Onkyo TX-SR606 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black) Reviews

• Best Bang for the Buck in Next-Gen Home Theater Receivers

  
  By A2R31VLT2YPJF1 on 2008-08-30
  I'll start by saying I'm not an Audiophile. I just wanted a decent mid-range receiver that does all the latest lossless audio formats and has 7.1 channels so it's ready to take advantage of BluRay as that format evolves. So my primary focus is on a system that plays audio for movies and video games as it's primary function. Currently I have this receiver setup in a 5.1 configuration since that's the type of receiver it replaced. I have more speakers on order to expand it out but to be honest, right now if you're building a home theater from scratch, you only need 5.1 . The 7.1 specs aren't really supported yet and DVDs and Playstation/Xbox are all 5.1, so if you're starting from scratch save some money and setup for 5.1 first and expand as support grows.
  
  I used the automated speaker calibration feature to setup all the channels. This is where you place the provided mic at ear level at three different listener positions. The receiver then sends out tones which will drive you and your dog nuts for about 15 minutes while the entire process goes on. Once it was done however, I was/am very pleased with the results.
  
  I've heard some people ask about humming, i can detect no humming. I have some WiFi equipment close by which is 2.5 ghz and so far have not heard any humming. Some other people have said the Receiver runs hot to which I would ask those people, is this your first receiver? They do run hot ! This one runs no hotter than the old one i replaced from a different manufacturer so as far as I'm concerned, the heat issue is normal. I have it in a small component rack that's enclosed on the sides and back with a door on the front, it's got maybe half an inch space around the sides and 2 inches of space on top and so far everything is good.
  
  The back has tons of inputs, but the primary reason I waited for the 606 over the previous model is the number of HDMI ports, the next generation audio/video cable which is a requirement for full resolution BluRay playback. They're rev 1.3a to support all the latest audio formats as well (none of which are currently supported by the discs themselves yet though). The receiver will pass through a 1080p signal from a BluRay or other high def video source. If you feed it a standard def 480i video source, it will upscale it to 1080i or 720p. It does a decent job but i would say upscaling isn't the receivers strong point, it does an acceptable job though. But lets face it, Onkyo doesn't build TV's, their bread and butter isn't video, it's audio.
  
  I'm pleased with the performance and the styling of the receiver, it's just very basic and sleek. No built in graphical user interface and all that other nonsense that receivers 3x this price but no more times the performance come equipped with. This receiver for a mid end system for movies and video games just really can't be matched in terms of performance per dollar spent.
  
  I have matched this receiver with some Polk Audio speakers. Specifically i have a Polk CSi3 center channel and six Polk RTi4 bookshelf speakers (all of which you can find at great prices here on Amazon where I ordered them from) and I am very very happy with the results. The Polk speakers like the Onkyo 606 receiver are over achievers for their price point, so they match together extremely well.
  
  The only thing I have left to say is buy it, I wouldn't hesitate recommending this receiver to anyone looking for a solid movie/video game home theater experience.
  
  

• One solution to HDMI buzz

  
  By A1T5YYXQYTSF8K on 2008-10-23
  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.
  
  

• Excellent value. Remote and input flexibility could be better.

  
  By AJRPE6BWJQV41 on 2008-07-14
  The first thing that must be said is that for the money, this product is hard to beat. Excellent features, quality, plenty of power. 4 HDMI inputs and 4 digital audio (coax and optical). The Audyssey system automatically applies adjustments that most people would never apply otherwise.
  
  The remote is competent but forget about its universal remote capability. They give you multiple codes for each device and you just have to try them all. And then, some never did work. Not a problem for me since I am using a Logitech Harmony (and so should everyone, IMO).
  
  A bigger disappointment was that the audio-video inputs are more limited than I had expected. If you have several older devices, you should know that only the HDMI, digital audio, and component inputs can be connected to different inputs. And they can't be renamed. So anyone using my system has to know that TV/GAME button shows the old TiVo box and that the laptop is connected as CD. And if I had one more device, I'd have been out of luck.
  
  But for around $400, what a terrific performer.
  
  

• Buzzes like a fridge....

  
  By A21TYSBN0RKCMX on 2008-08-11
  Well not exactly like a fridge, more like two or three fridges.
  
  This receiver is powerful and decodes everything under the sun. The sound coming out of this receiver is great and very clean. I've never bought an A/V receiver before and was a bit nervous about setting it up, but I set this up very easily with almost no learning curve. The Audyssey speaker set-up is very easy and gives great results.
  
  The first problem with the receiver is that it runs very hot. Too hot to touch. I think this is by design and from what I've read these receivers do not have overheating issues, but you have to be careful where you put it. Forget about having a closed cabinet. Also, the thing runs very hot in a cabinet with an open front but with a closed back. Basically you need this behemoth out in the open if you want to be sure you don't start a small fire. The thing is huge, about half the size of a coffee table, and I don't like having it out, especially when I have a cabinet with all my other devices.
  
  The second problem with the receiver is the deal-breaker however. If you have a PS3, the receiver causes a terribly annoying buzzing at mid to high volumes. Basically any volume 25+ causes the buzz. The buzz is incredibly loud and comes out the speakers. From what I've read Onkyo apparently fixed this issue and came out with the Onkyo TX-SR606B. This is what I ordered from J&R, and assuming they sent me the 606B, the receiver still buzzes.
  
