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"So promising, yet totally disappointing" on by silivalleygearhead
Pros: potentially excellent feature set
Cons: HDMI passthrough didn't work, video stays on in audio modes, PITA setup
Summary: I was SO excited about this new SR674 from Onkyo. The feature set, on paper, is really excellent for a mid-priced AVR (I paid $699 at Frys). I particularly wanted the HDMI switching (2x1) and HDMI upconversion from Component/S/Composite. It also supports 2 zone audio (though, clumsily)
Well, forget it. It's back in the box and will be returned in the morning. I just wasted 4 hours trying to get it to work.
The setup is a PITA. The manual is confusing in many spots. The unit I have just DIDN'T WORK - the HDMI inputs (there are 2) just NEVER worked. It _did_ upconvert from S and Composite to HDMI, and onscreen menus were there, but my main HDMI source (Oppo DVD) just never came through. Yes, I followed the directions, like 15 times. I tried every combination of input jack and input routing and...NADA. I guess this one is just a lemon.
I should also mention that this is such a new unit that Onkyo's own support website (URL printed on a sticker ON the unit) does not even list this unit in the master product list. Grrrr. So, no luck on web-based troubleshooting.
What I did learn from this fiasco was that the 674 has some odd mode settings (as compared to common sense, and a Sony DG800 AVR sitting next to it). When you switch to an audio-only mode (e.g. CD, Tape) the unit keeps routing the video to the monitor. Strange. When I say "CD" - I'm thinking "I'd like to turn off the TV and listen to a CD" - NOT "I'd like to listen to a CD while watching sound-less video of the last thing that was being displayed". Strange logic from the engineers at Onkyo. That "feature" alone would send me back to the return line at Frys.
I had just bought the Sony DG800 a couple weeks back and planned to return it once the Onk was going. However, the Sony is back in the cabinet and the Onk is back in the foam packing for its trip home. The DG800 was way more sensible to set up, has niceties like being able to program the mode display text to say something like "Dish TV" or "Jukebox" rather than "Video3" or "Tap".
The Sony lacks on screen menus that the onk has, but, to be honest, the Onk ones were beguiling and ugly. I'd rather fumble with Sony's remote control driven ones, thanks.
All that said, for the little time I had it running, I'd say the SR674 sounds better than the Sony DG800. But man, it runs HOT - like "holy $%&@ that's hot, hot".
The Zone 2 audio controls are also strange - basically, you control volume in Zone 2 by a couple of tiny pushbuttons, NOT the main volume control. And, if there is a way to "tie" the same audio source across Zone 1 and Zone 2 and control the volume together, I'll be darned if I could find it...basically, think of Zone 2 as a very primitive feature.
All in all, nice try by Onkyo with the SR-674 , but I'll pass.
I'm off to look at Denon and Yamaha units now, though I may just stick with the Sony if I can't find what I want without having to shell out a $1000...
So, so disappointing. -
"Great price and features for HDMI switching/upconverting" on by hockeyfan1969
Pros: HDMI switching and up converting other sources to component or HDMI
Cons: can't rename inputs
Summary: I have been searching for a midpriced, full feature reciever for several months. I have looked at the Pioneer Elite series, JVC and several others and when i read the review and saw the spec for this one, none could compare for the price. I picked mine up at Fry's for $599 on sale. This is the first component for my new HD home theatre setup and I am now waiting for the price to drop on the Samsung 61" DLP 1080p.
Now for the setup of this reciever, it was pretty straight forward and the Audyssey speaker set up worked pretty well. I still had to do some fine tuning to get it to sound just right for my ear. The Audyssey setup left my main left and right channels not producing enough bass. Currently I am using it to upconvert all my sources (Directv w/tivo, Xbox, Xbox 360 and PS2) from S-video to Component and it works flawlessly. I have not tried upconverting to HDMI yet but found that the HDMI output had to be turned on in the setup menu. The other poster mentioned the picture staying on when switching to another source that does not have video and I think this is a GREAT feature!!! Ever want to listen to the radio broadcast instead of the TV announcers and still watch the game? I know i have and this allows you to do it. The unit does run hot so good ventalation is a must. I would have liked the ability to rename inputs as well. I found the manual to be slightly confusing and had to read sections several time to really understand it. This units menu and settings are not for the novice audiophile. I found myself tweaking the setting several different times after the initial setup.
