Onkyo TX-SR604, is there better out there for the same price or less? I've been out of the A/V loop these days, I've usually owned Sony/Pioneer/Yamaha, but I've heard great things about Onkyo.

Details:
» 90 watts x 7 into 8 ohms (20-20,000 Hz) at 0.08% THD
» Dolby® Digital EX, DTS-ES®, Pro Logic® IIx, and DTS Neo:6 decoding
» 1080p-compatible HDMI switching (2 in, 1 out)
» HDMI version 1.1
» XM Satellite Radio Ready (requires XM subscription and optional XM Mini-Tuner package)
» Neural Surround™ decoder for XM's HD Surround channels
» iPod compatible with optional Onkyo DS-A2 iPod dock
» Audyssey 2EQ auto speaker setup (microphone included)
» dual-room/dual-source audio (powered and fixed line-level stereo audio output for 2nd room; using powered 2nd-room output allows 5.1 home theater in main room)
» component video conversion
» 192kHz/24-bit DACs for all channels
» multibrand remote
» component video switching: 3 in, 1 out (50MHz bandwidth)
» digital inputs: 4 optical (including 1 front-panel), 2 coaxial
» optical digital output
» 7.1-channel analog audio preamp input
» 5 audio/video (including 5 S-video and 1 front-panel) inputs
» 2 audio inputs
» no phono input
» on-screen display (requires TV with direct video input)
» 40 AM/FM/XM presets
» Wide Range Amplifier Technology
» aluminum front panel
» oversized power transformer, filter capacitors and heat sinks
» 1 pair of main speaker outputs
» sleep timer
» 17-1/8"W x 6-7/8"H x 15-1/2"D
» warranty: 2 years







Larger images:
http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/pro...TXS604B-f.jpeg
http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/pro...TXS604B-b.jpeg

 

Price/performance ratio in HT, the Rotel receivers are tough to beat. May be beyond your budget - $1500-2000.

 

Yeah, this Onkyo runs about $330-$370

 

Very nice! I always liked Onkyo and the impedance rating on this one is very good.

I just picked up the Sony 7.1 receive DG600 from Best Buy for 204.99 + tax (price matched Circuit City price of 224.99 and had a $20 off coupon).

 

Think I might get the Onkyo TX-SR674 instead. The 604 doesn't upconvert analong inputs to HDMI, so I would have to run 2 cables to my TV.

Details:
» 95 watts x 7 into 8 ohms (20-20,000 Hz) at 0.08% THD
» Dolby® Digital EX, DTS-ES®, Pro Logic® IIx, and DTS Neo:6 decoding
» 1080p-compatible HDMI switching (2 in, 1 out)
» analog-to-HDMI video conversion
» HDMI version 1.1
» XM Satellite Radio Ready (requires XM subscription and optional XM Mini-Tuner package)
» Neural Surround™ decoder for XM's HD Surround channels
» iPod compatible with optional Onkyo DS-A2 iPod dock
» Audyssey 2EQ auto speaker setup (microphone included)
» dual-room/dual-source audio (powered and fixed line-level stereo audio output for 2nd room; using powered 2nd-room output allows 5.1 home theater in main room)
» component video conversion
» 192kHz/24-bit DACs for all channels
» multibrand remote
» component video switching: 3 in, 1 out (50MHz bandwidth)
» digital inputs: 4 optical (including 1 front-panel), 2 coaxial
» optical digital output
» 7.1-channel analog audio preamp input
» 5 audio/video (including 5 S-video and 1 front-panel) inputs
» 2 audio inputs
» no phono input
» on-screen display (requires TV with direct video input)
» 40 AM/FM/XM presets
» Wide Range Amplifier Technology
» aluminum front panel
» oversized power transformer, filter capacitors and heat sinks
» 1 pair of main speaker outputs
» sleep timer
» 17-1/8"W x 6-7/8"H x 15-1/2"D
» warranty: 2 years

 

^^^^^^^

Not bad. HDMI switch is nice. I just couldn't live with only 3 optical inputs. TiVo, DVD, Apple TV, PS2 and CD...

 

Question isn't 8 ohms standard?

 

I'm trying to work on a budget, I'd have to pay over $1000 for more digital audio inputs

 

That's what I was afraid of.

 

Just pulled the trigger on the Onkyo TX-SR674, found a great deal on Crutchfield, surprising they were the cheapest, even vs Ebay. Ended up $480 with free shipping, no tax! Can't wait to get it.

 

 

Don't those devices have both optical and coaxial out? The receiver has 5 total digital inputs so that should be good.

 

^^ No it doesn't, Input 1 and 2 can be coax or optical, where input 3 is only optical. So its still 3. My Xbox 360 acts as my DVD player and I stream my music with it too, Cable receiver, and thats it for now. So the 3rd is extra really.

 

That's a good deal. I was gung-ho on getting a new receiver but decided to wait until HDMI 1.3 was the standard.

 

Why? It will take a while for units to have 1.3 as a standard, not only that, 1.3a is already released so essentially 1.3 is outdated. Furthermore, most of the pros say its not worth waiting for 1.3. There's a lot of talk about it on the avsforum, you should check it out. I don't think its worth waiting for

Here are the differences:
HDMI 1.0

Released December 2002.

* Single-cable digital audio/video connection with a maximum bitrate of 4.9Gbps. Supports up to 165Mpixels/sec video (1080p60Hz or UXGA) and 8-channel/192kHz/24-bit audio.

HDMI 1.1

Released May 2004.

* Added support for DVD Audio.

HDMI 1.2

Released August 2005.

* Added support for One Bit Audio, used on Super Audio CDs, up to 8 channels.
* Availability of HDMI Type A connector for PC sources.
* Ability for PC sources to use native RGB color-space while retaining the option to support the YCbCr CE color space.
* Requirement for HDMI 1.2 and later displays to support low-voltage sources.

HDMI 1.2a

Released December 2005.

* Fully specifies Consumer Electronic Control (CEC) features, command sets, and CEC compliance tests.

HDMI 1.3

Released 22 June 2006.[7] [8]

* Increases single-link bandwidth to 340 MHz (10.2 Gbps)
* Optionally supports 30-bit, 36-bit, and 48-bit xvYCC with Deep Color or over one billion colors, up from 24-bit sRGB or YCbCr in previous versions.
* Incorporates automatic audio syncing (lip sync) capability.
* Supports output of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio streams for external decoding by AV receivers.[9] TrueHD and DTS-HD are lossless audio codec formats used on HD DVDs and Blu-ray Discs. If the disc player can decode these streams into uncompressed audio, then HDMI 1.3 is not necessary, as all versions of HDMI can transport uncompressed audio.
* Availability of a new mini connector for devices such as camcorders.[10]

HDMI 1.3a

Released 10 November 2006.[11]

* Cable and Sink modifications for Type C
* Source termination recommendation
* Removed undershoot and maximum rise/fall time limits.
* CEC capacitance limits changed
* RGB video quantization range clarification
* CEC commands for timer control brought back in an altered form, audio control commands added.
* Concurrently released compliance test specification included.

 

Wait till you guys see what speakers I'm getting

 

from the 604 vs 674, the 674 is worth the extra money, I wonder how it holds up upconverting a progressive scan dvd player vs an hd upconverting player..

 

Arrived today

 

What speakers did you get? I am looking right now. Leaning towards the new Paradigm Monitors. I am in an apartment,cant go too crazy.

 

KEF speakers, but I'll let you guys know what setup once I actually settle on one