  Overall, I would recommend the receiver if you don't have a PS3. If you do, then I don't know-it's up to you. I expect to be completely satisfied with a $500 dollar electronic device, so I'm sending it back. And I never send things back.
  
  Something to keep in mind is that although the receiver decodes TrueHD and DTS-HD, if you have a PS3 it's not even needed. The PS3 decodes these formats itself and sends the uncompressed PCM data to the receiver. The receiver doesn't handle any of the decoding. I expect my PS3 to be my Bluray/DVD player for many years, so in the end I may not even need all the features of the SR606 and can just go with a non-buzzing receiver that doesn't have a tendency to heat my apartment in August.
  
  

• Buzz/hum at 1080P and LPCM audio through HDMI

  
  By A2TYUGMFOH2JW2 on 2008-07-13
  Purchased this on features but was disappointed on performance. No matter what I tried (lifting grounds, star grounding, expensive isolation transformer) I could not get rid of a buzz/hum when using HDMI input with a device outputting 1080P (video) and LPCM audio. It is NOT a user servicable grounding issue. Onkyo never replied to my questions. Check the AVS forum for lots of people experiencing the same issue. I don't know if its just a bad manufacturing run or not. This unit simply can not play under these circustances without the buzz/hum. I tried two different devices feeding it A/V with the same results. Either I got a bad unit or this is a bad design.
  
  
• Best AVR for the price!
  By AJAE2EKD7R91O on 2008-06-01
  For its price, I believe this receiver is the best value out of all AVRs today.
  
  The audyssey feature sets up everything for you and really improves the sound. The Dynamic EQ feature works very well for when you turn the volume down. You can still clearly hear dialog and everything even at low volume levels.
  
  Listening to DTS-MA and TrueHD is also a huge jump over DTS and DD. Everything sounds crisp, clear, and more lifelike.
  
  The 606 has 4 HDMI, does not run too hot, passes BTB/WTW, matrixes 5.1 audio to 7.1, passes 1080p/24, and even upscales and upconverts everything to 1080i. The upscaling is actually pretty decent too. It cleaned up the picture to my Wii quite a bit. It isn't the best upscaler/upconverter in the world, but its not bad either.
  
  The music optimizer seems to be just like Creative's Sound Crystalizer on their X-Fi soundcards. It is supposed to make mp3s sound better, and it does, although it seems more like an advanced EQ setting than anything else.
  
  I can also control all of my HDMI devices through the remote and my TV! Samsung's Anynet feature works very well with the Onkyo, and I can control my TV, cable box, and switch between all my devices with the Onkyo remote.
  
  I am extremely impressed with this AVR, and highly recommend it.
  
  
• Excellent sound and video at a great price -- remote could be better
  By A15U38AWJ3JDN5 on 2008-07-13
  Once out of the box and hooked up to speakers, the receiver is easy to set up. Plugging in the setup microphone triggers the automated calibration. The receiver figures out how many speakers you have and calculates the distance of each one from the center of the listening area. I had to tweak the center (dialog) speaker output upwards a little to get clear dialog without cranking the overall volume too much, but this has to be the easiest receiver set-up I've ever done.
  
  I have hooked up a DirecTV HD DVR, PS3 (mainly used as a blu-ray DVD player), Wii (with component video cable) and even an old VCR and all work flawlessly. The Onkyo converts the Wii's 480p component video input into HDMI 1080i very cleanly, and the VCR gets digitized to 480i HDMI. Surround sound on DVR, DVD and blu-ray all sound great. Blu ray discs with 1080p at 24fps ("24p") from the PS3 work as well.
  
  I give this unit 4 stars overall since the remote isn't quite universal enough -- I still need to use the DirecTV HD DVR remote for the 30-second fast-forward function, for example.
  
  
• Screen Looks Like it's from a Desktop Calculator... Ick!
  By ACMXHJV1KCOSV on 2008-07-23
  Don't get me wrong, the sound quality is great and the features are plentiful, but this thing's screen looks horrible and that's a factor that matters to me. If you're hiding it in a closet, fine. But I have to look at it under my TV and the one line of green text reminds me of my desktop calculator. It's 2008, Onkyo! Frankly at any price point, a receiver's screen should be better looking and more useful. Heavily abbreviated text on something as physically large as this thing boggles my mind. The pixels that make up the letters are measurable on a standard 5th grader's ruler. I realize that there is an on-screen menu, and it's pretty good. The major downside of it is, Onkyo uses its proprietary nomenclature to label menus and tools yet doesn't define what it means. Why not call it what it really is and then put a subtitle with the Onkyo name?
  
  I have a Samsung TV that communicates with the Onkyo over HDMI. So if I turn the volume up with my TV remote, the receiver's volume actually goes up. Not bad. If I turn my TV off w/the Samsung's remote, the receiver automatically turns off too. The problem here is, if I turn my TV on with it's remote, the Onkyo turns on and stupidly flips to Game mode, not Cable/Sat mode. There is no HDMI cable in the Game port! All HDMI ports are properly associated with the corresponding unit. I don't get why it defaults to Game mode when Cable/Sat is the only HDMI with data coming through it?
  
