How To Choose A Home Theater Receiver - A Buying Guide

[@ChrisMajestic]

If you're looking for a less expensive alternative to the amplifier mentioned in the video, Emotiva now has a new line of amplifiers called "BasX". These are less costly but still offer great performance. I'm not sponsored by Emotiva or anything, I just really like their products. emotiva.com/collections/basx-series/products/basx-a5-five-channel-power-amplifier

[@bostonquad2068]

Inflate TVs do the same thing when they're only 10 bit panels

[@DynamicUnreality]

I'd check them out more, but the amp you linked doesnt even look like it has a sub pre out. Is there some reason this amp shouldnt need a dedicated sub out?

[@OdieuxChauve]

@@DynamicUnreality you plug the sub on the Denon because it's preout

[@DynamicUnreality]

@@OdieuxChauve The person I replied to offered these as a substitute for the Denon, not additionally. So there wouldn't be a Denon to plug a sub into, and no pre outs on the amps.

[@adspie]

Hi chris nice guide you have there, can you please make a content in PC home theater system? both gaming, watching movies and music?

[@ElSelcho77]

Came for some quick tips, left deflated and need to rob a bank or something :D

[@chris_0725]

Same :(

[@lllukiosas59]

Anything worth doing, worth doing well.

[@felixhenkecom]

You can get some really Good deals for used recivers

[@nawedahmed8168]

Same

[@Bkamron]

The effect these pretentious audio-fools have on regular people. I'm fine with my cheap panasonic component set, y'all can go to hell...

[@trustbuster23]

This is a good set of information. I would add a couple of things: (1) a good set of speakers will last you decades, but you will likely replace your receiver well before you replace almost any other part of your system, because there will inevitably be changes in audio formats (e.g. next generation of Atmos or whatever) that render the receiver obsolete long before your speakers. (2) if you buy a dedicated, (self) powered subwoofer (which you should), that will significantly drop the power requirements for the amplifier, because the deep bass frequencies draw a lot of power. (3) most people do not listen at reference levels where maximum wattage is required, that is very, very loud. You definitely do still get benefits at lower volumes. If you are spending significant $$ on a full home theater, I think it is not a bad strategy to divide your total home theater budget as follows: TV 30-40%, Speakers 60-70%, Receiver 10%. It is not unreasonable to think you will replace both the receiver and the TV/projector several times before you replace your speakers, assuming you are spending significant money on speakers now.

[@wagrram]

Cheers, my man, nice tips.

[@spencerjoplin2885]

TV prices have dropped to where $400 can buy a nice TV but merely an entry level receiver. You should update your percentage advice.

[@tedtimmis8135]

Interesting points but I think 10% is pretty low. You need to have an amplifier which can drive all of your speakers (in my case, 13, plus a sub). Also, AV receivers today are the hub of one’s gaming console, Blu-ray player, turn-table and TV. Mine also has 2 additional zones which I use for music in the back yard. Finally, the receiver is a streamer for online music such as Spotify or Tidal. Again, I use this feature all the time. I would say one should spend at least 30% on the receiver, 30% on the speakers, 30% on the TV and 10% on the sub. In my case, I bought Polk speakers RTI-A9 towers and the center and surrounds in the same class for around $3200, 7 ceiling speakers for around $800 and a Hsu sub for about $1200. For a receiver, I bought a Denon 8500H for $3400 and I bought a 75 inch Sony Bravia for about $3500. All were purchased around 3 years ago. I know the math isn’t exact but I’m glad I spent more on the receiver and together with the Polk speakers the system sounds fantastic.

[@johnmitchell2741]

Thanks for the info.Ive had a powered sub sitting in the closet for a year.Ive been pushing 4 large 15'' speakers with this Yamaha he was just showing. I'm gonna hook sth sub up today🤗

[@stevegyivicsan4215]

Trust buster was as helpful as Chris, the more info the better chose, which saves me money and headache. Thx sincerely old school Steve aka city Steve.

[@Wuozlinga]

Dude what would I do without your brilliant straight to the point videos. You helped me choose my projector, surround system, screen, receiver, ...Thank you very much!

