What is the difference between speakers and receivers

Getting a stereo receiver is one of the quickest modes to get your sound system up and running. AV receiver An AV receiver is the electronic component that controls and drives your home theatre experience. Without any doubt, the AV receiver is the hub of a home theatre system. It takes in both audio and video signals from various sources and routes them to their respective outputs.

For e. If you have connected a Blu-ray player to an AV receiver via HDMI for both audio and video signals , the AV receiver sends the video signal to the connected display TV or Projector and the audio signals to the speaker system 7. AV receiver allows to use, control and switch between multiple audio and video inputs without the hassle of adjusting or manually connecting cables between the multiple sources and the connected display and speakers.

Audio wise, an AV receiver can do what a stereo receiver does, i. However, it adds more functionalities such as decoding surround-sound formats such as Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos and others.

In many ways, the AV receiver is the brain or the central processing unit of a surround sound home theatre system. Who should go for a Stereo receiver? Users whose only application is listening to music in stereo and not multichannel surround movies.

Audiophiles looking to setup a vinyl based stereo sound system. Users who want to get the best sound possible with full control to tweak and make modifications to the tonal characteristics. Users who believe in assembling their sound system by carefully selecting individual components. Advanced users who understand technicalities of wiring and impedance matching.

Users looking for a detailed sound with high power handling. Who should go for an AV receiver? Users are looking for a convenient, all-in-one solution for both audio and video management. They will also process video signals and route them to their intended displays television, monitor or video projector, etc. Note that Bluetooth is a popular method of transferring audio wirelessly in the modern world of technology. The Bluetooth protocols actually utilize radio waves at and around 2.

However, when it comes to semantics, if an amplifier has Bluetooth functionality but does not have a regular radio tuner, then it is still labelled an amplifier and not a receiver. But this is all just terminology. More on that in a moment. So what should you choose for your own sound system? However, it can be nice to have a single unit to take care of your home AV needs, in which case an AV receiver is the logical choice.

Of course, there are many specifications to consider when choosing either an amplifier or a receiver for your speaker setup. These specs include, but are not limited to, the following:. The Niles SI link to check the price on Amazon is a stereo power amplifier with independent right and left-channel level controls and a mono bridged mode.

The Yamaha A-S link to check the price on Amazon is a stereo integrated amplifier with both analog and digital inputs.

We could go even further and begin to discuss the preamplifiers and power amplifiers used for microphones, instruments and recording technology at large. My New Microphone has plenty of additional resources on amplifiers. Consider reading through the articles in the Amplifier category. It boasts W of power per channel and offers automatic calibration of each channel to tailor its performance to the listening environment.

Does an amplifier improve sound quality? Amplifiers increase the signal level of audio and, when driving transducers speakers, headphones , increase the perceived loudness of the sound. Amplifiers will have some effect on the quality of the audio signal, and some amplifiers will sound better than others, both subjective and objectively. Do loudspeakers need amplifiers? Loudspeakers require amplifiers to be driven properly.

If the Klipsch is no longer on sale, then a pair of great stereo speakers could be all you need, and the Elac Debut 2. The pair offer eye-catching looks and a decent price tag to boot.

Read our Elac Debut 2. The Onkyo TX-NR is a great match for both a stereo and a surround sound system as it offers home-theater thrills and great music replay. It's also loaded with streaming features and support for Dolby Atmos, and you can control it via a Google Assistant smart speaker.

If you're a home-theater fan, then a surround-sound system is probably what you're after. Having a 2. The sound is bigger and more enthralling, an advantage that's particularly important in large rooms. For instance the Klipsch Reference Theater Pack offers a big sound from a compact system. At the very least, you'll need a pair of stereo speakers and a receiver or integrated amp.

You can also then add surround speakers, Atmos heights and a subwoofer for sound that rivals your local cinema. Though the complexity increases over a soundbar, adding a universal remote will help make the system more user-friendly for the less technical of your friends and family.

If you want to know more check out our receiver buying guide which can be summarized as below. Powered speakers: There are an increasing number of powered speakers designed to fill the gap between soundbars and surround systems.

Headphones: Some TVs offer headphone jacks or Bluetooth outputs that enable you to connect a pair of headphones. There is a wide variety of models available for every price point. This option is particularly useful for use in environments where you don't want to disturb others. If you're looking for the simplest possible solution to improving TV sound, get a bar or maybe a pair of powered speakers first.

There are plenty of affordable options available, and you don't need to sacrifice style for performance. If you're serious about sound quality though, separates are the only way to go.