  Also, when I turn off the Onkyo either manually or via hitting the power button on my TV's remote, sometimes a loud, screeching sound comes from my TV speakers (which are "blocked" from working for some reason by the Onkyo, and nobody can figure out why). This didn't happen with my previous receiver. I haven't replicated it on another TV because I don't have another HDMI-capable TV. In fact, one TV is enough.
  
  Finally, it gets HOT!
  
  So, I'm going to send this back and go for something else. If you don't care about looks and common sense user interface planning, then this is the budget receiver for you! It does have great sound quality but I just have no tolerance for things that could have been done to enhance the user experience for next to nothing, and weren't.
  
  
• Best HDMI receiver for the money
  By AQDB6KMVED9PS on 2008-05-17
  This is an excellent receiver. I don't know if I'll use all of the HDMI ports, but the upscaling option is great. I hook up my PS2 and Gamecube and upscale them to 1080i (my PS3 does not have backward compatibility, BTW). Love having one video cord go to the TV. I was originally going to get the 605, but when I heard about the better upscaling and more HDMI ports, I waited. Might as well future-proof for later HDMI products.
  
  The on-screen menu makes it easier to configure the settings. It doesn't display all of the time. It usually only appears when I press the Setup button.
  
  The Audyssey configuration is great. The only thing is it made my front and center speakers too low, so I had to make their decibel setting higher (put them to "0'). It put most of my speakers at negative decibels. I guess this is because my setup is in a small apartment living room.
  
  I have two Polk Monitor 50s as mains, a CS1 center, and four RM6751s as surrounds. I have a Yamaha subwoofer, but that's a no-go in an apartment building.
  
  I have a PS3 hooked up and the 7.1 sound is excellent. The receiver supports all the latest HD soundtrack formats: DTS-HD MA, Dolby Digital TrueHD, etc. Too bad the receiver doesn't display what HD track is being played (this is a fault of the PS3, not the receiver). You have to press Select on the PS3 remote to see. You have to set the PS3's Audio and BD/DVD settings to Linear PCM, not Bitstream, to get full uncompressed audio, otherwise it will only send out DD 5.1 and regular DTS.
  
  The only cons are that there are only two optical outputs. HDMI is taking over, but I would have appreciated at least three.
  
  The remote is very ergonomic. The IR reach is good too. I'm coming from a clunky Yamaha HTR-5560 universal remote where I had a difficult time with aiming it right, so this one is much nicer.
  
  Aesthetically, the receiver is smooth and and sleek, but big.
  
  Highly recommended!
  
  
• Great a/v receiver
  By A2KNYH3HZAVZLF on 2008-06-28
  For what it is worth, I knew absolutely zero about home theater one month ago.
  
  I recently bought a new TV, Samsung LN46A650, and was tired of the cables hanging off the back of it. I decided to by buy the Onkyo receiver after reading tons of reviews and talking to folks I know who are into the A/V scene. I am very happy with my purchase, and would recommend this product to anyone.
  
  A couple of things I'd like to add:
  
  1: I bought my home theater paycheck to paycheck. This means I bought my TV one week, the A/V receiver 2 weeks later, and my speakers 2 weeks later. While I just had my receiver hooked up, it passed audio from each of my inputs (Cable box, Apple TV, Wii, and PS3) straight through to my television. I had no clue it would do such a thing, and I even called Onkyo customer support to ask if it was possible. They said it was as long as the inputs were HDMI. Well, my Wii isn't HDMI, but it still passed the Component video and audio over the HDMI cable run through the wall to my TV. VERY NICE. Just thought that may be a selling point to anyone who is on a budget and can't afford speakers right away. Hope it made sense.
  
  2: My speakers are in-ceiling Polk Audio RC80i's... The whole set up was easy and configuring on the receiver is not hard at all. I am now a huge fan of Onkyo. Setup was a breeze and now I have a home theater setup that may not be top of the line, but certainly impresses everyone who see's it. TV, speakers, subwoofer, and receiver for around $3k. Thank you Amazon!
  
  
• Great for ther money $$$
  By A1W9V67EJC4FXB on 2008-08-11
  Fantastic for the money $$$ does everything you need
  TX-SR606 is also has the ability to decode DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby TrueHD soundtracks on Blu-ray Discs and HD-DVDs via its HDMI 1.3a compatible inputs.& the Audyssey 2EQ process only takes 10 minutes to set up your surround sound & trust me the dolby HD audio is well worth it the sound is super ! To make using the subwoofer easier and more precise, there is a built-in adjustable crossover function for the Subwoofer LFE (Low Frequency Effects) pre-out channel.
  In addition, the incorporation of Lip-Synch adjustment on the SR606 allows the user to compensate for audio/video time discrepancies that may be encountered from various sources. Only negatives is this baby runs hot !and has a mains cable you can't upgrade easily as it's built in
  the model that has is the SR806 and that over $1000
  
  
• A Non-functional Receiver
  By AHJ3XOTPTX9V0 on 2008-08-11
  The TX-SR606 is chock full of features. Up-scaling video to 1080i, up-converting output to HDMI. We bought it for the HDMI switching and to eliminate over half of the cables hanging from our Sony LCD, which it did fantastically. If only it would have worked. A Wii hooked up to Component 1 IN did not get transmitted to the TV either by HDMI or by Component OUT. Trying it on Component 2 IN made no difference. Connecting it directly to the TV verified that the Wii and its component feed worked properly. You can select either of the component IN's as the source, and assign them to an audio source and button on the remote, but you do not have an option in any of the menus to set the output path and no path seemed to work at all. In the receiver's favor, the HDMI switching did work perfectly with three HDMI sources connected.
  
