Harman Kardon AVR-354 7x75W 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)It's unfortunate about the previous poster but I have the same unit and it is incredible! The unit has all the bells and whistles that you would expect on a much higher priced receiver. Do some research on the the chips used in this thing, they are incredible and are found only in a $5000 high end competitors line. The weakness of this receiver is that it can sometimes be too rich of a sound and lacks the crisp high that some look for because, honestly the degraded sound that we have received from companies like Sony and what we listen to in our cars have ruined our idea of what even sounds are. Just a side note, one of my buddies was the one who brought this "weakness" to my attention because he said it didn't have enough high range. I told him well watch the whole movie and lets see how fatigued your ears feel. Afterward, he was amazed how nice and easy it is to listen to this HK. The strength is it's punch and ability in the home theater to make gun fire sound like gun fire and not rocks being thrown against a tin roof. HK doesn't disappoint in my opinion with this receiver and it's too bad one customer, and the only review had a experience that is honestly out of this world. HK customer support is probably one of the best in the world, and are often recognized for that fact. Besides one month old and breaks, why not take it back to Best Buy?

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Harman Kardon AVR-354 7x75 watt 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver is your all-in-one receiver for your home theater system. This 7.1-Channel A/V receiver includes HDMI switching and audio/video processing. With 525 watts (75 watts x 7 channels) at your fingertips, movies will put you into the heart of the action. Picture this! The AVR-354 not only includes a host of powerful features such as DCDi® by Faroudja video processing, Simplay HD™-verified HDMI™ 1.1 connectivity with full audio processing as well as EzSet/EQ™and XM Ready technology – it uses a colorful user interface to make system setup and operation easier than ever. Add full multi-room capability with A-BUS® connectivity and you have pure Harman Kardon sound everywhere in the house.

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Onkyo TX-SR507 5.1-Channel A/V Surround Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I did a lot of research (including Consumer Reports) and settled on this Onkyo as the best compromise between performance and price. I've had it 2 weeks now and am very happy.
The auto setup function works better than a much-more expensive Denon unit I set up for a friend. I used the microphone (included) to measure speaker levels at 3 different locations in the room and the Onkyo did everything else. (It's connected to some older Polk speakers-- they sound so much better through this amp!)
I bought this primarily to process audio from our new BluRay player and the Onkyo does an outstanding job. The sound is better than in most movie theaters! Especially BluRay DTS or HD Master. Wish more movies were recorded in these formats.
We also have our DirecTV HD DVR hooked up to the Onkyo. Audio and video travel through the HDMI Cables, so there's no need to hook up audio separately. Very nice and a feature you will find missing from some more expensive amps.
The amp does get very warm. I put a small fan in the back of the cabinet and that seems to help.
BTW although this is a 5.1 channel amp is DOES support 7.1 if you want the 2 extra rear speakers... you just have to hook it up to your old amp (or any cheap 2-channel amp) and process those 2 channels that way. The 7.1 decoding IS built into this box.
I am not using the "Zone 2" feature but it's very unusual to have that in a receiver in this price range. You can watch a movie in one room while someone else listens to an iPod or FM in another room.
I don't think you can find a better receiver in this price range (and keep an eye on the price-- it's falling!)

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If you’re looking for a budget-friendly A/V receiver that offers versatile connectivity and compatibility with the latest processing technology, Onkyo’s TX-SR507 has you covered. With four HDMI 1.3a inputs, it can accept up to four high-definition sources—from Blu-ray Disc to HD broadcasting to high-def games—and output them to your compatible HDTV. HDMI 1.3a also enables you to enjoy the pristine "lossless” audio of Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio™, as well as secondary audio on Blu-ray Disc via DTS-HD Express. The TX-SR507 comes with a suite of Audyssey surround-sound technologies to help tailor audio output to the unique dimensions of your entertainment space. Meanwhile, a new universal port makes it easy to incorporate an optional Onkyo Dock for the iPod® or Onkyo HD Radio tuner into your system. With all this, plus four high-impact Game Modes and the ability to send different audio to two rooms simultaneously, the TX-SR507 puts a huge amount of entertainment potential at your fingertips.

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Onkyo TX-SR705 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)The reason to get this receiver over the 605 is the step up to 3 hdmi inputs and THX certification.
The power consumption of this unit is more efficient then the 805 and 605. This unit was built after those 2 other models. This isn't the lonely middle child, it shines on its own.
There is also a slew of issues this receiver does not exhibit that the 805 has problems with (check AVS forums for details)
HDMI video looks great, 7.1 sound great! Price is great! :)

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You've spent lots of time researching the purchase of the widescreen HDTV that you've wanted. Did you know that the improved visuals are just part of the total experience? Sound is the other. Surround sound just like that in a movie theater. This receiver helps create a home-theater environment of superior caliber. It's got an AM/FM tuner like most receivers but it's optionally upgradeable to receive XM and Sirius satellite radio. Are you iPod savvy? An optional iPod dock lets you play it through this sound system. With HDMI and other connectors for all your audio and video sound sources, the Onkyo TX-SR705, with Lucasfilm THX Select and Dolby TrueHD, is the central control of your home's entertainment space. And you're #1.1080p-compatible HDMI 1.3a digital video switching (3 in, 1 out); Analog-to-HDMI video upconversion; 480i (interlaced) to 480p (progressive) conversion via component video switching (3 in, 1 out); 3 optical (including 1 front panel), 3 coaxial digital in and 1 optical digital out; 5 audio/video inputs, including 1 front-panel input with composite and S-video, 4 rear-panel inputs with composite and S-video, 3 audio-only inputs (including phono) Dual-room/Dual-source audio (powered and line-level stereo audio output for 2nd room; using powered 2nd-room output allows 5.1 home theater in main room)Up to 40 AM/FM/XM/SIRIUS programmable station memory presetsOnkyo learning/multibrand remote helps replace the assembly of remotes to control your entire home-theater system Unit Size - 17-1/8W x 6-7/8H x 14-13/16DOnkyo USA limited warranty - 2 years

