Most people like to ooh and ahh at the bells and whistles - pretty design, big macho power ratings, and the like. When evaluating any A/V receiver, however, a good place to begin is by counting the inputs that let you connect source devices to the receiver. After all, if you have a DVD player, a cassette deck, a satellite receiver, an SACD (Super Audio Compact Disc) player, a turntable, a DVR (digital video recorder), an Xbox 360, and a VCR, you want to hook all these devices into your home theater.
To use all your components, you'd better have enough inputs on the back of your receiver. A receiver may have enough power to wake up people across town and a design so beautiful that your home theater skeptic spouse begs you to buy it, but that beauty won't do you much good if have to climb behind it and switch wires every time you want to switch sources. Before you buy anything, think about the components you have (and what you'll soon be getting) and make sure the receiver has enough inputs.
Most A/V receivers have enough inputs for most people. In fact, most receivers have enough jacks on the back to make your head swim. But many inexpensive receivers don't have enough of the right kind of jacks for some folks. This is particularly true for digital audio and video jacks, but it can also apply to the analog audio inputs if you decide to go down the SACD or DVD-Audio path.
Sometimes, you do your homework and buy a receiver with enough inputs, and then some new video source plops into your life unannounced, leaving you an input or two short. (Or maybe you just plain fell in love with a receiver that didn't have enough inputs.) What to do?
Well, first check your display for extra inputs on the back (or front). Using these inputs isn't quite as neat and integrated as connecting all your inputs to the receiver, but doing so doesn't hurt quality at all.
If you're still running short, look into an external video switcher. You can get your hands on a cheap one at any electronics or home theater store. You usually switch this device manually (meaning you walk up to it and push a button). Switchers accept composite or S-Video connections and have a single output on the back to run to your display.
