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CNET editors' rating:
4.0 stars
Excellent
Detailed editors' rating - Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 4 reviews
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Product summary
The good: This 7.1-channel A/V receiver offers HDMI video and multichannel audio switching for two HDMI sources and converts analog video sources to the HDMI output. The Audyssey 2EQ automatic calibration is the most advanced autosetup ever offered by Onkyo. Extras include XM Satellite Radio capability with XM HD Surround, as well as an optional iPod dock.
The bad: No phono input.
The bottom line: The Onkyo TX-SR674's stellar feature set and first-rate sound quality put it the top tier of midprice HDMI A/V receivers.
Specifications: Product type: AV receiver; Sound output mode: Surround Sound; Amplifier total output power: 665 Watt; See full specs
CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 10/04/2006
- Released on: 09/15/2006
The smallish remote is only partially backlit, but it accomplishes a lot with minimum button clutter. It's not the best remote, but it does the job, although we still recommend picking up a universal remote.
The TX-SR674's Audyssey 2EQ automatic system setup feature is the most advanced system ever offered by Onkyo. Unlike Denon's implementation of the Audyssey system that requires the user to run the setup program six times from six different positions in the room, Onkyo's analyzes the room's acoustics from just three positions. The autosetup is easy--just plug in the supplied microphone, and respond to the onscreen prompts. When we ran the Audyssey system in our somewhat noisy Brooklyn home theater, the Onkyo refused to progress through the setup--it informed us via the onscreen display that the ambient noise level of our theater was too high. We closed all the windows to block the street sounds and that satisfied the Audyssey, which then went about its business. The program then took about 10 minutes to run. After the Audyssey finishes sending test tones over all the speakers, the receiver adjusts channel volume level and time-delay settings for each speaker. Other than setting the subwoofer volume too high (not uncommon in autosetup systems), the setup was accurate. The Audyssey 2EQ automatic equalization produced some small tonal balance improvement to the sound of our Dynaudio Contour speakers, but they're already very accurate speakers. Perhaps with more typical speakers, the Audyssey 2EQ might make a bigger difference. It's a decent autosetup system, but Pioneer receivers' MCACC (Multi Channel Acoustic Calibration) is more accurate overall and easier to use.The Onkyo TX-SR674 is a seven-times-95-watt receiver, with a full selection of Dolby and DTS surround modes. Including the front panel's connections you get a total of five A/V inputs, with three component and two HDMI ins. Analog-to-HDMI video conversion is provided for composite, S-Video, and component-video sources. Moreover, the incoming analog signals are automatically deinterlaced--converted from 480i to 480p--if the HDMI input on the connected TV can't handle 480i resolution, something very common in HDTVs sold before 2006. High-def video sources plugged into the component inputs, meanwhile, are passed along at their native resolution (720p or 1080i). Together, those HDMI features make it possible to run just a single HDMI cable from the TX-SR674 to your HDTV, and still view all of your video sources--and that's a huge benefit in terms of convenience.
Digital audio connections run to six inputs--four optical, two coaxial--and one optical output. Analog audio inputs include a stereo CD input as well as a stereo input/output recorder loop--all that's missing is a dedicated turntable input. The TX-SR674 does pass Dolby Digital, DTS, and linear PCM (LPCM) soundtracks via HDMI. LPCM compatibility means you can get the uncompressed HD-DVD or Blu-ray soundtracks. Likewise, the 7.1-channel analog inputs will accept decoded soundtracks from those same next-gen HD disc players, as well as from SACD and DVD-Audio players.
The TX-SR674 is XM-Ready, which means you can just hook up an XM Mini-Tuner or XM Connect-and-Play antenna and receive the satellite signal--with a subscription, of course. The receiver can also process XM's HD Surround encoded channels, although the owner's manual is a little vague about how to actually engage the HD Surround--you have to toggle through the surround Listening modes to get to Neural Surround and thus hear the HD Surround channels at their best. We found the front-to-back surround separation is excellent on XM's two HD Surround channels.
The RI (Remote Interactive) jack can be used with Onkyo's
User reviews
- Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 4 reviews
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