In today’s world, the dedicated stereo receiver is a rare breed. The future of home audio is wireless, and manufacturers that still dabble in hardwired audio gear have started making multi-channel AV receivers, instead. It’s true that these AV receivers can work as stereo receivers, but they’re more expensive because they’re really designed to add surround sound to a home theater.
What do stereo receivers do?
Of course, there are still stereo receivers out there and they’re the ideal solution for people who want to create a classic stereo hi-fi system.
Get a stereo receiver and hook it up with a set of passive bookshelf speakers. From there, you can either stream audio to the receiver or hook up an analog source, like a turntable or CD player.
As a general rule of thumb, your receiver shouldn’t cost more than your bookshelf speakers. The good news is that, with one of our picks, you need not spend an arm and a leg to get a high-quality stereo receiver.
Why You Can Trust Us
We’ve been reviewing audio products — including speakers, headphones, earbuds and other audio components that run the gamut from consumer to hi-fi — for over a decade. We also work with major brands and talk to experts within the audio industry to vet our selections to guides like this.