  The sound of the 606 proved to be quite bright, almost tinny compared to our 6 year old warm sounding Denon AVR-1803. The Audyssey auto speaker setup, sent the front sound almost equally to all three front speakers instead of concentrating speech on the center speaker which is designed specifically for clear speech. This made for a more muddled speech quality. It also made the surrounds a good bit louder than manual setup using a sound meter, resulting in some speech being drowned out by surround effects. We were not impressed by the sound quality as compared to an older Denon, and even less impressed by a non-working Component IN.
  
  The remote was also somewhat strange in that you had to keep selecting the Receiver button to send commands to the receiver as opposed to the TV, the other selection button. Receiver should be the default selection on a receiver's remote and you should not have to hit two buttons to perform an action on the receiver. This in turn made the receiver not work on a Harmony 880 remote as programmed in by Logitech. Each command would have to be specially programmed as a macro as each required more than one button press.
  
  All of these combined resulted in the low score I have given this receiver. Despite glowing reviews by most other people, there were too many issues with the receiver to warrant more than two stars.
  
  
• Works as advertised. Very Pleased
  By A1I7YNJYL38HIS on 2008-05-28
  Everything works as advertised. Setup was easy. Only took about 10 minutes for the whole process. Was concerned with HDMI input/output, but worked great. I have DirecTV HD DVR, Panasonic Blu-Ray player, Sony 1080p upconvert dvd, and Canon HDV camcorder connected to the 4 HDMI inputs and all function great. Sound and video are great. Could not be happier with this unit. Would highly recommend.
  
  
• Awesome upgrade from the 605
  By A3ARJ111GVMXSE on 2008-05-14
  I was waiting for several weeks for the 605 line to drop in price to what I was looking for, now that the new models had come out. Then I had decided to spend the extra cash and get the extra HDMI slot that comes with the 705, which I desperately needed. Low and behold, the day I finally decided to go ahead with the purchase, the 606 model came out and I jumped on the deal immediately. This unit has enough HDMI slots for just about any setup I can imagine.
  Its incredibly easy to setup, and sounds amazing. I have a small apartment, but at just a quarter of the volume it fills up the apartment and probably bugs my neighbors immensely. I had read that some customers had issues with power going on and off or something, but I have experienced nothing at all. If you wish to read up more on this, and need a more in-depth technically detailed review, please please check out the AVS forums. They have an entire forum page dedicated to 606 owners and what they think about the receiver, and how to really get the best quality out of it. You will not be sorry you bought this, especially at such a great price.
  
  
• Great value but small problems with video processing
  By A3VM6QVFUY8BJA on 2008-07-16
  First, the audio and video quality is outstanding, especially for the price. However, a couple of small annoyances with the video processing keep me from giving it five stars:
  
  1)I still have a satellite receiver with an S-video output. When I connect the S-video to the receiver and connect the HDMI output to my TV, the receiver loses the closed captions during the conversion. I don't know if the receiver loses closed captions if you use both an HDMI input and output, but be aware of this limitation if you want closed captions.
  
  2) If I connect my DVD player directly to my TV (a Samsung LN-T5271F), one of the aspect rations I can set the TV to is "just scan", which automatically adjusts the aspect ratio to correctly display the video whether it is 4:3 or 16:9. However, if I connect my DVD player to the TV through the receiver, the receiver seems to lose the part of the HDMI signal that specifies the aspect ratio, and "just scan" is no longer an option on my TV. It's a small thing, but annoying.
  
  Other than these two issues, the receiver has worked flawlessly for me, and I would recommend it.
  
  One other thing: this receiver runs very hot. Make sure you place it in a location with plenty of ventilation. Even with proper ventilation, I wonder if the receiver will have a shortened lifespan due to the amount of heat it produces.
  
  
  
  
• Full HD, HDMI Splitter, 7.1, Onkyo name, why pay more?
  By A2RDLSYYSFUI7I on 2008-09-16
  I replaced a 9 year old JVC 5.1 system with this after buying a PS3 to use as a Blu-Ray player. I wanted to take advantage of the new hd audio standards, and was tired of not having enough HDMI inputs on my 52" Samsung 1080P tv. The 4 HDMI inputs and 1 HDMI output work perfectly, switching as needed.
  
  Rundown:
  
  Hookup: Easy, everything is well labeled and there is ample space to work my fat fingers. Read the instructions if you only have 5.1 speakers instead of 7.1, you have to use specific hookups (what I'm saying is don't guess like I did and then wonder why it didn't work... the instructions are very clear if you bother to open them!) :) I have the following inputs hooked up through it right now: FiOS HD/DVR TV Receiver (HDMI), XBOX 360 Elite (HDMI), PS3 (HDMI). Everything feeds out to my TV via HDMI.
  
  Configuration: Simple after you read the instructions. The microphone they provide to "tune" the system, coupled with the on-screen walk through setup system is very nice.
  
