As the central component of any home theater system, the home theater receiver is one of the most important pieces of equipment you can buy. This receiver is also known as an AV receiver, or surround sound receiver, because it includes the majority of the inputs and outputs required for setting up the home theater system, from speakers to the TV set itself. A good receiver will serve as a tuner for receiving AM/FM and satellite radio, as well as high definition radio. It will control the different audio and video sources that can be used, including the DVD player, the CD player, and the VCR. It will also come equipped with a multi-channel amplifier for the transmission of surround sound signals. Be sure and check out the power ratings of this amplifier. Higher wattage capability per channel does not automatically equal better sound.

The overall sound level of the receiver is critical to the quality of your home theater experience. Decibels are used to indicate the sound level produced by a receiver. To make sure your receiver doesn't emit background noise or distort sound, look for one with about 50 watts per channel (WPC) with minimal distortion levels. Keep in mind that a receiver with a distortion rating of 10% is going to sound terrible! A receiver rated at .01% for distortion levels is ideal. Usually, distortion information is indicated by the acronym THD, or total harmonic distortion.

Yet another factor to consider where receivers are concerned is signal-to-noise ratio. This number indicates the amount of sound in contrast to the amount of background noise. A large ratio indicates that important sounds like dialogue and music will be effectively isolated from annoying background noise. Signal-to-noise ratios are indicated in decibels. Look for a ratio of 70 decibels when buying a receiver.

A factor called continuous power is also important. This is the capability of the receiver to work to its fullest power over an extended period of time. Continuous power is indicated by the acronym RMS. The RMS will give you the power capability of the component, including its potential for generating sound at various levels over an extended duration.

Dynamic headroom is another term shoppers should be familiar with. Dynamic headroom refers to the power of the receiver to generate sound at particularly high levels for brief periods of time, during a music crescendo in a movie, or when loud sound effects occur. The ability to accommodate sudden increases in sound is an important factor to look for in a receiver. Decibels are used to indicate dynamic headroom. Look for dynamic headroom of three decibels when shopping for a home theater receiver.