[@mrkennedy2218]

Chris, this breakdown was not only thorough, but concise and simple. I appreciate you taking the time to make this video. It so happens that I'm presently deciding between the Denon 3700h and 4700h, so seeing this opened my eyes to achieving higher performance speakers despite the receiver wattage limitation. On a side note, I just wanted to point out that the receivers are $100 -$300 more today than when you first uploaded this video.

[@mike6340]

Chris, wanted to say thanks for finally allowing me to understand the whole HT AVR versus dedicated Amplifier concept. I have often wondered how those dedicated amps came into play. Now I understand that no matter what kind of money you are paying for an AVR, a dedicated amp will be necessary once your speaker quality and quantity hit a certain threshold.

[@fudrud]

As someone who works in the AV industry, great video and a great starting point for almost everyone looking at receivers. I always find it intriguing to me when customers ask for the best receiver and I never have understood why (I know why, they just didn't do research).

[@Smiller0]

THIS VIDEO IS AMAZING! Chris clearly answered questions that I have had for years about Ohms, distortion, and the correlation between amp and pre-amps.

[@rogerflorida1498]

You made alot of good points. Things I was not aware of. My ears will thank you when I have everything set up.

[@YurandX]

I chose Denon x2700h for my Klipsch F1, C20 and four B2 speakers. What was mind blowing to me was the room correction feature - i specifically chose denon because of audysseyXT - it has everything i need for my room and the difference between EQ OFF / set manually by me / EQ ON is so drastic that i cant believe i used to listen to music on my 20 year old Sony receiver before :P

[@DG-america]

Thank you for helping me understand the key points of what to look for. I'm just breaking into audio and am trying to understand as much as possible. you explain things very well for new audiophiles to help us feel better about the choices we are sure to make. Thanks again.

[@monijam1]

Good video, thanks. I'd also add that if people cross their receivers over at 80hz and let their subs handle the bass then they can get by w/ a less powerful receiver since it won't have to handle the lower bass region.

[@ChrisMajestic]

This is a great point that I had in my notes but forgot to mention in the video. Thanks!

[@iamMrBChen]

A noobie qs, what is subs?

[@38WorksGr8]

@@iamMrBChen subwoofer

[@tfk40]

If you have relatively sensitive speakers, 88 db or higher, 70 - 80 wpc is plenty. Unless you are trying to listen at concert levels 100db+, your speakers will never draw their full power requirements. Yes, having more/cleaner power is always better, but you don't have to spend $3000 to feed your speakers 200 wpc to get a great sounding system.

[@ckeledjian]

Most important bit I learned is at 10:43. Use a dedicated Amp for front and the receiver for surround. But ideally is there a receiver that handles surround wireless, so is easier to install?

[@Valur109]

This is the best video I’ve come across for first time AVR buyers. Thank you!!

[@jasonbourne4155]

Chris - thank you very much for a great primer on what-you-need-to -know when buying an AV receiver. Many of the sales folks don't offer this unbiased, real-world information. Keep up the great work!

[@bwallace1182]

Currently looking to build a 5.1 system. This has been one of the most clear and informative videos I’ve seen. Nice work!

[@Gma7788]

But it's WRONG. The amplifier is making the sound at the speakers or appearing to make the sound at your ears. The 5 speakers 🔊 combine to produce the sounds. It all comes back to MATHEMATICS. The amplifier in the 1980's told you information and now you're not allowed to speak about it like this. 2 out of 3 speakers doesn't add up to great sound.

[@waltb8028]

Another great video! You just dropped a ton of info. I had to piece all this info together from hrs of reading and KZbin. A couple of weeks ago I ended up with the Marantz 7706 and I love it. Keep up the good work!

[@user-dy2bu7jd9b]

when your $500 budget turns into $10k

[@mrjoejoe191304]

I was like YIKES!😬

[@alexh8503]

@@mrjoejoe191304 there has to be a more accessible way to get a theater sound without spending 1k jesus christ..

[@luffywest]

@@alexh8503 Nope, you can't get a Home Theatre under 1K, without a good receiver. But you can always get great sound from select decent products like Logitech Z906, or a JBL Sound Bar with the ten inch subwoofer.

