We’ve given away a handful of receivers over the years through contests. And we have plenty of articles on the blog focused on reviewing, advising, and educating on receivers. Yet, even as an editor familiar with this content, I still don’t know enough about what something like the Sony STR-AN1000 receiver, which we’re giving away, actually does. So, do you, like me, wonder what a receiver is and why you should have one in your home theatre set up? Then, read on to learn what one can do for you and enter for a chance to win!

What’s a receiver?

A receiver is a device that manages and transmits audio and video signals to connected devices. It both receives and sends signals through devices connected as inputs and outputs. For example, a receiver can efficiently facilitate 7.2 channel surround sound audio by receiving audio from a movie or a song (from your TV or record player) and sending it to the 7 connected speakers and 2 connected subwoofers in your audio system.

Before the early 2000s, receivers were certainly more common in home theatre setups. But then the technological landscape changed. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi actually became commonly used methods of wireless transmission. Portable speakers and streaming media from the world wide web meant that consumers didn’t have to have an old-fashioned bulky box with a mess of wires coming out of it in their living rooms. High quality sound bars, TVs with decent standalone audio, tablets, phones, and headphones are so convenient for watching and listening to media that we don’t really see the need for a product that centralizes these devices for us. So why does your home theatre need a receiver?

Modern receivers are designed for modern technology

You may think a receiver is an old-fashioned thing to have but, now that we have endless devices to enjoy media with, they’re more relevant than ever. For instance, the Sony STR-AN1000 is a modern receiver that supports Chromecast, Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay, and Spotify Connect so you can wireless play all your media no matter what device it’s on. It has six HDMI inputs so you can connect a TV, projector, or gaming console as well as your audio peripherals and enjoy low latency HD video from any input you choose. Two of the inputs will even upscale video from 4K to 8K and will support native 8K video when Ultra HD becomes more commonplace. In other words, the receiver futureproofs for you!

Jason, our resident film and audio expert, reviewed the STR-AN1000 and found that it could easily handle challenging music while still delivering nuance and volume. It will also support a full 7.2 speaker set up, and additional wireless speakers too, so you can enjoy cinema-worthy audio. With these excellent features (and you can read the full review to find out even more!) you can be assured that your media set up is in good hands. With more and more devices becoming part of our daily world, receivers are designed for managing a growing network so that you can enjoy audio and video in excellent quality and with more convenience.

How to enter

Entering this contest is easy and you can enter in two different ways.

  1. In a comment below, tell us one reason why you’d want to add a receiver to your home entertainment set up.
  2. In a comment below Jason’s review of the Sony STR-AN1000 receiver, tell us two of its features you believe provide the most value for you.

What you can win

At the end of this contest we will randomly select one winner from all eligible entries. The winner will receive the Sony STR-AN1000 receiver that was used for a review on the blog.

This contest runs from May 31st to June 14th.

Remember, you can enter this contest in two different ways. Receivers can take the experience of home entertainment to movie theatre levels so make sure to share this contest with anyone you think would enjoy some elevated media in their life.

Good luck!

Sony Receiver Contest Rules and Regulations

Mahima Bhagwat
Mahima is an editor at Best Buy Canada. She likes to watch sci-fi, supernatural, horror, and comedy TV shows and movies, and plays video games in her free time. When not avidly consuming content, she pursues her passion for storytelling by editing books and short stories, specializing in speculative fiction.

619 COMMENTS

  1. I would want to add a receiver to my home entertainment set up to connect my TV, CD player, indoor and outdoor speakers, and amplify the audio on all of them

  2. Would love a new receiver to upgrade my ā€˜oldā€™ one. They really make a difference to your entertainment setup.

  3. Iā€™d love a receiver so all my electronics could connect to one source and be played through the good speakers

  4. I am super sensitive to high pitch tones and really really need something so I can hear more quality sound.

  5. Would love a new receiver to upgrade my ‘old’ one. They really make a difference to your entertainment setup.

  6. I will be moving into a new condo, and this would be a great base for my home audio setup. Wireless speaker options would be great so I don’t have to run speaker wires in the new place!

  7. Iā€™m looking to setup a full audio system for a home theater. I have a projector (which I want to upgrade), I have the screen and 3d Blu-ray player. Now I just need a decent audio setup. If I connect my computer to it it will be an amazing gaming experience.

  8. Ive been sound barring for so long, I think id like to go back to a dedicated receiver like the old days

  9. I currently don’t have a receiver would love to add to the sound quality to my Netflix.

  10. This receiver would boost my entertainment system, when watching movies and listening to music

  11. I would love this receiver as my existing one is failing (right speaker is intermittent), and I would appreciate it’s wireless-ness!

  12. If there is a way to equalize the sound between commercials, music, explosions and dialog in movies, it would be awesome.

  13. I would love to add a receiver so that I can get the BEST sound there is when listening to my music!

  14. I would want to add a receiver to my home entertainment set up to connect my TV, CD player, indoor and outdoor speakers, and amplify the audio on all of them..

  15. One reason Iā€™d want to add a receiver to my home entertainment set up is so I could turn Spotify to 11 šŸ˜‰

  16. I would love a receiver that could handle all my entertainment, my music and improve my movie experience and gaming.

  17. I think from reading the reviews, a receiver would add to the sound quality for us when we are watching a movie, or when listening to some music.

  18. I would add a receiver to my home entertainment set up so when watching tv or movies or listening to music the sound quality is greatly improved

  19. I would add a receiver to my home entertainment set up so when watching tv or movies or listening to music the sound quality is greatly improved

  20. I would add a receiver to my home entertainment set up so when watching tv or movies the sound quality is improved

  21. I’d love to win the receiver so that I can improve the sound quality of the music that I listen to!

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