FILM KNIGHTS

These gallant heroes are armed to make the home cinema experience as good as it can be. We round up four of our favourite premium AV amplifiers

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When it comes to enjoying films at their best in your home, there are two essential ingredients. Number one: a big screen; number two: big sound. Most people instinctively understand the benefits of number one, but many tend to overlook number two. And that’s a shame.

In our view, impressive sound is at least as important as a big picture – sometimes more so – if you are to get the best out of your domestic movie-viewing. And the only way to achieve it is to invest in the best AV amplifier you can afford. If you are lucky, you will be able to afford one of the four terrific machines we look at here.

These devices sit at the pinnacle of the mainstream AV market and are as fully equipped as the most discerning home cinema devotee could want. That typically means up to 11 amplified channels, plus multiple 2.1-certified HDMI ports and other connections. Premium AV amps also cover all sound-processing bases – including full Dolby Atmos – and can be widely customised to help you get the kind of sound you want. They also carry sound optimization circuitry that ‘reads’ the layout of your room and adapts the amp’s audio signals accordingly.

More than anything, these amplifiers are powerful and can comfortably provide the scale of sound needed to fill the largest listening rooms without making compromises. Add in superior levels of detail, spaciousness and multi-directional integration and – with a similarly talented speaker package installed – you might as well be in your local multiplex. But with your slippers on.

Yamaha RX-A6A

A future-proofed AVR with sparkling sound