Use these tips to as a guide when filling out the buying scorecards in Sofa. These let you when assess the merits of the products you are contemplating buying and will help you shortlist a range of suitable products, thus making investing in home entertainment equipment a whole lot more enjoyable and rewarding.

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Brand
This is the name of what's usually the full range of equipment from the relevant manufacturer. It's often trademarked.

Model
This is the number or word that references the relevant product within a range.

Features
The function or performance parameter under which the product under scrutiny is being judged.

Warranty
The extent that the manufacturer, distributor or retailer (or, some, or all parties) guarantees a product from failure in operation under normal conditions.

Cosmetic Design
How the products look and how they will integrate with your system and into your home environment.

Power Output - Front
The amount of power available to drive the front speakers in a home cinema application or as the stereo speakers in a music scenario.

Power Output - Rear
The amount of power available to drive the rear surround (effects) speakers in a home cinema application.

Power Output - Centre
The amount of power available to drive the centre speaker in a home cinema application.

Dynamic Power
The power available to reproduce high level transient sounds without distortion in home cinema and music applications.

Dolby Pro Logic
The basic form of surround sound processing used in home cinema applications and incorporated into the processing circuitry of components (full range to front speakers and limited power/range to rear and centre speakers).

Dolby Digital (AC3)
A new system of surround sound processing taking over from Pro Logic as the standard for domestic home cinema applications (full range to all five channels of sound).

DTS Surround
A newer and well-liked form of digital sound processing for cinema and home cinema applications, which is gradually finding popularity.

THX Audio
A system licensed by Lucasfilm, which re-equalises and manipulates surround sound after primary surround processing has taken place.

7.1 Channel
Do you want the enhanced surround system and if so what type?

Number of acoustic functions
The total of acoustics options such as 'hall', 'concert' and 'club' available to users.

Number of Video Inputs
Total of line connection facilities allocated to video components.

Number of Audio Inputs
Total of line connection facilities allocated to audio components.

Sound Stage Illusion
The ability of the receiver to relay 'dimensional' sound effects on movie and music software.

Overall Sonic Character
Your emotional response to movie soundtracks and music after hearing a number music albums and viewing test movies.

Sonic Detail
The clarity with which you perceive, detect and understand the various sounds in movies and music being reproduced.

Bass Quality
The depth of bass sounds, their clarity, coherence with the rest of the sounds and detail over the bass region.

Midrange Quality
The naturalness, accuracy, clarity and detail of sounds in the mid-range of the audio spectrum where most sound information is located.

Treble Quality
The extension of treble sounds, the ability to discern them in the audio blend of music or soundtracks.

Audio Steering Quality
The ability of the processing circuitry to relay surround sounds and sound effects in home cinema applications.

Hi-fi Music Suitability
Is the receiver engineered primarily as a surround sound unit, or has it been engineered to provide music reproduction.

Hi-fi Music Quality
The capability of the A-V receiver to reproduce music in hi-fi mode to your personal standards of acceptability.

Noise Intrusion
The action of any fans for cooling purposes or other mechanical items ... is the receiver quiet?

AM/FM Tuner Operation
Can you listen to good quality hi-fi FM music and AM talkback radio stations without noise, distortion and on-air hiss? Can you pick up your favourite stations where you are, even if you are located in a fringe area.? Is it easy to store your favourite stations and tune to the other ones you want?

Remote Control Facility
Is one supplied? And how easy is it to use both in daylight and in limited light conditions.

Dimensions
Do the measurements match existing components and will they fit cupboards, shelving and other storage options.

Weight
Can storage options handle the weight of the receiver and can it be stacked safely with other components?

Total Points Awarded
The tally of all scores awarded which gives you a numerical value of the relevant product's worth.

Comments
Where you place notes of your personal experiences when auditioning the relevant products.

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