What Is The Difference Between An AV Receiver & A Stereo Amplifier?

When building a home audio system, one of the first decisions you'll face is choosing between an AV receiver and a stereo amplifier.

While both devices power your speakers, they serve different purposes and offer distinct features that can significantly impact your listening experience.

This guide will cover the basics of what both options do and when to choose one option over the other.

The Basics: What They Do

Both devices are amplifiers, they connect to and power your speakers. 

However they work in slightly different ways:

Stereo Amplifier Overview

A stereo amplifier has one job - to amplify audio signals from your source components (like a turntable or CD player) and send them to your speakers. 

It typically handles just two channels of audio - left and right - creating what we call "stereo sound."

Stereo amplifiers come in all shapes and sizes with varying power outputs, inputs & outputs.

A stereo amplifier with built-in sources such as a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi streamer is called an “integrated amplifier” - these allow you to easily play your music without requiring any additional sources.

A stereo amplifier with built-in digital / optical audio inputs has a built in “DAC” (Digital To Analogue Converter” which allows you to plug in digital sources such as CD players, Wi-Fi streamers and TVs directly into the amplifier, the amplifier will then handle the digital to analog conversion without requiring a separate DAC.

AV Receiver Overview

An AV receiver is essentially a multi-channel amplifier with numerous additional features built in.

It’s typically used in home cinema surround sound setups consisting of five or more speakers.

It not only amplifies audio signals but also processes and routes video signals, decodes surround sound formats, and often includes radio tuners, network connectivity, and more.

Think of it as the “hub” of your home cinema system, you’ll connect all of your speakers to it, plug in your video sources such as a Playstation & Bluray player then connect it to your TV via a HDMI cable.

Read More: What Is An AV Receiver?

Key Differences

1. Number of Channels

Stereo Amplifier: As the name suggests, stereo amplifiers typically power just two channels - left and right. These are most commonly used for listening to music in Hi-Fi applications.

AV Receiver: Most modern AV receivers support at least 5.1 channels (five speakers plus a subwoofer), with many offering 7.1, 9.2, or even more complex configurations like 11.2 for immersive surround sound formats. These are most commonly used for home cinema surround sound setups.

2. Video Handling

Stereo Amplifier: Generally doesn't handle video signals at all. You may find a HDMI eARC port on some amplifiers such as the WiiM AMP - this isn’t for video but for sending audio from your TV to your speakers.

AV Receiver: Processes and routes video signals from multiple sources (gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, streaming devices) to your TV or projector. Modern AV receivers support 4K or even 8K video pass-through, HDR formats, and various HDMI features. Simply connect all of your video sources to the AV receiver, connect the AV receiver to your TV and easily switch between your video sources without unplugging any cables.

3. Surround Sound Processing

Stereo Amplifier: Doesn't process surround sound formats. They play in left & right stereo only.

AV Receiver: Decodes various surround sound formats like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and others, distributing the appropriate audio to each speaker in your system. This is used for surround sound.

4. Connectivity Options

Stereo Amplifier: Typically features analog inputs (RCA), and sometimes digital inputs (optical, coaxial). Higher-end models might include balanced XLR connections or USB inputs.

AV Receiver: Offers numerous HDMI inputs/outputs, digital and analog audio connections, network ports, subwoofer outputs etc.

5. Additional Features

Stereo Amplifier: Usually focused solely on audio quality with minimal extra features. Some integrated amplifiers, such as the Bluesound PowerNode, include built-in DACs (Digital-to-Analog Converters) or phono preamps for turntables. You can also get Wi-Fi streaming amplifiers that have built-in apps such as Spotify, Tidal & much more.

AV Receiver: These are often packed with features like room correction technology, streaming services, multi-room audio, voice assistant compatibility, automatic speaker calibration, and often built-in FM/DAB radio tuners.

6. Size & Complexity

Stereo Amplifier: Generally simpler in design, often smaller and more straightforward to set up and use. You can get compact amplifiers such as the Tangent TV II or full-size amplifiers such as the Audiolab 7000A for higher power/quality output.

AV Receiver: Typically larger, heavier, more complex to set up, and may require more ventilation due to powering more channels. JBL are breaking the mould though with their MA range of AV receivers. These are powerful and high-quality, but have only the essential inputs and outputs, they’re easy to set up and they look great!

7. Sound Quality Focus

Stereo Amplifier: Often designed with a singular focus on two-channel audio quality, potentially offering better performance for music listening at a given price point.

AV Receiver: Designed to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, which can sometimes mean compromises in stereo performance compared to dedicated amplifiers at similar price points.

Which One Should You Choose?

Consider a Stereo Amplifier if:

• Music is your primary focus
• You prefer a simpler, more straightforward setup
• You have no interest in surround sound for movies or gamin
• You want to maximize audio quality for your budget
• You already have a separate video solution

Consider an AV Receiver if:

• You want a complete home cinema experience
• You want five or more speakers in a surround sound format
• Movies and gaming are important parts of your entertainment setup
• You need to connect multiple video sources
• You prefer an all-in-one solution

It’s worth noting that you can use stereo amplifiers for TV sound with two speakers and a subwoofer (2.1). It’s still a significant upgrade over your TV sound and will also be optimal for music listening.

It’s also very common to use a stereo amplifier connected to a television with two or four ceiling speakers for upgraded TV sound. This is cheap and easy to do, it’ll play in stereo sound rather than surround sound but it’s perfect for a discreet upgrade to living room / kitchen / bedroom TV sound.

Note that the above options won’t play in “surround sound” but will give a higher quality, room filling sound compared to your TV. They are best suited to casual TV rooms such as bedrooms, kitchens, dining rooms etc.

Likewise you can use an AV receiver such as the JBL MA310 for two channel stereo Hi-Fi only if you prefer to have all the additional inputs and video source connectivity.

Remember that surround sound requires at least five speakers, positioned correctly, so using an AV receiver won’t automatically give you surround sound if you don’t install enough speakers in the correct positions.

Comparison

Final Thoughts

Both stereo amplifiers and AV receivers have their place in home audio. Many enthusiasts even use both - an AV receiver for their home cinema setup and a dedicated stereo amplifier for critical music listening.

The right choice depends entirely on your specific needs, space constraints, and how you plan to use your audio system. 

For pure music enjoyment in a dedicated listening room, a quality stereo amplifier often provides the most direct path to audio excellence. 

For a versatile entertainment system handling movies, TV, gaming, and music, an AV receiver offers convenience and flexibility that's hard to beat.

Whatever you choose, understanding the differences between these two components will help ensure you build a system that delivers the experience you're looking for.