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Onkyo TX-SR805 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)Guess which company managed to get True HD and DTS HD into their next lineup of high end receivers. Onkyo of course!! Cutting edge technology filling your room with beautiful sound.
I received my Onkyo TX-SR805 in the mail yesterday and I couldn't be any more thrilled! The behemoth weighs in at 61 lbs. and you can tell it means business. Daunting as it may look, the setup is a breeze due to the fact that everything you plug into the receiver's many inputs, can be output to the TV through one simple HDMI cable. It upconverts any analog connection you can throw at it whether it's S-video, Component, or simple RCA. If you still have a Hi-Fi VCR or other Standard Definition electronics, I'd suggest investing in at least an S-Video cable for that, or if it does have an RGB Component Cable use that because even though it upconverts RCA it can only do so much for the picture quality. That being said it does upconvert all of these analog signals into 720p, 1080i. It DOESN'T UPCONVERT Composite connections to 1080p. The difference in the upconversion wouldn't be noticeable.
The integrated Faroudja DCDi technology is wonderful! If you thought that your 480p signal was decent before, wait till you see how well this deinterlacing works! Edges have much less noise and things in SD are cleaned up very well through the receiver.
Setup was easy as far as speaker configuration, the Audyssey MultEQ XT auto calibration system runs a speaker measurement set up for up to 8 listening positions in your room! so if you want it to take into account your entire living room seating arrangement, just move the little wired speaker microphone to each listening position and it does all the work.
Unlike some receivers like my recently sold Sony DG800, the receiver's setup menu can be output onto your TV screen. So instead of squinting at the receivers display from across the room, you can see everything right up on the TV screen. However, if you do like to tweak settings while watching TV you can choose not to have it output onto the TV.
If you're actually considering spending around $1000 on a receiver, THIS is the only thing you should be looking at! At the moment, the higher end Denon AVR4306 does just about everything that this Onkyo can do but the Onkyo Receivers are the FIRST receivers to truly decode DTS HD signals, and Dolby True HD! It's absolutely insane all the details that can come out of High Definition Surround Sound! I Recently acquired a Playstation 3 and although I don't plan on converting my DVD collection (500 dvds) to Blu Ray or HD-DVD I did purchase Speed on Blu Ray and I can tell you from what I heard, the future of High Definition Audio is here in this Onkyo TX-SR805! Every detail that they mixed into the movie's original track is encoded into DTS HD. It's literally translated from the original format without any loss of quality. It's ridiculous how amazing it sounds.
You may not hear a huge difference, but when movies start being encoded with this HD Audio, eventually you'll go back to an old DVD and cringe at the sound difference (or at least notice the lack of detail in the audio). If you don't have a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD player don't fret, there's still a vast array of audio settings between Dolby Digital, and DTS there's also THX Ultra2 certified settings that blow you away! I currently have my DVD player setup to THX Cinema and watching the Pod Race in Star Wars Episode One: Phantom Menace is something you should check out A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.
All the features can be overwhelming and the remote isn't the most intuitive, but when you spend a little time getting used to the buttons you need to push to make things work in harmony, you'll be happy with what you've got. Not to mention the beefy remote that comes with it can learn button functions which I love. For example when I coded in my HD Dishnetwork Box I couldn't get to the On screen TV Guide or my Recorded TV Menu, so I assigned the buttons manually and now the universal remote does everything my Cable DVR Remote does! If only I could code it to my Windows Media Center Remote oh well.
My one and only tiny complaint about this receiver is that it doesn't have HD Radio. It supports XM and Sirius radio but not HD FM Signals (not sure how to explain it but it's CD quality Free Local Radio Stations). The radio itself sounds fine and I don't listen to the radio very often anyways so it's not a big deal to me, but being as future proof as this receiver is, it should have HD radio. (Since I don't have XM, Sirius, or an Ipod I can't comment on the Docking capabilities or the Satellite Radio quality)
Last but not least make sure you have a big heavy duty surge protector, this thing is a power monster, you'll want a surge protector to make sure the receiver is getting a regulated amount of power, when I was setting it up I had all my components on at once and someone decided to turn on the hair dryer and a few fans, and there went the power. So be forewarned if you like 4 components on at once you might blow a fuse. also for $30 a 3 year protection plan is highly recommended just in case something shorts out in the receiver (knock on wood) you can service it for free, and get a replacement if necessary.
These aren't available in the store(ordered mine online at CC) and the sales people don't have much info on the receiver itself since it came out in May(about a month from prior to today) but it's comparable to the TX-SR804 if you want more similar opinions :)

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In terms of the evolution of home entertainment, recent years have seen a quantum leap. It's a formidable progression when you think of 1080p high-definition video and broadcasts; studio-quality, lossless surround sound; spectacular gaming with stunning motion and graphics; and the emergence of portable satellite radio programming. Bundling all this potential, the TX-SR805 A/V surround receiver has been built to provide comprehensive control over all movies, music, broadcasts and gaming. But that barely begins to describe the TX-SR805's potential. Augmented by its THX Ultra2 certification, this receiver goes even further by bringing you sophisticated room correction technology, multi-zone capabilities, powerful bi-amping and dual push-pull amplification. The TX-SR805 provides a reference point for a new generation of high-definition A/V receivers.

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Pioneer VSX-819H-K 5-Channel A/V Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)Went to Best Buy to compare the Yamaha RX-V465 and the Pioneer VSX-819H-k. I had read reviews on the Yamaha on several different websites and most were very positive. I could find no reviews for the Pioneer since it just started reaching retailers during the past 2 weeks. I noticed the Yamaha on display and didn't really like the appearance-seemed less substantial in appearance than the Pioneer. They both looked impressive with the online pics. I know you don't buy according to appearances, although aesthetics can weigh in on a tie/deal breaker. I asked to see the Pioneer and the sales rep had to check his stock. They had not displayed a model since they just arrive the day before. He brought a new box out and opened it so I could compare it to the yamaha and we talked about the different features that were important/meaningful on both receivers. The advanced digital sound fields mean nothing to me. On most receivers they are either a variation of Dolby Prologic II or provide sound stage fields with irritating echoes. Every receiver I have owned (currently we have Panasonic and Sony Models)have these digital sound fields and we never use them.
The Yamaha sounded pretty good hooked up to a blu-ray movie at the store. The True HD was unbelievable! The specs on the Yamaha were the same as the Pioneer as far as supporting True HD and DTS-HD through the HDMI inputs-all switchable to the one HDMI output. The Yamaha has 4 HDMI inputs/1 ouput and the Pioneer has 3 HDMI inputs/ 1 output. I did a mind calculation on the spot and decided 3 outputs were sufficient for my set-up (Dish sat/Sylvania blu-ray/Panasonic DVD Recorder.) The THD was .9 for the Yamaha and .05 for the Pioneer. I don't know how significant that is but the Pioneer seems that it would have clearer sound at low volume with less distortion. The Quick set-up using a microphone placed at your normal listening position are also similar. The Yamamha calls it YPAO while Pioneer calls it MCACC. Most receivers have some variation of this at the mid-price range. The back of the receivers were similar as far as inputs/outputs but the Pioneer had the banana plugs for wiring (which I prefer) while the Yamaha had spring clips for some of the speakers. I won't go into any further specs/features-just go to the company websites or here at Amazon.
Well, I chose the Pioneer. It looked more solid and had some additional features that seemed important to me. I could always return it if I was less than satisfied. I did mention (I am no slouch) that since it was an open box-could I get an "open box" discount? The sales rep laughed (he had opened it for me) and said "why not". So off I went with my 10% discount on a brand new Pioneer VSX-819H-K receiver.
Well, I am tired today! I spent about 2 hours setting it up in the den and removing a Sony which is going to the master BR. But I am VERY HAPPY. This thing sounds fantastic. The set-up was easy. I played the Blu-ray disc "Hitman" and it was like you were inside the screen with the DTS-HD giving you that feeling! Here's the weird thing- I have ordered a set of Yamaha surround speakers from another website (at that time I was somewhat sure that I was going to Purchase the Yamaha model) not that it matters-I'm sure that they'll sound fine with the Pioneer. Back to the weird- The speakers that I am currently using have not been placed on the walls or configured for surround sound-since I had taken them down and re-wired with 16 gauge wire. Since I should receive the Yamaha speakers in a few days I didn't replace the speakers back on the walls etc. I decided to do the QUICK SETUP with the right front on the floor tilted up toward my seating position-the left front 3 ft. off the floor on my AV rack- the center speaker on top of the TV- the 2 rear surrounds are on the floor behind me in the corners also tilted towards my seating position and my Sony subwoofer disconnected. (wired so I couldn't connect it to the Pioneer.) I guess the MCACC SETUP is really precise/accurate because the Blu-ray DVD was phenominal in it's surround direction. Just think when I get the new speakers appropriately set up in the surround configuration!? I think anyone will be happy with this AV receiver. I am a happy camper in my den surrounded by HD SOUND!! P.S. Try to find a store that just received them and ask them to open the box and then ask for a discount!! LOL