Overall this is an excellent reciever for the price, the upconverting of ALL sources to HDMI and the HDMI switching are worth the price alone.Updated
HDMI upconverting works flawlessly, plugged in HDMI from reciever to the Sammy, changed input on TV to HDMI and BANG, everything auto upconverted to HDMI. The upconverting does a great job of correcting overblown colors that come through the Component ouput. My directv tivo is connected to the 674 through S-video(best ouput available on tivo) the component upconvert/output looks soft and fuzzy and red colors are way overdone. When i switch to HDMI upconvert/output of the same source the picture is much sharper, cleaner with less noise and the colors are much much closer to standard, reds are much more natural. I was surprised that the onscreen menu worked through HDMI output since the manual said it would not work. I am about to get Directv HD DVR in the next weeek, if I find something to report I will update again. Based on what I have seen with this reciever i would give it an 11, it does everything and it does it well. -
"A little disappointed" on by mindhead01
Pros: Sounds great, online setup screen
Cons: HDMI connection to TV degrades source picture
Summary: I bought this receiver instead of the 604 b/c of the HDMI switching, HDMI up conversion capability and Onkyo's reputation for great audio equipment. The unit sounds great and set up is straightforward.
My disappointment is with the video processing. I have hooked up my HD Sat box via Component cables and my up converting DVD player via HDMI to the receiver and the video quality is not good. When connected directly to the TV (Samsung DLP) both sources look fantastic. Routing thru the receiver significantly degrades the picture.
I have tried tweaking setting, but find none satisfactory. I'll be returning the unit and getting the 604. No reason to pay for HDMI functionality that ruins the picture quality. -
"This receiver does not work has advertised" on by gillest
Pros: Great sound , Easy to use
Cons: 1080P HDMI passthru does not work as advertised
Summary: I bought this receiver to connect my 1080P Samsung HL-S7178 TV and my Samsung DVD-HD960 player that upconverts to 1080P using HDMI only.
When running the DVD player at 1080P the video and audio custs every 5 minutes. Contacted Onkyo support but no fix or even acknowledgment of a problem yet. They only did the test at 1080I when I asked them because they did not have a 1080P player. Other on internet forums have reported this issue also.
It seems the player is not fast enough to decode the audio while passing the video.
Hopefully they will come out and 1) acknowledge the problem 2) Provide a fix or refund,
I cannot give this product more than a 1 rating since I specifically bought it for it's capability to do 1080P switching and it does not meet the ONKYO published specs. Otherwise this receiver would be perfect. -
"Very nice receiver" on by kimina
Pros: HDMI upconversion, sound quality
Cons: Names of inputs are fixed sa "video 1", etc.
Summary: I bought this receiver to replace a Pioneer. With the Pioneer my set-up was as follows: HP 42" plasma tv, Denon 1730 DVD video into TV direct with HDMI audio into receiver with digital coaxial cable, HD cable box into TV with component video audio into receiver with RCA, Samsung VCR into TV with composite video audio into receiver with RCA. Not only did I have to use separate remotes for everything (and I had no remote for the VCR) but every time I wanted to switch a video source I had to switch the input on both the TV and the receiver. What a pain especially with all those remotes. So, I looked for a receiver where I could run all the video into it with one HDMI cable out to the TV. The Onkyo had good reviews and seemed less expensive than models from Denon and Yamaha. The first thing I did was program the universal remote. I now have a remote for the VCR. The only thing I was not able to program was the DVD player. Note that they do not include a code for Denon DVD players, although there is a code of Denon CD players. The auto-speaker set up did not work for me so I did it manually. I had to do that for the Pioneer but I imagine that it could be a problem for those unfamiliar with doing it. The owner's manual is not that clear on a lot of points and I basically gave up on it while setting up the receiver. I managed to do it by a combination of instinct and luck. In any event, the first thing I noticed was that FM reception is great. My clock radio got better reception than the Pioneer. I used an HDMI cable to hook the Denon DVD to the Onkyo, no separate audio cable needed. The cable box is hooked into "video 3" with a component cable and a digital coaxial. The VCR is hooked into "video 2" with a composite cable and RCA. Guess what? Everything works as advertised. All of the video is upconverted through the HDMI cable. I am not sure but I believe that this is the default setting as I don't recall doing that in the set up. The sound is great. I may need to tweak the settings some more but it blows away the Pioneer, which was rated at 100 watts. My system is a little off because of the room configuration. If I sit directly in front of the TV the left surround speaker is about 3' from my ear while the right is about 7'. With the Pioneer I would only hear sound from the left speaker. I could not adjust the right well enough to compensate for the difference in distance. This was no problem with the Onkyo - the sound is perfect from both surround speakers. The video to me appears to be a bit "soft". I need to do a comparission between a direct input to the TV and running it through the receiver to see if there is any real difference. Overall, I am very happy with this purchase.
Onkyo TX-SR674 user reviews (black)
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