just connect your cassette deck's output to the EQ's input,
and the EQ's output to the tape input on the back panel of
your receiver. You'll then be able to equalize the sound of
any tape you play.
Tip: Avoid using your equalizer on
Dolby Surround-encoded sound. Equalizing a Dolby-encoded signal
throws off the frequency balance and your surround decoder's
steering.
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