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As the VSX-819H-K was designed specifically as a high definition control center with HDMI connectivity for sources such as Blu-ray Disc players and HD-Audio decoding capabilities, you¿re assured ultimate performance. Even with portable entertainment demands increasing every day and devices such as the iPhone becoming the de facto choice for many with respect to enjoying their photos, videos and music, the VSX-819H-K still delivers. Connecting to your iPhone, iPod and iTouch devices, the VSX819H has never been easier with a front USB port and included cable. And because it¿s Works with iPhone certified, the VSX-819H-K delivers a multitude of features designed to bring the entertainment stored on your iPhone into your home theater.

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Onkyo TX-SR607 7.2-Channel A/V Surround Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)My previous receiver was a 9 year old Sherwood. It was a little above a low end unit. It started buzzing and I decided it was time for a replacement. I have 2 nice Wharfdale floor speakers, a nice center, decent rear surrounds and 2 really decent sub woofers.
I read extensive reviews on several brands and decided that I would purchas Onkyo. I went to Fry's looking for the 606 model. They were sold out and just received the 607. I purchased the 607.
I wanted something HDMI based that allowed audio through the HDMI cables. The thing was a snap to set up. Make sure to run an HDMI cable to your TV from the receiver so that you can do on screen programming.
As I said, I have 2 sub woofers and the 607 has two output RCA jacks to enable 2 subs. No more RCA splitters. I fired the thing up and was shocked at the sound quality. The thing sparkles and the lows are clean and deep. I adjusted the individual speaker levels with a Radio Shack db meter on an easy to use Onkyo menu. I did not use the calibration system built into the receiver. A few trips through the menus and you have them mastered. The menu system is REALLY SIMPLE.
Unless you have some REALLY expensive speakers, this is the unit for you. Great sound quality, simple setup and easy menus make this a good choice for the novice or mid range home theater enthusiast.
I highly recommend the unit.

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The TX-SR607 raises the bar once again in the competitive world of mid-range home theater. With HDMI 1.3a inputs for up to six components, it’s ready to handle all your high-definition video and audio needs. Whether it’s a Blu-ray Disc player, a cable or satellite box, or a gaming console, your video signals will be traveling first class. Lower-resolution analog video signals, meanwhile, can be upscaled to 1080i and fine-tuned by Faroudja DCDi Edge™. HDMI version 1.3a also transports the master-quality HD audio formats, DTS-HD Master Audio™ and Dolby® TrueHD. The very latest Dolby technology, Dolby® Pro Logic® IIz, enhances the spatial sensation

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

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(More customer reviews)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.

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As part of the second generation of Onkyo high-definition-capable receivers, the TX-SR606 is at the forefront of affordable home theater. The key is to have the most capable version of HDMI. The TX-SR606 provides high-definition video and audio processing for four source components—another first for Onkyo at this level. From Blu-ray Disc players to gaming consoles and cable/satellite boxes, you have everything in the digital realm covered. Apart from 1080p video, the TX-SR606 can upscale all video signals to 1080i, regardless of the connection, for output via HDMI. Onkyo’s own RIHD (Remote Interactive over HDMI) also gives you inter-operability with the displays and playback components from other leading brands. And with an expanded version of Audyssey’s room correction technology, the TX-SR606 maintains the fullness of surround sound audio quality at low volume levels. The TX-SR606 offers all-round excellence rarely seen at this level.

