 | eBay Singapore's Receivers Buying Guide
| Power your stereo or surround sound speakers with a new receiver. Start shopping for receivers now on eBay Singapore! |
Determine Which Type of Receivers You Need
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Determine Which Type of Receivers You NeedReceivers control the speakers while allowing you to adjust settings such as the bass and treble. Decide whether you want a home theatre or stereo receiver depending on your needs. Multiple home entertainment devices can be connected to a receiver, and most include a built-in AM/FM radio tuner for all your entertainment needs. With two channels of amplification, stereo receivers output audio from a number of traditional devices- turntables, cassettes, CDs or radio- to a set of speakers. Sitting at the centre of your home entertainment system, the home theatre receiver powers multiple speakers while decoding surround sound audio from HDTV, DVD movies and multichannel audio discs. If you don’t want to watch anything you can use your receiver to listen to music from traditional mediums- turntables, cassettes, CDs or radio. The number of channels a receiver amplifies and outputs is dependant on the number of channels required by the surround sound formats that are supported by the receiver. A separate speaker will reproduce each channel of audio, with a subwoofer making up the .1 in a system.
5.1 surround sound:
5.1 surround sound provides audio for a centre-channel speaker, two surround speakers, two front speakers and a subwoofer.
6.1 surround sound: 6.1 surround sound provides audio for a centre-channel speaker, two surround speakers, two front speakers, a rear-channel speaker, and a subwoofer. 6.1-channel surround sound receivers can amplify six or seven channels of audio and support DTS-ES and Dolby Digital EX formats.
7.1 surround sound:
7.1 surround sound provides audio for a centre-channel speaker, two surround speakers, two front speakers, two rear speakers and a subwoofer playing the same channel of audio. They can also output audio from 5.1 and 6.1 channel audio sources to the rear speakers.
Home theatre receivers also have digital inputs and outputs so that audio does not have to go through a signal corruption in an analogue to digital conversion process. Dual room (or dual source) home theatre receivers can play audio from one source in one room while outputting audio from a different source to a set of speakers in a different room. Preamp-level second-room output: All dual source receivers can output to a second set of stereo speakers on the preamp level. The second set of speakers need to have their own power source; this means you'll need powered speakers or an additional amplifier or receiver. Speaker-level second-room output: Certain 7.1 surround sound receivers allow one user to watch a movie in 5.1 surround sound while another person listens to stereo music from a different audio source in a different room. To easily switch between 7.1 channel surround sound and dual source mode, look for receivers featuring "back surround" and "Zone 2" speaker outputs. Dual room A/V output: Send stereo audio and a second video source to another room in your house.
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Support Surround Sound Formats
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Support Surround Sound FormatsYour home theatre receiver should support all the surround sound and multichannel audio formats you want to hear. Dolby Digital:
This commonly used (generally in DVDs and digital television broadcasts) 5.1 channel surround sound format includes five channels of audio and a low-frequency effects (LFE) channel dedicated to delivering bass sound effects in the 10 Hertz to 120 Hertz range. Dolby Digital EX: This 6.1 channel extended surround format from Dolby includes six channels of audio and a low-frequency effects (LFE) channel dedicated to delivering bass sound effects in the 10 Hertz to 120 Hertz range. Featured on more DVDs each week, it can also play back Dolby Digital 5.1 content. DTS: 5.1 surround sound format that competes with Dolby Digital for usability. It is an optional format on many DVDs and multichannel audio recordings. DTS-ES: This is an optional 6.1 surround sound format on many DVDs and multichannel audio recordings. It is backward-compatible with DTS and competes with Dolby Digital EX. DTS Neo:6: This format creates five or six channels of audio for surround sound setups from matrix stereo recordings. It can also create a 6.1 surround sound experience with a rear channel from 5.1 channel surround sound recordings. It competes with Dolby Pro Logic II. Dolby Pro Logic: Many video games can simulate surround sound with a decoder, adapter kit and digital audio cable. Dolby Pro Logic II: Create a 5.1 channel surround sound experience from stereo recordings or four channel Dolby Surround audio from TV shows and VHS tapes. Dolby Pro Logic IIx: Create a 7.1 surround sound experience from your stereo, 5.1 or 6.1 channel recordings. THX-Certified: Although THX isn't actually an audio format that needs a special decoder, if you're a movie buff you should consider THX-certified equipment. It realistically recreates a THX movie theatre experience by utilising proprietary equalization and meets specific safety standards for power, frequency response and acceptable levels of distortion. THX Select-certified equipment can deliver cinematic performance in rooms up to 185 sqaure metres and THX Ultra-certified equipment delivers theatre-quality performance in rooms up to 280 square metres. THX Surround EX: Create a 6.1 channel surround sound experience from any home theatre audio source with THX Surround EX. It inherently supports Dolby Digital EX and Dolby Digital and can also be used with DTS-ES, DTS, Dolby Pro Logic, and Dolby Pro Logic II. For best performance you'll want a 6.1 channel surround sound receiver and speakers.
