Stereo Receiver Terms

When shopping around for a new home stereo receiver, there is basically one major element you want to consider: how easy or complicated a system you want to tackle. Most modern stereo receivers come equipped with a remote control that should, ostensibly, be able to operate most, if not all, of the other components on your home stereo system.

You might be surprised to find out that many dealers today offer the option of taking home a new home stereo receiver for a "test drive" in order to see if it will suit your liking. With technology constantly evolving and improving, there are a huge variety of new gadgets and nifty features for your choosing; however, always remember that performance should be the number one factor in determining the stereo receiver that is right for you.

Choosing your stereo receiver

Quality home stereo receivers can be adequately judged on their sensitivity, or ability to tune into weak or distance radio signals. So look for stereo receivers with high sensitivity ratings. This is especially important for people who live in rural areas.

For more urban areas, alternate-channel selectivity is the most important factor. This refers to the stereo receiver's ability to cut down on interference from other radio stations whose frequencies are close to the one you are attempting to listen to.

A high signal-to-noise ratio is an essential factor when choosing your home stereo receiver. Stereo receivers with low signal-to-noise ratios will interrupt your reception with static, hiss, or other unwanted background noises such as your neighbor's stereo signal or CB radios. 

How much power do I need?

There are several factors that come into play when determining how powerful a home stereo receiver you need, such as how large or small your space is, what the acoustics of your home are like, how far throughout the house you expect the sound to travel, how sensitive your speakers, and, last but not least, how loud you like to play your music or movies.

Obviously, larger rooms will require a more powerful home stereo receiver. Live rooms refer to spaces that have more reverberant or reflective surfaces which absorb less sound and require less power. Dead rooms are just the opposite, usually referring to spaces with more upholstery. 

More information on stereo receivers