10 Reasons to Replace Your Old Receiver

Audio Receiver SystemIt’s not uncommon for people to become attached to their old electronics. But eventually, those old electronics have to be upgraded. After all, who would have thought in the 90’s that CD players would now be almost obsolete? Digital files have a crisp, clear sound that you won’t get from spinning tunes the old school style, which brings us to the topic of upgrading old home electronics.

How well is your A/V Receiver functioning with your newly upgraded equipment? Surely you no longer have your receiver hooked to your old boxy, analog tube TV, and ancient VCR. If you have taken the time and investment to update these electronics, it’s obvious that the brains of the operation would also need to be updated so you can enjoy all of the amazing features new home electronics provide.

Why Should You Replace an Old Receiver?

1. Connections

Older receivers have a limited number of HDMI inputs and outputs. Today there are so many more options for equipment that can be attached to and controlled by your receiver. Today’s homes have cable boxes, Blu-Ray players, gaming systems and other connections. Therefore, you will want to look for a system that has at least 5 HDMI inputs and 2 HDMI outputs.Audio Receiver

2. 4K Capability

4K is where technology is heading. Your receiver will need HDCP 2.2 support on at least one of the HDMI inputs and outputs in order to pass the copy-protected 4K video content on a new Ultra HDTV.

3. Better Sound

The more power your receiver has, the better your speakers will sound. For example, the digital-to-analog conversion makes your digital music have more clarity. The automatic speaker calibration dials in the sound based on the acoustics in your room. (Keep in mind that when discussing sound, the receiver is only half of the equation. Make sure to check if your speakers also need an upgrade).

4. Multiple Rooms

Today people want the ability to expand their music and video capabilities into different rooms. In order for this to happen, your receiver will need discrete Zone 2 or Zone 3 outputs.

5. Dolby Atmos

New formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X will allow you to experience the best surround sound formats to date. Both of these sound features are standard with most receivers that have seven or more channels. Dolby Atmos

6. High-Resolution Music Files

Newer audio formats have thousands of high-res titles available for download. Once you experience the sound of digital music files, you won’t want to go back to old compressed music files…so you can use your old CD’s as coasters now.

7. Easy Wireless Music Streaming

Most new receivers come equipped with Bluetooth, making it simple to play tunes from your smartphone or tablet through your home speakers. Guest can also share their music through your system.

8. Networking Capabilities

Most new receivers have WiFi and/or wired ethernet capabilities for accessing online streaming services like Spotify and Pandora. You can also stream music from your computer. Apps like internet radio give you access to radio stations all around the world. Additionally, Apple AirPlay is available if you have an iTunes library on your computer.

9. Remote Control

Your smartphone or tablet can be used as a remote control; interpreting all your streaming sources with the receiver’s functions, and allowing you to control them with one smooth interface.

10. Channels

The more the merrier! The number of channels the receiver has correlates to the number of speakers it can power. A receiver with at least five channels can get you a surround sound. However, a 7 channel receiver can expand your music and video into other rooms.

Time to Upgrade that Old Reciever!

In order to maximize the best use out of your A/V Receiver, it makes sense to invest in a good receiver with new features. This will assure that you can experience the best audio and visual capabilities available in today’s technology. Have questions about today’s best A/V Receivers? Call us at (804) 379-1348 or schedule an appointment online with one of our specialists.