The emphasis in home theater is on digital connectivity, including HDMI, digital optical, digital coaxial, and USB. However, there is a long tradition of analog audio connections from the days of high fidelity and stereo.

Some components that still offer only analog audio or digital and analog audio connectivity include:

As a result, many home theater receivers still offer some analog audio connection options, usually analog stereo inputs and outputs, a subwoofer, and Zone 2 preamp outputs. Sometimes analog multichannel inputs and outputs are offered as well.

Multichannel analog connections consist of a separate audio connection for each audio channel.