[@garrettdownen7616]

After watching this video i will continue using my old kenwood aplifier with mismatched speakers and car subsoofers😂

[@dwill_thegod]

@@garrettdownen7616watch Linus tech tips new video on home theater system under $250

[@richardpells5974]

Brilliantly explained. I need to watch this several times. But I will and my knowledge will be vastly improved. Thanks for making such great videos.

[@NJMcBride]

Hey Chris, your video on how to choose a home theater receiver was awesome. You have a great dynamic and personality and I comprehended what I need to know in making my decision for my home theater system. Good man and keep up the great work.....Cheers bro

[@jasontew5851]

It is a great thing that you are helping us understand the best way to make a choice on the receiver for our home theater. Thank you very much for your advice.

[@MikeBouchard]

this is great. you filled in so many gaps in my knowledge of home theatre setups. I've had pretty nice 5.1 build for over 12 years with about 2 receiver upgrades along the way, and just assumed I had speakers and receiver paired well without actually knowing. After watching, I understand what I actually need to look for and just realized you labelled this video as THE BASICS! lol. I'm caught up with basic knowledge now

[@waynepollard6879]

much better video than the computer generated voice videos which really suck ! thank you!

[@arthurdent9281]

A ton of good info in this one! Going to come back to this again later after I move and get ready to set up my home theater. This cleared up a lot of things that I was very fuzzy on!

[@BooYaa253]

This is exactly the kind of information you need when starting with HI-FI. What you get everywhere else is either rocket science like from audioholics (very good channel btw) or irrelevant information you don't really need or in some cases complete crap. This video should be played in every HI-FI store for guidance. Thank you sir.

[@absolutepower9893]

The amp classification is also important when looking into your home theater setup. Class AB amps tend to have less distortion and a more accurate RMS wattage output then class D, and some would argue a warmer sound when listening to music at closer to reference sounds levels.

[@thisismelsemail1217]

So I have a pretty decent car audio background and its actually amazing at how similar these two hobbies are. ( which is great for me lol ) I would like to add to this that class AB amps also run hotter than class D amps since they are a lot less efficient than a class D. So if you go with a class AB just make sure you're not stuffing it in a closed cabinet or something for better ventilation.

[@absolutium]

I noticed almost a decade ago Pioneer D class receivers were the exception.. everything was better especially when running 7 or 9 channels.

[@c128stuff]

@@absolutium class D amplifiers can sound very good when made properly. I'm sure Pioneer can do it right, but also sure they aren't the only ones. The problem is more one of there being lots of not very well designed and implemented class D amps around, which one should avoid, and which people seem to think represent all class D has to offer.

[@Gamez4eveR]

@@c128stuff class D is much more complicated to design than class A and AB, so first implementations made decades ago were not audibly transparent. In modern era (the last 5 years), even cheap class D amps are just as transparent to our ears as the best five, maybe even six figure class A amps the high end audio has to offer. And good class D implementations are impedence agnostic, so as long as your power supply can supply them enough current, they will have no issues driving low impedance speakers.

[@c128stuff]

Key words: good class D implementations. I've seen enough modern (as in: can be bought new right now, and was designed recently) cheap class D amplifiers, and no, many of those do not come anywhere near a good class A amplifier, and I can very reliably tell the difference in a well executed blind a/b test, and have done so, and I am far from alone in that. Either your speakers are lacking, or your hearing is lacking if you say that as a general rule modern cheap class D amplifiers come anywhere near a good class A amplifier for as far as humans can hear. If you are talking about well designed and well built (and consequently more expensive) class D amplifiers, yes, those can be very good.

[@itmm92]

Awesome review with real use cases ! That's a gold point of view that most videos don't show. Thank you !

[@thomaspirog3616]

Yeah, great information for someone starting out. Word of advice, look for sales, buy amps and speakers second hand, take time to build the system. It's taken me almost 10 years of saving to get my ideal system. You can get there sooner, but you will spend more money.

[@mohamma6]

Chris, you are amazing sir! I have struggled to find intuitive explanations to help me select the AV Receiver most appropriate for my Harman/Kardon HKTS16 and you have summarized all the research I was looking for. Guys like Audioholics are great but too advanced for my purposes!

[@o.c.g.m9426]

I thought the same thing when I first started this expensive hobby 2 months ago. I did plenty of "Mellenial" research and was lead from one video to another

[@SKRUBL0RD]

this is way more info/comprehensive than i thought it would be, great info for newbies and people who haven't upgraded in years.

