The latest digital entertainment options for your receiver

A growing number of receivers offer digital entertainment options that go beyond traditional audio and video sources. With the addition of a few accessories, most models now make it easy to tune in subscription-based satellite radio services, or listen to tunes stored on a portable music player. Some even offer connections for accessing music stored on a PC.

Satellite radio
With its multitude of music, news, talk shows, and sports channels, satellite radio is one of the fastest growing forms of listening entertainment out there. To receive satellite radio, you'll need to purchase an optional tuner and antenna, along with a satellite radio subscription. Satellite radio-ready receivers let you view song titles, artist names, and channel info on their front-panel displays, or even on your TV screen. Plus, you can use the receiver's remote to change stations just as you would with a conventional AM/FM tuner. Check out this article for more info on satellite radio.

Portable MP3 player and iPod® integration

The Onkyo DS-A2X dock allows iPod control through Onkyo receivers.

These days, lots of folks carry their music collection around with them on a portable music player. Many receivers provide a basic front-panel audio input for connecting virtually any portable player. A few even offer a USB port for plugging in USB flash drives loaded with tunes.

iPod owners can take it a step further by using a specially designed dock with a compatible receiver to transform their iPod into a fully integrated A/V component. These handy control docks let you listen to your iPod's music through your audio system and view stored photos or videos on your TV screen. The docks also charge your iPod as it plays, and allow you to control it using the receiver's remote. Check out our article for more info on choosing an iPod dock.

Music from your PC
Some receivers can connect to your home computer network via an Ethernet port, or even a wireless Wi-Fi® connection, to access music files on your PC or a digital music server. They can also give you easy access to thousands of Internet radio stations from around the world using your broadband Internet connection. (Another way some advanced models let you use the built-in Ethernet port is for setup and control of your receiver — a very convenient option for custom installation.) See our article on Creating a Home Network for more information about networking compatible A/V gear.

Controlling it all

In general, the more you spend on a receiver, the more features its remote will have. All receivers include a remote control that can, at the very least, control other A/V components made by the same manufacturer. But if you'll be mixing and matching brands in your system, you'll probably want to consider a receiver with a multibrand remote control. This type of remote comes pre-loaded with the codes needed to operate other manufacturers' gear and will provide you with easy, centralized operation of all your components.

Higher-end receivers frequently come with a learning remote. You can "teach" a learning remote the less commonly used commands, such as detailed menu operations, that your A/V components' original remotes offered. And you can program it to control a new component in your system that isn't included in the list of pre-loaded codes. Remotes with programmable macros let you execute a series of commands with the press of a single button. Touchscreen LCD remotes give you screens of virtual buttons specific to the component you're currently controlling, for more intuitive operation of your gear. (To find out more about remotes, see Remote Controls: How to Choose.)