Onkyo TX-SR608
The modern receiver has become one of the fastest evolving and technologically advanced elements of a home theater. Receivers can network with your LAN (local area network) for music and video streaming, decode a multitude of audio formats, many that have only existed for a few years, scale video, and even cook you breakfast. Okay, maybe not the last one but you get the idea. What about those who don’t need all those bells and whistles and want to save a few bucks? Onkyo has just released their new TX-SR608 receiver, which is designed to fill this niche without making its owners left wanting for more. This is the first in a line of new receivers with HDMI 1.4a switching to handle the new 3D TV standard, and comes to market for $599.
While situated in the lower third of the Onkyo line, the TX-SR608 offers a host of features sure to please the modern home theater fan, including Audyssey 2EQ speaker setup and room equalization as well as Dynamic Volume and Dynamic EQ to make low level listening more enjoyable. Audyssey DSX and Dolby Pro Logic IIz are included to allow one to add front height channels. The TX-SR608 boasts seven channels rated to output 100 Watts apiece, and if you only run a 5.1 system you can set the extra two channels to bi-amplify your front speakers or power a second zone, it even has an extra set of speaker connections to allow switching between a standard 7.1 or height or wide channel application or a second zone. Each channel is stable into speaker loads down to six Ohms. The TX-SR608 is THX Select2+ certified now when the prior Onkyo TX-SR607 was not. In order to meet THX specs the old 90-w amp section was replaced by a new more refined and more powerful amplifier 100 watt per channel section including discrete components and a three-stage inverted Darlington topology. The audio DACs were also upgraded to digital converters from Burr Brown.
The TX-SR608 offers a total of six HDMI 1.4a inputs, one front mounted, and one for output, all of which meet the new standard for passage of 3D content. This technology may be the next big thing in home theater, but to date it’s far too early to tell. I am an extreme early adopter of technology and even I don’t have a 3D TV, nor does anyone I know. Perhaps the lone Blu-ray (Monsters vs. Aliens) just isn’t enough to get me to buy a new TV and 3D capable Blu-ray player. Ironically I went to a local Best Buy to see if it actually did pass 3D content, only to find their display system was broken, so I can neither confirm nor deny whether this passes the new 3D standard but by all logic it should. Video is rounded out with composite (five in, one out) and component (two in, one out) S-Video doesn’t exist on this unit. Video sources are transcoded and scaled up to 1080p via HDMI thanks to the Faroujda DCDi Cinema chipset. There are seven stereo analog inputs, one front mounted and a tape and zone 2 preamp output, as well as two subwoofer outputs. Dual coaxial and optical digital inputs as well as an Onkyo universal port for connecting an optional HD Radio tuner or iPod dock are there too. A Sirius™ radio port, AM and FM antenna ports and a PC input round out the connectivity. There is no multichannel analog input or preamp output on the Onkyo TX-SR608. The on board AM/FM tuner allows up to 40 presets in its memory. Seven pairs of large screwdown speaker binding posts and another two click-on style are there as well. The unit weighs 25 pounds and measures just over 17 inches wide, roughly seven inches tall and 13 inches deep. The Hookup Unpacking the TX-SR608 was pretty easy, thanks to its relative lightweight form factor. The unit came solidly packed and all included accessories were present, including a programmable remote, albeit not backlit, both AM and FM antennas, the calibrated Audyssey microphone, manual, list of remote codes for the learning function of the remote. One thing I have grown to love about Onkyo is the included label sheet for your speaker wires. Sure, if you plan to set up your system once and never touch it again, you likely don’t need them, but I would still recommend using them just in case.
The unit has a solid aluminum face except for the large display across the middle of the face. The large volume knob is on the right, with a track pad for tuner presets and setup control. Buttons representing each source run across the front under the display, and above them, directly beneath the display are discreet surround mode buttons. On the left of the face is the power toggle, sixth HDMI port and headphone jack. On the bottom of the right side of the face is the Aux input with stereo analog, mini-jack, and composite video ports as well as the input for the Audyssey microphone. There are no hidden controls or drop down panels on the 608: what you see is what you get. The chassis is stamped steel, and the rear connectors are not gold plated. (partially reprinted from www.HomeTheaterReview.com)
Michigan Home Theater is based out of Oakland County, MI and is the area’s most popular audio – video specialty retailer. The company is a family owned and operated business offering top quality name proven products and a six month full labor guarantee on all custom home theater installation services. They offer home theater design services, professional sales, and custom installation and have been in business since 2001.
