Great all-around performer!
Written: Feb 24 '01 (Updated Feb 28 '01)
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Pros: 85 REAL watts of power, great surround performance, multifunction remote, 5.1 stereo
Cons: Plain looking, DSP modes lacking
The Bottom Line: A near high-end receiver that stomps the competition.
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| DC_Jeff's Full Review: Onkyo TX-DS676 5.1 Channels Receiver |
Before purchasing a receiver, I shopped and listened to several brands and models (Sony, Denon, H-K, Pioneer) before settling on this Onkyo. I have not been disappointed.
Setting up this 42 lb. unit was a breeze. I connected my speakers, DVD player and plugged it in. The on-screen display, though not much to look at, is simple to use and makes setup a breeze - all I had to do was tell the receiver how far away each speaker was from the listening position and the receiver does the rest. The instructions, while not perfect, are better than what I got with my Sony DVD player.
Once I turned this thing on, I was blown away by the power. I had listened to a 676 in the store and was impressed. But in my living room, it was great. Though its rated at "only" 85 watts, these are 85 high-current watts - meaning these 85 watts go a lot further than the 100+ peak watts in, for example, a Sony DE945 (which I considered). Turn the Sony up 2/3 of the way and turn the Onkyo up 2/3 of the way and then you will see which one really has more power. The Sony will be amplifying distortion while the Onkyo will be making your insides shake with clear sound.
Dolby Digital and DTS movies sounded great. Gladiator blew me away, I felt like I was back in the theater. My CDs sounded great too. In particular, I like the 5 Stereo mode, which uses all the surround speakers to play normal stereo CDs. It becomes very addictive.
The backlit learning remote is good and simple to use, though I wish it had some preset codes for other brands - you can't just tell it which brand of DVD player you have, you have to individually set each button.
One place this receiver is lacking is in its DSP listening modes (except the aforementioned 5 channel stereo DSP mode). There're only 6 of them (versus 10 or 20 on competing models) and they don't sound particularly great. This isn't a big deal for me since I don't use DSP. However, if you're into DSP, you will want to listen to this receiver before buying (as you should anyway).
In all, I couldn't be happier with my purchase. By the way, price I paid was on the low side because I bought a refurbished unit - though it looks and sounds like new. Also, if you purchase an Onkyo online, **make sure you get it from an authorized Onkyo dealer** or your warranty may be void. A list of authorized dealers is on their website (www.onkyousa.com).
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 449.00
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Epinions.com ID:
DC_Jeff
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Location: Washington, DC
Reviews written: 4
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
Graduate student
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