Customer Reviews

Onkyo HT-S7100 7.1 Channel Receiver and Speaker Package

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This is probably one of the best "home theater in a box" setups you'll run across. The receiver is the 606 model which has been very well received by most reviewers. It will accept pretty much any type of input and output it via HDMI so you can cut down on the spaghetti-nest of wires. The speakers are pretty good for this price point. No, it won't put a high-end system to shame, but it will hold its own (and unusually surpass) pretty much anything in this price range.

The sub is better than I expected. Good, solid bass. It's a down-firing setup which is nice if you have pets that like to mess with speakers.

The receiver runs pretty hot, as is typical with Onkyo systems. Make sure there is lots of ventilation (i.e., don't put it into a closed media cabinet).

It also includes stands for the front L/R speakers which is a nice touch, and adds to the overall value. It does not, however, come with a DVD player. But, that's a good thing - you're far better off putting the money into a better quality receiver such as the 606 than getting a system that includes a DVD player with a lesser quality receiver.

The model below this (6100) is very similar. The receiver is virtually the same -- different model number, but the specs are 95% the same. The biggest difference is that the 6100 does not include speaker stands. If there's a big price difference, the 6100 may be a better choice if you don't need stands.

I use this as a home theater/music setup in my basement, and have been very pleased with it. It does not sound as good as the Denon/KEF setup in the LR, but it produces solid quality sound. I have a Wii and a DVD player hooked to it, with the output being a single HDMI cable to a Samsung LCD.

Setup is very straightforward. The most time consuming part is running wires for the back speakers. There are some systems out that have wireless back speakers, but those come with their own set of problems as well (such as interference with wireless routers). Plus, unless you're willing to spend a lot more, wireless speakers in this price range will not perform nearly as well as traditional wired speakers.

Speaking of wires, the only disappointment with this setup was the speaker wires that were included. Very small gauge wire - toss them, and get some decent 16 (or perhaps even 14) gauge wire from monoprice.

If you are looking to keep the cost of a home theater setup to under $800, this system should be on your short list. If you're looking to spend more there are better choices, but this is a great value for the price.

One last thing - the box is heavy!! It comes well-packed, but the total weight is 100+ pounds, so have a hand truck ready!

I would say perfect for movies and games, pretty solid for music. Music sounds great at higher volumes but if you're an apartment dweller like myself and not a complete jerk you won't always be able to crank it up high enough to fully enjoy it. Mid volume sounds good. Low volumes the sounds get jumbled and a bit muddy.

I wanted a receiver that would be fairly future proof but given my current constraints (non-HD TV but has component inputs) would still do the trick. This setup works like a champ. The 2 fronts and center channel are noticeably heavier than the rear speakers and can deliver better performance (good for stereo music listening). The on-screen display for controlling your ipod and setting up the system only outputs on HDMI but it's hardly a deal breaker if you're waiting to get an hdtv since the on-receiver display works just fine for setting it up. I live in an apartment and can pretty well see my ipod from the couch so I'm not to worried about on-screen control of it...all in good time. The optical and coax audio inputs, as well as the component video inputs are all assignable (the only thing you can't change is the name).

Setup is very quick except for running the speaker wire. I'd upgrade the wire since it's a ridiculously useless gauge and likely not long enough for your rear speakers anyway. The stands are pretty sweet but annoyingly come pre-wired with the crap wire. You'll need some pliers to yank a rubber plug that keeps the factory wire attached to the stand. Something I wondered before buying them was if there was anything preventing you from using the stands on the rear speakers instead of the fronts...there isn't so that's a decent solution if you've got an entertainment center and don't want to have to buy 2 more stands or 4 if you set up the whole 7.1 (I opted for the 5.1).

The auto speaker calibration works like a champ and the mic is tripod-mountable...Only takes about 4 minutes. The listening modes are pretty sweet. I like how the remote has a separate portion dedicated to TV controls (volume, Input, power, channel). The supplied remote can be coded to work with an xbox 360 though it lacks a back button. If you're just playing a dvd you can navigate to that screen and once in the movie can do pretty much anything you can with the xbox remote (hit display, change subtitles, change tracks, etc.)

