Beyond the basics, like a flat panel TV, Blu-Ray player and one or two speakers, many people get skittish when talking about home theater equipment. There appears to be an overwhelming amount of devices out there designed for very specific purposes, and only a consumer electronics guru could understand them all. Right?
Not quite. One thing that people often get tripped up over is the difference between integrated amplifiers and AV receivers. Whether you’re someone who knows what these are but doesn’t know which one is best, or you have no idea what these audiophile-sounding words even mean, read on to get your bearings in the sea of home electronics. It’s not even that overwhelming, we promise.
These two audio devices are similar in many ways. They are both good choices to act as a controller for your speakers/sound system. Two of the most obvious differences between them are their features and their audio quality. Generally speaking, an AV receiver will have more features, while an integrated amplifier will have the better sound quality. But take this statement with a grain of salt: different brands offer different components and features, and as you get into the higher price points, it is often difficult to tell the difference between an integrated amp and a receiver.
An integrated amp is great for multi-source audio. Its most basic components include a switching selector for your different inputs, a preamp to control volume and equalize sound, and a power amp. All three of these devices can be purchased separately, but an integrated amp combines them into one chassis. This allows you to control the sound of many different sources with a single device, and cut down on the clutter in your home theater in the process.
At its most basic, a receiver will take all of the features described above and add a radio tuner. Most receivers today have even more features than this, as the modern home theater demands. They will often include video switching in addition to the audio switching of the integrated amp, and some have a subwoofer crossover with output. And the very latest AV receivers go a step further, including modern connections like HDMI and converters for both audio and video sources, digital equalizing capabilities and more.
Now, you might think that the complex feature set of an AV receiver makes it the better choice, but not necessarily so. The sound quality that you get from integrated amps is usually better, but this depends on a number of factors. Take a look at each component, and do some research. Will they perform better than similar components in a receiver? You need to also assess your other audio devices, like your speakers. Can they handle the high quality sound that your integrated amp will produce? Often, low-grade speakers will act the same regardless of the quality of the receiver or amp they are connected to.
Other things to pay attention to when choosing between an integrated amp and a receiver are the acoustics of your room, and what you’re mainly going to use your audio setup for. If you want it for Blu-Ray sound, you might stick to a receiver that can also handle video. If you’re a music connoisseur, an integrated amp might pull out the subtle instrumentals better.
Ultimately, an integrated amp and an AV receiver are both good choices for a central audio controller for your home. To choose between them, you just need to look at the details of the device and keep your needs in mind.
Tags: audio technology, audio/video, Home Theater