[@ProjectileGrommet]

This is such a high quality presentation of this information. It’s hard to come by someone skilled enough to make this so clear to laypeople

[@Deathtank75]

I have an Onkyo HT-S3705 5.1 4k. and I'm super happy with it! 🥰

[@blakeforrest9600]

Damn this is the video I needed to see. My old man gave me his old main speakers today but wouldn’t give up his reciver, 300 watt rms and I was about to pop on down and grab a cheap home theatre in a box solution and swap out two speakers from it. Man you saved me some heart ache

[@alice20001]

This was an amazing overview. Deep enough to get some differences but not to deep that you get lost. Exemplary use of examples

[@bblair1985]

This guy's my new fav KZbinr. Top quality on these videos man.

[@titan2793]

I am happy I found this video. Right now, there are several Receiver at the 599 prices. I was leaning towards the Sony STR-AN1000 but notice the wattage rating is at 6ohm. I appreciate the simple and clear instructions. thanks again for the video.

[@speedcanada1]

Chris, kudos on a great video! It can sometimes be complicated to explain this stuff to "civilians" but I think you did a great job. There are things that you likely generalized or simplified for expediency, but that is understandable. I fully agree with the comments you made regarding the cheaper HT AVRs and their inflated specs, but there is a point in the lineup where the quality goes up quite a bit (as does the price), and some of those generalizations start to fall short. The top-end AVRs from Yamaha, Marantz, Denon and others are often quite capable of running full systems without the need for large power amps. I'm using a 7.2.4 setup in my HT (appx 1800cuft, so not large but not small). My main layer speakers are all Energy RC series (RC-70, RC-LCR, RC-R) from the mid-2000s - medium efficiency at 91 main, 89 centre, 87 surrounds, rated for 250W, 200W, and 125W respectively. The height speakers are Polk OWM3s (8ohm/89dB/100W). I am running dual PSB Subsonic 6i subs. I am running this whole setup from a Marantz SR7013 AVR (using my old Yamaha RXV1200 to amplify the 4 height channels). I actually had some Adcom power amps that I needed with the Yamaha and then with a previous Denon AVR3310ci, but got rid of them when I found my previous Marantz SR7007 had ample power to run the (then) 7.1 system. The SR7013 has enough balls to play plenty loud when watching movies even with very dynamic soundtracks like the John Wick or Transformer films. Am I running it at "reference level"? Well, when the wife and kids are away I may run it at -10dB or even a little higher on the AVR (Audyssey calibrated), and this is as loud in my MLP as I've ever experienced in a movie theatre. The only time I've noticed compression (and it may be in the subs, or may be in the soundtrack itself) is during Transformers age of Extinction. All that to say that a higher-end (though consumer grade) AVR can run a full 9.1+ system of speakers rated for higher maximum wattage at more than adequate levels unless your room is exceptionally large.

[@anthonyf3957]

I got a great price on a Denon AVR-S750 last year and I have been very happy. It powers my 5.1.2 home theatre set-up and all of my analog sources as well. It also works with Alexa and does a great job streaming audio from a variety of sources including my DLNA server.

[@dannythedabbler]

Hi Chris, I would really like to know what legitimate alternatives there are for Harmony remotes in a future video now that they've stopped manufacturing them. Getting everything to work together once I have my theater set up is a top priority. Thanks.

[@peat381low8]

Thank you so much for this video. I tried searching articles online to explain this stuff the way you do in this video. I have yet to find one as clear as you.

[@thereviewer583]

I've always liked Denin products due to 2 zone support. This new unit has added Bluetooth support that expands its capabilities even further. Setup was very easy and the sound and picture quality is excellent. Definitely recommend this product.

[@billpeirce7127]

Thanks. I learned alot. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. God bless you and your family.

[@troysims1119]

just found your channel, some great information for my new house build that has a dedicated home theatre. You definitely have me rethinking and researching better what I want to do. Thanks for the content!!!

