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A good AV receiver is both the brains and the brawn of a good 5.1 setup, it not only decodes the audio signal but also provides the power to the appropriate speakers. Almost any surround receiver you might buy these days will be at least 7.1 but keeping things basic we’ll assume it’s use to be as part of a 5.1, which is better anyways. Why is it better? Because the receiver is more apt to suite your needs for a longer time by adding flexibility but really it’s better to drive less channels than a receiver’s total number of channels. Receivers often make claims on their power ratings based on only 2 channels driven which is very misleading due to the fact that most people don’t drive only 2 channels at a time,  more than likely they’re using 5 channels as a 5.1. Some receivers have more power than others, obviously, but how much power do you need? Honestly, the more the better but you’ll ultimately be limited with any receiver so realistically if you buy a home theater in a box (HTIB) you’ll probably get the desired result from the speakers and receiver that you have and maybe you’ll be able to keep beyond as you upgrade your speakers. I started with a 7.1 HTIB and later upgraded all of the speakers in my 5.1, it did sound really great and served my purposes for quite some time but I wanted more power so I eventually went on to create a 5.2 setup, adding a second subwoofer, which gave better bass response across the entire room. I did this because it was what I wanted and needed, now to be more direct, buying a quality receiver from a reputable manufacturer will more than likely get you what you want as far as power is concerned. I have owned Sony, Yamaha, Onkyo and Marantz AV units and from the bench tests of the power specs as well as my own personal experience I have found varying degrees of quality. I would suggest getting a unit that will put out roughly 70 watts of RMS power across 5 channels, or a better way to think of RMS would be continuous power. Most units that produce 100 watts RMS power at 8 ohms at 2 channels will likely produce those power ratings, some better than others, I come to that power rating based on the power ratings of most 8 ohm home speakers. I would generally recommend a new unit in the $500 range to get these specs but used or refurbished units in this price range can often be had with a 1 year warranty, like buying a used sports car for the price of a new family sedan. Most newer units will more than likely be bogged down with features that aren’t going to be of use in a 5.1 system and they require more power for processing than an older model that doesn’t have them as there is limited power and space for both sound decoding as well as amplification. Almost any unit made in 2008 or later will have the necessary connections and surround sound codecs to fit a vast majority of 5.1 systems and their components. There are a number of great features that can enhance your home theater setup but a good old fashioned 5.1 setup won’t break the bank, it’ll create a tremendous experience and it won’t take up a crazy amount of space in your home if done properly. Basically, get as much receiver as you can afford and don’t get lost trying to get features you don’t need at the expense of power or build quality. Please feel free to go to our contact page and someone will respond to your questions as soon as possible.