In a new series on Current.com.au, we ask industry pros to demystify an otherwise obscure product or category. Our goal is for the trade to better understand different products so they can in-turn explain them to consumers.

By Shaun McMahon from Yamaha Australia

There’s no doubt that when it comes to home entertainment, we know what we like.  Bigger screens, better sound. For those of us in the know, we talk about AV receivers in comparison to one another. But what is an AV receiver and do we really need one?

For a minute, let’s not compare the number of channels or output power. Let’s examine what an AV receiver actually does. Sometimes referred to as the ‘brain’ of a home entertainment system, the humble AV receiver essentially takes audio and video, and distributes it to speakers and TVs.

A consumer might say, ‘But I just bought a TV — can’t I connect everything directly to it?’.

The answer is: not really, if you’re serious about getting the full home theatre experience.

Not only does an AV receiver offer up a plethora of inputs to accommodate simultaneous connection of your growing collection of audio and video devices when compared to a TV, it can also deliver surround sound, which often makes up a large part of the audio visual experience.

With the help of a few speakers, the AV receiver immerses you in the action with surround sound for all your movie, TV, gaming and music needs.

The ability to connect multiple devices should not be understated, as today’s home has more audio and video devices than ever before. The receiver provides the versatility of being able to connect devices without constantly plugging and unplugging; and for some receivers, there are home networks to provide app control, internet radio and streaming from online sources.

When you start to look at differences between receivers, there's quite a bit to factor in. Broadly speaking, with more expensive systems you'll get:

-Better (and dedicated) amplifiers per channel, resulting in better sound.
-More power per channel, giving you more volume and more control over your speakers.
-Better digital-to-analogue converters, to retain a high sound quality.
-Better video processing, which will negate distortions in picture and will also allow you to upscale resolutions.

Those looking to spend even more on a receiver will have access to greater networking features and multi-zone capabilities.

Shaun McMahon works in AV marketing at Yamaha Australia. He recently oversaw the release of the ’75 Series of receivers.

Yamaha's '75 Series starts at RRP $499.

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