For true surround sound, you need a dedicated home cinema amplifier, also known as an AV receiver. AV receivers act as the hub for your whole system, sending sights and sounds to all of your other pieces of kit like your speakers and TV. You won’t believe the difference that even an entry-level AV receiver can make to your viewing experience, and we stock many high quality, budget-conscious receivers.

That said, it’s worth considering an AV receiver as an investment for the long term, especially if you watch movies and TV programmes on a regular basis. By paying a bit extra, you get much better value for your money. Premium AV receivers are made with better components, come with very handy extra features and most importantly, they sound incredible which translates to a more absorbing, exhilarating performance. What’s more, many premium receivers do double duty, acting as a stereo receiver that can play Hi-Res Audio files, so your music collection sounds phenomenal as well.

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Basic surround sound comes as 5.1 – it's the most common home surround sound set-up. You have five speakers: a centre speaker for super-clear dialogue, front left and right for stereo action and two behind you for ambient atmosphere. The .1 is the subwoofer for bass. It’s tried and true, and a great way to bring a little cinema magic into your home.

The latest breakthrough in home cinema is Dolby Atmos. This technology uses additional speakers, either installed in the ceiling or sometimes using upwards-firing speakers on the floor, to mimic the kind of sound you get in high-end cinemas. The results are stunning: multi-dimensional, deep, immersive, lifelike sound and once you hear it for yourself you'll want a top-notch receiver with this capability.

While many receivers will be able to process and deliver a 4K image, there are vast differences in the quality of the image between a budget receiver and a higher-end model, with factors like colour reproduction and motion handling. On top of that, you'll get more inputs and outputs – so you can run all your games consoles, set-top boxes, disc players and more through it.

Every home cinema amp we sell is a star performer, but hopefully now you better understand how investing in a premium model can give you more features and a user experience that will truly delight you over its lifetime. Great surround sound is something that has to be experienced – felt and heard. That's why all of our stores have experience rooms equipped with the latest surround sound technologies, including Dolby Atmos.

We stock AV receivers from all the big brands. Come in and experience the difference for yourself and find the perfect home cinema amplifier for your home.

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