Are you on the hunt for a new home theater receiver but don’t want to break the bank? Or maybe you’ve found a used one for a great price but want to make sure it works before taking it home. Whatever the case may be, testing a receiver can be a daunting task. But fear not, because in this guide we’ll walk you through how to test a receiver like a pro.
First, let’s start with the basics. Power up the receiver and test the auxiliary port, if available, with a compatible cable. Once you confirm it’s working, move on to testing the rest of the ports.
Next, plug in the RCA cables and speaker wires. For a home theater setup, you can connect multiple speakers for surround sound, but for stereo sound, two speakers will suffice.
Check the remote control batteries with a battery tester or by pointing it at the receiver to see if it responds. If the batteries need replacing, be sure to do so before proceeding.
Now it’s time to test the audio. Use a camera or microphone to capture the sound quality as you test the receiver with different devices, such as a digital to analog converter or HDMI devices.
Pro tip: don’t take the labels next to the RCA ports too literally. You can plug any RCA device into them, including a smartphone with an RCA to aux cable.
If you’re using HDMI devices, plug them into the designated ports and forward the video signals to your TV through the HDMI out port labeled as “monitor.” Be sure to test all the HDMI ports, as well as the composite video port (yellow RCA cable).
And that’s it! With these steps, you can confidently test a receiver and ensure it’s working properly before bringing it home. Happy testing!