  Use: Couldn't be better, they've done a great job of giving you the right buttons and LCD display features/text. My Logitech Harmony 880 remote has the configuration for this receiver in the database, and controls the receiver perfectly.
  
  Audio quality: Amazing, noticeably better than my JVC 5.1 in 5.1 mode, and once I added the other speakers for 7.1 it is fantastic! No more distortion when I crank up the volume in Call of Duty 4 or during a loud movie scene.
  
  Video quality: Everything looks great in 1080p!
  
  Bottom line: For well under $400 shipped, this model competes with some of the much, much more expensive units.
  
  
• pleasantly surprised
  By A2BG19GG3UD9LJ on 2008-06-08
  I bought a new HDMI Plasma set and needed to upgrade my AV receiver in the process. I looked for units with 4 HDMI inputs and upscaling capability for my old but good DVD player that uses multi-channel audio (6 cables).
  
  Finding units with 4 HDMI inputs was possible, but the prices were very high. This unit did it at a reasonable price.
  
  I hooked up my existing Klipsch 5.1 surround speakers from the old setup, performed the calibration with the supplied mic and wow. Sounds great to me!
  
  Good:
  Reasonable price for features
  Decent Manual
  Room Calibration Microphone
  Not an excessive number of buttons
  Easy to understand
  
  Could be Better:
  Has Sirius capability (but will it be XM tech in the end?)
  Aux jack is on the front (so I had to plug my iTunes Airtunes into the Tape In jack on the back- who uses tape anymore?). How about Aux 2 on the back or an IPod/Mp3 labelled port on the back (and a selector button)?
  Missing iPod cable / jack
  Many logo stencils on the bottom front edge
  On screen menus look anemic compared to the Plasmas (yes I know I'll only use them once)
  Calibration jack could be on the side (I'll never use it again)
  
  Problem:
  
  The unit will not power off unless certain inputs are selected. Very Odd!
  
  
  
  
  
• Unexpected Surprises from Onkyo!
  By A2ESGCEFIL8ZJP on 2008-09-10
  I love this receiver.
  
  I bought it to replace an older receiver that did not have enough video inputs to handle all of the equipment I wanted to connect, so I had to use a 4 into 1 video switch box. Also, for Surround Sound, It could only do Dolby Pro Logic Enhanced. It had no support for anything digital, but it did have 6 discreet analog inputs for a standalone Dolby Digital processor which I don't have, and considered eBay'ing before I decided to just get a real receiver.
  
  The Onkyo receiver has ALMOST enough video inputs for me to connect everything I have to it. I have a DVD player, Dish Network Receiver, a Linux video player, a VCR, a PS2, and a Wii that connects through the TV back to the receiver. That's 6 video sources. The Onkyo surprised me by allowing me to assign one of the Component video inputs to the CD or Tape input! That allowed me to turn an audio only input into a full A/V input. It brings this receiver's actual switchable A/V device count to SEVEN, so long as at least two of those are HD connections.
  
  I've had my Cambridge SoundWorks speaker system for over 10 years. I've had it hooked up to a number of different receivers, and I've gotten used to what it sounds like. I hooked it all up to this Onkyo, and ran the automatic speaker setup routine. When I put in a DVD (into the same DVD player I've been using for months), and listened to it, It literally brought a tear to my eye. I had no idea my speakers were capable of sounding as good as they do now. The Audyssey system configured the level settings and several equalizer points to reshape what my speakers put out and now it's just incredible. I've never noticed my subwoofer before like I do now.
  
  Interestingly, when I first did the setup, I didn't connect the center speaker correctly. When Audyssey couldn't hear it, it assumed I didn't have one and automatically setup my left and right speakers to create a phantom center channel. Wow.
  
  I wanted to mention, since one previous reviewer says "manual controls of the levels would be nice" - you DO have the ability to manually fine tune or adjust the levels in the setup menu. You just can't adjust the equalizer settings without turning off Audyssey.
  
  Another surprise I wasn't expecting is the Zone 2 system! if you're only going to use 5.1 speakers, you should know that this receiver sports a "Zone 2" that allows you to connect an extra set of speakers to use the extra two amplified channels. Sure, my previous receiver had a A and B speaker system, but what surprised me about the Onkyo is that Zone 2 can play a different input source! My wife is listening to her favorite radio station in her office while I watch a movie in 5.1 in the den, all from the same receiver. Amazing!
  
  I will admit, I will miss the environmental DSP sounds like stadium mode and rock concert mode that my old receiver had, but I will also admit I hardly EVER used any of them. That's probably why they aren't a feature on new receivers. Instead, it has "Listening Modes" that are all about trying to squeeze every little bit of surround sound detail out of whatever kind of signal the receiver receives.
  
  Initially, I had a problem with the receiver refusing to use any of its "Listening Modes". It seemed that no matter what source I gave it (except HDMI), it would run in "Direct" mode, playing just stereo. The solution turned out to be simple - go into hardware setup and turn off the audio output to the TV over HDMI. Once I turned that off, the whole system woke up and sang :)
  
  I guess one complaint I have is that for some reason, the on-screen display, which is only displayed on a TV connected via HDMI is not displayed when the source is HDMI. Composite sources show volume and other information on screen, such as when changing listening mode. But my DVD player and Sat receiver seem to override that display, and I don't know why. Perhaps it's another setting I just haven't found yet. I hope so :P
  
  I have no complains about the thing running hot. If it is hot, I haven't noticed. I also have no humming noises to complain about. Amazon got it into my hands rather quickly and I have no complaints about shipping.
  