The back packaging of your favourite DVDs, multichannel audio recordings, or video games will list the surround sound formats they support DVD-Audio and SACD require decoding at the source. This means you'll need an SACD player to listen to SACDs or a DVD player that supports DVD-Audio to listen to DVD-Audio discs. Both can also contain Dolby Digital and DTS material that your receiver can decode. . |
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Choose Receiver Cables
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Choose Receiver CablesYour receiver should have inputs and outputs for all the devices you want to hook up, including your DVD player, CD changer
and AM/FM tuner. Buy a receiver with enough inputs to support multiple audio sources. You can use audio/video inputs to connect audio-only devices, so don't worry if a receiver only has a few audio inputs. Line-level Stereo
: Support analogue audio connections from many devices (including your stereo, AM/FM tuner and turntables) that have a built-in phono preamp, and devices that offer decoding for Dolby Pro Logic. Phono: Connect your turntable, listen to your LPs. Digital audio: Make basic connections between digital audio sources and your receiver. Ensure the inputs on your receiver are the same as the outputs on your audio source. Component video: Transfer signals from your progressive-scan DVD player or HDTV. Receivers that offer component video conversion transfer video from a composite, S-video or component video input source to your television via a component video cable. Make sure the receiver has HDTV compatibility before you buy. S-Video: Receivers that support composite to S-video conversion take in a video signal via an S-video or composite video cable and output them to your TV via an S-video cable. DVI: Carry encrypted high-resolution video signals from an HDTV-capable satellite or cable set-top box to an HDTV monitor with a DVI connector. This technology can sometimes be used with DVD players. HDMI: Transfer uncompressed digital video signals and multichannel digital audio signals from HDTV tuners, HDTV-ready televisions and DVD players over a single cable connection. It offers copy protection and works well with plasma, LCD and rear-projection DLP televisions.
If you have an unconnected CD recorder or DVD recorder and want to connect with the receiver, make sure your receiver has digital outputs compatible with the digital inputs on your recorder. High quality cables will carry audio and video signals more reliably and allow less noise and distortion than the cables that came with your components. The type of cable you need to buy depends on which device you want to connect. Always make sure the inputs on your receiver match the outputs on your audio or visual source. Coaxial RF cable: To connect your standard TV antennae, turntable, tuner or VCR use coaxial RF cables. Composite (RCA) cable: Use a single composite RCA cable connection to transfer a video signal from a DVD player or VCR to your television. 75-ohm digital audio cable: Transfer digital audio over a 75-ohm digital audio cable. Optical digital/ fibre optic cable: Use an optical digital cable to transfer digital audio from digital music players, progressive-scan DVD players and HDTVs. Component video cable: By splitting a video signal from your DVD player, VCR or HDTV tuner and processing the signals separately the picture quality is much improved. Generally component video cables need to have at least 12 megahertz, but cables used for HDTV require at least 30 megahertz of bandwidth. S-video cable: many digital devices, including camcorders, use four-pin S-video cables to transmit video you can, for example, use the connection to transmit a video signal from a camcorder to your television. DVI cable: Transfer digital video from your HDTV-ready TV, HDTV tuner or DVI-compatible DVD player over a DVI cable. Most home electronics use DVI-D cables. HDMI cable: You can transfer up to eight channels of audio to your 7.1 channel surround sound system using a single HDMI cable. Many of the latest HDTV tuners and HDTV-ready TVs support HDMI connections, which is backward-compatible with DVI.