Anyways, I'm sure I'll get unleashed on with comments for buying a dts-hd and true-hd decoder setup for a standard-def tv with no blu-ray player, and I'm only using 5 of the supplied 7 speakers, but like I said, I bought this with an eye to the future and know that it holds its own with my setup and with more expensive setups. I bought mine for 580 total from J&R (though I think they stopped selling them). I saw them for $599 w/ free shipping and no tax on Newegg. Happy Hunting.

All in all I would have to say this is a great entry level home theater system. HDMI audio/video throughput, component upscaling with HDMI output, ipod dock, universal remote, 7.1 with 2 nice speaker stands, 10" subwoofer, etc...

Since all of my hookups were HDMI / component, setting up the receiver using the default settings was pretty simple. It took about 1 hours to unpackage everything and another hour to carefully set it up. Pretty staight forward though.

Setting up the remote took another 30 minutes or so... Figuring out how to put the receiver in "standby" mode so I could use the TV without turning on the tuner took a little reading and messing around, but I figured it out.

At first, I got a few intermittent static lines that would show up when switching between TV / Game / Standby, but it cleared up after a couple of days and I haven't seen it since.

The subwoofer produces great bass. I was hesitant to get a 10" instead of a 12", but this sub is definitely adequate. I had to turn the power on the back of the sub to about 1/2 power...and it still rattles the walls.

Pros: Overall, great entry level receiver with input/output options that should last the average owner for some time. Nice packaging...delivered by Amazon with no problems. Nice looking speakers & sub. Decent instruction manual.

Cons: As mentioned, pretty lame speaker wire. It's Ok for the fronts / center, but you will probably have to invest in wire for the sides / rear because they probably aren't long enough (or thick enough for longer distances).

Cons: Remote seems kinda cheapo, but it's not too bad. No back lighting. It would be nice if it was programmable (learning) to handle the few buttons it doesn't recognize.

Overall, I'd say you won't find a better deal for this quality of system...from a reputable company (Onkyo).

Buy it.

The Onkyo HT-S7100 package is great for a starter 7.1 system, but I found the speakers to be largely a disappointment.

The bad: Bass is muddy from the powered sub. The side surrounds and rear surround speakers have fewer drivers than the fronts and center and are physically lighter. The speaker grilles are not removable (I guess the manufacturer is pretty embarassed to show these cheap drivers). The speaker wire is pretty poor, but on par with the make of the speakers. And as mentioned in some other reviews, the light on the sub is too noticeable- a well placed piece of black electric tape is needed to tone it down. iPod dock is not compatible with the video from an iPod Touch, audio is fine though.

The good: The system is extremely well packed into 1 large box. This got to me in Hawaii without even a dent. The included TX-SR606 with its 4 HDMI inputs is great. I don't care for the remote too much, and I don't like the slightly audible clicking noise the receiver can make when changing signal processing to Dolby, etc... but all in all I think it is a fine product for the money. The look of the system is really very attractive. The speaker stands are sturdy, very nice looking, and mount the speaker well. Included iPod adapter contributes well to making this package a nice value. The speakers have a threaded mount on the back and can accept an omni-mount threaded bracket perfectly.

Conclusion: Great out of the box starter system with a hard-to-beat value for the money. Audiophles should buy the Onkyo receiver seperate, and get some more serious home theater speakers. If the successor to this system has improved speakers with removable grills and better binding posts this would be a fantastic package.

This system sounds great and was relatively easy to setup. The included calibration microphone really made a difference in the final settings. Cosmetically the speakers look sleek and the receiver is a beast. The receiver is actually the TX-SR606 paired with a speaker set as opposed to a HTIB with pieces one couldn't upgrade in the future. Great product and well worth the price.

