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- HOTNESS UNHOT
OneCall.com has the Onkyo TX-SR605 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver for $380 with free shipping. [BizRate]
90 Watts per Channel to 7 Channel Surround, AM/FM Radio Tuner
Preprogrammed Remote Control, iPod playthrough option, XM Ready, HDMI
Unless you want to spend $800 plus, this is the best receiver for your money. The 805 has a few more features that I don't think most will miss. As long as you use HDMI cables the signal will be passed through fine and not down converted to 720p and some complained about. Also, THX certification is not worth it be any means.
FROM CNET:
The release of the Onkyo TX-SR605 has changed the playing field for AV receivers, by offering a solid selection of cutting-edge features at a street price as low as $400. Of course, by offering such a powerful receiver at a low price, it becomes harder to justify stepup models, such as the Onkyo TX-SR805, when many consumers will start to wonder what is "good enough."
http://reviews.cnet.com/av-receivers/onkybaconx-sr805-black/4505-6466_7-32430613.html?tag=prod.txt.1
How to compare to SR705? I've heard SR705 has 1.3 HDMI, right?
Someone last time mentioned something about an audio delay problem. Does that exist on this model also?
I've been running a SR605 for about eight months now and have absolutely no complaints about it. HDMI 1080p passes through just fine and no audio delay problem.
I've had this for a couple of months now and I really like it.
#2 - this model supports HDMI 1.3 also - the SR705 gives you an extra HDMI input, THX certification, and a little more power.
http://www.us.onkyo.com/prod_class.cfm?class=Receiver
#3 - No audio delay problems here either. Actually.. the default setting for some of the inputs creates an audio delay (50ms, if I recall) but you can go into the configuration and set it to zero. I have no idea why anyone would want out-of-sync audio as the default.
Have any of you run this at 6 ohm? If so do you notice a big difference?
I have really been considering buying this receiver for the last two weeks. The only reason I have had second thoughts is because of the reviews that complain about the HDMI audio beginning to pop after the receiver heats up. I read about it on amazon and some other independent blogs after googling "onkyo popping." Despite this, the reviews on this thing are great and compared to a $400 Denon(AVR-1907) or Yamaha(RX-V659BL), this thing seems to be the obvious choice. It is the only reciever in this price range(other than sony) to offer HDMI with audio pass through. Can anyone comment about the Hdmi popping issue, I am buying a receiver in less than two weeks and I really want this one. Thanks!
#7 - Mine's in an enclosed cabinet and I've never heard any "popping". I've watched three hour movies at reasonable volume with no problems and played music all day.
Maybe there are a few bad units out there? Maybe a good reason to avoid the refurbs..
Thanks #8, also, this thing will decode standard 5.1 surround sound correct? I read of a Yamaha that only decoded 6.1 and 7.1 but I don't know how reliable the source was. Basically, I need to be sure that all my dvds with 5.1 will play in 5.1 surround on this receiver. I have no need for 7.1 in my tiny apartment. Thanks Guys!
#9 - This works great with 5.1 or 7.1 inputs. If you hook up powered zone 2 speakers, that actually takes away the extra channels and gives you a max of 5.1 output - a drawback to some people. I'm only using 5.1 because I don't have any 7.1 sources yet.
This is not a deal. $380 is the typical online selling price.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR BUYERS
This receiver turns 1080i into 720p. It does not change it to 1080p or leave it alone and just pass the 1080i signal. Many people have cable or satellite boxes that send out a 1080i signal at best. If you have a 1080p HDTV you do not want to backwards convert in the receiver to 720p and than scale in the HDTV back to 1080p. Be warned.
I went w/ this one (near twin of the V661) after reading about the popping, clicking and heat issues... YMMV...
http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-HTR-6060BL-7-1-Channel-Digital-Receiver/dp/B000O3OFC2/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1201976913&sr=8-1
#11 - As #1 stated, HDMI input is not impacted and passed through as is.. not sure about component input since I'm not using any. If this is a problem, you can always connect the component video directly to the TV.
I do like the upconverting of composite and s-video sources, though the improvement is minimal on the kid's VCR.
I don't know how I missed that one #12, thanks. Does that model pass audio through the HDMI as well? If it does then I might jump on that one instead!
You are welcome #14... Checkout this thread on HDMI audio features on the Yamaha HTR-6060/RX-V661... Some say its more "future proof" than the Onkyo SR605... The only thing the Yamaha seems to be missing is TrueHD decoding in the "receiver", but seem that it can be done in the "player"...
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=738511
Thanks for the input tchalljr! That just might be the receiver I get!
I guess I should have bought it this morning!
The link you gave me showed the receiver marked down to $350 this morning and now it is $499.
Hey #16,
This link appears to still work with free shipping. Price is $399.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3387637&Sku=Y23-4016&SRCCODE=LINKSHARE&CMP=AFC-LINKSHARE&AffiliateID=isIkAyUyNbM-i5dRm2WRv5EGxUqMhD_L0w
If you're not fond of Tiger Direct, maybe think about purchasing Assurz for a few bucks. On paper, that sounds like a good deal. I never used it though.
yep, looks like the amazon sale for $350 is over... i had been watching it for the past few days...
here's another option for you...
http://store.audioholics.com/product/1092/69/yamaha-rx-v661-7-1-channel-digital-home-theater-receiver
its the HTR-6060's twin, the RX-V661... its $500, but use "RECEIVER20" at checkout to get it down to $400
#15 tchalljr - IT ONLY DOWN CONVERTS WITH COMPONENT CABLES...everything is HDMI now days and it DOES pass 1080i or 1080p through fine WITHOUT down converting if you are using HDMI. I have one and my DriecTV 1080i passes through to my 1080p TV as 1080i, and my 1080p blu ray pass through as 1080p!! Get it straight!
down converts? down converts? who's talking about down converting? glad u like it... mine is on the way...