Connect your speakers to your receiver with speaker cables and separate subwoofer cables for the best low frequency sound. Measure the distance between each component that needs a cable connection, taking into consideration areas that need extra length (windows, door frames, corners) to find out how much speaker cable you need. Remember you can always cut a cable if it is too long but you can’t add more so buy cables on the long side (usually at least 60 centimetres more than you think you need). |
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Power Your Receivers
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Power Your ReceiversMake sure your receiver provides enough power for the speakers you plan to use. Look at speaker sensitivity, receiver wattage, and total harmonic distortion. How sensitive your speaker is determines how much power your speaker requires. Speakers with higher ratings require more power to reach a specific volume than speakers with lower ratings. Sensitivity above 90 decibels is good; sensitivity between 88 decibels and 90 decibels is average; and sensitivity below 85 decibels can punish your amp. Also make sure the manufacturer lists a full bandwidth power rating that covers the range of human hearing, that is, from 20 to 20 000 Hertz. A surround sound receiver amplifier should offer at least 100 watts of power per channel, equally distributed throughout the system. For example, 100 watts x 6 for a 6.1 channel surround sound system. Many speakers have an 8-ohm rating, but some go down to 6 ohms, 4 ohms, or even 2 ohms, requiring more power. The equation can therefore be used to specify an impedance rating; for example, 100 watts x 6 @ 8 ohms. Additionally, actual impedance can vary depending on frequency. To avoid disappointment make sure your amp can handle lower impedance speakers without overheating or shutting down. More detail is delivered by a receiver with more wattage than one with less. However, power should not be a deciding factor when comparing receivers with similar wattage ratings. For sound to increase 3 decibels, wattage needs to be doubled, for example, from 50 to 100 watts. However, in order to double how loud it sounds, you need a 10 decibel increase. Therefore, you won’t hear much difference between a 100 and a 120 watt receiver. If you want a spine tingling, bone rattling experience, look for a high current power receiver capable of quickly reproducing sudden sound surges in movies and music. Sellers may list a receiver's THD or total harmonic distortion rating, a measurement of amplifier signal purity. Simply put, the number indicates how sharp your music and movies will sound. Typically these numbers fall below 1 percent, however, numbers below 0.1 percent should be looked for if you want the cleanest power. Digital receivers have higher THD ratings than traditional receivers. When looking at THD ratings, compare digital receivers to other digital receivers and traditional receivers to other traditional receivers. |
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Find Receivers on eBay Singapore
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Find Receivers on eBay SingaporeNow that you know what you need, go to eBay Singapore's Electronics & Computers portal and click the
Home Audio to start your shopping experience. Keywords: Search eBay Singapore title listings for specific words. For example, if you want to find a 6.1 Surround Sound receiver, type "6.1" (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay Singapore's Search Tips page to get more information about searching with keywords.
If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, or saving a search on My eBay and eBay Singapore will email you when a match becomes available. |
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Buy Receivers with Confidence
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Buy Receivers with ConfidenceBefore making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay Singapore and PayPal protect you.  Carefully read the details in item listings. Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it posts. If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile. Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay Singapore (with a bid or Buy It Now). Transactions conducted outside of eBay Singapore are not covered by eBay Singapore protection programmes. Never pay for your eBay Singapore item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.
Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction. What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have? What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise? Most top eBay Singapore sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?
In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay Singapore and PayPal are there for you. Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal
enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorised payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to US$1,000. eBay Singapore Security Centre: Visit the Security Centre to learn how to protect your account and use eBay's quick and efficient resolution tools.
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Legal Disclaimer
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Legal DisclaimerBuying Guides are intended merely as a guide or review for members when considering what products or services they may be interested in bidding on or purchasing. eBay does not make, and nothing in these Buying Guides is intended to constitute, any warranties, guarantees, representations or assurances about the accuracy of the information or content contained in these Buying Guides. Furthermore, eBay does not make, and nothing in these Buying Guides is intended to constitute, any warranties, guarantees, representations or assurances about the nature or performance of the products or services appearing in the Buying Guides. Content, trademarks and brands referred to and contained in the third-party links provided are the property of their respective owners, and eBay has no control over and accepts no responsibility for their content. eBay is not affiliated with nor does it endorse the use of any particular product or service. |
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