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Pioneer VSX-1019AH-K 7-Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I finally received my Pioneer 1019 last night. I ended up staying up way too late last night setting this up. I purchased the Pioneer 1019 after a lengthy decision process between the Denon 1910, Onkyo 607 and Yamaha 765. I needed 4 HDMI so the earlier models wouldn't work and I was also limited in footprint depth so it was these 4. I went with the Pio because I've always been a fan of the sound and quality and each of the others had one or two things wrong (Denon not available, Onkyo quality issues (?), Yammy no assignable inputs). My one concern with the Pio going in was the revamped amps and the decline in weight. Would it impact quality of sound and power? Based on my early tests, NO. This unit has a great, clean sound with lots of detail at low levels and high. I did not hear any hint of strain.
Design
While the unit is smaller and lighter than the 1018 it doesn't look `cheap' and it still has enough bulk to it to make you think it has power. It looks great in the rack. Remote is a bit confusing but I won't use that much after setup and the Harmony database had all the relevant codes, a nice surprise for such a recent release.
The Setup Process
It was pretty easy to get all of the speakers and components hooked up. The manual stinks but I had spent a fair amount of time with the manual online in advance and after a few reads you can fill in the blanks. It took me about an hour to get all of the old equipment out and the new equipment in. Assigning the inputs was relatively straightforward. Renaming inputs was awkward due to the way they handle text input but it was very flexible. I had a little trouble assigning the Optical audio signal from my Macbook along with an HDMI input. I first tried to assign the optical directly to an HDMI input but you can't do that. Instead I had to assign both the HDMI and Optical to an entirely different Input Name (I chose DVR). It worked fine but I suspect that means I really lost a video input since I can't send anything else to the original HDMI input. Not a huge deal as I don't use all the inputs but it was still annoying.
I haven't done MCACC yet but I did use the manual speaker setup and my speaker settings from my old Sony AVR and input those here. That was pretty easy and even with this rudimentary setup the sound was great. Even my wife (who is happy with TV speakers alone) commented on the improvement in quality.
I ran though some of the DSPs and effects but I prefer to set everything to DIRECT, especially on BDs but it was nice to use the Extended Stereo for my iPod and get sound from all of the speakers.
Video
I had lots of questions on the video scaler. I agree with most posters that you should not buy an AVR for this capability. Most TVs will do a better job than any $500 AVR. My TV is a 2006 model though and it has pretty average scaling so I wanted to see how it would look. I hooked up my Comcast DVR with both HDMI and with Component/Optical to gauge the difference. HDMI looks great (and no scaling, of course) but there was no impact on visual signal. I did not have any annoying audio lags either. Component also looks really good for HD signals. I could not tell the difference between the HDMI and Component signals on HD channels.
I then tried it on some SD channels with the scaler set to 1080p. The AVR did fine but it wasn't any better than my TV. No worse either but then I already mentioned my scaler is pretty average. So, as I said earlier, don't buy the unit for the scaler but it's not a negative either. Just try it for your sources and TV and it may or may not generate any improvement in PQ.
The good news is that it does a very good job of upconversion (switching analog signals to digital) which means you can have 6 HD sources (4 HDMI and 2 Component) which is nice.
The one odd thing I found was in the aspect ratio settings for 4:3 signals. The default is `Through' which would make me think it sends the signal untouched but it is actually for stretching the signal (and it does a bad job of that). I switched the signal to `Normal' and it then just passed the 4:3 signal untouched - a definite improvement.
All other sources looked great. Panny BD35 looks and sounds great and I was relieved to see that my Macbook was able to pass a clean signal through the AVR to the TV.
Audio
So the real question is about how this unit sounds. As I mentioned earlier, I am really pleased with the quality and balance. Everything sounds warm and detailed. I expect it to improve even further with the MCACC adjustments. I've listened to quite a few units over time and this has all of the Pioneer sound and quality you expect from them. I don't think anyone will be disappointed with the sound or the power (Of course, if you are willing to spend 3x the $$ then you can get better quality from the Elite series. If you have the cash, definitely buy one of those. If you are looking to spend

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The VSX-1019AH-K represents the pinnacle of the Pioneer receiver line.This hub for your home entertainment center allows you to enjoy your favorite movies on Blu-ray disc, DVD or VHS on your flat-panel television like never before. With standard features that include a phenomenal ability to upscale and convert analog video signals to 1080p when transmitted through HDMI to your high definition television, the VSX-1019AH-K¿s video scaler presents you with nothing but the best quality possible today ¿ regardless of what video source it receives.

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Onkyo HT-S6100 7.1 Channel Receiver and Speaker Package Review

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(More customer reviews)I received my 90 lb box containing my Onkyo HT-S6100 Home Theatre system from OneCall.com for $666.00 shipped. Took about 7 days to arrive, double boxed. Connected immediately and worked properly. Make sure you go through the menu prompts on the screen of your TV to verify all speakers are working. One of my speakers was not working correctly because I did not connect it properly. I would not have known if it were not for the testing ability from one of the on screen menu items. Pay attention to the colors on the wiring as they match the colored circles on the back of the receiver. (nice touch). The volume knob does not have the lit blue ring on the circumference which I was expecting.(The subwoofer was bigger than expected and has a lit led on the front to let you know it is getting a proper signal and glows in blue. The remote control does not light so you may want to get a fully lit unified remote such as my favorite, the harmony one (the newest one out) for 199.00 anywhere. Don't buy any of Harmony's other remotes with the raised oval keys because they hurt your fingers after much use. The Onkyo HT-S 6100 HTIB performed exactly as planned. I am using it with 4 devices. It is connected to my TIVO Series 3 HD, Apple TV, Sony BDP 300 Blue Ray and Nintendo Wii. All sounds are moving properly from the various components to the receiver and coming out of the speakers with no lip sync problems. I have not had any hissing, popping, signal ugliness or processing voodoo. I previously had a Samsung HTIB and I did have signal, both video and audio weirdness, maybe because it was HDMI 1.1. The Samsung HTIB with HDMI in and out worked fine as long as I didnt plug anything in to it otherwise it was finicky with other HDMI components. My current TV is the Sony 60 inch KDS 60 XBR HD 1080i rear projection model that was a top choice about 18 months ago. The Onkyo HT-S 6100 works perfectly and the sound is definitely a significant step up from my previous Samsung HTIB. In fact, on audiophile recordings using a lossless music file streaming through Apple TV on an HDMI connection I was surprised by the smoothness and detail of the sound reproduction. The only things that bug me are: lack of THX certification, unlit remote, would like a larger more contemporary readout screen on the receiver, wish the speakers were heavier, and came with proper stands. I ordered the proper Onkyo stands, 6 of them from Amazon for 300.00 shipped. I called Onecall back after seeing the Onkyo HTS 6100 cheaper at JR Music and they credited me 44.00. The owners manual is 100 pages in English and you must remember to do the microphone supplied calibration process. I noticed no video degradation running all signals through the receiver however when changing from one HDMI component to another, such as from TIVo to Apple TV or BluRay DVD, there is a HDMI handshake delay of a few seconds before new signal both audio and video begin to operate. The Receiver when turning on or off gives off a distinct mechanical sound letting you know it is turning on or off which I call positive feedback and appreciate. Onecall.com people were pleasant to deal with and the owners manual while lengthy is a suggested read. Remember to plug everything in before you plug in the receiver and turn it on. Immediately go to the onscreen menu choices and get oriented to all the menu items so you will know what is going on. I am glad to get a HDMI repeater rather than a pass through as I am able to finally get HDMI simplicity and get rid of my optical cable and lip sync issues. I have seen this item advertised for $500.00 and highly recommend. This item is almost good enough to make me want to get rid of my better, but more complicated and grossly overpriced audiophile equipment. I am surprised there is any profit for the manufacturer or the retailer considering all the components and their performance. I feel like I have made a smart decision because had I bought expensive home theatre items 18 months ago I would have been unhappy every time there were an upgrade. Things like HDMI 1.3, the new audio formats, the microphone calibration, the upscaling, the repeater VS passthrough issue. I don't think you can justify spending thousands when you can buy a disposable system for 500.00 and upgrade every 2 or 3 years.