  All in all, I think my FAVORITE feature is the fact that no matter how I connect a video device to this receiver, it sends the picture to the TV over the HDMI cable. I'm not using the "upscale to 1080i" feature, but it's still very nice to not have to connect a composite, an SVideo, a set of component AND HDMI cables to the TV when it really only needs one link. My other devices make enough of a mess already
  
  
  
• Get the Onkyo HT-6100 instead
  By A3HZ0JPVPM911P on 2008-10-09
  Instead of getting this 606, get the whole home theater system of the Onkyo HT-6100 instead. It includes a 606 with an *additional 40 watts* per channel receiver model SR667. Not to mention coming with 130 watts speaker, a 290 watt subwoofer, and an IPOD dock that plays both IPOD music AND movies for just an additional $200 or less!
  
  That makes buying the SR606 or even the 705 pointless unless you already have speakers.
  
  Trust me, I've done months of research on Onkyo systems to find the best deal, and buying the HT-S6100 home theater in a box (HTIB) is by far a better deal than buying the SR606 or 705 and seperate speakers if you're trying to get started from scratch on a budget.
  
  Once again, the S6100 included a 606 receiver with added 40 watts per channel MORE POWER and 130 watt speakers and 290 watt sub and an A/V IPOD dock for less than $200 more.
  
  
• Onkyo TX-SR606 - Completely Satisfied
  By ABEE8QEPM6VSX on 2008-06-08
  This receiver lived up to all my expectations. I have owned Onkyo Studio Monitor 500 speakers for a long time, and have finally found an amp that matches them. We just picked up a 42" HD TV, and bought this receiver because we don't have a Blue Ray Player yet... Upscaled video quality is excellent.
  
  Before I bought the unit, I researched many brands, and chose Onkyo. I downloaded the instruction manual, and that was a good thing. There are soooo many awesome features, I advise any potential buyer to do the same. Be familiar with it before it arrives at your house. Then you can pop it out of the box --- hook it up --- and you have awesome sound and video!
  
  I was most impressed when I played a "regular, lousy ol DVD" and the "THX" logo with thunder/lightning rain, shattering glass, and digital sound came on, jeez, it was like being in the theater! I knew that I had made a wise purchase!
  
  
• Onkyo TX-SR606 7.1 Home Theater Receiver
  By A17PPNGXAUDI7H on 2008-06-10
  This is the third or fourth AV Receiver I have purchased over the years. It is absolutely excellent. Ample HDMI inputs as well as component and composite. Set-up was simple. The speaker set-up was also exceptional, having a microphone to help with distances and number of speakers. I had a Harmony remote before which was set up over the internet. I had too many components in my system so had a problem using it satisfactorily. When I put my component codes into the Onkyo remote, I was able to run everything in my system from that. Didn't expect that bonus. Will not have to replace this unit anytime in the near future. Highly recommend it.
  
  
• Why Onkyo over Denon, Pioneer, etc?
  By A2532YF47AA2KQ on 2008-07-03
  Before purchasing this unit, I did quite a bit of research regarding what receiver would fit my needs. For about a month, I read over many different reviews and forums (mostly at AVSforum). I have a Sony KDL46-XBR4 and a set of Harman Kardon HKTS-18 speakers. When comparing to Denon, I got the impression that Denon is the creme of the crop. However, their prices are also fairly high. I wanted the Denon 2308, but the price was a bit high. The 1908 didn't have all the features I wanted (namely analog - HDMI upconversion and Dolby TrueHD and Digital+ support). The latest Pioneer 1018 model had all the features I wanted, but because it was released just this June, the price was still fairly high. The power rating as far as watts / channel on the pioneer was a good deal higher than the Onkyo 606, however the general consensus is that only Onkyo and Denon achieve their rated power. There have been many tests on the other brands, and they usually do not achieve anywhere close to their rated power. I will say that I might have chosen the Pioneer 1018 over the onkyo 606 if they were equal prices, but luckily that wasn't an option. If price wasn't a sticking point, I probably would've gone with the latest Denon (the 1909 is coming out soon). The one thing I would've liked on the Onkyo 606 is the upconversion to be 1080p, but I think I will be fine with 1080i. Most things I will upconvert will look insanely better at 1080i anyway.
  
  Currently, I have a Knology digital cable box run by HD component straight to the Sony XBR4 TV. I have an audio optical cable running from the digital cable box out to the receiver. I did it this way instead of straight HDMI to the receiver so I can watch TV without surround if I choose. My Xbox 360 is connected via HDMI to the receiver, and the receiver is HDMI to the TV. I was glad to know that the receiver will pass through 1080p if it receives it via one of the HDMI inputs. I soon plan to purchase a bluray player and run it via HDMI into the receiver as well. The Onkyo manual is very clear in explaining how to change things like crossover frequences and speaker distances. The Audyssey auto-setup is handy as well.
  
