clear sound,optic output

sometimes i turn the power on but there's no sound

Originally I intended to buy the 555 onkyo model, but the
salesguy told me that this 474 has almost the same features
at a cheaper price.Considering the price, I think its a
great value AV receiver. The sounds it produce are clean
and deep..I couldnt comment on the bass since I dont have
a subwoofer yet. I picked the onkyo brand reciever over
Pioneer and Denon coz of the optic input, coz its an easy
to connect my soundcard, minidisc, dvd and playstation 2
into it and lessens some of the noise. The only problem I have is when sometimes I open it and no sounds come up, I think its a temperature problem coz I initially put this
reciever near an air conditioner, but since I moved it
away the problem just stopped. And another thing that
annoys me is that the volume levels tend to chage depending on the source. Whenever I play audio cd's the volume is kinda high so i have to lower the volume, but when I play dvd's, I need to crank up the volume real high just to hear
the sounds. I dont know if its a defect or if all amplifiers are like that coz im not an audiphile. Anyways if someone else have problems like this pls e-mail me.

Similar Products Used:

Wharfedale Diamond speakers, Pioneer DV-535K

clear sound,optic output

sometimes i turn the power on but there's no sound

Originally I intended to buy the 555 onkyo model, but the
salesguy told me that this 474 has almost the same features
at a cheaper price.Considering the price, I think its a
great value AV receiver. The sounds it produce are clean
and deep..I couldnt comment on the bass since I dont have
a subwoofer yet. I picked the onkyo brand reciever over
Pioneer and Denon coz of the optic input, coz its an easy
to connect my soundcard, minidisc, dvd and playstation 2
into it and lessens some of the noise. The only problem I have is when sometimes I open it and no sounds come up, I think its a temperature problem coz I initially put this
reciever near an air conditioner, but since I moved it
away the problem just stopped. And another thing that
annoys me is that the volume levels tend to chage depending on the source. Whenever I play audio cd's the volume is kinda high so i have to lower the volume, but when I play dvd's, I need to crank up the volume real high just to hear
the sounds. I dont know if its a defect or if all amplifiers are like that coz im not an audiphile. Anyways if someone else have problems like this pls e-mail me.

Similar Products Used:

Wharfedale Diamond speakers, Pioneer DV-535K

Pretty good quality. Lots of settings.

Not enough power for larger rooms. Not DTS built in.

It is a very good choice, and one of the best buy. I do not have problems this AV receiver. I love it.

Crisp clean sound, more than adequate power for 13' x 20' room, high value to $$ ratio

Remote, spring clip speaker connections

Picked up this unit at hifi.com packaged with Cambridge Soundworks Movieworks 308 TH speaker system. Great clean sounding system and easy to set up, I particularly like the method of balancing the entire 6 speaker system from the remote. The 50 watt powered sub does a great job on both movie sound tracks and smooth jazz. Front panel controls are all convienient and simple to learn.

Shortcomings, remote only works with other Onkyo devices, small print that is hard to read in dim lighting. No S-video input/output, I could have used another set of analog inputs, unit does not have cable input that could be used on output side of cable box.

Overall a lot of reciever for the money, anything I found in shopping that was much better was a lot more money.

Similar Products Used:

old JVC

The sound quality of this receiver is great, especially for music. I use two very inexpensive floor speakers as front (KLH 9912) and another two old KLH 900B as rear, JBL FLX 10 as center. I have not tried DVD yet so I cannot comment on its Dolby Digital effect. Two drawbacks: 1. the remote control is designed for some components which I don't have: say, Onkyo CD, tape, etc. These take a lot of space on the remote control panel and are just a waste. 2. It does not have S-video. I got it from a local CC for $300 (+26 tax). Overall rating is 5.

Value, ease of use,pre-amp outs for bottom of line product

Not enough digital inputs, Slight hum, useless dsp's. (who has heard of any good ones besides B&K's front/rear stereo.

