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What is the Best Onkyo Home Theater Receiver or System for You:

Choosing an Onkyo Home Theater Receiver or System - Onkyo may not be a name as instantly recognizable as Sony, Panasonic, and Samsung, and their product line may be a bit smaller. But for what Onkyo lacks in size, it makes up for in quality. This brand is not only well-respected among critics, it also receives consistently positive reviews from consumers. That's the measure that really matters: when you hear of people enjoying their home theater systems in real settings with real families and needs, it is a good indication of its worth. But having solid credentials behind them never hurts either. We'll take a look at some of the best Onkyo home theater receivers and systems to help you determine if great specs equal a great experience.
onkyo receivers



What is a Home Theater Receiver? - A receiver is just one component of a home theater. If you choose to build your own system, a receiver is the brain. Here you will find all the inputs and outputs that will allow you to connect everything conveniently to one central system. The receiver is a tuner for AM/FM, HD, XM, Sirius, and internet radio. It also functions as a pre-amp so you can control audio and video, using DVD players, CD players, iPods, and so on. The amp processes the incoming or surround sound signals and routes the audio to your channels and subwoofer and your video to a TV. Everything works in concert so you can have a great home theater experience. When choosing your home theater receiver, look at the following:

*Power. Look beyond watts to the full-bandwidth power rating, which indicates that the power rating was performed over all of the frequencies that the human ear can hear.
*In addition to decibels, look for the distortion rating. Look for low distortion levels. 0.01 percent, for instance, will sound great no matter what volume you crank it to. A receiver with a 10 percent distortion rating would be unbearable at louder volumes.
*Dynamic power. When there are crescendos and other times when you need more power, your receiver will need to adjust.
*Make sure to look at the features as a package, not in isolation. The watts, for instance, don't tell the whole story. Make sure to look at everything as a total package.

Onkyo Home Receivers - About.HomeTheater ranked the Onkyo TX-SR707 7.2 Channel Home Theater Receiver as one of the best mid-range home theater receivers on the market. The quality in these "mid-range" receivers would have been out of reach for most budgets even a few years ago. As technology evolves, and becomes cheaper, those of us who want to part with less cash are in luck. The TX-SR707 THX Select2, HDMI Version 1.3a utilized for deep color, Certified with a THX Loudness Plus, DTS-HD Master Audio, DVD-Audio, Super Audio CD, Multichannel PCM, Dolby TrueHD, 100 watts per channel at 8 ohms, 20Hz to 20,000KHz (that is the frequency range we were talking about, indicating that this receiver has a rich range for great audio), 2 channels driven, and audio and 1080p video processing via HDMI. All specs aside, what this means is that you get top quality, flexibility, and balanced audio. A happy Amazon reviewer said that this was the best receiver he'd ever purchased. The About.HomeTheater review did note that the receiver runs a "little warm," and advises that you have a few inches of open space around the receiver for air circulation. Besides that one very minor accommodation, the Onkyo SR707 will deliver crisp sound for your music, movies, and television. You can find it for $680 on Amazon.

Onkyo Home Theater Systems:

Home theater systems are like kits; they include the speakers, subwoofer, and receiver. Some home theater systems add a DVD player to the receiver as well. To choose the best home theater systems, you want to look at:

*Output power. If you want a super-loud system, you may want to assemble your own piece-by-piece. But for most people who want a great home theater in their living room or bedroom, a system with 70 watts or so of power per channel is usually sufficient. Again, though, don't use this as your sole consideration.
*Look for Dolby Digital decoding at the least. There are also home theaters in a box (HTIB) as they're called, that have DTS and Dolby Pro Logic II for better sound.
*Audio and video inputs and outputs. You will want composite and S-video outputs for your TV. If your TV has the input, component-video outputs give better picture quality. You will want a few video inputs so you can connect with cable, satellite, and/or gaming consoles. Look also for digital audio inputs.
*Progressive scan. This helps you get a more crisp picture and motion.

Onkyo Home Theater Systems - If you look at Best Home Theater lists, you will see the Onkyo name again and again. Their home theater systems are among the best in the business, and they can accommodate a range of price ranges as well. ConsumerSearch named the Onkyo HT-S9100THX as the best home theater system. The HT S9100THX has a host of impressive specs, including: full high-fi processing, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, video upscaling, audio equalization, 1200 watts of power, 7.1 channel, 4 HDMI inputs, 2 HD component inputs, 130 watts per channel, Wide Range Amplifier Technology (WRAT), Optimum Gain Volume Circuitry, high current power supply, Audyssey 2EQ Room Calibration, THX Loudness Plus, and Remote Interactive (RI) capability for easy iPod connectivity. CNET praises the "outstanding" audio quality and connectivity. They did note that the upconverting video quality was only mediocre and the speakers are rather large. But the review concludes that the HT S9100THX "breaks the HTIB mold” and had the best sound from an all-in-one system. This system reviews very well with consumers, particular those on Amazon, who give it perfect 5 scores consistently. You can find the Onkyo HT S9100THX for $999. There are other Onkyos that you should consider if your budget doesn't extend to $1000. The Onkyo HT S3200 is a great value and is recommended by Wize.com consumers. The S3200 has 5.1 channels with 110 watts per channel at 6 ohms, 1 output for video (HDMI Pass-Thru), 3 Inputs that are HDMI, Audyssey EQ to help equalize the system, HDTV-capable component video switching, front panel audio input for portable devices, 0.08 THD, frequency response: 20 Hz–50 kHz/+1 dB, speaker impedance 6 ohms–16 ohms, and much more. An Amazon reviewer said it works "flawlessly." And you can't go wrong with the price. The HT S3200 is $300, an incredible deal for a great home theater system. A bit more expensive but certainly within reach is the Onkyo HT S7200 at just under $800 and the HT S6200 for just under $600. Onkyo is one of the best brands on the market, and no matter what you have to spend, you can get a system that works for you and your home. From the sleek HT S9100THX to the small but powerful HT S3200, you can be assured of outstanding sound quality and crisp pictures whenever you like. The critics love Onkyo, consumers love Onkyo, and when you invite Onkyo into your home, you will, too. Browse the best selling Onkyo home theater systems here.

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