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The launch of the HT-S6100 marks another milestone for Onkyo: the company's first receiver/speaker package to simultaneously handle 1080p video and bit-for-bit audio processing.The HT-S6100 anchors your home theater by integrating the full potential of high-definition media (think Blu-ray Disc) and high-definition displays.With an HDMI platform as good as it gets (integrating up to four sources), you have every reason to be impressed. But the HT-S6100 is also going to take analog sources (from component video, S-video and composite video) and upscale them to HD-friendly 1080i resolution for HDMI output. Featuring some valuable options-single-cable dock connectivity for iPod, Audyssey room acoustic correction technologies, and integrated control with other leading brand-name devices-this receiver/speaker package puts the emphasis on value for money.

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Harman Kardon AVR7550HD 7.2 Channel Audio/Video Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)We purchased this unit because it was supposed to be the top of the line AVR from a top of the line brand. It seemed odd that it could not be purchased directly from Harman Kardon, and maybe that should have stopped us right there - but we were determined and found it on Amazon via one of their associated sellers.
We hooked up all the peripherals - TV; CD player; DVD player; turntable; Roku box; VCR; ipod bridge; 5 speakers; programmed the universal remote to learn all the individual remotes; then we did the EZ EQ test to determine sound quality in the room and auto-adjust - and that was the end of the AVR. It locked up upon saving the results and never came back. Not through power-off, not through reset.
We probably had 5 minutes or so of enjoyment from this unit while testing individual components. It seemed great for that period of time, but now it's dead. We are incredibly disappointed and frustrated. Probably will not try another Harman Kardon - and definitely not the AVR 7550.
P.S. see the other review on this unit- it posted the day after we ordered ours!

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7x 110W 7.2-Channel A/V receiver with HDMI V1.3a repeater, audio/video processing and upscaling to 1080p, Harman Kardon A/V receivers are renowned for their power, performance and ease of use, and the AVR 7550HD will only enhance that reputation. Among the fi rst receivers to offer Dolby Volume technology, which automatically adjusts volume levels when switching between sources and channels, the AVR 7550HD delivers 110 watts of power to each of the seven channels, plus two subwoofer outputs. It accepts a universe of inputs, including HDMI, component, S-video, USB and broadband Internet, as well as The Bridge II docking station (included) for iPod A/V playback, control and charging. Every Dolby and DTS technology is here, as is Faroudja DCDi Cinema and our exclusive Logic 7 processing. Zone II remote, Zone II OSD and A-BUS technologies work together to greatly simplify multiroom A/V applications. And the EzSet/EQ II system fi ne-tunes system performance to the acoustic needs of your space in justa few easy steps.

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Harman Kardon AVR-254 7x50W 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver with HDMI 1.3a Repeater Review

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(More customer reviews)I spent several months researching my new receiver for my home theater. I spent countless hours hanging out on the avsforum, read everything I could about receivers. I was looking for a receiver that would have the following features:
- at least 2 HDMI inputs
- great sound quality for music as well as movies
- HD audio codecs (Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA) support
- would cost $650 MSRP or less
The choice is clear:
- Onkyo 606 or 705
- Yamaha 663
- Sony 820 or 920
- HK 254
- Pioneer 1018
- Denon 1909 or 988
I didn't even try the Onkyos, because I was afraid of the overheating problems and the humming noise reported on many units. Plus, they are downright ugly. The Yamaha had only 2 HDMI, and did not pass BTB/WTW, the Sonys are notorious for having the worst sound quality (unless you tap into the really high end models) across the board, so I didn't consider those either.
I was then left with the HK, Pioneer and Denon receivers.
I first bought the HK 254. All the users on avsforum swore by the HK sound. Well, they were right. The sound is nothing short of outstanding. The GUI is light-years ahead of the competition too. And finally, it is by far the slickest looking receiver of all.
Now, on the negative. HK is notorious for releasing products that haven't been thoroughly tested, and that don't work properly until the firmware update is released, and even at that point, it doesn't always work right. Well, they got that right too...
1 - the fan noise on 2 different units was unbearably loud, and not only was it loud, it wasn't a constant noise: it was pulsating. Crappy quality control from HK, can't afford more than $2 on a decent fan!
2 - if you connect your PS3 to the HK receiver using HDMI audio out + Linear PCM (the only way to take advantage of the HD audio codecs), here's what happens: you get sound drop outs that last for several minutes in many bluray movies (There Will Be Blood is a good example). Also, in GTA IV, you cannot hear the dialogs from the person you talk to on your cell phone. When I say "you cannot hear the dialogs", I mean: there is NO sound at all, it's not that the volume is low.
3 - the surround sound never "locks" on the one you want, it always reverts to Logic 7 eventually, and even if you can sometimes get it back by cycling through the surround sounds, it doesn't always work and it is a major hassle.
4 - it can't pass HDMI video with video processing turned OFF (it's always on!), and it won't pass BTB/WTW either.
I don't want to go into the details of all these bugs, but they completely kill all the enjoyment you could get from the unit. I exchanged my first unit, thinking I got a lemon, but the 2nd unit showed exactly the same problems, all of them. I finally returned the unit, disgusted with HK's quality control.
I then tried the Pioneer 1018, the Denon 1909 and the Denon 988. All 3 of them performed flawlessly, without a single hickup.
The Pioneer worked great but sounded a little weak, lacked punch and attack compared to the HK. It also had a very annoying bright blue LED that you can't turn off, and the worst remote I've ever seen.
The Denon 1909 and 988 were very similar, the 988 having a very slight edge in terms of SQ for music, but lacked the extra HDMI input and didn't have the Audyssey Dynamic EQ and Volume features. The 1909 was the only receiver I tried that could maintain the surround field perfect at any time and any given volume.
I ended up keeping the 1909, because of its great sound quality and of its superb handling of surround field, thanks to the Audyssey Dynamic EQ and Volume. Oh, and did I mention that it just works? ;)
After my disastrous experience with the HK, I wouldn't touch that receiver with a 10ft pole. If you consider this unit, wait until HK comes up with a firmware update, and make sure that it actually fixed all the problems. For more info about these problems, visit the avsforum dot com forum, and search for "Official Harman/Kardon AVR x54: Problems and Solutions Thread".

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The Harman Kardon AVR-254 7x50W 7.1-channel home theater receiver with HDMI 1.3a repeater is an affordable home theater system that gives you more bang for your buck. 7.1-Channel A/V receiver includes HDMI™ switching and audio/video processing. With 350 watts (50 watts x 7 channels) at your fingertips, movies will put you into the heart of the action. This is upscale video without an upscale price. The AVR-254 is Harman Kardon's most affordable receiver and allows you to upscale incoming analog video signals to high-resolution 720p output or select two HDMI™ inputs for audio processing -all with a Simplay HD™-verified, single-wire connection to an HDMI-equipped display. And the sound? Pure Harman Kardon audio, with the clarity possible only with EzSet/EQ™ technology and our high-current, ultrawide-bandwidth amplifier design.

