Customer Reviews

Onkyo TX-SR674 7.1 Channel Up-Converting A/V Receiver (Black)

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I bought this at Circuit City for $699, but it was worth it due to the financing offer along with the other equipment I bought along with it (Sony 46" XBR2 LCD TV, Harmony 880 remote, and some other miscellaneous Xmas gifts). You can definitely get it for much less on Amazon.

The performance is quite good. The sound is excellent. The automated speaker sound set up is simple and easy. The video processing is a little difficult to set up, but works well once it is complete. The main reason I got this was to run all my video sources through one machine and only have one cord running up my wall to my flat screen. I hate cords being visible and by converting everything to the HDMI cable, I avoid the usual jumble of cords.

The only cons are that the 674 only up-converts analog to 480i or in some cases 480p. So, other than up-converting the analog signals, it doesn't really up-convert anything else. It only passes along the digital signal at whatever resolution it is recieving it at - if 720p comes in then 720p goes out. As I understand it, this is really all you can do anyway, because up-converting a lower signal to a higher one does not really result in a better picture anyway - it pretty much will be equivalent to whatever the source resolution is.

The other issue is that this receiver is on the HDMI 1.1 format I beleive. Most up to date format is 1.3. Not a huge deal, but the more recent formats pass more signals, for example, SACD audio is not compatible with 1.1, but I think it is with 1.2 and above. Again, not a huge deal for my usage, since I am really using it for DVD and HD satellite and it passes all those signals with no problems. I am waiting to have my Directv HD DVR (HR20 is the model I think) installed in a couple weeks - my expectation is that this signal will pass through the Onkyo with no problems. Will update this comment if any negatives. Otherwise I definitely recommend this receiver.

My setup:
* Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR674.
* 5.1 Speaker setup - Polk Audio: Monitor 70 fronts + Monitor 40 Surrounds + CS2 Center + PSW12 Subwoofer.
I am thrilled with my new Onkyo TX-SR674. The feature that I love best is the single HDMI out to my TV. I can connect any component to the receiver and all I need is a single HDMI cable to my TV from the receiver - it doesn't matter if your video sources are a VCR, DVD Player, Cable, etc., all get routed through the single HDMI out to your TV. The setup was pretty painless and the HDMI switching feature works wonderfully. The receiver comes with Audessey auto-setup which takes care of setting up your speakers. The sound is awesome - my games, DVDs as well as my audio CDs sound amazing. Most of all, the price is awesome given the features.
The only points to note are:
* You have to read the manual to set it up - you can't setup from intuition to get the right sound and setup. You may need to research some of the technical jargon on the internet.
* It seems to generate some heat - make sure your cabinets are properly ventilated.

I really like this receiver. Even with my cheap $50 speakers, the sound is crisp and clear . This receiver has excellent speaker separation. The HDMI functions well; however, the skin tones have too much saturation going through the receiver. I adjusted the red tone down and now the picture on my 37in HD LCD tv looks great. My equipment hook-up was very easy too. The remote is great; it only took about 5 minutes to program all my component's codes. Everything works as advertised. I have my computer hooked up to this receiver and the sound is also good. Remember to read the manual well before hook up. I highly reccomend.

I'm running my Toshiba DVD into it with component video and coax audio, my old RCA VCR with video and stereo rca jacks and my Dish HD DVR with HDMI. Video output is the single HDMI to a Panasonic 1080i plasma. Picture quality is great. Sound is very good, even with my old Bose 301's and cheap kenwood suround speaker. The self adjust on the sound levels never worked, but manual adjustments went fine. The unit does run quite hot. I adjusted my home entertainment cabinet to give more air space around it and added holes to the back. The remote works for all my components basic commands, that's a first for any remote I have ever had.

Update-I've now had this for 2 years. I run a Panasonic BR and cable HD-DVR into the HDMI inputs. I upgraded the sub-woofer to a Yamaha powered sub-woofer. I use the remote speaker outputs for audio in the rest of the house.

I would like more HDMI inputs. But I still love that this is a switching unit for HDMI. BUT...the picture goes blank every once in a while for a few seconds. Other than that, it's still a great unit.

Agree with the previous post about the deficiencies of Zone 2. To only accept analog inputs is just ridiculous. I fumbled around for quite some time trying my DVD player (HDMI) and my cable box (HDMI) before I discovered this little fact when I finally tried the FM tuner (and later confirmed from the owners manual). To overcome this nonsense, I plan to try sending both analog and digital audio from my components to the receiver. Then maybe I can get the audio from say my cable box and my DVD/CD player on Zone 2.

I also find it annoying that when I fast-forward through my DVR content, the HDMI switching sometimes gets "No Signal" when I stop FF resume normal speed playback, and it can take 2-3 seconds for the thing to lock in and play anything. During that delay, the playback is progressing but I cannot see or hear it. Then, when I finally get something on-screen, I have to back up to see what I missed. I have no idea if this problem is unique to the Onkyo, or if this is a common HDMI switching issue...

