It's been the same story since the '60s. The home-audio receiver is a rectangular box whose primary purpose is to amplify and control the sound-and now video-coming into your living room. Aside from the notable addition of surround sound and digital inputs such as HDMI, this home-entertainment nerve center has endured a rather stagnant existence. But that's about to change. These receivers satisfy your desire to access thousands of songs stored on your portable player, to place a PC next to your TV, and to add the features you need without paying for ones you don't.