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Sony STRDG820 7.1 Audio Video Receiver - Black Review

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(More customer reviews)Pros:
+ 4 HDMI v1.3a inputs with support for 1080p/24, Deep Color, and xvYCC
+ Up to 7.1 channel output (110Wx7, 8 ohms, 1kHz, 0.7% THD) with A/B speaker zones (7.1/2.0)
+ Lots of inputs: 3 optical audio, 1 coaxial digital audio, 4 HDMI v1.3a video/audio, 3 component video, 2 RCA stereo audio, 3 RCA stereo video/audio, 1 additional RCA stereo video/audio on front panel
+ Easy auto-calibration
+ Re-assignable digital audio inputs
+ Customizable display names for each input
+ Decodes Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS High-Resolution Audio, and DTS-HD Master Audio
+ XM Satellite Radio ready
+ Supports Sony BRAVIA Theater Sync and Sony Digital Media Port
Cons:
- Awkward remote
- Cannot send analog video signals (e.g., component) through HDMI output, or digital inputs through the analog outputs
- Only has LFE subwoofer (RCA jack) output, no speaker-level (spring-loaded terminal) output
- Multi-channel and DSD signals from SA-CDs are not supported
- Standby power mode can only be activated by the remote
If you're looking for a solid receiver with plenty of inputs, including four (yes, 4!) HDMI v1.3a audio/video inputs, the Sony STR-DG820 is a great buy. This is one of Sony's new line of receivers for 2008 along with the STR-DG520, STR-DG720, and STR-DG920. This is a very compelling receiver for its price as it packs in a lot of great features when compared to other popular receivers including the Denon AVR988 and Onkyo TX-SR606.
Both the 820 and the 920 model have on-board decoding of the high-definition audio tracks found on HD-DVD and Blu-ray discs, along with Linear PCM support (up to 8 channels, 192 kHz). A note to fellow PS3 owners: you'll need to use LPCM output to let the PS3 internally decode the audio because it currently lacks the ability to output all of the HD audio formats natively using bitstream through the HDMI connection. SA-CD owners will be disappointed to find out that this receiver doesn't support any of the advanced audio tracks of the discs, so we're stuck with plain stereo CD output.
Any standard speaker arrangements between stereo (2.0) and the full 7.1 surround sound can be attached and configured individually for optimal performance, or let the quick and easy auto-calibration feature work its magic. I was caught off-guard by the fact that the only connection available for a subwoofer is an LFE (RCA) connector, so my previous passive sub from the old receiver couldn't be connected using bare speaker wires and had to be replaced.
A wide variety of electronics can be hooked up through the different named inputs: Video 1 (analog and digital video/audio), Video 2 (analog video/audio, front panel), BD (digital video/audio), DVD (analog and digital video/audio), Satellite (analog and digital video/audio), TV (analog and digital audio), and SA-CD/CD (analog audio). Digital audio sources can be reassigned to other input modes to match your connections (e.g., you can use the optical audio input labeled Video 1 with the component video input labeled DVD). The only catch is that analog inputs must exit through the analog outputs rather than being transcoded and output digitally through HDMI, and digital inputs cannot be sent through analog outputs. For about an extra $200, analog-to-digital transcoding will be available only on the higher-end 920 model due out soon, but I don't really have a problem with having two different cables connecting from my receiver to my LCD TV instead of just a single HDMI cable.
The included remote is a bit difficult to use with lots of functionality trying to be packed into a minimal amount of buttons. Yellow, silver, and purple labels and dots attempt to organize buttons based on which mode the remote currently is operating, and it takes a while to make any sense of it all. Even after some use, some buttons still make no sense, like why there separate buttons labeled Amp Menu, Options, Menu, BD/DVD Top Menu, and BD/DVD Menu when one or more of these could have been consolidated into a single button. Also, there are two buttons labeled TV--one switches the input to TV mode and one activates buttons marked with a yellow dot on the remote. Basically, whoever designed the remote needs fired. Do yourself a favor and get something like a Logitech Harmony One universal remote to replace this kludgy beast.
All in all, the convenience and flexibility of this receiver combined with the great features for a relatively low price made this product an easy decision for me. If it weren't for the clumsy remote and lack of analog-digital transcoding, I'd give this receiver a 5-star rating.

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The STR-DG820 7.1 Ch. A/V Receiver delivers the Full HD 1080 experience to a home theater system. This new 1080p A/V Receiver features HDMI with "Active Intelligence", plus x.v.Color and 1080/24p signal capability. In addition to decoding uncompressed audio (LPCM via HDMI), the STR-DG820 decodes the latest audio formats from Dolby Labs and DTS making this model fully compatible with Blu-ray Disc. Now, you can hear the original mix of your favorite BD titles regardless of audio format. Need more HDMI inputs? The STR-DG820 features four HDMI inputs that allows for more HD content to be connected. Looking for simplicity? BRAVIA Sync provides a one button operation (via HDMI) of your entire A/V experience with a select number of BRAVIA televisions. Because no room is perfect, Sony's Digital Cinema Auto Calibration (and its supplied microphone) simplifies speaker set up and optimizes speaker performance with the push of one button in just 30 seconds. This full featured A/V Receiver expands its ability to playback music from various audio sources (i.e. iPod, Walkman, PC, etc…) with the DIGITAL MEDIA PORT and one of the various accessories (sold separately). Would you like to listen to satellite radio? The XM Connect-and-Play Ready feature provides the ability to access XM satellite radio programming in surround sound.

