Best receiver under $500!
Written: Oct 18 '02
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Sound: |
 |
|
| Ease of Use: |
|
|
| Durability: |
 |
|
|
Pros: Learning remote, on-screen display, HD ready.
Cons: No hookups for a second zone.
The Bottom Line: This model is great for the user that wants great sound that packs a lot of features that would otherwise cost more!
|
|
|
| Absolut's Full Review: Onkyo TX-SR600 6.1 Channels Receiver |
Overall Choice
I was recently in a search to find the perfect receiver for my friend who was looking to upgrade his home theater. In my search to find a high quality receiver I first turned to Harman/Kardon and Onkyo. My friend was looking in the $450-$600 range to spend just on the receiver portion. For this case I chose to compare the HK 225 and the Onkyo 600.
Remote
First off, let's take a look at the remotes between the 2 receivers. The Onkyo comes with a full learning capable remote. This remote will allow you to control all of your other components with just a single remote. The HK model comes with a programmable remote (NOTE: The HK remote will only do basic features of other components whereas a learning remote with the Onkyo will take FULL control of that component).
Something else to note thats positive for HK is that the remote bundled with the HK 225 has a microphone built inside of it that will actually set levels for speakers automatically based dynamics of your room.
Features
The Onkyo receiver will also allow you to do video switching up to component video. Video switching is the process where you will run all of your video sources through your receiver rather than through your television. This is done for a couple reasons. First, it will free up inputs into the back of the television if you are limited and second it will allow you to change both video and audio inputs with a single touch of a button. This makes the Onkyo receiver able to handle High Definition(HD) signals and process them out to your television without any loss of signal. The HK model only supports up to S-Video only.
The Onkyo receiver also features an on-screen display menu that will help even the most novice user through its setup menu. This on screen display makes everything easier for the initial setup. This will include making sure the appropriate Digital input has been selected. For example, for the receiver to recognize that you are using a Digital Coaxial cable from the DVD player into the receiver, you need to make that selection otherwise you will not get any sound output. The HK model does not support on-screen display.
Next are the formats supported by both models. The Onkyo model will support Dolby Digital EX, and DTS-ES. These are the 2 newest formats available for home thater systems that are running anything more than 5.1 (ie. 6.1, 7.1, 10.2). And more and more titles are becoming available to support these formats. The Onkyo receiver will power up to 6 channels at 80 Watts at 8 Ohms, perfect for a 6.1 home theater system. As for the HK, the 225 only powers 5 speakers at 55 Watts per channel at 8 Ohms. All of HK's receiver line only have 5 channels powered, even up to the 8000 and $2500 receiver. However, with HK new line of 325 and 525, they will include 6 channels powered.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both models are priced equally at about $480, and have about the same type of sound quality between them. But when it comes down to it, the Onkyo receiver beats the HK in features hands down. The only drawback that I found with this receiver was that it lacked the ability to do a second zone. I would have liked to have seen a second zone pre-out option so that users could have the ability to hookup to another amp to run a second room. Fortunately, Onkyo added that addition to their next model up, the Onkyo 700. Except, they already included the amplifier for you for the second zone!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 480
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
Absolut
|
|
Member: Anthony
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Reviews written: 46
Trusted by: 45 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.