Onkyo AVX-760LD Theater System
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- Front Speaker: 2 Way
- Main Speakers Power Output: 130 Watts
- Included Components: Receiver
- Number Of Speakers: 7 Speakers and Subwoofer
- TV Resolutions: 1080p (1125p)
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Big value -- it's hard to beat!
Pros
Great value, 1000W, not cheap speakers, old-school styling
Cons
Bland and boring styling, tricky to find space for all the speakers, cheap remote/cables
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
At under $500, you can't beat it. Replace the remote and speaker wire and 99% of people will love it.
Onkyo continues to impress me with the value of their HTIB ("home theater in a box") products. For several years now they have sold some incredible packages, and the HT-SR800 is no exception. You get a powerful 7.1 channel amplifier, 7 speakers, and a subwoofer, plus a few accessories. Read on for the nitty-gritty.
First and foremost, Onkyo's amplifiers are top-notch. They are very beefy and heavy, a sign of quality. Too many HTIB products opt for the thin and small digital amplifiers that simply don't match an old-school amplifier for volume and frequency response. Although some would argue that these new ones sound cleaner (being digital), and produce less heat/take up less space, I am more about "form after function". Yes, the included receiver/amp is big and ugly. But that's not really the point of a home theater system -- you're buying one because it should sound good.
The receiver does just about everything. It's a full 7.1 channel amp, outputting 1000W RMS power across the 7 channels. The subwoofer output is a pre-amp and requires you to use a powered sub -- not a problem since you get one in the box. 1000W is more than enough to fill even the biggest of rooms, so even people with vaulted ceilings or large distances between the walls should be set. The receiver handles a variety of inputs/outputs, including full HDMI 1.3 1080p pass-through. The receiver does not perform any upconversion or signal format conversion like the high-end stuff, but it does save some hassle of running several cables up to the TV. You can also run component, S-Video, and composite video through there. Audio inputs/outputs are broad as well, from standard RCA stereo to optical and coaxial digital. Onkyo smartly gave you several of each digital input so you can use multiple optical digital inputs, for example. Cheaper amps usually only give one of each, which sucks when your XBOX 360 and TiVo only handle one type. Speaker connections are the big screw-down type, but accept banana plugs too. One gripe I have is that fat speaker wires are tricky to maneuver into place and tighten down, especially if the amp is tucked into a shelf or rack. As a bonus, there is a proprietary iPod hookup (via Onkyo's special dock). You also have hookups for Sirius/XM radio, should you be a subscriber.
Setup and configuration options are plentiful, and should give most people plenty of capability to tweak the system for the room and their tastes. I used an Avia setup DVD to adjust speaker levels, but novices will appreciate the included Audyssey setup tools that can do this automatically. Sound decoding is typical: Dolby Digital PL2x/EX, DTS-ES/96:24/Neo:6, and so on. There's a variety of custom soundfield options as well, depending on what you're viewing/listening to. Most people will be satisfied with Dolby Pro-Logic 2x for TV, Dolby Digital EX or DTS-ES for movies, and just simple stereo for music.
The speakers are surprisingly good given the price of the system. You get two full-range front speakers, which helps immensely since the vast majority of sound comes from there. The front speakers each have 2 mid-range cones and a separate tweeter behind a clean and simple (removable) cloth cover. They're not exactly wall mountable, but they can be set on a bookshelf or small stand for correct positioning. Sound reproduction is acceptable, and their wider range (than say the tiny Bose speakers) helps fill in those mid-range gaps that are common on other satellite systems. The center speaker is basically the same as the front left/right, only it lays sideways.
The 4 surround speakers are smaller, but are well-matched to the rest of the system. They are relatively slim and light, and are best hung on a wall (they have brackets built in!). Their cloth covers are not removable. Again, unlike conventional satellite systems, Onkyo opted to give you something a little bit larger to give a wider soundfield. Each satellite has a medium-sized cone that does more than just provide the highs. Purists will argue that the front and rear speakers should be the same, but that's not exactly reasonable for a lot of people. Bear in mind, too, that mounting this many speakers is daunting and it can clutter a room's walls quickly.
Onkyo provides the "0.1" channel through a massive downward firing subwoofer that puts out over 200W (self-powered). It's big and ugly, but does the job. Onkyo again has matched the subwoofer to the rest of the system, and it provides the needed oomph down low. There is an adjustment knob to tone things down a bit. The subwoofer is not boomy and overpowering, and accents all your music/movies/games/TV well. Be sure to adjust the crossover frequency on the amp to around 120Hz.
Onkyo includes a gastly remote along with laughably-thin speaker wire. Enthusiasts will likely already have a nicer universal remote, and will likely buy good speaker wire. The same can be said for the joke of a subwoofer cable. But hey, for the price, I wasn't expecting high-end cabling.
The user's manual is quite a read, but anyone with prior experience can figure out 99% of the functionality almost immediately.