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Onkyo TX-NR906 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)Simply amazing! I must say, this has to be one of the most sophisticated pieces of electronic equipment that I've ever owned. I don't even know where to begin. Did I mention this thing is amazing?
I was running a Bose Lifestyle 48 prior to this, but when I finally decided to make the most of HDMI connections, I shelved the Bose and stepped up to the ONKYO. What a breath of fresh air! There are so many features of the TX-NR906 that I like. Starting with the remote control--I'm sure it's common practice nowadays for receiver remotes to be fairly smart, but this guy is really bright. I've managed to teach it all the commands from my three main remote controls (TV, BD & CD Players), more or less, just by pointing the controllers at each other and clicking. I'm referring to commands that aren't usually part of a universal controller's arsenal. The large number of connection choices are really coming in handy, as well. I'm maxing out the HDMI inputs and have one of the two outputs connected to my TV. There's a ton of digital audio options as well. The front panel offers a number of connection choices, including a USB port for playing MP3s.
Another aspect of this receiver that I really like is the fact that this system not only sounds phenomenal when playing movies, but sounds equally as incredible playing CDs or listening to music from my PC. With previous systems it always seemed like one was better than the other, but with the TX-NR906, I really feels like I'm getting audiophile quality sound from all components. Oh yeah, did I mention? HD FM radio sounds phenomenal! I don't have XM or Sirius yet, but that's on the short list of near term upgrades. There's an antennae connection for both.
This receiver is the hub of my home theater. Putting things in perspective, my setup includes a Samsung LN46A750 46-Inch 1080p DLNA LCD HDTV with RED Touch of Color, Panasonic DMP-BD30K 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player, a Sony 5-Disc Carousel CD Player, Dell XPS Pentium D 3.0 GHz/3.0 GB RAM/VisionTek Radeon HD4850 512MB GDDR3 PCI Express Graphics Card, Playstation 3 80GB, Motorola digital cable box/DVR , and Aperion Audio's Intimus 5T Hybrid HD speaker system. All this, combined with the TX-NR906, really sounds and looks incredible. I'm utilizing HDMI for video on all components. I'm also supplementing the digital cable box's audio with a coaxial cable. Similarly, I'm augmenting the BD Player's audio by connecting audio cables via the multichannel jacks.
I bought the TX-NR906 in October 2008 and so far, I haven't found anything I dislike. The only minor thing I will point out is with the remote control. When you are teaching it commands from your other remotes, you might have to try it a couple of times. At first, I thought that some of the commands weren't going to be able to be taught, but I stuck with it and eventually was able to teach it all commands. No big deal, just don't give up if it doesn't work right away.
Whether you're watching HD TV, listening to your favorite music, watching the latest release on Blu-Ray, or playing the hottest shooter on your PC or PS3--if you have the money, this receiver is the perfect addition to any home theater.

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Multi-dimensional, superbly crafted, and loaded with impressive specs, the TX-NR906 A/V home network receiver is a true champion for the age.With seemingly endless abilities-including HQV Reon-VX video processing, dual high-def HDMI outputs,Audyssey room correction technologies, and multi-room audio and video distribution-the TX-NR906 leaves no base uncovered. Built around an isolated power block and pre-processing unit, this network receiver reveals the full potential of virtually any media.This includes any internet- or computer-based sources accessed via its network apparatus (which incorporates a new vTuner interface and Certified for Windows Vista® status). It's also equipped with CD-quality HD Radio, Satellite and Internet Radio, and XM HD Surround sound capability.The TX-NR906 is the first receiver of its kind to include ISF (Imaging Science Foundation) video calibration, further enhancing its groundbreaking pedigree.

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Denon AVR1610 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver with 1080p HDMI Connectivity Review

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(More customer reviews)Based on a sub-$400 budget, I focused on this and the Yamaha 465. In researching it, a toss-up really emerged and the decision was made in talking to a very knowledgeable guy at Crutchfield. Having set it up last night and having played with it the better part of today, I am very content with my purchase. I fired up some Blu Ray's with both PCM and DTS-MA/ True HD and was very pleased with the upgrade over standard DD/DTS. The soundstage was just bigger. The opening scene from my kids favorite movie, Cars, was no longer weak. The opening race scene was clear and appropriately loud. The bump on my stars comes from the fact that the manual is awful. I gave up on it early on and went with the trial and error approach with the on-screen menu, which is more than adequate, but you need to have a basic tech sense in order to take that route. On another set-up note, the microphone setup is well done and made a big difference in the sound generated from my SS speakers, before versus after.

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The Denon AVR-1610 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver - Performance, technology and affordability are the hallmarks of the AVR-1610. A powerful 5 channel x 75W amplifier section delivers detail and dynamics to music and movie soundtracks. It’s equipped with 1080p compatible HDMI 1.3a Repeating technology, delivering both audio and video to your HDTV with single HDMI cable. This HDMI connectivity supports the latest generation surround sound formats available on Blu-ray disc, including Dolby TrueHD and DD+, dts-HD and dts-HR. Also included is Dolby Laboratories new Pro Logic IIz Matrix decoding featuring front height effects channels that expands front soundstage. The AVR1610 boast a number of Audyssey technologies. Advanced Audyssey MultEQ analyzes a speaker systems interaction with room acoustics, and then delivers custom tailored correction processing to optimize clarity and tonal balance throughout the listening space. Audyssey Dynamic Volume is an automatic volume-leveling system that tracks audio dynamics to eliminate the irritating volume swings between TV shows and commercials. Audyssey Dynamic EQ is also on board to ensure rich bass and smooth tonal balance at low volume listening levels. In addition to enhanced HDMI 1.3 repeating (3 in, 1 out), the AVR1610 features component video switching (2 in, 1 out), analog to HDMI conversion (480i to 480p) and seven analog inputs. A front-panel audio/video input allows quick and easy connection of camcorders and game systems. System setup is simplified by a new, enhanced icon-based on-screen display that is delivered over HDMI. System expansion is available with optional accessories. For media networking, use the optional ASD-3N and ASD-3W. For iPod connectivity, use the ASD-3N/3W, as well as the ASD-11. When connecting iPod and other MP3 players, the AVR-1610 features Denon’s exclusive Compressed Audio Restorer to improve sound quality and dynamics.

