An A/V receiver with the WOW factor

Advantages: Looks great, sounds awesome, feels awesome
Disadvantages: Detailed set up can be tricky - just as well it comes idiot proof!

...Ok then, so I'm a lucky boy.... On my last birthday my wife decided that she wanted to treat me to a home cinema system so off we went to our local Richer Sounds store (they are VERY cheap and VERY helpful - recommended everyone pays them a visit!) with cash in hand an wangled a deal. I got this Marantz A/V Receiver , A Yamaha surround sound speaker package and a Panasonic DVD recorder for the princly sum of £350 - a bit of a discount from the £900 RRP! I'll be reviewing each product in turn so check out my other reviews if you want a full system checkup! So into the review of the A/V Receiver: 1) The Theory I wanted a reciever that not only looked good, but that also provided the output and poer to match. I've long been a fan of the Marantz range as they not only look and feel good to use, they also have the reputation...

Durahm.Dazzler 24.05.2007 · Read review
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Review of Marantz SR 4400 A/V Receiver

Onkyo TX-SR 606 receiver

Advantages: Cheap price, 4 HDMI inputs, and HD audio compliant.
Disadvantages: Not a lot!

...Hi ! The new onkyo TX-SR 606 is the best surround amp on the market for under £500 period. We borrowed one for a few weeks whilst our onkyo TX-SR 875 was being repaired. We bought our 875 last year for £999.99 and this new buget model is about 95% of the performance of the 875. It has 4 HDMI inputs and is HD audio and video compliant. It is easy to set up, and sounds fantastic with movies. We have used the HD video scaler and normal DVDs look vastly improved. The unit we borrowd was in black (it is available in silver also) and looked substantial and stylish. Regarding the sound it steers audio around the room fantastically and never seems to be trying too hard or sounding harsh at higher levels. Overall a brilliant buy....

ftobaby 07.09.2008 · Read review
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Review of Onkyo TX-SR606

Onkyo DV SP 406

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...

artana 31.12.2008 · Read review
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Review of Onkyo DV-SP 406

Onkyo SR705

Advantages: Amazing connections amazing output
Disadvantages: Pricey, hard to set up if you don't know what's what

.... There is the 905 model with a built in streamer but i definately recommend a separate apple tv box plugged in via HDMI. This is a serious bit of kit and it could be seen as a tad expensive if your not that fussed about the zone play then i would go for the 605 model. However it does not matter which one you buy as onkyo swept the board when it comes to home cinema systems in What hifi what cinema etc. If you found this review helpful don't forget to say so...

MattRhodes3764 14.04.2008 · Read review
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Review of Onkyo TX-SR 705

Surround Sound with Attitude

Advantages: Does exactly what it says on the box !
Disadvantages: So far, none ! Although even I find that difficult to believe

...I started off my surround sound adventure with an older Marantz, but the call of DVD Audio proved to be too strong once I had actually heard (and felt) it. I take great pride in my HC system, and it has taken several years to get it right. Some earlier components did not match sonically with others, and it took about 4 years of juggling to get the setup I now have. This currently comprises the following, and this is the system as reviewed : The Denon 1803 AV receiver Pioneer 656A DVD player Thompson 32" WS 100Hz TV Sony VHS recorder Sky TV Speakers : Fronts : Acoustic Energy Aegis EVO3's Rears : KEF Coda 7's Centre : Tannoy MXC Sub : Yamaha YST-SW320 All speaker cabling is bi-wired where possible, with as chunky a cable as my house furnishings will allow ! Interconnects are generally optical where possible, or QED...

g8ina 06.05.2004 · Read review
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Review of Denon AVR-1803 AV Receiver

Onkyo 606 with Kef 2005.2

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...

adamneil 09.06.2008 · Read review
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Review of Onkyo TX-SR606

Onkyo TX-SR606 super value home cinema sound

Advantages: Easy to set-up, great sound, HDMI switching and upscaling
Disadvantages: Cannot rename inputs

...I have had home cinema kit for many many years now, even investing in the likes of Meridian processors which costs loads of money. Then I settled on a Pioneer VSX-D2011 which did everything I needed for almost three years. With all the new sound formats coming out, like TrueHD, I wanted to get a new receiver. This one from Onkyo seemed just too cheap at under £400, but I decided to give it a go. First thing I noticed was the weight, it feels really light compared to my Pioneer. The only other slight negative is that you cannot rename inputs, so 'game/tv' cannot be changed to ready 'PS3' on the front display. A minor thing, but worth mentioning. Everything else on this unit is a positive. It supports all the new sound formats, is very well made, and looks really nice (in black). It even has three HDMI inputs, which is amazing, when...

davomrmac 30.07.2008 · Read review
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Review of Onkyo TX-SR606

Onkyo CR-515DAB

Advantages: yes
Disadvantages: no

...was a bit compressed sounding until now!) - build quality and looks, you can feel the quality! - compact physically - Price (i would of happily payed a lot more for something this good!) - Buy it in black! Bad bits: - the remote is silver (why not black Onkyo? unless your men packed it wrongly. i also feel that the remote doesnt tie in with the rest of the system as i feels a bit cheapish (not that i care about this anyway, i'm just telling you.) - would have prefered gold plated conections but all they have tried to do is keep the cost down to keep us cheap skates happy, and would'nt make much difference anyway apart from maybe getting a bit corroded in time. Having said that this unit uses proper high grade components, so they have put the money in where its needed most. On a personal note, i really do love this...

Johnfromdownsouth 05.10.2007 (04.10.2007) · Read review
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Review of Onkyo CR-515

Onkyo CS515. Very Good Quality, Let Down Slightly By The Speakers

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...

bobbob455 03.04.2009 · Read review
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Review of Onkyo CS-515

Great AV amp, lacking slightly in stereo.

Advantages: Ease of use
Disadvantages: Stereo sound

...Like the previous reviewer I previously owned a Sony out of the box system and upgraded to the 606 and 5001.2s. The results have been magical, when I first took the plunge into surround sound I was astounded by the leap in sound quality and upgrading to separate amp, dvd player and speakers was a similar gap. With the generous sub included and proper set up the amp is able to manage both heavy action films (my personal fav on it being The 300) but is also more than suitable for playing my girlfriends chick flicks. The only place where the Onkyo lacks is in the stereo department. I've just bought an Arcam CD192 which i feel could be greatly improved by bi-amping with a simple 2 channel. This however is overly picking as if you wish for great stereo you buy a stereo amp. In conclusion this is a great AV amp and a good stereo amp...

Roguewader 01.10.2008 · Read review
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Review of Onkyo TX-SR606