Great sound, plenty of power, even with 4 ohm speakers.
Wonderful lighted remote.

complicated set up

After using the Yamaha for 4 years, and listening to DVDS in Pro-Logic only for 1 year I decided to step up to Dolby Digital and DTS.
The difference is amazing, no more blurred imaging. Sound is much cleaner for movies.
I really enjoy the 5 channel stereo, for non-surround software.
Even though Onkyo cautions against using speakers less than 6ohms, it pushes my 4 ohm Infintys with ease.

Used with
Yamha cd changer
Pioneer casette deck
Sharp HI-FI VCR
Sony DVD player
Infinty Kappa 7 mains
Infinty SM 102 surrounds
Infinty BU 120 subwoofer (150 watts)
JBL center (upgrading to Infinty soon, this is the odd man out. I have a lot more $$$$ in speakers than electronics)

I have noticed that the tuner section is much better than the Yamaha was.

This is a great performing receiver for av enthusiasts whose budget is not unlimited, great price at CC.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha rxv 690

Awesome DD5.1 and DTS, 5ch Stereo, HEAVY

At this price, none

This is a very solidly built amp. I toiled over this purchase for months and months, reading all of the reviews and finding the best price. Almost got the Yamaha 596, but it didnt have 5 channel stereo. This is a nice feature that I like alot.

First of all to settle the question "is 70 watts enough?". Well, to get ear splitting volumes this unit needs to be turned up close to max. Get it?? Ear splitting!! Do you need to go past that? The unit does not distort as so many do at the top of their volume so what does it matter..I usually get in trouble from my wife at just half that volume anyway, but thats my personel hell.

This reciever does everything so well. The DSP's are good but you will probably find that you dont use them all that much anyway. DD 5.1 and DTS are just phenominal and CD's played in stereo sound good too. It is built like a tank with proper power supply and transformers. Not like week ass Sony sh*t. The remote is the best you will find in this price range. It is a learning remote so setup will take a while, but in the end it will control all your stuff. The key is that it is backlit. This is a must!!!!! What good is a remote if you cant see it watching a movie in the dark.

In conclusion, this is a good reciever, plays crystal clear, has lots of connections, is very loud, and has a nice remote. Of course, you could get a more powerful nicer reciever, but it will cost ya. This one is a good value and will suit most home theater peoples needs.

Similar Products Used:

Dennon, Yamaha, Kenwood

5 channel stereo, remote, PRICE-vs-VALUE

none found yet

Thank you to all who came before me. You helped a lot with my final decision. I must say I researched this purchase more than any other. This was my first real stereo purchase. I hope I can answer some of those questions that had me stumped early on.

You can tell a lot by the weight of a receiver. This one weighs in just under 30 lbs. Don't be afraid to pick them up while your at the stores. Typically the heavier the receiver, the better the power supply and heat sinks. Compare weights from model to model. For the money, you will find this one to be right up there with those that cost a lot more.

I hooked this up to my new surround sound speakers. I bought Definitive Technology ProCinema 80 system ($900 at Pecars). It has ProMonitor 80 fronts and rears (150 W each), ProCenter 100 (175 W) and an incredible ProSub 80 (250 W).

Next look at the power ratings. This one has 70 watt continuous (i.e. minimum power) and 90 watt peak (maximum). For a total rating of 350 W. Believe me, it is more than enough for the entertainment end user. I use the system almost every day and don't even come close to maxing out the volume (even when the fiance is not home!). I have had it up to full volume with no distortion. Stereo/CD sound is
superb, especially with 5 ch stereo. And the DVD/VCR surround sound is just incredible.

Be careful while your shopping. It is really hard to rank a receiver using lots of different speakers. I would choose speakers that most closely resemble what you have at home. Also bring your own CDs. Play your favorite songs and listen
for the subtle differences. Mostly this applies to buying speakers but it is the best way I can find for testing receivers too. Listen to the different equalizer presets like 5ch-stereo, studio-mix, etc. And as always, check out the user reviews.

I had thought about buying one of those 'pre-assembled' systems (i.e. ones that come with speakers and receiver for $600). But once you listen to them, you realize you would be just throwing away the money. This system cost me around
$1450 with speaker stands and wiring. It is worth every penny.

