Sony Reader Touch @ Best Buy $299.99
Entered CNET Catalog: 04/05/2005
SKU: HT-S580
Manufacturer: Onkyo USA
Manufacturer description
With a deficit of receiver/speaker packages that blend into your home both spatially and audibly - and deliver with the power and accuracy when it's needed most - Onkyo continues to provide with the release of the HT-S580 home entertainment 5.1-channel receiver/speaker package. With the HT-S580 supplying 100 watts per channel into its six channels, most would be satisfied. Look a little deeper and you will find that time-proven technologies, like WRAT (Wide Range Amplifier Technology) and Optimum Gain Volume Circuitry, show that the real power benefit lies in power that can be harnessed without distortion. Also, an H.C.P.S. (High Current Power Supply) transformer ensures there is power on hand for audio peaks and 192 kHz/24-bit DACs preserve the quality of the incoming signal. The 5.1-channel speakers have been designed to complement the receiver's drive power. Once again, quality, affordability and performance win.CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 04/21/2005
Editor's note: We have changed the rating in this review to reflect recent changes in our rating scale. Click here to find out more.
The Onkyo HT-S580 system features four satellites, a dedicated center-channel speaker, a substantial subwoofer, and a fully appointed A/V receiver. The plastic-bodied satellites are almost completely covered by shapely rounded grilles, an elegant styling touch that distinguishes the 8-inch-tall satellites from the more typical pint-size, cheap-looking competition. The curvy 4.25-inch-wide center speaker carries over the same look, and the speakers' backsides are fitted with keyhole slots and threaded inserts to simplify wall mounting.
The dark gray subwoofer is constructed from medium-density fiberboard, a major improvement over plastic cabinet posers we see packed with other econo systems. It weighs 17.2 pounds and measures 9.1 inches wide, 17.1 high, and 15.5 deep.
The S580's speaker package is pretty darn impressive for a $299 HTIB, and the A/V receiver's look and feel is comparable to standalone models' costing that much. Its substantial weight (19.4 pounds) speaks to its robust build quality. Setup chores are pretty straightforward--we had the S580 up and running in less than 20 minutes. No complaints about the remote, either; its buttons are nicely organized and partially backlit, so it's easy to use in dimly lit rooms.
The S580 doesn't include a DVD player, but you probably have one anyway.
The receiver boasts six 100-watt channels and a full complement of Dolby and DTS surround modes, and their processing is expedited with a set of 192kHz/24-bit digital converters--pretty upscale for a $299 HTIB! Another bonus: if you ever want to upgrade to better speakers, the receiver's versatile crossover options--60Hz/80Hz/100Hz/120Hz or 150Hz--will aid in optimizing their sound quality.
Connectivity is adequate for small home theaters, but don't expect to wire up too many components for digital surround sound beyond a DVD player and a gaming system. You get four inputs and two outputs for video, two digital audio inputs (one optical, one coaxial), and two inputs and one output for stereo. A/B speaker switching is onboard for the option of multiroom audio, a rarity in budget systems.
On a side note, all the speaker connectors are spring-clip types, not the five-way binding posts you'd see on mid- and high-end receivers. And we should make clear that video-switching services cover only composite-video connections; you'll have to run S-Video or component-video cables directly from your DVD player or cable box to your TV. The receiver also lacks a line-level RCA subwoofer jack, but you can still hook up powered subs with speaker-level connections.
As for the speakers, not only are all of them genuine two-way designs with 3.2-inch woofers and 0.75-inch tweeters, but the center speaker also conforms to the classic woofer/tweeter/woofer arrangement. The 8-inch passive subwoofer runs off one of the receiver's 100-watt amplifiers.
The Cube Zero DVD used a densely textured soundtrack to create tension. This psycho thriller's grisly sounds, ghostly voices, and spectacular percussion accents sweeping around our home theater kept us on the edge of our seats. The scenes inside the Cube's master control center were always accompanied by the sound of water dripping from a far-flung corner of the room, and the Onkyo HT-S580 successfully mapped every square foot of the space. Dialogue was detailed and full-bodied. And the subwoofer's foundation of deep bass rumblings added a palpable foundation to the horror show.
The heavy metal thunder coursing through Metallica's St. Anger DVD didn't unglue the S580's baby satellites--this just might be the most powerful system we've ever heard for this kind of money. It's just the ticket for dorm rooms, but this budget kit can comfortably fill even midsize home theaters with sound.