The good: the audio setup is a breeze with the included microphone, the HDMI switching works fine with my HD sources (an up-converting DVD player and a DirecTV DVR), the audio and video quality are excellent. And the price is under $500.

The bad: there are only 4 video input ports available on the back of the unit. In spite of its having 4 composite, 3 component, and 2 HDMI ports, you can still only have a total of 4 in use. You assign component and HDMI ports to override a composite port.

The remote is really bad. Lots of really little buttons that change function based on what mode the remote is in, with nothing backlit. And it includes a "Test Tone" button (replaces the audio with a test tone rotating through each speaker) that you really don't want to hit by accident while watching a movie. This is located with the DVD control buttons.

I think that any HDMI-switching receiver is going to end up being replaced in a few years when you'll have more than one or two HD feeds. This is a very good choice for the interim.

The Onkyo TX-SR674 is an excellent home theater A/V Receiver, with all of the features I was looking for, with only one exception.....no phono input. However, that was an easy work around with a seperate pre-amp to one of the extra inputs. I used the extra rear speaker outputs to drive multi-room speakers for a whole house sound system.

The audio calibration system was easy to use and gave us great results in setting up the 5.1 speaker system in our family room.

From a user's perspective, the manual is a bit tedious to go through, however, once gotten everything set up, the receiver works like a charm. Overall the receiver is a great value.

I bought this to replace an old Sony 5.1 receiver, primarily to improve the sound and to run everything through the Onkyo while running a single HDMI cable to my Samsung LCD HD. I have a Dish Network HD DVR running into the receiver via HDMI, as well as a Samsung combo DVD/VCR.

Sound and picture are better than before. A comination of a great receiver and HDMI in place of component. I had two issues in the set-up.

1. I only have five speakers (plus sub) and no plans for seven. I tried to run the Audessy auto set-up and it kept failing. I called Onkyo and was told by tech support that I needed to attach my "rear" speakers to the "surround" inputs. I did, and the auto-set up then ran perfectly. Tech support was great. My only complaint is that the documentation didn't make this clear in the first place.

2. The Samsung unit is their newest combo recording DVD/VCR -- the DVD/VR357. I bought it to replace an older, non-HDMI DVD as well as a VCR that had given up the ghost. I connected it to the receiver via HDMI and could not get a clean signal onto the TV. I figured it might be a function of the HDCP protection. I hooked up component cables along with an optical audio cable and it worked fine. However, this was not my preferred way of connecting. Samsung tech support said it could be a bad cable, but more likely it was a function of the copyright function and/or inability of the components to make a proper "handshake." Their suggestion was to plug the Samsung directly into the TV instead of the receiver. Fortunately, the TV has a spare HDMI input but it kind of defeats my original purpose to do this.

Overall, happy. I am going to try another HDMI cable from a different supplier to see whether that works. If not I will just leave as is.

Added information: Tried a different HDMI cable. Didn't work either. It appears you cannot run HDMI out of a DVD player, into the Onkyo, and out to the TV via HDMI. Component works fine, though. When I break down and buy an HD DVD player or Blu-Ray I will just run it directly to the TV.

I have had this receiver for a little over a month and can honestly say that I am 100% satisfied. The automated setup system was very easy to operate and,in my opinion, substantially improved the sound quality of my 5.1 Definitive Technology Pro Cinema 1000 system. What I found especially beneficial was the high level of sound resolution at relatively low volumes. Let's face it, in a real world most listening is done at less than room shaking volume and that is where this receiver really excelled. Of course, it was also excellent at higher volumes as well. I also liked the fact that Onkyo offered this model in silver as well as black. Many receiver manufacturers only offer their product in black. All, in all, a solid grade A for the receiver.

After buying an LCD HDTV decided to upgrade my audio. Had a 5.1 system with a Harmon/Kardon, and Cambridge Soundworks speakers. Researched and watched the prices for a few months and decided on the Onkyo, and also upgrading the speakers. When the price of the upconverting Onkyo came down enough I bought it. Very good unit. The sound is noticeably better than with the Harmon/Kardon. Setup was not a snap, but not too hard. Just had to go through the manual, and be a little patient with trial and error. Also the Audessy speaker set up was easy. I'm only giving 4 stars because I couldn't run everything thing through the receiver's HDMI cable to the TV. As it turned out, the receiver had problems with accepting a DVI source. I was using a DVI to HDMI cable running from my ComCast DVR. The Onkyo wanted me to switch to component cable for the hookup. Given that, I only ran the sound through the Onkyo from the DVR with an optical cable and the video is connected directly to the TV from the DVR. Minor annoyance, but not a big deal. MY DVD player and Playstation hook right into the Onkyo and upconvert in one cable to the TV. Very nice. Main thing is the sound for tv shows is great. Onkyo has a proprietary mode for TV feed and it sounds pretty good. Also, big kudos to Amazon (as usual). Shipping was free and fast, and when I noticed two days after ordering the receiver that the price had dropped $90, I just called and they credited my account no problem.