Onkyo TX-SR606 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver (Silver)

I would rate the Onkyo TX-SR606 six (6) stars for value! I was replacing my Pioneer VSX unit from the early 90's and was hesitant in whether or not a new A/V receiver would be worth the investment. After many months of reading reviews and ratings on A/V receivers I decided on the Onkyo 606. I was torn between the Onkyo 506, 606 and 706 models. The best value is the 606 with the 4 HDMI v1.3a inputs/output, sound output of trueHD/Dolby Digital and variety of speaker setups and settings.

Another great feature is the automatic speaker calibration. This feature helped me find that the first unit I received was faulty with the left rear speaker output not working. Amazon was great with returning the unit for a new one with next day delivery.

I would also recommend using http://www.wirewize.com for running the best cabling between your components. Wirewize also allows you to view all manuals via PDF format. Great overall efficient help in setting up all of my components. I would recommend to put in the Onkyo 606 unit and view the manual before purchasing it. Viewing the manual and all of the different functionality that the unit has is overwhelming. How can they sell this unit for under $500?

One big surprise has been the remote. This remote was easy in programming with my other components and has replaced my other remotes. It is not big or bulky, definitely the right size. Fully agree with CNET that the remote is above average.

This unit has been great! The last thing I would like to mention is the upconverting to 1080i. I have found this feature to work well with my standard DVD player and Samsung 40" LCD A650. It is not perfect but looks very good. I do not see any additional lines that CNET was describing.

Overall 6 stars for Amazon and 6 stars for Onkyo!!

I replaced mt 20-yr old Sony DA3. The Onkyo was as good as all previous positive reviews. Easy to set up. Unlike some previous complaints this machine does not run that hot - but you need to know the old DA3 was real scorcher. The receiver was delivered within 2 or 3 days. I found it attractive and my only complaint was the small size of the visual display of the instrument paOnkyo TX-SR606 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver (Silver)nel

I bought this based on the cnet recommendation and am completely happy with it. It is pretty easy to use (I have only skimmed the instructions) and it sounds awesome. The HDMI pass-through works great and I have not tried to have it up-convert analog video signal according to the cnet warnings. The audessy microphone set up my speakers with the surrounds way too loud so I re-did it manually according to the Aperion instructions and a sound level meter and it's much better.

I have this unit setup in what will be my home theater. Out of the box set up was simple...I have it set up for 5.1 I am still experimenting with positioning speakers. The unit is performing as expected. I am looking forward to using the auto EQ; the various surround modes are discernible and I expect will perform better after they hav been EQ'ed. Over-all this is very very nice entry level unit. The shipping was quick with no problems.

Other reviews cover this receiver with excellent detail (setup, sound, etc.) and I agree with most comments. This is a great unit for the money. Many features, easy setup, poor upscaling, great HDMI support.

Unfortunately I have the HDMI buzz issue mentioned by several reviewers but fortunately I found the cause and one solution.

I had a XBOX 360 connected via HDMI and a Gamecube connected via component. Both output through HDMI to the tv. When I first powered up the SR606 and the XBOX I heard a continuous buzz or hum through the speakers which became louder when the volume increased. This made quiet movies nearly unwatchable as dramatic scenes were dominated by **BUZZZZZZZZZZZ** instead of cinematic tension.

I called Onkyo support in New Jersey and they quickly brushed me off with a flat recommendation of "return the unit to the retailer" with no diagnostic advice. I followed this direction and predictably, the new unit suffered the same ailment. The buzz continued.

All of my audio/video gear is connected to a single, ungrounded, electrical outlet (building was built in 1915). After a bit of Internet searching I found an article which discussed "common impedance coupling" whereby many high draw devices (such as a plasma TV, A/V receiver, and XBOX 360) which are connected to a common electrical run will produce a voltage drop and potentially introduce noise. I am not an expert in electricity but this lead me to investigate the way the components were connected to the SR606, rather than the SR606 itself.

I found that the XBOX 360 was responsible for the buzz. With the XBOX disconnected from the wall outlet, the buzz stopped even when all other components were connected and turned on. Thinking that the metal HDMI connection could be carrying the noise to the SR606 I connected the XBOX HDMI directly to the tv and connected the XBOX sound to the SR606 via a TOSLINK optical cable in order to remove any conductive connections between the SR606 and XBOX. This removed the buzz!

As a test I re-connected the XBOX HDMI to the SR606, kept the TOSLINK connection, and disabled the HDMI sound input for the XBOX on the SR606. This let the sound only come from the optical connection but retained the metal link between the SR606 and the XBOX. The buzz was much quieter but remained.

The last test was with the Gamecube which draws about 40 watts to the XBOX's 175. Although it connected via component, it output via the HDMI so I thought that if the buzz was related to the HDMI output on the SR606 I would hear it when using the Gamecube. I hear no buzz when using the Gamecube. Unfortunately do not have another device to test buzzing with HDMI input but it seems to me that the buzz was related to the following:

1) Using a single, ungrounded electrical circuit for all devices.
2) Connecting the XBOX 360 (which consumes a large amount of electricity) to the SR606 via a conductive connection.

I imagine that if I had independent outlets, homerun back to the breaker box I could separate the SR606 and the XBOX and correct the buzz. Unfortunately I spent all my cash on A/V gear so electrical work will have to wait. However, if you have better wiring in your house (or low draw A/V equipment) I imagine that your SR606 will be buzz free even when using HDMI connections.