It's hard to find fault in something with this much value. Sure, the remote and cabling are cheap, but a lot of people use their own stuff anyways. You're getting a LOT of speakers, and that can make installation arduous and complicated. The subwoofer and amp look hideous, but they're big and functional, which is what counts.
Novices will appreciate the idiot-proof setup and calibration, as well as the bragging rights of 7.1 channels. More advanced users will notice the wide soundfield thanks to well-matched speakers and a well-controlled subwoofer.
First and foremost, Onkyo's amplifiers are top-notch. They are very beefy and heavy, a sign of quality. Too many HTIB products opt for the thin and small digital amplifiers that simply don't match an old-school amplifier for volume and frequency response. Although some would argue that these new ones sound cleaner (being digital), and produce less heat/take up less space, I am more about "form after function". Yes, the included receiver/amp is big and ugly. But that's not really the point of a home theater system -- you're buying one because it should sound good.
The receiver does just about everything. It's a full 7.1 channel amp, outputting 1000W RMS power across the 7 channels. The subwoofer output is a pre-amp and requires you to use a powered sub -- not a problem since you get one in the box. 1000W is more than enough to fill even the biggest of rooms, so even people with vaulted ceilings or large distances between the walls should be set. The receiver handles a variety of inputs/outputs, including full HDMI 1.3 1080p pass-through. The receiver does not perform any upconversion or signal format conversion like the high-end stuff, but it does save some hassle of running several cables up to the TV. You can also run component, S-Video, and composite video through there. Audio inputs/outputs are broad as well, from standard RCA stereo to optical and coaxial digital. Onkyo smartly gave you several of each digital input so you can use multiple optical digital inputs, for example. Cheaper amps usually only give one of each, which sucks when your XBOX 360 and TiVo only handle one type. Speaker connections are the big screw-down type, but accept banana plugs too. One gripe I have is that fat speaker wires are tricky to maneuver into place and tighten down, especially if the amp is tucked into a shelf or rack. As a bonus, there is a proprietary iPod hookup (via Onkyo's special dock). You also have hookups for Sirius/XM radio, should you be a subscriber.
Setup and configuration options are plentiful, and should give most people plenty of capability to tweak the system for the room and their tastes. I used an Avia setup DVD to adjust speaker levels, but novices will appreciate the included Audyssey setup tools that can do this automatically. Sound decoding is typical: Dolby Digital PL2x/EX, DTS-ES/96:24/Neo:6, and so on. There's a variety of custom soundfield options as well, depending on what you're viewing/listening to. Most people will be satisfied with Dolby Pro-Logic 2x for TV, Dolby Digital EX or DTS-ES for movies, and just simple stereo for music.
The speakers are surprisingly good given the price of the system. You get two full-range front speakers, which helps immensely since the vast majority of sound comes from there. The front speakers each have 2 mid-range cones and a separate tweeter behind a clean and simple (removable) cloth cover. They're not exactly wall mountable, but they can be set on a bookshelf or small stand for correct positioning. Sound reproduction is acceptable, and their wider range (than say the tiny Bose speakers) helps fill in those mid-range gaps that are common on other satellite systems. The center speaker is basically the same as the front left/right, only it lays sideways.
The 4 surround speakers are smaller, but are well-matched to the rest of the system. They are relatively slim and light, and are best hung on a wall (they have brackets built in!). Their cloth covers are not removable. Again, unlike conventional satellite systems, Onkyo opted to give you something a little bit larger to give a wider soundfield. Each satellite has a medium-sized cone that does more than just provide the highs. Purists will argue that the front and rear speakers should be the same, but that's not exactly reasonable for a lot of people. Bear in mind, too, that mounting this many speakers is daunting and it can clutter a room's walls quickly.
Onkyo provides the "0.1" channel through a massive downward firing subwoofer that puts out over 200W (self-powered). It's big and ugly, but does the job. Onkyo again has matched the subwoofer to the rest of the system, and it provides the needed oomph down low. There is an adjustment knob to tone things down a bit. The subwoofer is not boomy and overpowering, and accents all your music/movies/games/TV well. Be sure to adjust the crossover frequency on the amp to around 120Hz.
Onkyo includes a gastly remote along with laughably-thin speaker wire. Enthusiasts will likely already have a nicer universal remote, and will likely buy good speaker wire. The same can be said for the joke of a subwoofer cable. But hey, for the price, I wasn't expecting high-end cabling.
The user's manual is quite a read, but anyone with prior experience can figure out 99% of the functionality almost immediately.
It's hard to find fault in something with this much value. Sure, the remote and cabling are cheap, but a lot of people use their own stuff anyways. You're getting a LOT of speakers, and that can make installation arduous and complicated. The subwoofer and amp look hideous, but they're big and functional, which is what counts.
Novices will appreciate the idiot-proof setup and calibration, as well as the bragging rights of 7.1 channels. More advanced users will notice the wide soundfield thanks to well-matched speakers and a well-controlled subwoofer.