The S580 didn't falter when we played all sorts of CDs, and Bright Eyes's trippy acoustic masterpiece, I'm Wide Awake, sounded naturally sweet. Guitars and fiddles had a woody glow, and Conor Oberst's ethereal duet with Emmylou Harris didn't elicit stumbles from the perky satellites. The subwoofer's dexterity was obvious when we played Morphine's The Night CD. The bass/baritone sax/drum trio dishes up heavyweight sounds, and the HT-S580's sure-footed bass locked onto the band's funky grooves. Yes, the sound suffered when we cranked the volume too high, but that's true of most HTIBs. All in all, Onkyo's HT-S580 trumps the competition in the sound-per-dollar sweepstakes.
User opinions
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User Rating: 
9/10
Nothing lacking
Pros: Price, sound, ease of use
Cons: Haven't found any yet
User Rating: 9/10
AMAZING!!!!!
Pros: Unbelievable sound!
Cons: No DVD player, but c'mon who doesn't have a DVD player.
User Rating: 
8/10
Best System under $400
Pros: Great sound. Easy setup
Cons: Only 2 digital inputs
User Rating: 
7/10
Good system so far.
Pros: Quality and performance seem to above par.
Cons: Advanced setup seems a little tricky. Receiver was bigger than I had thought. Barely fits into my TV stand. Navigating the remote will take some getting used to.
I've been able to use this system for about a work or so and I really like it considering the features and the price. Sound quality is up to par. It does get pretty loud for its size. I've used it for my dvd's and also used it to play music. It works well for both. Sorting thru what preset style to use is cool but I haven't found a use for all of them. Surround sound is good. Subwoofer is great but can be over powering for some. You can adjust it. Turned up it sounds really loud and I haven't yet noticed any distortion problems. Good product for price.
User Rating: 9/10
Higher quality than I expected. Very happy.
Pros: Excellent sound, music, tv and especially dvd's
Cons: difficult getting cable box, dvd and tv all on the same page.
User Rating: 7/10
Easily worth the money
Pros: great sound, affordable
Cons: no component video switching means stuck in remote hell
User Rating: 9/10
Exceeded my expectations for a HTIB system...
Pros: Very good sound quality for the price
Cons: None so far...
User Rating: 9/10
Blew my mind out!!
Pros: Incredible sound quality for the price; Can play Blow-Your-Mind-Out loud.
Cons: Sound quality suffers a little bit when played too loud
User Rating: 7/10
The Best Inexpensive Home Theater In-A-Box
Pros: High quality receiver, decent speakers (plenty of volume), powerful subwoofer, good 5.1 TV mode
Cons: Included speaker wire is low quality, no S-video or component video switching on receiver, only 2 digital inputs
The receiver is the best part of the system, containing many inputs for all of your audio devices. Because it lacks a built in DVD player, this allows for upgrades in the future. The receiver contains many different listening modes that turn stereo audio input into a 5.1 signal. I particularly like the 5.1 TV listening mode. I have cable and connected the audio-out on my TV to a stereo input on the receiver. With the 5.1 TV listening mode, Sports Center on ESPN and other TV shows sound pretty good. On the bad side, only two of the inputs (optical and coaxial) allow for true digital sound, but this is only a problem if you want to have true digital surround sound from more than two sources. The other downfall of the receiver is that it lacks S-video or component video switching, although it does allow low-quality composite video switching. This is mildly annoying, but not a feature I would expect on such an inexpensive unit.
The speakers combined with the receiver are of decent quality and have a keyhole on the back for easy wall mounting. I really like the large center channel speaker, responsible for most of the dialogue in movies with 5.1 digital audio. The subwoofer has plenty of power for me and shakes my whole apartment if I turn the volume up past 32 on a song with heavy bass.
User Rating: 9/10
Best Home Theater I Have Had
Pros: Clear sound, multiple video inputs, very easy to setup
Cons: Sub woofer is powered from the reciever, no s-video inputs only composite
User Rating: 8/10
Great system for the money!!!
Pros: Great Price, Value, good sound..
Cons: Reciver is a bit tricky, Sound isn't as loud with DVD's/Game systems as it is with CD's
User Rating: 9/10
wow -i love it
Pros: sound , design,simple
Cons: doesn't remember last subwoofer setting
User Rating: 7/10
Great Value! Great Features! Average Sound
Pros: Good integration for Ipod; Terrific Value; Good connectivity
Cons: Average sound; moderate power; silver casing
User Rating: 9/10
WOW!!! WHAT A DEAL!!!
Pros: Fantastic sound, great features, easy to install, digital and optical input, PHENOMENAL BASS
Cons: For the price I see no cons!!!
User Rating: 8/10
Fantastic value
Pros: Great sound for the money
Cons: none for me
Great value for the money.
User Rating: 9/10
Great sound for the price
Pros: Easy setup, Nice looking.
Cons: Nothing yet
User Rating: 9/10
Very Pleased
Pros: Good Price, Sounds Great, Onkyo Quality
Cons: Not enough digital inputs
