The AV receiver is an integral part of any home theatre system. It can be connected to most modern TVs, however, there are some issues that may arise when trying to connect the two. If you have an integrated amplifier or a pre-amplifier/processor then this guide will help you connect your AV receiver!
The main goal is to provide the AV receiver with an HDMI signal. Let’s start by clearing up one common question - do you need HDMI to connect the TV and the AV receiver? The quick answer is no, not really. If your TV does not have any other options for transmitting video then you will need to use an analogue connection (RCA) to the AV receiver. If you want to use an HDMI connection then read on, because that’s what we’re going for!
You will need:
- AV Receiver
- TV (with at least one analogue input - RCA)
- HDMI cable (if your TV and AV receiver both support HDMI)
- Speaker wire (if you’re connecting speakers to the receiver)
- Stereo RCA cables (these are usually included with your equipment. They look like this )
Connections:
- Turn off all components before starting!
- Connect the HDMI cable between the TV and the AV receiver. Make sure you use an HDMI 1.3 or higher cable, otherwise you may not get a picture.
If the TV only has one HDMI input then use this port for connecting the AV receiver. If your TV supports multiple HDMI ports then you should connect both devices here.
- Connect an analogue audio cable between the TV’s RCA output and the AV receiver’s analogue input.
- Connect a digital audio cable between the AV receiver and the TV (optical, coaxial). If your TV does not support that input then you will need another HDMI input on your receiver or connect an analogue audio cable instead.
- Turn on all equipment and switch to proper inputs (TV/AV receiver). There should be a source menu on your TV where you can select the AV receiver.
- Go to your AV receiver’s setup menu and switch it to receive audio from the TV instead of a CD player or another analogue input. This step depends on your specific model so please check out your manual for more information.
- Play some music through the TV speakers. If everything was done correctly then you should hear the music through your AV receiver and not from the TV’s speakers.
- Turn down your TV volume and turn up the volume on your AV receiver until you’re happy with the amount of sound that is coming out of the speakers. You may now connect additional components to your AV receiver (like your cable box, DVD player, etc.)
Why Connect an Integrated Amplifier to an AV Receiver?
AV receivers are great for connecting all kinds of devices (Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, etc.) and getting rid of multiple remotes. The main benefit is providing your living room with awesome sound quality through speakers. If you only have one TV in the house then you can use the AV receiver as a primary device to connect all media components.
The drawback is that integrated amplifiers usually do not have any digital inputs (optical, coaxial) and they only support analogue connections. If you’re trying to connect a TV through RCA then you will lose quality in your sound because it is transmitted as an analogue signal between the devices. It may be alright if all you want to do is listen to the radio, but if you want something with better sound then you should connect your TV through the AV receiver.
So, why should you connect an Integrated Amplifier to an AV Receiver?
If you want better sound quality and more features (like surround sound) then you should get an AV receiver instead of a stereo amplifier. If your TV does not support the type of input your receiver needs (for example HDMI or optical audio) then you can still get great results by connecting both devices to your new AV receiver.
Do you want better sound quality or do you also want to use your TV as a media device? If both of the above is true then there’s no reason why not to connect an integrated amplifier to an AV receiver.
Analogue vs Digital Audio:
The main difference between analogue and digital audio is that analogue signals are transmitted between pieces of equipment, while digital signals are transmitted through a single connection. The price of using an analogue signal is that not all information can be transmitted between two devices, so the sound quality decreases at every step.
Conclusion:
We hope that this article answered your question and if you have anything to add or any questions then please leave a comment below.
