Onkyo TX-SR606 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black)
by Onkyo
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List Price: Our Price: $179.99 You Save: $319.01 (64%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Speakers See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Onkyo TX-SR606 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black)
Customer Review: Awesome receiver ! Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD-MA
Summary: 5 Stars
Whoever said this Onkyo 606 is subpar or not 5 star, I think they have some problems connecting or adjusting to work with their components. I have to say this is the best receiver @ $377.80 with 4 HDMI inputs and 1 output, it performs superbly, you get the taste of true hometheater sound & video. Everything works as advertised or reviewed by earlier buyers, I have no problems hooking up or adjusting to my upconverting 1080p HDMI DVD recorder, VCR, DVD players and Samsung 52" LCD 60hz HDTV, hooking up via HDMI. Running on 2 floor Paradigms, 1 Paradigm center, JBL sub, Insignia rear L/R surrounds and Sony bookshelf as L/R surrounds (mix and match as budget allowed years gone by), this 606 delivers very clean and clear, powerful sound and beautiful video on DVDs from blockbuster, even music off FM local stations turns into beautiful music. The bass delivered with beauty, soft, deep and low. My old Pioneer barely wakes my JBL sub except big movies, coming from 5.1 old pioneer Dolby prologic surround to 7.1 all channel True HD & DTS-HD MA is a big trip and well worth, for those who hesitate to upgrade to 7.1 channel, GO FOR IT ! Onkyo 606 is worth every penny bought from Amazon.com. (I am waiting till thanksgiving to get a hand on Blu-ray Sony S350, and that will top off the system) sweet!
PS: make sure you read thorough manual cause that will make setup a smooth and enjoyable ride, especially those who upgrade from older several years old A/V receiver that have no HDMI. read it first, everything is digital now not much of fidgeting like old day, no more analog cord red, blue or yellow, green stuff...just HDMI and volla!
UPDATE 2/08/09: I finally got the Sony S550 to match with this 606 and have already played movies both forms: Dolby TrueHD (Traitor) and DTS-HD-MA (Rambo 2008). I have to say that those who doubt or question this receiver, say no more the movies sound in those two formats decoded and performed by the 606 are stunning (bad axx. period) If you have never watched blu-ray in those formats you have missed, I repeat, missed one of the best things on earth ever happened! You will love the end enjoyment that this onkyo can give you in your own home.
Customer Review: Why Onkyo over Denon, Pioneer, etc?
Summary: 5 Stars
Before purchasing this unit, I did quite a bit of research regarding what receiver would fit my needs. For about a month, I read over many different reviews and forums (mostly at AVSforum). I have a Sony KDL46-XBR4 and a set of Harman Kardon HKTS-18 speakers. When comparing to Denon, I got the impression that Denon is the creme of the crop. However, their prices are also fairly high. I wanted the Denon 2308, but the price was a bit high. The 1908 didn't have all the features I wanted (namely analog - HDMI upconversion and Dolby TrueHD and Digital+ support). The latest Pioneer 1018 model had all the features I wanted, but because it was released just this June, the price was still fairly high. The power rating as far as watts / channel on the pioneer was a good deal higher than the Onkyo 606, however the general consensus is that only Onkyo and Denon achieve their rated power. There have been many tests on the other brands, and they usually do not achieve anywhere close to their rated power. I will say that I might have chosen the Pioneer 1018 over the onkyo 606 if they were equal prices, but luckily that wasn't an option. If price wasn't a sticking point, I probably would've gone with the latest Denon (the 1909 is coming out soon). The one thing I would've liked on the Onkyo 606 is the upconversion to be 1080p, but I think I will be fine with 1080i. Most things I will upconvert will look insanely better at 1080i anyway.
Currently, I have a Knology digital cable box run by HD component straight to the Sony XBR4 TV. I have an audio optical cable running from the digital cable box out to the receiver. I did it this way instead of straight HDMI to the receiver so I can watch TV without surround if I choose. My Xbox 360 is connected via HDMI to the receiver, and the receiver is HDMI to the TV. I was glad to know that the receiver will pass through 1080p if it receives it via one of the HDMI inputs. I soon plan to purchase a bluray player and run it via HDMI into the receiver as well. The Onkyo manual is very clear in explaining how to change things like crossover frequences and speaker distances. The Audyssey auto-setup is handy as well.
