Onkyo CS-315

Advantages: Impressive sound and build quality
Disadvantages: Standard speakers let it down

...I originally bought the CS515's cheeper little brother, the CS315, which is exclusive to Currys, and built down to a price for them, and it showed. The sound quality was only average for a £200 system, but there was a constant buzzing noise when playing CD's, I returned the item to Currys, and tested two more in the shop, both these did exactly the same. I then tried the CS515 at £300, there was an instant improvement in overall sound quality, and no buzzing from the CD player. I was a little reluctant to pay the extra £100, but felt the difference in sound quality was worth it. The unit itself has a CD player, FM/AM radio, DAB radio, and several inputs for Video, MP3 players etc. The speakers that come with the CS515 are Onkyo's DN9BX, nice looking maple, 2 way, bookshelf models, What Hi-Fi give them 5 stars, personally, I think 3... Read review

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Advantages: Great Picture, incredible soundstage
Disadvantages: video artifacts after 3 DVDs CD audio lacking body

...I used a TX DX 777 Onkyo WRAT receiver and a set of Vandersteen 1 2 way floor standing speakers and a Samsung LCD T4871F TV. The audio connection was a Toslink and the video HDMI both low priced parts. My system is set up for surround sound and my speaker levels and placement have been set by using a sound pressure meter and distance measurements used in the DX777. This player is Brutal in it's accurate reproduction of video and cd music. If you put in a so so DVD this player will show you just how so so it is, I do not care what resolution you set it at. The better the quality of the DVD the better the picture will be. I found it to be the same with audio. My bargin CDs sounded just that way, bargin basement, but put in a DDD CD and you could hear the difference. The sound stage is fantastic. The speaker no longer exshist, the music... Read review

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Advantages: Wide range of features relative to cost
Disadvantages: Size

...I picked up the eagerly anticipated Onkyo 606 a few weeks ago; I have paired it with a KEF 2005.2 5.1 surround speakers, both in silver finish. I purchased both from A1 Audio based in Sheffield, who supplied direct to me in Glasgow. The Onkyo system replaces a Sony out of the box DVD/surround 5.1 system... and what a difference, just a totally different experience. I have hooked up the Onk with my PS3 via HDMI for gaming, DVDs & Blu-ray use. Am not gonna put anything on the spec of the 606 here, as that is pretty widely available elsewhere. Out of the box the 606 is pretty imposing, it is a large and weighty piece of kit, and feels well put together. As i said, it is big, really big, much more so than I appreciated when I ordered it, I had to remove a shelf from the tv stand to allow it to fit, still, that serves me right... Read review

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