I jumped into dd as only a slight enthusiast of home theater. I am more into music. I owned a Sony Pro Logic receiver which I absolutely hate. The sound is muddy, and the bass is lifeless and undynamic. the rear channels in Pro-Logic is weak. So much for the Sony, but that is what drove me to upgrade and take advantage of owning a dvd player. I purchased this receiver with the intention of never listening to music through it. so I did nort want to spend big bucks. I got decent value with my $199 purchase. The movies became more lifelike as I upgraded the front speakers and subwoofers as well as the rear channels. The center channel remained a DCM cc with 2 5.25 drivers with a horn for highs. The center channel could be better and may be the cause of the hum. I read through these reviews that the hum was caused by speaker mismatches. The hum is disturbing but not that noticeable. The sound upgrade was satisfactory but wasn't jumping out at me nor was the soundstage particularly accurate. Since it is unfair to compare them to B&K and Proceed, I will compare it to my Sherwood Newcastle R-925. I have always been a fan Onkyo for producing very good mid-fi equipment which was always as a compromise to hi-end equipment that is difficult to purchase AM (after-marriage). Onkyo provides that niche in the line as well as other companies like NAD, Yamaha , etc. The Sherwood Newcastle is actually in a different class than the Onkyo 474, but what a difference. The dialog and presence just overwhelms the Onkyo. I don't think I can go back to the Onkyo 474 after using the Sherwood Newcastle which is only average for music. I am planning to use this strictly as a pre-amp to see if this receiver has any value otherwise. I am planning to amp it with an HK PA5800 (very good-excellent). I would suggest anyone interested in HT forego this model and the 484 as well and go for a more expensive model so that their satisfaction would last longer. There are better values out there for HT especially from Sherwood at the same price. I cannot speak for their music value and other higher end products that are in that line. But out of all the Onkyo gear I have tried and listened to this has got to receive the lowest rating. It just doesn't cut it for HT, most people will want to upgrade shortly.

Similar Products Used:

Sherwood Newcastle R-925, B&K, Proceed

I just got this yesterday and I still can't believe what you get for $297.00 now days,thats right $297.00(plus S&H).the thing is amazing in Dolby Digital I have large 3-way speakers up front rated at 4 ohms and 90 db sens. and didn't have any problemes with it shutting down.I would recomend this reciever to anyone on a tight budget or not.I got it from J&R they matched the price that the happy medium gave me.the only problem I have now is pro logic stinks,and directv dosen't show enough Dolby Digital programing.get this reciever you won't be dissapointed.

I have had the best stereo I could afford for as long as I can remember. My 15 year association with lasderdiscs came
to an end last year when I bought a DVD player. Today I
replaced my Dolby Pro logic receiver with this. I was
looking at the Pioneer and Kenword at a similar price, but
I am glad I chose this one. Do not be taken in by the bells
and whistles and the higher power rating. Onkyo has always
been of a higher quality than those two, and this is no
different. No, its nothing fancy, but I was buying it for
the sound...and what a sound. I notice a difference with
the first movie I played (Godzilla).Onkyo's amplifier is
far cleaner than the Pioneer or Kenwood. Its THD is 10
times less than there's. If you are in the market in this
price range, don't buy the frills...go with the gusto.

After reading the reviews here I stumbled across a one hour auction for a brand new model and snatched it for $205 (S&H, tax included). I just ordered it and couldn't wait to check it out so I went to CC. It was $360. This is an incredible receiver. 55 per channel is very conservative. It is clean and loud. I can't wait for it to come. If you want this, webauction always has them for $249, and they've been showing up at their 9 pm EST 1-hour auctions. Good luck. I think I got an incredible deal.

The Onkyo TXDS474 receiver is very affordable and with dolby digital output and dts surround ready, whatelse you can ask for more....and it's output is 100W/ch making it sound powerful and when it connects into a dvd player, you can experience the movie theater sound at home. Though it is not as solid as the TXDS747 which is rated 4 stars by the What HiFi magazine, i find that this receiver really gives the sound and power you want. i give it 4.25-4.5 rating.