Soundbars offer a lot of performance in a compact package and cost much less to get up and running than a speaker system. You can even choose one with advanced features such as Dolby Atmos and Wi-Fi streaming. Some soundbars offer an upgrade path, including optional subwoofers and rear speakers, which is a great feature.
If you want to truly mix and match speakers, however, an AV receiver is for you. Unlike soundbars, receivers are able to support many more sources including record players and FM radio with six or more HDMI inputs. You can start your system with just a couple of stereo speakers, but given that you can get a full 5.1 Klipsch system for under $500, you don’t really need to wait.
Home theater systems are notoriously difficult, with several options and technical specifications to choose from. Here are the most important factors to consider.
Channels
An audio channel is a stream of data encoded into its source, like music or a movie
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