How to Connect a Receiver to Your Home Theater System

A roadmap for the rest of us

Connecting a receiver to a new or existing home theater system poses many challenges to the typical movie or music fan.  The increasing complexity of the equipment, the sheer number of devices available for purchase, and the difficulty managing the fragile, expensive components can become a headache for even the savviest users.  

Connecting a receiver to your home theater set up can give you the flexibility to use multiple capabilities of your devices simultaneously, enrich the quality of sound and video, and take advantage of new picture technology.  A cottage industry helping consumers get a handle on their technology has sprung up: the Avia Guide to Home Theater offers an instructional DVD to facilitate a thorough and professional installation.

Look under the hood

Although it may seem obvious, the first step is to take stock of the connection situation.  Depending on the tuner, there may dozens of holes and ports on the back of the unit.  Also, a receiver can be wired more than one way and can employ different types of connecting cables (such as new high tech HDMI cables).  Identifying the different ports and their function is the simplest way to configure your system.

Speaker outputs

Speaker outputs are the most conspicuous set of connections on the back of a receiver and often take up the most real estate.  Different bindings can be used, but in general there will be a place to plug in the two posts (usually a red and a black wire) from each speaker.  Connect each color wire with the corresponding clip on both the receiver and the speaker to insure correct polarity.

The tuner separates sound signals as it plays, splitting them into channels (such as left, right, and center).   Arrange the speakers around the room to maximize the dynamic capabilities of sound, ideally placing the rear speakers behind the most common seating area.  Leave enough slack to prevent the speaker from being yanked out of place if the wire is disturbed.

Pre-outs/ line outs

Pre-outs connect an optional, external amplifier to increase the strength of the sound output.  Some may choose to add an amp to crate a more flexible system for future upgrades and get a big, resonant sound in a larger space.

Zone 2 outputs

Zone 2 outputs send a signal to a separate set of speakers.  You can use this feature to access one feature of your home theater in one area of the house and use the same equipment to do something else in another room.  This way, you can watch a movie in the den while someone in the kitchen listens to music.

Digital audio (S/PDIF) connections

The S/PDIF digital audio connection comes in two types: Toslink (digital fiber optics) and coaxial.  Ideal to link up digital music players, these ports pass a digital audio signal from the source to the speakers or another device, such as a digital video recorder.

Analog inputs/ line-ins

These ports are for analog (non-digital) components, such as a VCR or tape deck.

5.1 analog in

Also called line-in or DVD inputs. Use standard RCA cables to connect each color-coded line to the corresponding port on the receiver to the DVD player.

Video inputs/outputs

Additional video sources can be connected using either composite or S-Video connections.

Component video in/out

Specifically designed for HDTV, this analog connection method promises high quality.  Increasingly, receivers use digital inputs to keep a signal in digital form from the source all the way through its display. 

If your receiver supports new high tech connections such as HDMI, invest in these cables to get the best possible picture.  If the receiver lacks the appropriate connectors, but both the television and DVD player have them, bypass the tuner all together and directly connect the two devices.  Then run separate cables from the DVD player to the receiver for sound.

More information on stereo receivers