  
• Great value for the price!
  By A2070V330EDYOA on 2008-08-13
  This is my very first review of anything on Amazon and I told myself I would write one for the Onkyo 606. So, here I am.
  
  First off, I'd like to say that this receiver is awesome! I wasn't expecting so much for what I paid for! I just love the fact that it was 4 HDMI inputs for various components. I have my upconverting DVD-player and my PS3 hooked up to via HDMI. They both look and sound great! The main reason I bought this receiver was to take advantage of its Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding capabilities. I know that the PS3 decodes both of these formats and sends it as LPCM sound but I'm going to eventually buy a stand-alone Blu-ray player in the future. Probably the Sony BDP-S350 once it goes down in price. Anyway, the sound on this thing is awesome! I have a JBL CS6100BG 5.1 system hooked up to it and sounds amazing! I've never heard sound so clear before! I'm so glad I bought those speakers along with these magnificent receiver! Probably one of the only negative things I have to say about the receiver is that it gets pretty hot. I use it an enclosed space because its so big. I plan on getting a better TV stand in the future but that will have to do for now. I only use it for about 3 or 4 hours max in one sitting and then allow it to cool for about 30 minutes or so. I've read that people have it turn itself off because it gets too hot, but that's yet to happen to me. So, just make sure you have plenty of ventilation space when you set it up!
  
  Overall, I'm very pleased with this receiver. The Audessy speaker set up was painless and practical and gave me good results as well. This receiver is an excellent choice if you want to enjoy HD sound without breaking the bank. I was hesitant at first when looking at reviews but now, I absolutely love my Onkyo 606! Thank you, Onkyo for such a great product!
  
  
• Onkyo is best for the money ever!
  By A325RRQ5TPVTUX on 2008-05-22
  I love the guy above clicking two stars and not writing anything. Did he even buy this? I doubt it. I had a Sony "110 Watt per channel" receiver. I replaced it with an Onkyo that claimed 75 Watts and the Onkyo9 was MUCH louder and clearer.
  
  
• So far so good
  By A1Y1MPPIC0C1QB on 2008-06-06
  I've built a few home theaters now and this receiver is my new favorite for the money. I used this receiver to replaced a very good Panasonic HT receiver that had blown due to an power surge. I was shocked my wife noticed the significant improvement in the audio quality, which neither of us had expected.
  
  The auto speaker set up is very helpful, but I've noticed significant static coming from the rear channel speakers after running the set up. The same thing happened with the Pani, so I'm hoping it has to do with the poor quality of the electricity coming into my home. I've purchased the Monster Cable PowerCenter HTS 2000 MKII, so I hope that will resolve this problem.
  
  My other very slight complaint is the ~5 second delay when the received detects a change on a HDMI connected device, such as when I turn on my projecter.
  
  Other than that, this receiver delivers on it's promises and I'm very pleased with the performance for the comparatively low price.
  
  btw, The silver unit was $50 cheaper than the black unit? Not sure what that's all about, but I was happy to have the cheaper unit.
  
  
• Getting Sound from CableBox to the Onkyo TX-SR606 HTR to SamsungTV
  By A2R8OQUWSZM8QH on 2008-06-26
  There is a very fragile relationship between Comcast's box (Scientific Atlanta Explorer 4250HDC) and my Onkyo TX-SR606 Receiver. They are connected by the best Monster HDMI cable. The picture transmission from Comcast Box to Onkyo to SAMSUNG PN 50A550S1F via HDMI is perfectly fine. The SOUND has been a problem. The SOUND has gone out three times. I have not been able to trouble shoot it out. Connecting ComcastBOX directly to the SAMSUNG TV has been successful. The Sound is fine except that I am now bypassing the ONKYO and all of my nice Mirage speakers. It feels as if there is not complete recognition between the ComcastBOX and the ONKYO. (The relationship of all components is overseen by a Logitech HARMONY One.) I love this ONKYO TX-SR606 but, a serious rift is developing as I have my second $200 visit by a technical guy, who has been unable to fix it this last time. The sound disconnection is unexplainable, sudden, without warning and annoying. I have tried two different HDMI cables and, the sound still does not work. Is this a flaw or will another two lines of programming straighten it out? Thanks. CHR in MPLS-MN
  
  
  
• Great Value/Quality in an affordable A/V receiver
  By A1HPFCFM20SZ6J on 2008-08-04
  After reading some of the professional reviews of this receiver, I recently upgraded to this Onkyo 606. Mainly I did it to get the 4 HDMI connections, and so I could pass 'bitstream' to this receiver so it could decode 'DTS-HD Master Audio' and 'Dolby TrueHD' for lossless sound.
  
  I have to say that the setup of this receiver was VERY easy and while my previous Pioneer VSX-1015TX receiver had very good sound, this Onkyo is noticably better. Incredible surround sound clarity with my setup.
  
  I also love how the HDMI connections makes the hookups so much easier and uncluttered, along with the fact that my BluRay and HD-DVD movies played on my Panasonic BluRay and Toshiba HD-DVD players look and sound incredible.
  
  Highly recommended. Great value for the money.
  
  
  
• Exceptional value and performance. Just one minor irritation
  By A1Z0Q2I5QJ3RYH on 2008-08-14
  I was running out of high-bandwidth audio connections on my old home theater receiver, so I started looking around for an affordable replacement. For the sake of simplicity, I wanted something with at least (4) HDMI connections that also processed audio. For $400 or less, there was this Onkyo or the Sony STRDG820, but the Onkyo has more features and has received better reviews.
  
