Home Theaters

Now and then, a choice comes up which makes sense right away, yet allows expansion capability and growth potential. It is not often that a Home Theater in a Box will be acceptable to any serious audio-video person.

Onkyo is a maker of decent quality gear – actually top of the heap of mid-fi – which is defined as equipment that has a name you know, and you don’t need a bank loan to purchase one piece. Seriously, the Onkyo name is a good one, and the company makes quality audio and video equipment.

The Onkyo HT-SP904 5.1-Channel Home Theater System is currently on sale at Crutchfield for 599.99, and comes with free shipping. If you hurry, you can get another $20 off by using a coupon code of “3A825″.  The unit has 110 watts for each of its 5 channels, and comes with acceptable quality speakers for each channel. The subwoofer comes with its own 230 watt amplifier. That is not as left-handed as it might seem. While most will want to do better, the desire to change the speakers won’t be at the front of your mind the entire time your listening to them.

The DVD playback, plentiful music options, and easy setup with Onkyo’s HT-SP904 will reinforce the purchase choice. The receiver’s advanced circuitry and high-current amplifier team up to deliver precise sound from the included speakers and subwoofer. The Onkyo-exclusive  Audyssey 2EQ auto calibration system makes setup a breeze  as the receiver automatically optimizes this system’s sound for your room, so all your stuff sounds great.  (This equalization usually costs quite a bit, and is not found incorporated into the system.)

Onkyo designed the DVD player to produce quality picture from your favorite movies, TV show box sets, and concert videos. For an HDTV with an HDMI input, the DVD player upconverts the signal from standard DVDs to match your set’s high-definition display. If your television has only one HDMI input, you’ll  appreciate the receiver’s 1080p-compatible HDMI switching capability. This allows hooking up the DVD player and a second high-resolution video component and switching between them easily, while maintaining the best possible picture quality for both. There are adequate audio/video inputs and outputs to accommodate your gear, including high-definition-capable component video.

the handsome components make a good addition to anyone’s living room or bedroom, and allows immediate enjoyment, while also making speaker upgrades a sensible decision, and not a waste of money.

the full feature remote makes being lazy easy, and allows precise control of the equipment

with this kind of flexibility, you’ll want to buy extra stuff to hook up!

While this doesn’t have the cachet of Audio Research or Threshold, it is very nice stuff, and the eventual replacement will lad to this being something the friends and relatives will draws straws for, rather that want to carry to the dump.

from the Crutchfield website

DV-SP405 DVD/CD player:
plays DVD-Video, DVD-R & DVD-RW, audio CD, CD-R & CD-RW, and MP3 and WMA CD
plays CDs encoded with JPEG digital photos
selectable 720p/1080i output via HDMI digital interface (separate adapter available for TVs with DVI input)
selectable progressive-scan playback for smoother video with HD-compatible TVs (via the component video output)
coaxial digital output for Dolby® Digital/DTS®/PCM
1 set of A/V outputs (composite, S-video, and component)
17-1/8″W x 2-3/8″H x 8-1/2″D
designed for use with “Region 1″ coded DVDs

Receiver:
built-in Dolby® Digital, DTS® & Dolby Pro Logic® II processing, for surround sound from DVD, VHS, and stereo sources
5-channel amplifier (110 watts x 5, plus 230-watt powered subwoofer)
Optimum Gain Volume Circuitry minimizes noise
Wide Range Amplifier Technology for high instantaneous current capability
H.C.P.S. (High Current Power Supply) Massive High Power Transformer
192kHz/24-bit digital-to-analog converters for all channels
adjustable crossover (40/50/60/80/100/120/150/200 Hz)
SIRIUS satellite radio capable (requires SIRIUS subscription and optional SiriusConnect™ Home tuner kit)
XM Satellite Radio Ready (requires XM subscription and optional XM Mini-Tuner package)
XM HD Surround-compatible
iPod dock included

Audyssey 2EQ auto calibration (microphone included)
5.1-channel audio input for connecting an SACD or DVD-Audio player
HDMI switching capable (2 in, 1 out) with 1080p video pass through — separate audio connection required
high-definition-capable component video switching (3 in, 1 out)
5 A/V inputs (including 5 S-video and 1 front-panel)
video output for TV (composite, S-video, component video, and HDMI)
digital inputs: 2 optical, 2 coaxial
full-size headphone jack
color-coded speaker connectors
17-1/8″W x 5-7/8″H x 14-13/16″D

Speakers:
2 front, 1 center, and 2 surround speakers
video-shielded
dual 3-1/8″ woofers and a 1″ tweeter
5-1/2″W x 14″H x 3-11/16″D (14″W x 5-1/2″H for center speaker)

Powered subwoofer:
10″ driver
bass-reflex enclosure
built-in 230-watt amplifier
10-13/16″W x 19-15/16″H x 16-3/16″D

General:
color-coded cables included for 5 speakers and subwoofer
audio/video and HDMI cables included
remote controls for receiver and DVD player
warranty: 2 years (1 year for DVD player)

All told, this is a great starter system, a great bedroom or den system, or a great graduation present for the child going off to college. Get one for yourself or someone else, you’ll be happy either way.

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