Customer Review: the best i've ever had
Summary: 5 Stars
Before this system, I had two other home theater in a box system. They both stop working in a few months. So decided to buy all the components separately. I had two months of research backing me up behind the purchase of the speakers and receiver. I bought the speakers first (Onkyo of course). I placed all 7 speakers where i wanted them. The next week I was about to order the 605, then i saw the 606 had come out. So I waited another week so some reviews could come out. When they were available, they were all good. So I ordered the 606. It was delievered on my birthday. I hooked it up with the speakers. Hooked the 42 inch Samsung LCD and the PS3 up viA HDMI. I used the auto setup for speaker calibration, which was only 10 mins of pure silent joy :)
After everything was setup, it was pure audophile bliss. From watchin regular stations to HD stations, it sounded looked so beauitful (regular stations were decent). From playing games on PS3 to watching Blu Ray, it was heaven!!! I use my PS3 as my music box also, and the music never sound better. There might be better receivers out there, but this is by far the BEST i've ever had. Watch 3:10 to Yuma, Casino Royale, or any Blu Ray with HD audio. Its simply amazing. Even regular DVD (dolby digital) sounds amazing. I havent had any problems yet. My receiver has good insulation, so it doesnt over heat. People told me that the stock speaker wire is so so, compared to the thicker wire. So that might just be my next purchase even though it sounds great to me.
Anyway the Onkyo TX-606 is a really good purchase for anyone who wants to build their own home theater unit. I love it SOOOOOO much. Oh yea this whole set up is in MY BEDROOM. My roommate bugs me all the time about putting this system in the living room. I say we can BOTH buy one for the living room :)
ONKYO ALL THE WAY BABY!!
UPDATE 2 YEARS LATER (3/28/10)
my SR606 is still working...it may happen down the road but so far nothing is wrong with it...the highest I've had the volume was 55...i still HDMI switch between channels...PS3, Wii, and cable is still looking & sounding good...so i still give my Onkyo, 2 thumbs up!
Customer Review: Fantastic
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought the 606 about 2 weeks ago after buying a sony s350 blu-ray player. After seeing those beautiful images, you really notice if the sound isn't up to par. So far, this thing is everything I want out of an audio receiver. Before buying it, I read every review I could find, and I'd like to address my experience and solution to some of the issues people found.
First, the buzzing. So far, I've had absolutely none. I read people saying it was a voltage issue, so, right off the bat, I plugged this thing into a different surge protector than the rest of my energy draining components, and I haven't had the slightest hint of a buzz.
I read everywhere about the terrible ability to upconvert. My solution to this was just to plug all hdmi sources directly into the receiver and all other sources into the tv, using an optical toslink from the tv to the receiver. Only HDMI sources can get 7.1 anyway, so there's no reason not to do it this way. Sure, you lose the upconvert, but do I really need a nintendo 64 be be upconverted? I've got a 360 and the s350 blu-ray player going into the box through hdmi and from there to the tv via hdmi, and picture and sound quality are great.
As far as other issues, I've had no problem with heat so far. I've played sound-intensive blu-rays, like band of brothers and iron man, and everything is fine. Of course, I have it sitting separately from my other components, so it has plenty of breathing room. Another tiny thing to watch for is to make sure you let the receiver do the converting, not your components. I wasn't able to get any audio at all from my rear speakers, until i set my sony s350 to send audio Direct to the 606. You'll know you're doing it right if the front of the receiver says something other than PCM. With the Xbox, I was out of luck. No bitstream available. The only real thing you can't get around is that this thing is HUGE. If you have a small room, be prepared to move things around to fit it in.
Well that's that. I've paired this up with an Onkyo SKSHT750 7.1 speaker set (with its mammoth sub), and it shakes the entire building. Great receiver.
Customer Review: Great Receiver at a Great Price.
Summary: 5 Stars
Bought this receiver to replace a older unit that did not have HDMI inputs.
I thought my older unit sounded great, but after installing this one I couldn't believe how much better my sound was. The installation was very easy compared to my old unit. The on screen menu(you have to have it hooked up via HDMI to your TV to use this feature) was very easy to navigate and use. My older unit had the auto speaker setup that came with a microphone, but was difficult to use properly, but with the on screen menu setup with the Onkyo, the microphone setup was a breeze and it made a huge difference in the surround effects. I saw in some of the reviews that it got a bit warm, but I haven't really noticed a lot of heat, maybe they haven't used a high powered amp before, because they all get pretty warm. The up convert on the HDMI is really outstanding and I couldn't be happier with the result I'm getting. If you hook up a lot of devices to this, then I suggest getting a good remote that will work all the devices so you don't have to have so many remotes to handle, and I suggest the Logitech brand of remotes. They are very easy to setup and you can switch between devices with the push of a single button. I have my computer, my cable box, a xbox, a dvd player, a WII, and a netflix instant view box all hooked up to this receiver and they all work great. And I do it all with only one remote, a logitech Harmony 628 remote. Since the Onkyo receiver has video switching all I have is the One HDMI from the receiver to the TV for video. Just a note, I found this out by reading the Onkyo manual very carefully. To get true HD Surround sound you will have to utilize the digital sound connections and not use the sound that comes from the HDMI cable, although the sound is still digital with the HDMI cable it can not handle the multiple channels that a separate digital sound connector will. And this unit has only four digital connectors for sound two optical and two coaxial. If you looking for a medium priced good sounding and easy to setup receiver, then I don't think you can go wrong with this unit.