An AV receiver, or audio/video receiver, is a consumer electronics component used in a home theater system. Its primary function is to receive audio and video signals from various sources, such as a Blu-ray player, cable box, or gaming console, and to process them and provide power amplifiers to drive loudspeakers and route the signals to the appropriate outputs. The AV receiver is the hub of a home theater system, taking in audio and video signals from various sources and routing them to their respective outputs.
AV receivers are classified as audio frequency electronic amplifiers and are used to distinguish multi-channel audio/video receivers from simpler stereo receivers, although the primary function of both is amplification. Stereo receivers have two channels of amplification, while AV receivers may have more than two. The standard for AV receivers is five channels of amplification, usually referred to as 5.1 receivers, which provide for a left, right, center, left surround sound, and right surround sound speaker to be powered by the receiver.
AV receivers may also be known as digital audio-video receivers or digital media renderers. They offer a variety of possible connections, including analog audio, digital audio, composite video, S-Video, and SCART video. Modern AV receivers offer a range of other features such as internet connectivity via Ethernet ports or WiFi, wireless music streaming via Bluetooth, wireless video casting or screen mirroring via DLNA/Miracast/Airplay, multi-room audio output, and even DSP-based room-calibration for optimized sound.
AV receivers can also serve as a music hub for your home, since many of them can connect to a home network and stream audio around the house via platforms such as Apple’s AirPlay 2, Google’s Chromecast, or proprietary systems like Denon’s Heos and Yamaha’s MusicCast.