[@zackzaga2286]

This guy knows how deliver information! Very articulate and knowledgeable ❤

[@jeevanraj4168]

Great video. I am glad I found your channel. Nobody explains this much details. Even someone does, they just make it complicated to understand. You are doing a great job. Keep it up👍🏾

[@Saroumanos]

Great effort buddy... 13 mins of pure knowledge here.

[@Bean-sz7sr]

I went from a old Denon AVR3300 to a Denon AVR-X1600H and so far so good! I'm just using 5.1 setup and it seems to do pretty good. 👍🏽👍🏽

[@dsarcevic]

Chris, thanks for this video. I am in the process of buying the Denon AVR-X2700H to power those floor standing Klipsch R-26 speakers that you showed. It's for my bedroom, so the power is more than enough.

[@wygram]

Amazing overview, thanks for going through the examples. Super helpful. Honestly was just at the point of giving up with this, feels like people are trying to upsell everything and its hard to even respond or understand.

[@Eric-hz4cm]

Fantastic information for beginners like me trying to choose the perfect Home theater setup. Love the pre-amp explanation made it very clear. Thank you.

[@rsosborn1]

Great video! After 4 years I finally understand how my home theater system works!

[@Player1ZW]

This is what i was looking for. Thank you and keep up the great work.

[@emarnik]

Mannnnnnnnnnnnn @Chris Majestic when I tell you I haven’t learned this much from a KZbin video in forever!! I feel so much more informed now. Purchasing a LG C1 OLED and have been researching for weeks which Denon AVR receiver to copp, and invariably speakers as well. Too bad you don’t live next door so I can run these questions by you live lol Thank you 🙏🏾

[@gent2205]

You are THE channel I go to for everything home theater.

[@barney6888]

Well done video. People need to know that audio/video is intentionally designed to be just short on what you originally started out looking for. Before you know it, you are budgeting thousands and most of that will go to features you will actually never, ever use or need. Get the best speakers you can afford and then be honest with yourself - how much does it really mean to me to watch a movie. You'd be really amazed just how good a smart budget will sound. Don't overspend !!

[@stealthcomp14]

Would love a video on actual full audio setups that you would recommend based on budget. Similar to your projector recommendations based on budget

[@ramonbannister9498]

Me too! Pick a budget, say, $2k, $1500, and $1k, and then recommend a setup.

[@lordjjm]

Just a comment to this as you did not mention it, but when running a surround setup(5.1) The subwoofer handles most of the bass below 80hz(if set up propperly), witch frees the reciver for some of the heaviest loads, and you can probably go for a cheaper one without pre-outs if you are on a budget, and uses floorstanding speakers etc. Still, a bigger reciver gives you a lot more flexebility.

[@donalddeorio2237]

Very concise video glad you brought up the power amp option, the other option is to buy a used preamp processor. I have a used Marantz AV 7005 preamp and a Carver av705x 5 channel amp 125watts at 8 ohms and 180 at 4ohms cost me $800 for both. Plenty of power for music and movies. Another option for someone on a tighter budget

[@ninja226]

Went with the Marantz SR 7013 and really like it. Receivers are over priced though, for real....

[@GT-ol5lw]

the fire in AKM's Nobeoka factory probably had something to do with that.

[@xjimmy225x]

Another common misconception is an amplifier (or receiver) having too much power and damaging your speaker. If an amp has 1000WPC (watts per channel) that doesn’t mean it sends that to your speaker, simply that it can send that if asked. It still only sends what the speaker is requesting based on speaker construct, volume level, and source output

[@majorgear1021]

What would you recommend for a townhome living room setup with open floor plan? Rn I have Sonos playbar with 2 play 1 satellite speakers since there really isn’t anyway to run wires unless I start putting holes in the wall and run cables through it. I’d like to have a dedicated left right center channel , but keep the wireless surrounds and if I get a sub, it would also have to be wireless.

[@MikeSmith-rh5gc]

How did KZbin know that I’m looking at receivers? Strange. Good informative video

[@RonkeyRong]

Really helpful vid. I went with a high end soundbar for my setup but definitely wanted to learn more about building a system in the future and this is a lot of great knowledge all compressed to one location.

