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Review 3 of 215
Price Paid:
$700.00
from Electronic Express Summary:
After using this unit for two years, I am not ashmaed of what I have done! I started kicking myself when three months later, the NEW TXDS-787 came out, with an additional rear surround channel. The unit also had more digital inputs & outputs.
But you have to look at what you DON'T get, too. You lose Speaker B output. For me, that's huge, because I use my receiver for HT in the den with 5-spkr system, and for music in the living room, with a set of Polk towers. I have a One-for-All RF remote (goes through walls) and I can operate it from anywhere in the house. The 787, and now 797 model, don't let you run a separate room system without an additional amplifier.
Also, the 797 includes component video switching (777 only has S-Video) but if you are that concerned about video preservation, you should be running the shortest possible length of Component cabling directly from your DVD to your TV anyway!
I feel a real need to tinker with my sound system- I have a 14 band-per-channel equilizer (tried AudioSource 10-band 100 series, and hated it) but was mildly upset to find it only tailors the Main Speaker A channels. It doesn't affect center, surrounds, or Speaker B (in the other room). After a while, I learned to use this to my advantage- extra flexability! I am able to tune my fronts differently from my surrounds (volume and frequency change) which is very nice, since I do not have matched speaker components.
If you are the type who changes your car stereo bass & treble for almost every song that comes on, you are really going to want a separate EQ with this unit. The Bass control should be labeled a 'Muddiness' control, and Treble should be called 'Hiss' control.
I don't think I would have opted for another unit under $1000 - the unit is very versitile and allows many components to be hooked up in a number of different ways. I have my DVD player hooked up for full digital only under DVD input, and the same DVD player is hooked up in analog for Karaoke under Video1 input, so I never have to mess with input/ouput adjustments. I even have my Computer audio and video running though this receiver- very nice for MP3 (over 4000 songs on random-play = heaven) and downloaded movies.
HINT: Center channel hiss may be eliminated by turning off the lights- even lights in other parts of the house. Test this if you have the problem. Strengths:
Versatility and Control, ease of use (once you figure out how the pushbutton/rotary knob works), User can name the inputs (i.e. you can type in 'Pioneer DVD' to show up on the receiver when you are in DVD source mode) Weaknesses:
bass & treble controls are out of control- poor frequency points or something, center channel hiss in surround mode Similar Products Used:
Onkyo TX-844, Onkyo A-SV620
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