Onkyo TX-DS474 Receiver

This unit has pros and cons but is a good all around A/V receiver. Power is rated at 55 Watts but this is over a much larger range of frequency than other manufacturers with higher ratings. (I would truly like to see an independent test with other units with ratings of 70W and 100W, I think this Onkyo would match well.) Without getting into the physics of high current and impedance measured in ohms let me just say that the unit has enough juice to power all but the largest speakers. I have my unit hooked up to Polk Audio RT35i (front), CS245i (center), R10 (surrounds). I can rock the casaba with this config.

Where this unit really excels is in customization and sound clarity. First, the ability to increase or decrease the volume by +/- 12db for each channel is a welcome feature usually found only in higher priced units, and allows you to compensate for less than perfect speaker placement and room treatment. Also, the ability to set distance to listener for each channel group (front, center, surround) allows you to correct for fronts that are 10 feet away and surrounds that are 5 feet away. This may seem like a small thing but when you use the receiver for both music and movies it makes a heck of a difference. My fronts are a good 11 feet from the middle of the room and the center is 8 feet and the surrounds are 5 feet. Movies with Dolby digital 5.1 would have terrible spatial properties if not for the ability to adjust this difference. If I moved the fronts closer I would loose much of the depth of field for stereo music. (this allows me to have my cake and eat it too). Secondly, the sound from this unit is as good as models costing twice if not more. There is a very slight buzz from the speakers when the volume is turned up when no music or movie is playing, no such problem when listening to music, even in quite passages.

The unit is very reasonably priced and an excellent purchase for those who are new to home theater. Easy to use too.

Now some bashing. The clips for speaker wires in the back are a cheapskate solution. This is why I recommend the TX-DS484 (new model) to those of you who can afford alittle more (kudos to Onkyo for the upgrade) the new model has five way lock down nuts. For those of you who don't care and would rather pick up the older model (presumably for a discount) try inserting 12 gauge speaker wire in a clip, frustrating at best.

One of the problems I have is that the DVD player I purchased does not have a dolby digital decoder (why should it when this receiver has it built in). However, the receiver only has dolby digital, it does not have dts built in, now to play dvd's with dts I have to either upgrade the dvd player or the receiver. My suggestion, again if you can afford it and want dts is to buy one of the upscale recievers (Onkyo or otherwise). Personally, I think dts is mucho dollars for little extra sound, but thats just my ears talking.

Also, it has been said that the remote that comes with this unit is alittle cheap. Their right. If the remote is going to make or break your buying decision.......enough said. The remote is light weight and buttons are small. Don't try using this in the dark, not back lit and small buttons make navagation difficult. One redeming feature for the remote is that if you have other Onkyo products with the RI feature (remote interconnect??) you can use the reciever's remote to work basic functions on the cd player, dvd player etc...

Overall, my experience with this Onkyo (my first purchase from this maker) has been very positive. Great sound, build quality, and price. This equals great value, and that's the name of the game.