[@marioreisenhofer3670]

After 3 years using Denon I am back to use Onkyo Reveivers again.I got the onkyo tx nr 696 and I am flashed. Everything is working perfect,just the bassmanagement tooked some time ,because I have a difficult room.But the power of the onkyo is crazy.I use the Denon 2700 h as well in an other room.Both are great but they are completely different if you use for Music.I stream most of the time with Tidal and deezer. Both are great products but my heart says ,Onkyo is the winner of this two.Greatings from Austria

[@stefm6764]

Wow man, one of the best most informative videos I've ever seen regardless of subject

[@Karen-kl6bb]

Hi Chris! Whew, that was a lot of information. I am in the process of getting my unfinished basement finished. I did not know it was going to be as complicated as I now think it’ll be when it comes to choosing speakers/receivers, etc. You certainly sound like you know what you’re talking about, so I hope I can help me along the way by answering questions for me as they arise. Thanks in advance!

[@ernestovillanueva1004]

Hello Chris, thanks for the info it has been very very helpful. Now I can understand better what kind of receiver or amplifier I need to start my new sound system.

[@jwhiteker1]

Great information Chris. I used to be totally up to speed on tech. Ive lost touch for a while. Pretty sure you just caught me up from where i left off about 10 years ago. Great, simple explanations. 👊

[@volt8ge]

I’ve been searching for and watching a few videos like this one… yours is the BEST!!! Thank you, love your stuff, never shave (I don’t know where that saying comes from)

[@GizmoMaltese]

I've been using home theater setups for years and I did not know this. I thought amps were just for those who wanted even louder sound.

[@Masterdurge]

Sir, this guide was so informative and helpful. Thank you for putting the time into making this. 2 years out and this helped a ton in getting started and building my setup. Much appreciated.

[@jediron169]

Been getting into HIfi and this video came at the right time.

[@marramgg]

Great video. Don’t feel like I’m lost anymore. Just overwhelmed.

[@rlam1999]

This is an excellent video. I thought I knew about surround sound setups but I was clearly mistaken. Thanks for the thorough info

[@pseudocode6506]

Super useful video. I'm new to this coming from soundbars previously so all the impudence and wattage stuff was confusing. Thank you for your clearly explained video!

[@Anything_Goes1975]

Love the in depth info... most of witch was way over my head. Also hate the detailed information due to the fact that my Bedt Buy and Amazon carts are full of everything needed for a new home theater set up. Now I'm questioning everything and thinking I should scrap the whole idea and buy a sound bar with wireless surround speakers.

[@monopoly2170]

Fantastic video! I didn’t realize how complex this would be, but you did a really great job making it understandable!

[@pyrofful]

Super helpful thanks. I have learned to "buy once and cry once." So now I know I can't afford a system that I want at this time. Thanks for the info detailed enough but not to into it where I couldn't follow!

[@enrage6073]

Very happy with my Sony STR-DN1080. It is now in full operation with a 5.2.2 Dolby Atmos setup. Works mostly from an Apple TV as a main source but I also have a multi-format disc player Sony UBP-X800M2. The only downer is it took me a long time to learn all the stuff related to the configuration, like streaming and hdmi etc. But now I manage the thing quite well and I’m happy with it. I will gladely gear up with an extra Atmos speakers pair when Sony comes with a 9.2 receiver ;)

[@monkeyman193]

I thought it was strange that he did not mention powered speakers, as he has two JBL Lsr 308 right behind him. I using the marantz 1608 to power all of my surround speakers with only my mains on the preamp. I feel this gives me the best of both worlds on my budget. This guy puts in a lot of good information in a clear and concise way, I appreciate that.

[@tedd1091]

Chris, I don't know how I found your channel but this video was very informative

[@Morrisonlifedotcom]

Absolutely Brilliant because I could not describe it better to those who do not already know.

[@ThomasAT86]

One of the better videos on that topic, thank you Chris, great job!

[@Jmastaaflex]

Thanks a lot. Didn’t know about preouts or really have a good way to tell if my avr can handle all from my speakers. Have a lot to think about before possibly sending my avr I bought back. May need to get more power, and not really looking to buy an amp at this point, but want the functionality for down the road.

[@jonathanpiersaint1844]

Hey Chris, do you by any chance have a video series on building a home theater step by step. For example I rent right now but I wanted to upgrade my sound from the sound bar. I want to start buying pieces that will eventually be able to integrate in a dedicated home theater when I purchase a house.