I've had the Onkyo S7100 for quite some time maybe for 9 months now and really enjoying it. To me this is the perfect HTIB (home theater in a box) that comes with a 'real' receiver, the SR606. (note: don't know any new models that came out for Onkyo now since i was really satisfied with S7100 that didn't even care for newer models if there are any.) This was perfect for me since, i was looking for a simple easy set-up home theater system that already comes with speakers and subs and and will give me room in the future to upgrade the speakers if i wanted to (Polk). This HT system gives me that flexibility. I have my PS3, 52A550 Samsung and a PC connected to the receiver using HDMI and everything works perfectly. This to me allowed me to step over completely into the HD world enjoying both 1080p HD video and the HD audio coming from blurays. I liked the simple set-up using the included mic, front speaker stands,bought gauge 14" wires, wall speaker mounts and banana plugs from Monoprice and i was all set. I only have it set-up right now as a 5.1 (room layout constraints in new home) and I am enjoying the sound coming out it. I really enjoy watching movies and playing games with it filling my room with nice crisp sounds and full rich bass. Now i even re-watch movies just to listen and enjoy the sound (ie. Dark Night, Iron Man, 300, Cars, Wolverine). I even tried using Magic Mic (videoke console) connected to it and it is a blast singing with it, feels like singing in a concert hall or karaoke suite if you ever been into one, anyway just wanted to share that bit of info. I got the unit from [...] as a refurbed unit for a little over $[...] and the package came like it's brand new and is perfect. The price as it is makes it a great buy already and for the price i paid made it a better buy. I'm a very practical person that really looks for the best value for performance (did a lot of research) and for the home theater stuff, S7100 gets it done for me.

Easy to setup. Sounds good no matter how you configure your speakers. I tried it in 2.1, 5.1, and 7.1. All configurations sounds very lovely.

Pros: best bang for your buck, great for small rooms, simple easy setup, more features than you'll probably ever use.

Cons: receiver generates a lot of heat, speakers seem pretty cheap, speakers don't sound that good in large rooms (sounds great in my 15x25 office vs. sounds horrible in my 2 story loft sitting room), remote isn't very appealing (get a universal and setup some macros)

Received this as a Christmas present from my wife to replace a 4 year old 5.1 surround sound system. Because of my work schedule and having to do a complete rewire for the new Onkyo system, I've only within the last week finally gotten it completely installed and running. WOW, it's a fantastic system. I'm using it with our 50" Samsung plasma 1080p HDTV (#PN50A550).
What I really appreciate is that the Onkyo has 4 HDMI inputs and I have 4 devices to run to the TV but only 3 hdmi inputs on the TV. I'm running a DISH HD receiver (#612) with their total HD package, a PS3, a Philips DVD/DVR recorder/player with HD upconversion, and an XBOX360 with an XCM HDMI adapter. The Onkyo receiver handles it all seamlessly; setup was a breeze (though make sure you read through the manual, there are some helpful setup advice tips that are important to know).
The automated speaker calibration setup was dead on; speakers work perfectly for great immersive surround sound. The speakers are not top of the line but work more than adequately with 606 receiver.
Read alot of reviews since getting this for Christmas and notice a lot of complaints about excessive humming and buzzing from the system and also a lot of complaints about excessive receiver heat problems. I've got to say that I've haven't experienced any of these problems with my setup. There is NO humming or buzzing and while the receiver does get warm, it's slight to almost imperceptible.
Couldn't use the speaker wires that came with the unit as my surrounds and back surrounds were longer than the wires they gave. Fact is I wouldn't have used them anyway; too poor a gauge for good sound. I ordered 12 guage speaker wire from Monoprice; I'm sure that's helped with the excellent lossless sound quality I'm getting from all the speakers. Also, I've attached ferrite cores to all four of my HDMI inputs to the Onkyo receiver and one to the HDMI input on the TV. It can only help keep everything clear. Make sure you use good HDMI cables; I'm using Iogear Series 1000 ultimate Home Entertainment HDMI v.1.3b 3 meter cables (9' long, like the extra footage), they"re really good and reasonably priced.
The Onkyo receiver passes HD signal flawlessly to our plasma TV through all four inputs and both my wife and I have noticed an upconversion improvement from some of our standard definition signals as well.
Finally, I've got to say I couldn't be more pleased with the sound quality, crystal clear, even hearing things I never heard from old 5.1 surround system. This is a great HTIB that's "cutting edge" for all the latest HD sound formats coming on the scene. It'll provide long lasting awesome surround sound for years to come. My wife did her research on this one and scored big with a great choice; I couldn't be happier. Good job Onkyo.
UPDATE 2-15-09
Finally figured out how to pass signal to TV from all hookedup devices through the Onkyo receiver while in Standby mode.
Setup (enter)
Hardware (enter)
HDMI (enter)
Control (enable)
Power Control (enable)
Setup complete.
Now: On remote control press power button. Chose input mode (DVD, VCR/DVR, CBL/SAT, GAME/TV) you wish to use. Press power button again. Onkyo receiver is now off and you can use TV's speaker system. To switch from current input mode to another, press power button again then press "receiver" button under "remote mode" on controller. You can now chose different input. Whole process needs to be repeated this way to bypass receiver to use TV speakers with different inputs.
Real plus when you don't want to use surround sound system to view TV...like on Saturday mornings when you don't want to wake your wife who's sleeping in (wise choice).
UPDATE 3-4-11
Whoa. HDMI input nightmare. One by one over the time of owning this, starting about 6 to 8 months ago, 3 0f 4 HDMI inputs on receiver have quit working. On-line research shows this is an ongoing problem that has developed with this receiver. Some forums have even suggested a class action suit because there's been so many that have failed. I opted to replace with a Yamaha RX-V667 rather than fix. Beware, and Onkyo is not at all sensitive to the issue. Felt bad for my wife who gave this as a gift to me. She tried, Onkyo didn't!

