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. Hi sony will always be the best . To upgrade my system i will like . I mean loveeee to have this thank you best buy

  2. I have built in speakers I can’t enjoy because I don’t have a receiver, this would be a great prize!

  3. We’re finishing our basement and putting in a huge media/rec room. We really need a receiver to hook up multiple consoles and a surround sound system to!

  4. I still use a receiver, albeit an obsolete stereo one that doesn’t integrate any new applications and is quite frankly mismatched with streaming tech and much higher quality speakers.

  5. I would love to add this to my set up because I just revamped my basement into an amazing games rooms for my family. I mean.i hung drywall and did it all, however I don’t have the equipment to make it ultimate just yet. Ultimste sound would be awesome for gaming and for marvel movie marathons!

  6. The main reason is our old system (Onkyo); though great, lacks 4k and a lot of modern conveniences. Upgrading currently isn’t in the cards financially, but it would be nice to swap out systems.

  7. I’d like it because honestly I have a barely working system at the moment and could really use better sound quality.

  8. My current, old school receiver is great but lacks HDMI connection capability. This piece would allow me to hook up a few more devices for a complete man cave audio system.

  9. It would be great for hearing my movies better. As I get older I need better sound systems

  10. One reason why I want to add a receiver to my home entertainment setup is to get better sound quality.

  11. Love listing to concerts loud, sometimes better than going to a concert if the sound quality and TV are good quality – and my living room is so much more comfortable!

  12. J’aimerais ajouter un récepteur à ma maison pour agrémenter nos soirées cinéma en famille !

  13. We have an old receiver, but it doesn’t work with our new TV. Love to have movie night on the deck with the neighbors and family over the summer.

  14. Sound is just as important as the quality of the picture. It’s like having a theatre experience at home.

  15. I’d love a receiver in order to contain and manage all of my entertainment tech in one common area.

  16. I’d like it so I could have a reason to win some good speakers so it could really all work. Seriously though, I could use some of the HDMI switching capabilities even without the speakers.

  17. Old Receiver in the need of an update, got mine before I got married over 20 years ago

  18. I still have a fairly old Hi-Fi setup and, coincidentally, my receiver has been a bit glitchy lately.

  19. I would love to add a receiver to my set up for better sound with the addition of speakers.

  20. The sub for my soundbar died, so this would be a good way to start a setup that I can upgrade piece by piece.

  21. I’m not 100% sure but I would give this to my son and he’d know what to do with it.

  22. I think it would be cool to be able to connect all the devices – TV, projector, gaming console

  23. better sound quality for watching tv or listening to music great sound for karaoke nights

Comments are closed.