[@itsprod.472]

This vid helped clear up things I didn’t understand about home theater receivers nice, I see now why people who care about audio step up to these set ups instead of those sound bars and powered speakers lol. Good thing I’m doing research before starting my own set up

[@S_BLAINE]

Hi I’ve had the rp450/r-12SW/rp-280f(2)sitting around. My question is would the Yamaha v6a be effective enough to push that set up. finically it’s what I can afford. Some other time I’ll get rears for a 5.1

[@andrewborbas9356]

Hi Chris! Thanks for the great info. I, like many, are trying to decide between AVR vs separates......I am a newbie to all of this and am jsut dipping my toes into the audiophile world. I am not a gamer/rarely listen to any music other than from CD's or KZbin.....not really a home theatre movie watcher either/also can't see me ever going to Atmos speakers as my room is too small! So.....I liked when u said about combining 1/ a 3.1 amp i.e. Emotiva XPA for mains/center speakers + 2/ AVR to power surround speakers. I have 2 x older Yamaha HTR-6130 and HTR-5063 AVR's so not sure if either Yamaha AVR would nicely power my soon to be bought ELAC Uni-fi B52 speakers (as my mains)......I am on the fence too about 2 channel system vs 5.1 system as well. I do have other surround speakers, a Fluance center channel and Paradigm 10" powered sub. Can u make some recommendations re budget/mid-priced 3.1 amps and or AVR's (if my HTR's won't work for my surrounds)? Do the 3.1 amp and AVR need to be connected somehow to get the best sound or are they operating totally separately? Have a wonderful day!

[@AnasSuhaimi]

For example, Pioneer is rated 130W at 6ohm. Is that for the pair or for each? I'm looking forward to get a Pioneer 5.1 speaker set as below: Floorstanding Speakers SP-FS52 - 130W 6ohm Centre Speaker SP-C22 - 90W 6ohm Bookshelf/Rear Speakers SP-BS22-LR - 80W 6ohm What's the total wattage here? A) 130+90+80 = 300W? or B) 130x2 + 90x1 + 80x2 = 510W?

[@bige7695]

Hey Chris, I recently purchased a monolith 5 channel power amp, please recommend a reasonable priced surround processor or AVR with 5.1 pre-outs. I'm at a loss for finding this component. Love your channel. I purchased Epson UB 5050 largely based on your review/recommendation!

[@kingeo25]

Denon 3600 or 3700 if you can find them.

[@joshgeorge83]

Chris, good video. I'm surprised (or maybe I missed listening at 2x) that you dont mention formula related to what volume(db) is created based on watts sensitivity distance etc. When I first bought receivers I was hyper focused on RMS but now realizing that a difference of 100 vs 120 vs 140 makes a very little difference.

[@mustangfred2006]

Doesn't your sensitivity rating of your speakers come in to play too?

[@holmesd5003]

I learned so much in a very short time, Thank you!!

[@avgeek8810]

Good video. I’m only using separates but I think you left out or just didn’t mention that when using a receiver, most of the time using a crossover around 80-100 hz, speakers will not need more than a couple of watts. Maybe I missed it in the video?

[@lancejones1058]

What do you think of the quality of the Cosco Klipsh speaker packages?

[@joeysplats3209]

Daggum that was a lotta great info in a short time. Good annunciation and I wonder if you do many re-takes to get it right, or if you're spot-on the first time in most circumstances.

[@ganesang5537]

Glad you covered all the bases. I don't know about you, but I think it'd be wise to invest a sizeable proportion of the budget in good quality speakers with ~90dB sensitivity, and dedicate a modest amount for AVRs or pre/pro. Analogous to camera body and lenses budget split. After all, we'll be replacing AVRs and camera bodies more often than their other halves.

[@jsmith5298]

Do you know of any good AV receiver sales for this memorial weekend?

[@capn_shawn]

Great Video. There is always the old Lexicon RV-8 that drives all 7 channels at 140W into 8 ohms (< 0.02% THD), 230W if only driving two channels hard. Way cheaper than the black boxes of today (gotta use your TV inputs to switch HDMI, though) I have one, but I'm insane and pretty good at troubleshooting electronics.