An important part of your home stereo is your amplifier. Often called a receiver, this component is the heart of your stereo system. A high quality receiver is key to getting the most out of your home theater or stereo system. This component takes sound input from another source and sends it to your speakers, after amplifying it to an appropriate level. Many amplifiers these days have tons more features built in, like surround sound, radio, and more. Check out these receivers for some great examples of nice stereo receivers.
This home theater receiver from Yamaha (model number RX-V363BL) features a 5.1 channel surround sound and video pass-through. You can even hook up your iPod or bluetooth compatible music player. Since volume is so important with home theaters, the receiver has an "initial volume" setting which is the volume that is heard when the power is turned on. A maximum volume setting is available to keep very loud sounds from annoying you. This is a 500 watt total power receiver, which is more than enough power to drive your 5 channel sound.
Here are some factors to consider when buying a stereo receiver for your home theater or music system. First, get a high quality unit. The quality of the sound you hear is determined by the quality of the unit. Even if you have great speakers, you won't be satisfied with the sound of a lower quality amplifier. Second, read reviews of the product. Many reviews are available on the web, and you can read what owners think of the receiver. You can really save yourself some headache by reading home stereo amplifier reviews before you buy. Finally, shop around for a good price since many amplifiers may be on sale or available on the web for a great price.