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Audio Video Receivers AVR |
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AVR - Home Theater Receivers • Audio Video Connections What is an Audio/Video Receiver? An AVR, often called a receiver or amplifier, is the central hub for routing, control, switching and audio/video processing in a home theater system. Devices such as DVD or Blu-ray player are connected to the AVR input ports so that their signals are processed and routed to other devices such as a TV or loudspeakers. AVRs are also sometimes referred to as "amplifiers," since one of their primary functions is to amplify an audio signal before sending it to the speakers. In a home theater setup, all source devices are connected to the input ports on the back of the AVR. The audio is processed, decoded and routed to speakers, such as Dolby 5.1 or 7.1 or 7.2.4 surround system. The video is typically output to a television. In a modern home theater, the TV may serve as a monitor since the audio is processed by the AVR and video input is handled by a cable box, Apple TV, or another device. Smart TVs are an exception since they are both an input device (sending audio and video data to the AVR) and an output device (displaying video from built-in apps or other devices. Early receivers were not called AVRs since they only handled audio signals. They were called stereo receivers since they handled only 2-channel sound. The inputs and outputs were primarily analog, except for possibly an optical audio connection such as a Toslink or S/PDIF port in later years. Eventually, receivers were built to route video signals as well as audio. As digital devices became more common, receivers started to serve a more primary role as the central digital controller of a home theater system. Since HDMI enables bidirectional communication, devices can now communicate with each other. For example, an AVR can tell a television to turn on or off and a TV can tell an AVR to change the volume. Digital device commands can be synced through an AVR using an HDMI standard called HDMI Consumer Electronics Control or "HDMI-CEC." Different manufacturers use different names for this technology, including Bravia Sync (Sony), Anynet+ (Samsung), and SimpLink (LG), but most brands work with components made by other manufacturers. Many AVRs also support wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which allows you to stream music wirelessly to speakers connected to the receiver. The newer audio surround sound formats are processed by the newer AVRs such as Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and Dolby ATMOS. What to look for in a AVR • Power Amplifier - Power Output, Amp topology • Multichannel Surround Technologies - Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization, Dolby Atmos Music, Dolby Surround, DTS HD Master, DTS:X, DTS Neural:X, DTS Virtual:X • Inputs/Outputs - Component video, Analog stereo audio, HDMI, speaker terminals, USB, Optical/Coaxial, Phono • HDMI - number of input, output, ARC/eARC, HDCP version, upscaling • Performance Technologies - Toroidal Power Supply Transformer, Copper plated chassis • Acoustic / Room Correction • Music File Support - MP3 / WMA / AAC / FLAC HD 192/24 / WAV 192/24 / ALAC 192/31 • Streaming Services - AirPlay 2 • Network Connectivity - Ethernet, WiFi, Bluetooth • Smart Home Integration And Control - Voice Assistant, Multi-room • Others - Sleep Timer, Auto Power Off, Auto Update by Network or USB • General - What is in the box, weight, dimensions • Warranty - 3 yr., 5 yr., restrictions, exclusions, coverage, repair, resale, how to get service TOP AVRs include: DENON - AVR-X2800H 7.2 Ch. 8K AVR-X3800H 9.4 Ch. 8K AVR-X6700H 11.2 Ch. 8K AVR-S570BT 5.2 Ch. 8K AVR-S660H 5.2 Ch. 8K PIONEER - VSX-935 7.2 Ch. VSX-834 7.2 Ch. VSX-534 5.2 Ch. MARANTZ - AV7706 SR8015 NR1711 NR1510 SR7015 Cinema 40 Cinema 50 Cinema 60 Cinema 70s YAMAHA - RX-V385 5.1 Ch. RX-V6A 7.2 Ch. RX-V4A 5.2 Ch. AVENTAGE RX-A8A 11.2 Ch. AVENTAGE RX-A6A 9.2 Ch. AVENTAGE RX-A4A 7.2 Ch. AVENTAGE RX-A2A 7.2 Ch. SONY - ES STR-AZ7000ES 13.2 Ch. ES STR-AZ5000ES 11.2 Ch. STR-DH790 7.2 Ch. STR-DH590 5.2 Ch. ONKYO - TX-NR6100 7.2 Ch. TX-NR696 7.2 Ch. TX-NR5100 7.2 Ch. TX-NR7100 9.2 Ch. TX-RZ70 11.2 Ch. There is a wide range of models for those who want a full-featured audio video receiver. All do the basic functions but higher end models have extra features. Some of the latest features include HDMI 2.1, ARC/eARC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 4K and 8K video plus Dolby ATMOS. Receivers usually have a built in tuner for AM and FM radio reception. Satellite radio tuners are also found in many modern receivers, allowing reception with just an external antenna (and a satellite radio subscription, if necessary). Some models have HD Radio tuners. Some models have Internet Radio and PC streaming access capabilities with an ethernet port. AV receivers usually provide one or more decoders for sources with more than two channels of audio. This is most common with movie soundtracks. Movie soundtracks have been provided via a number of encoded formats. The first common format was Dolby Pro Logic. This format contained a center channel and surround channel. These channels were mixed into the left and right channels using a process called matrixing. Receivers were produced with Dolby Pro Logic decoders which could separate out these two additional channels. With the introduction of the DVD around 1997, the Dolby Digital format became a standard. Dolby Digital ready receivers included inputs and amplifiers for the additional channels (6). Most current AV receivers provide a Dolby Digital decoder and at least one digital S/PDIF input which can be connected to a source which provides a Dolby Digital output. A somewhat less common surround sound decoder called DTS is standard on some receivers and is also 6 channels (5.1). With Bluray movies, yet more decoders have been added to some receivers. Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoders are available on many receivers. Dolby ATMOS is not sound but information about sound and rides in a container audio format like Dolby TrueHD. AVRs add additional height channels for ATMOS for a truely immersive audio experience. DENON   The DENON AVR-X6700H has 11.2 channels with 13.2 extension with external 2-channel amplifier. That's enough to cover a Dolby ATMOS 5.2.6 system or 7.2.4 system. The X6700H comes with 11 channels of built-in amplification and each channel can output 140 watts of power (8 ohm, 20 Hz – 20 kHz, 0.05% 2ch drive) but this is only for 2 channels meaning that when all 11 channels are active this number goes down considerably. You have the ability to go all the way to 13 channels but for that you will need an external amp to drive the last two channels. This AVR handles all existing immersive audio formats, including Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Auro-3D. It also supports playback of FLAC, ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec), and WAV high-res audio files at up to 24-bit/192kHz resolution, along with 2.8/5.6-MHz DSD, via a network connection or its front-panel USB port. The X6700H's video connections include 8 HDMI inputs (one in front) and 3 HDMI outputs. Of these, one input and two outputs are 8K-capable. The AVR can also upconvert 4K or lower-res signals to 8K and its i/p scaler controls can be used to set video output resolution. 8K video will require an 8K source and a 8K TV. 8K/60Hz & 4K/120Hz Passthrough + Upscaling. HLG, HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision 3 sources 3 zones (multiroom) 8 HDMI inputs (1x HDMI 2.1 / all HDCP 2.3) 3 HDMI outputs (2x HDMI 2.1 / 1x HDMI 2.0 all HDCP 2.3) eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel) HDMI-CEC WiFi-Audio streaming Apple AirPlay 2 HEOS built-in Bluetooth audio transmission (headphones/speakers) 13.2 Preamp outputs Phono input Two subwoofer outputs Two 12 V trigger outputs Google Assistant Amazon Alexa Apple Siri Optional app control Roon-Tested Size 17.1″ x 15.3″ x 9.3″ Weight 32 lbs. Active cooling system may be required The Denon X6700H will pass-through all versions of HDR (High Dynamic Range), including Dolby Vision and HDR10+. But apart from its video upconversion capabilities, it's essentially a highly sophisticated switcher/distributor that can pass through any signal format currently available or likely to appear in the future. The Denon offers HDMI 2.1 features, handling sources at up to 40 Gbps. No consumer TV sets can display greater than 10-bit video and there's no industry movement toward 12-bit displays yet, so 40Gbps is sufficient to handle any current source material, including 8K. Dolby Vision is a 12-bit format, but all consumer displays truncate it to a 10-bit format and streaming services do the same before it even gets to your router. The Denon also has HDMI eARC, which lets you route lossless audio like Dolby TrueHD both from a TV's internal apps if available and from any sources connected to it back to the AVR. The X6700H offers the following: 4K/120Hz pass-through; Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). Additional features that some buyers may find useful include Bluetooth wireless (input and output), and support for Google, Amazon, and Apple voice assistants. There's also a moving magnet phono input for vinyl collectors and wireless multi-room streaming of most popular music services via Denon's HEOS platform. Play music from Tidal, Spotify, Amazon Music HD, SoundCloud and internet radio using the HEOS app on iPhone. HDMI 2.1 ports being used in all 2020 Denon receivers including the AVR-X6700H: If the receiver was manufactured before May 2021 the Panasonic chip that handles the HDMI 2.1 connection cannot process the signal of specific sources that output at 4K/120Hz RGB signal (8-bit, 10-bit, 12-bit) like the Xbox Series X and this results in a black screen. Sources that support 4K@120Hz with this exact configuration are few but this is purely a hardware issue and cannot be solved by a simple firmware update. If you are watching movies or playing games at 4K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz YCbCr 4:2:2 signals (32Gbps) or anything below that you are going to be absolutely fine. This means that the PS5 will work without any problems. After May 2021 a new HDMI 2.1 chip is used that does not have this issue. Check Serial numbers and dates There is a HDMI adapter that can resolve the issue and it may be offered free. Built-in WiFi (IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth v4.2, Ethernet port HDMI : 8 inputs (1 front, 7 rear) / 3 output (rear) [1 x HDMI 2.1, HDCP 2.3, ARC/eARC support] USB : 1 (1 front) [v 2.0] Composite : 4 inputs (rear), 2 output (rear) Component : 2 inputs (rear), 1 output (rear) Analogue : 6 inputs (rear) Phono : 1 input (rear) Digital Inputs : 2 coaxial (rear), 2 optical (rear) Multi-room outputs : 2 analogue (rear) Multichannel pre-outs : Yes (13.2 channels) Subwoofer outputs : 2 Multichannel inputs : No HDMI Features 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz video pass-through, 4:4:4 Pure Color sub sampling, HDR10, Dolby Vision, Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG), Dynamic HDR, HDR10+, 3D, BT.2020 pass-through, ALLM, VRR, QMS, QFT, ARC, eARC, Auto LipSync, HDMI-CEC Hook Ups : Cabling and Interface Options Most modern receivers can handle HDMI, the newest audio/video option. The beauty of HDMI allows for both high definition audio and video to be sent via one cable. Other common digital inputs are HDMI, digital TOSLINK, and digital coaxial which can be used with CD, DVD and Blu-ray players. Blu-ray discs will play high definition audio formats like Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio via HDMI. Dolby Digital and DTS will play on either HDMI or digital TOSLINK or digital coaxial cables. • How To Hookup Audio Video Receiver • Wall Mounting HDTV - Companies, mounts • How to upgrade SAMSUNG HDTV firmware |