Using Stereo Receivers & Amplifiers for Home Theater

Stereo receivers and amplifiers can be ideal to use in your home theater system, but it is an option that is often overlooked by many people.

I discussed in the guide to hooking up surround sound, that you can improve the sound in any home theater system by adding a separate amplifier and speakers.

But, you have two main choices when looking at amplifiers to improve your TV sound – you can have a stereo amplifier/receiver for stereo audio – or an AV amplifier/receiver for multichannel audio.

In this article, I will discuss using stereo amplifiers and receivers.

If you are more interested in surround sound, take a look at my guide to the best AV receivers for home theater.

What Are Stereo Amplifiers?

The easiest way to improve the sound in your room is to use a simple stereo amplifier.

You may have one of these as part of your home stereo system already.

Stereo amplifiers take the 2-channel stereo audio output signal of a device, and then send this audio to the connected speakers. This type of amplifier has two speakers connected to it – audio left and right.

Most music and TV sound are produced using stereo audio.

Therefore, you can take the 2-channel output of your CD player, DVD player, cable box, PS3 – whatever – plug it into an input on the amplifier, and you’ve improved the sound in the room straight away.

What Is a Stereo Receiver?

So what’s the difference between a stereo amplifier and a stereo receiver?

Not much.

When you see the term receiver used with hi-fi or home cinema equipment – it just means it is a 2-channel amplifier that powers your speakers.

Why the word receiver then?

It just means the amplifier also has a built-in radio tuner – and that is the only reason it is called a receiver rather than an amplifier.

The receiver will probably need connecting to an appropriate aerial/antenna to receive the radio signal – but you can pick up radio channels on the receiver and send this to the speakers.

You will also have all the other 2-channel inputs just like an amplifier to plug in your CD, DVD player, PS3, etc.

Some of you may have a separate radio tuner unit as part of your Hi-Fi setup. Well, the stereo receiver just has one of these built-in.

Apart from that, there is no difference between an amplifier and a receiver. You may well use the receiver purely as an amplifier – and may not even use the built-in tuner.

Stereo or Surround Sound?

So why might you want a stereo receiver rather than a multichannel AV receiver?

There are a few reasons.

Firstly, and probably the main reason is that a quality 2-channel receiver will probably give you more bang for your buck – a better quality sound at a cheaper cost.

A stereo receiver/amplifier only has one purpose – to amplify the sound. They will be designed to give you a great sound for music – and will probably be able to do a good job for TV and DVD audio too.

An AV receiver is designed to handle multichannel audio and video signals – and you will probably have to spend a great deal more money on an AV receiver in order to get a comparable sound quality to a stereo amplifier.

It’s not that an AV receiver will sound terrible – but if you’re used to the sound of a good stereo amplifier and speakers – you may find the audio quality of an AV receiver isn’t quite up to the same standard.

You may find the audio of TV and movies sounds fine – but the playback of music is where you may notice the difference.

Another reason is that you may already own a high-end stereo amplifier – and have it connected to an excellent pair of speakers.

For no extra cost you can connect your AV equipment to your existing setup – and benefit from the excellent sound quality that your Hi-Fi amplifier provides.

Plenty of TV sound is still transmitted in stereo – and all DVDs/Blu-rays will have a good quality stereo mix included.

So, you can still benefit from a vastly improved experience when watching TV, DVD and Blu-ray.

Stereo Receivers and Subwoofers

However, if you are hoping to use a stereo amplifier/receiver for a 2.1 sound system – front left and right speakers with a subwoofer – then you should be careful.

There aren’t so many stereo amplifiers with a subwoofer output – and if you find one, they are usually the more expensive models.

There are a few about – like the Cambridge Audio CXA61 pictured here – but as a rule, most stereo amplifiers won’t have a subwoofer output.

However, that still doesn’t mean you can’t use a subwoofer.

Many subwoofers will have what is known as a high-level input.

A high-level subwoofer input is different from the more common low-level input. It takes a full-range speaker signal – taken from the same outputs that power your stereo speakers.

You can then use a built-in filter and volume control on the sub to balance the amount of bass with that from your front speakers.

Just make sure that the subwoofer you buy has a high-level input.

You can also use a stereo pre-out connection if this is supported by your amplifier and subwoofer.

For more on this, learn how to wire a subwoofer in my guide to hooking up a sub.

Other options for a 2.1 setup are either to:

1. Buy an AV receiver – and just connect it as 2.1 rather than 5.1 (you can upgrade later if you wish)
2. Get a 2.1 all-in-one home theater system
3. Buy a stereo or 2.1 soundbar system

Who Makes the Best Stereo Receiver?

So where do you start when looking for a stereo amplifier/receiver?

There are quite a few manufacturers building very high quality receivers/amplifiers – and there are a range of options depending on your budget.

There are more manufacturers to choose from than for AV receivers – although most AV receiver manufacturers will also make 2-channel receivers.

Mainly because the market for stereo amplifiers/receivers has been around for far longer.

The main manufacturers of stereo amplifiers and receivers to look out for are:

• Denon
• Marantz
• Onkyo
• Rotel
• Yamaha
• Harman Kardon
• NAD
• Pioneer
• Sony

Buying Guide: What to Look For

The main things to look out for when looking for a 2-channel amplifier are:

• Are there enough inputs to connect all your devices? e.g. analog audio, digital audio, etc.
• What is the sound quality like for music and movies?
• Does it support the impedance of your speakers?
• Are the power specifications suitable for your room and your speakers?

Conclusion

The use of stereo receivers and amplifiers in a home theater setup is often dismissed.

Many people are either happy with the sound from their TV speakers (or don’t know any better), or they automatically go straight for a surround sound AV receiver when they decide to improve their home theater experience.

However, while I think surround sound is fantastic, I appreciate there are people who are quite happy with stereo sound – and have become used to a great sound with a high-quality stereo amplifier and speakers.

So don’t dismiss the option of a 2-channel amplifier/receiver in your home cinema system at home. It can give you excellent sound.