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Yamaha RX-V1065BL 7.2-Channel Digital Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I needed to replace a couple of old receivers so I found a great deal on the RX-V1065 and RX-V765 on Amazon. I ended up getting both of them for aboout what 2 V665's would have cost me a a Big Box store. I first setup my Main Theate Room with the 1065, I thought it was somewhat difficult to get everything the way I wanted it but the automatic speaker setup was slick and the sound is fantastic compared to my old Sony I had previously. The Menu system takes some getting use to but once you do it's not bad to navigate. All in all I was pretty darn happy with my purchase, My JBL's sounded much better then before and although I didn't really notice any difference in video quality, it was as good as before and now I had everything coming thru the same box. Surround sound was a huge step up from my old receiver also, you are almost looking behind you now because you'd swear someone is behind you, where on my old Sony it was more or less a quieter front speaker.
I then went to hook up my 765 in my cave TV room, first thing that I noticed was that is basically identical to the 1065, sure the menu system is not as polished but as far as the functionality that I need it is the same. I have a few year old Bose surround sound in this room with a JBL center chanel speaker and what a HUGE difference this receiver made over my old Onkyo, the Onkyo was really good for music but surround sound was sub par, but it was 10 years old I guess. Granted I'm only hooking up a Xbox 360, blue ray and TV in this room but watching Vikes beat up the the Packers in surround sound with this receiver was great, I haven't figured out which sound field I like best but there are a couple perfect for sports.
One of the coolest things was when I grabbed the TV remote from my Samsung LCD by mistake to turn the volume down and it says RX-V765 un the upper corner and starts to tun down the volume of the receiver from the TV, displaying the volume the whole time it's changing. I guess that Anynet capability on the Samsung TV's with a HDMI reciever gives you a few more bells and whistles. Also really cool is when I turn on the Xbox or turn off the TV the receiver will come on or off accordingly. I haven't setup the remote for additionaly devices yet, but it seems to be easy to use and is exactly the same for the 765 and 1065, I actually expected the remote to be better for the 1065 so i was a little disapointed when I saw it, but in using it it seems OK/
One thing I do not like is the Zone 2 ability on the 1065, I almost wish is was more or less a A/B speaker selector, I have a normal 5 speaker surround setup, in addition to that I have 2 speakers in the kitchen, right behind the TV room which are connect to Zone 2 that when I'm listening to music we like to have on so that you have more sound. The problem is that Zone 2 running the same input as the Main Room is off by a few fractions of a second and if you stand right between the 2 rooms, it sounds like the song is a half a second behind in the kitchen, I tried the lipsync thing, which only made it worse, I haven't given up on it yet, but it's not obvious how to fix this.
Bottom Line -
Both the 1065 and the 765 have more inputs than I know what to do with.
Neither have HDMI on the front, I didn't want it anyway, as I think it looks stupid to set all your equipment up and then have a big cable hanging off the front of your system anyway. That's why the put the jacks on the back, right???
May not have quite as many sound fields as some others out there, but I pick the 2 or 3 I like for movies, sports and music anyway and don't care about the rest.
The YPAO is cool and works great to setup the speakers.
The onscreen Menu is better on the 1065 but adequate on the 765.
HI-DEF Radio sounds amazing on both.
Don't think I will ever use the remotes as universal remotes, but they are adequate for running the receivers.
I cannot comment much on the video conversion, as everything I am running is HDMI and looks the same as it die running straight into the TV.
Sound on both of these is fantastic, even at volumes that start to hurt, the sound is clear, the bass is crisp not slow and there is no distortion, my old receivers would make my speakers start to hiss at a much lower volume, and these receivers never do.
Save yourself some money though get the 765, once it's all setup and you don't need to go into the menu anymore, you'll never notice the difference.
I read a lot of reviews and narrowed it down to Onkyo and Yamaha, at last second I pulled the trigger on Yamaha and for what I paid on Amazon for the 2 of them I am thrilled with my purchase

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Yamaha RX-V1065BL 7.2-Channel Digital Home Theater Receiver

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Onkyo TX-SR308 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is what Onkyo does best. This thing offers great performance. It is rock solid, no nonsense, just what you need and not much else. What it does, it does very well: decode most everything, and HDMI 1.4!!!
I was surprised how similar this unit was to my old 2006 model Onkyo 5.1 reciever. This model is clearly a new generation of the same line, with many features and design choices being identical. What sets this unit apart from those of yesterday is the connectivity. 3 HDMI 1.4 inputs, full 3D compatibility for down the road, two optical inputs, composite inputs, and more.
What is not so hot are the "frills". I say "frills" because they are not so frilly. The alternate listening modes are mostly useless- just like they were 5 years ago. The on unit display looks very, very dated, and the remote is even worse than before. In fact, the display and listening modes are identical to my old unit. After setup, dont expect to be pressing more than about 4 buttons on the full-sized remote unless you have other Onkyo components- this remote is NOT universal. This unit does support some "control via HDMI" functionality, so depending on your TV you may be able to sync them to some degree and use one remote for most casual functions on both devices. It also does not upconvert lesser video inputs to HDMI, which is nice to have, but nobody really does that very well until you get into the much higher price points anyway.
But who really buys one of these for a remote and boring sound effects? Not me. I bought this for one reason only: Onkyo quality sound. And this unit does not disappoint. Aside from just sounding great, the functional aspects of this unit are absolutely rock solid and do exactly what you would expect from Onkyo. For the money, I dont know how you could beat this unit. You get Onkyo's top notch, no nonsense audio performance and everything that comes along with HDMI 1.4. Auto a/v sync is here as is deep color if your TV and other components support them. You will be ready if 3D really takes off, or if the reasonably priced HDTV's keep getting much better within the next 3-5 years. This budget unit can grow with your home theater as the industry evolves over the next few years, and keep sounding great the whole time- which is big plus considering where we are in the technology cycle. Onkyo really got it right this year with this model at this price point.
I fully recommend this unit to anyone looking for solid 5.1 surround at this price point that they dont want to throw away in 2 years.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Onkyo TX-SR308 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black)

At the budget-conscious end of the home entertainment spectrum, you’re looking to maximize performance and features without putting undue strain on your finances. At Onkyo, we get it. That’s why we’ve redefined the entry-level A/V receiver once more, with the high-value TX-SR308. Not only is it ready for the 3D video future—thanks to its HDMI 1.4 specification—but it also handles high-definition lossless audio codecs from Dolby and DTS. Advanced A/V processing on a bedrock of classic Onkyo engineering is complemented by a bevy of convenient features: a new overlaid On-Screen Display for easy adjustment of settings; a Universal Port for single-cable connection of peripherals; and a front-panel audio input for direct connection of iPods and other MP3 players. With the TX-SR308, you get a home theater centerpiece ready to drive the latest high-def entertainment sources, today and beyond.

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Pioneer VSX-520-K 5.1 Home Theater Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I ordered this for a friend as a replacement for a Panasonic SA-HE70 (which got good reviews a few years ago). He isn't disappointed. He now is set for both 3D and blu-ray HiDef. With his Bose speaker system, he doesn't need much power, but this little receiver seems to have alot of it for the money.
This is Pioneer's bottom of the line, but don't let that fool you. It has 3 HDMI 1.4a inputs, decodes Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Audio, and Dolby Pro Logic IIz, is Blue Tooth ready (need adapter), and 3-D video ready. Quite a bargain for $200.
Cons: Spring Clips for surround sound speakers (binding posts for the mains).
If you don't connect with HDMI, DVD audio is monitored thru the "CD" connection. It took a little while to figure this out -causing much anxiety.
If you want a basic surround reciever that is fully capable of supporting all current forms of video and audio, you could do alot worse than the VSX-520-k, and, for the money, you would be hard-pressed to do better.

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Key Features are 110 watts X 5, Dolby True-HD / DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Pro-Logic IIz Height Channel Decoder,Phase Control. The Auto Level Control is 2 Channel. Sound Retriever – 2 channel. Bluetooth Ready with optional AS-BT100 HDMI 1.4 x 3, 3-D Ready, Deep Color & x.v. color. Component Video Inputs (2 in / 1 out) , Front Mini Portable Input, Audio Inputs (4 in / 1out - includes Tuner), Audio/Video Inputs (3 in / 1 out), Digital Inputs (3 - 1 coax / 2opt), Dolby PLIIz Pre-Out, Glossy Black Cosmetic, System Remote Control

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