I had ordered a HT-S9100, but that package came in damaged and had to be refused. Due to a waiting period of 2-3 months for a replacement, I ordered the HT-S7100 7.1. It was $200.00 less and it was shipped in 3 days. The system was easy to set up and as with all the Onkyo reviews I have read the speaker wire was cheesey. The receiver is a beefed up SR606 which had good reviews from C-Net. The speakers sound good and look good (made of plastic)and the subwoofer is great. The receiver has 4 HDMI inputs and 1 out. All in all I think I got a good system that was matched for me by Onkyo.

So I bought this when it was less than $699 last week. Got it on Friday. Hooked it up, which was simply a little time consuming, but not a royal pain in the rear. Relatively simple getting everything connected, etc.

I ran the automatic speaker set up, but based on the weird configuration of my living room, it didn't come out too great. The rear surrounds were WAY too high and the fronts were way too low. No problem, because there's a manual set up. I fine tuned it to fit my room and it sounds fantabulistic now.

HD TV sounds great. When MTV's Palladia is running concerts on it, this sucker sounds so friggin sweet! Blu Ray sounds great. Still haven't checked into the iPod thing yet, but I will soon.

I'm absolutely loving this set up. I'm going Onkyo all the way from now on. Highly recommend this one to anyone on a budget looking for an HTIB.


** Update 3/2/09 **
I'd like to add one thing to this review... the HDMI pass-through does seem to slightly degrade the video quality of the picture, but it's very minimal. While I notice it, some folks might not.

** Update 12/22/09 **
Ok, so I've had it less than a year and there are already issues. Approximately two or three months ago, I noticed the receiver would show "no signal" when I'd turn it on in the morning to watch the news. I thought the HDMI cable might be to blame, so I swapped it out. No good... same problem the next day. So, then I thought it was the cable box and figured I'd deal with it for awhile before calling the cable company. THEN... a few days later, it did the same thing with the XBOX360... and then the BluRay player. ALL of them are hooked up through the HDMI ports. So, obviously, this pointed to the receiver.

Turns out that it happens when the receiver is cold, or unused for periods of more than an hour. If it's 'warm', it works fine (for now). However, when you let it sit off overnight, it's a guarantee that it will give you a fit when you turn it on. I have to wait up to ten minutes sometimes for the signal to finally be recognized.

After putting up with it for so long, I decided to finally check the net to see if there are others out there with the same issues. Lo and behold, there ARE! [...] Go there and do a search on Onkyo HDMI. You'll find plenty of forum threads about all sorts of Onkyo receivers with the same issue. Not just the one that comes in this package. And plenty of people have been waiting longer than a month or more to have their receivers fixed by Onkyo due to the backlog on the HDMI daughterboards (which appear to be the source of the problem). And then there are countless others who have finally had their units repaired only to suffer the same problems within a month or two. WTF, Onkyo? I thought you people were dependable? Guess not!

My recommendation? Buy a Panasonic receiver or package in this price range. Bypass Onkyo... completely. Even if they take their stuff back to repair it, it'll take forever, and they probably won't permanently fix it... so why bother? They suck.