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Learn: Home » Receiver Hookup Tips:
Your receiver is command central for your A/V system. Every other piece of gear in your system needs to be connected to it — in fact, some components require two or even three separate connections to your receiver! (The only possible exception is your TV, if you opt not to use your receiver for video switching.)
On the back panel of most home theater receivers, you'll discover a dizzying array of inputs and outputs at your disposal. Audio inputs will likely include analog stereo input, analog multichannel, optical digital, and coaxial digital options. You'll also have analog outputs corresponding to at least some and possibly all of these types. For video connections, you'll typically find three types of inputs and outputs — composite, S-video, and component video.
 The back panel of a home theater receiver offers a bewildering jungle of inputs and outputs to the uninitiated user. |
With so many ways to hook up your gear, the permutations of possible connection schemes are virtually endless. The ways you connect your components to your receiver, however, will have a big impact on your ability to do a number of important and fairly basic things with your system.
If you're using your receiver for video switching or dual-room/dual-source listening (both described later in this article), you'll find that some types of hookups will severely limit what you can do in these realms. Also, if you plan to use any form of recording gear — including a DVD recorder, a CD recorder, a VCR, a cassette deck, or a MiniDisc recorder — your method of connection will determine the flexibility of your recording options.
On the following pages, we'll present a series of connection tips aimed at helping you get the most out of your system.
