When contemplating how to put together a home theater system, one should not forget a crucial component to the audio and visual experience. Home theater audio and video are controlled by a receiver which is the central unit where the inputs and outputs of the home theater are based.
A home theater receiver combines the functions of three components. First, a tuner for AM and FM, in some cases high definition radio or Sirius Satellite or Internet radio. Second, a preamp that controls the audio or video source selected - Blu-ray play, DVD player, iPod etc. Last, a built in multi-channel amplifier that sends the surround sound signals to the speakers and also supplies power to the speakers.
The modern audio visual receiver (AVR) is a complex device, perhaps one of the more complex electronic devices in the home. It has a computer, amplifiers, audio signal processing chips, signal converter chips. Many AVRs have video processing chips as well. The main circuits in an AVR are: Power supply; Processor; Analog Audio; Digital Audio; Analog Video; Digital Video; Amplifier.
