The multichannel, surround sound or AV amplifier or receiver is a popular option, thanks to the success of DVD & home cinema.

AV amps or receivers are usually designed primarily for movies and come with digital processing for the various soundtrack formats - Dolby Digital and DTS, which offer descrete surround sound in 5.1 and 7.1 channel formats.  more ambitious designs also offer THX post processing, designed to emulate the sound of the mixing theatre at home.