  I ordered mine from Amazon and received it very quickly. Installation was very simple. (4) HDMI's in, (1) HDMI out, speaker connections, and the power cord. Setup takes a little bit of time but it's fairly simple as well. The unit is equipped with "Audyssey 2EQ and Audyssey Dynamic EQ". Basically, you plug in the supplied microphone, position it at the right end, left end, and center of the listening area and it automatically measures the distance to each speaker, acoustical properties of the room, etc., and sets each speaker level automatically. And it works very well. I wasn't really expecting much of a sound improvement over my Harmon-Kardon AVR-146 but I got one. Big time. Also, whereas the HK had enough power, this unit has more than enough.
  
  In addition to the normal formats, this unit will also decode TrueHD and DTS-HD which some of the newer Blu-ray titles are equipped with.
  
  In spite of the almost endless settings in the menu, there's one thing that the Onkyo won't do that is a minor source of irritation for me: You can't relabel the inputs. The HK that cost me about half as much as this could. Fortunately, it's not TOO big of a deal if you have a Harmony remote because they do all the work for you.
  
  The unit will upconvert analog sources to 1080i though it doesn't get very good reviews in that department and I haven't tried it.
  
  Some people claim to have a "humming" issue with this unit connected to a PS3 but I haven't experienced any.
  
  Considering the (4) 1.3a HDMI's, sound processing abilities, and cost, it's a very affordable and fairly future proof unit.
  
  I've always been a Harmon-Kardon fan so I didn't know what to expect from an Onkyo. I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
  
  
• Awesome receiver !
  By ABNR361496O6A on 2008-08-19
  Whoever said this Onkyo 606 is subpar or not 5 star, I think they have some problems connecting or adjusting to work with their components. I have to say this is the best receiver @ $377.80 with 4 HDMI inputs and 1 output, it performs superbly, you get the taste of true hometheater sound & video. Everything works as advertised or reviewed by earlier buyers, I have no problems hooking up or adjusting to my upconverting 1080p HDMI DVD recorder, VCR, DVD players and Samsung 52" LCD 60hz HDTV, hooking up via HDMI. Running on 2 floor Paradigms, 1 Paradigm center, JBL sub, Insignia rear L/R surrounds and Sony bookshelf as L/R surrounds (mix and match as budget allowed years gone by), this 606 delivers very clean and clear, powerful sound and beautiful video on DVDs from blockbuster, even music off FM local stations turns into beautiful music. The bass delivered with beauty, soft, deep and low. My old Pioneer barely wakes my JBL sub except big movies, coming from 5.1 old pioneer Dolby prologic surround to 7.1 all channel True HD & DTS-HD MA is a big trip and well worth, for those who hesitate to upgrade to 7.1 channel, GO FOR IT ! Onkyo 606 is worth every penny bought from Amazon.com. (I am waiting till thanksgiving to get a hand on Blu-ray Sony S350, and that will top off the system) sweet!
  PS: make sure you read thorough manual cause that will make setup a smooth and enjoyable ride, especially those who upgrade from older several years old A/V receiver that have no HDMI. read it first, everything is digital now not much of fidgeting like old day, no more analog cord red, blue or yellow, green stuff...just HDMI and volla!
  
  
• Simplest setup ever.
  By AQ9HFFZ5E0YFQ on 2008-09-13
  This system is amazing. It has every bit of the presence and almost indistinguishable in sound quality to the more expensive Denon. Unlike the Denon, I was very pleasantly surprised at how smoothly everything just worked. I am using the Onkyo receiver, an Onkyo CD changer, A DirectTV HD Receiver, SONY PS3 (as a Blue-ray player), and an HDDVD player. I am running a full 7.1 setup, using the Definitive Audio ProMonitor series. Sound quality is great, and frankly the setup is so overpowered for my living room that it is a little ridiculous.
  
  The high point, however, is the extremely easy installation. I just plugged the video sources in (HDMI), ran a single HDMI out to the TV, and the HD signal up-conversion seamlessly adjusts everything to 1080i. Even non-HD channels are no problem. I don't get any picture jumping around when I switch between channels, just smooth video. The automatic speaker setup, common on most high end receivers these days, worked perfectly. I also run audio from three different networked PCs through the system, and it handles their inputs well.
  
  In contrast, I have also recently spent three days of my life struggling to help my father set up his more expensive Denon receiver, which may have actually been the most difficult to configure device I have ever encountered. Video up-conversion just performed poorly, on-screen menus didn't show up, configuration had to be done via an insane number of button pushes from the lcd screen on the front of the unit, and menu options were undocumented in any manuals or on any online support forums. After fighting it for three days, we finally patched each video device directly to the television and separately routed audio through the receiver.
  
  My point is that, unless you have a HUGE room with a cathedral ceiling, this unit is everything you need, and I think better than other, more expensive models.
  
  

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• Furman IT-Reference 20 i Discrete Symmetrical AC Power Source
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• Monster Cable Interlink 200 Interconnect Cables 2 Meter

• HDMI Cable 2M (6 Feet)
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