Do spend time reviewing the hook ups on your current equipment (i.e. digital/coaxial outputs, etc). I found that this receiver had plenty hook ups to fit my needs. I feel that this receiver is an excellent buy for the novice and
even for someone looking to upgrade. Onkyo has a real winner here.

PS. At the time, I got a great steal at $350 bucks. But it looks like a few others were able to grab it for $300. Way to go.

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Reviewed Sony and Kenwood before this purchase.

Learing Remote, Banana posts for ALL speakers,
NO HISS, Clean power at high levels,
Easy setup

At this price, nothing

I've had the receiver for a couple weeks now and I haven't been disappointed yet. I've been only listening to Audio CD's for the moment so I can not comment on the 5.1 surround
sound just yet. The receiver is connected to Polk's R40(front)/R10(back)/CS175/PS250 speakers and it sounds just great. I'm not using the subwoofer for regular stereo sound but it still provides ample bass for my living room.

70 watts is more than enough for my living room (~500 sq ft) and has a nice clean sound at high levels.

The 5ch stereo mode is great for parties when you need some background music playing since the sound seems to come out of nowhere.

The programmable remote is great. I can finally get rid of the other TV/VCR/CD remotes and just use this one. The macro features of the remote are also real nice. You can program a series of commands into one keypress. This makes it easy to setup your system to play a DVD or CD.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a $500 receiver. Ignore complaints about not enough power, no component level switching, or no pre-outs. These are features that are in more costly models and would match up with more costly components. For $500 this is a very nice receiver with a well matched set of features.

I'm given it 4 stars only because I haven't tried out the 5.1 surround sound with a DVD just yet. Hopefully that will be coming after Christmas.

Similar Products Used:

Sony, Scott

Dolby Digital Sound

Low power, Complicated remote/setup

One heavy piece of equipment but it is better than plastic. Upgraded from a Sony STRDE 711 Pro Logic Receiver. What a difference. Took a bit of time to set up (2-3 hours) but what do you expect. Also purchased an Onkyo DV-S535 single DVD. WOW!! With Cambridge MovieWorks 308 setup, I can't believe the sound. AMAZING!! Makes you want to crank it up all the time...then you realize that you are closer to the max volume, which is 80, then you want to be. I am in a 10 X 10 room and this worries me.

Also use a Hitachi VCR, Denon single disk CD player (15yrs old and has never broken) and a 20" Sony Trinitron TV. 27" is the next big purchase. If you got the sound, you need the picture.

I was also considering buying a whole new Sony setup but I was talked out of it. Don't know if I made the right choice but I am impressed with what I have now. I might decide to upgrade to the Onkyo 676 but that is a lot more money for only an in crease of 15 watts per channel.

If you are in the market, give Onkyo a listen and you will be happy, just remember that you are going to get less power but better quality sound then you would on other setups (ex. Sony 945)

Time spent investigating: A couple of weeks
Information methods used: Cambridge Soundworks store, Audioreview.com, BestPriceAudioVideo.com- great help, Family, Crutchfield.com, Own intuition

Similar Products Used:

First Dolby Digital Receiver

S-vhs connectors on all video inputs/outputs, two digital inputs (each with coax and optical connectors), Bananna terminals on all speaker connectors, learning remote, fully lit remote, Re-EQ circuitry,

Power, composite video inputs are not channeled to s-vhs output. Digital inputs are not output to analog outputs. No component video inputs/outputs

While I was happy with my current receiver from a performance perspective, it lacked the state-of-the-art inputs (digital and s-vhs) to support a pending upgrade to an HDTV system. This receiver was purchased based on reviews in Sound and Vision magazine and comments on this board.

Overall, I'm happy with decision. My only major complaint is that inputs are only channeled to like-style outputs, so if you want to video tape something coming in on a digital or s-vhs input, you also have to hook up the analog audio and composite inputs (my current VCR lacks s-vhs input/output).

This also brought up a problem when hooking up to an HDTV set as the composite input is ignored when the s-vhs input is also plugged in, so my VCR output doesn't come through without pulling the s-vhs plug. This could be viewed as more the fault of the TV than the receiver, but it would be nice if the receiver upgraded composite inputs to s-vhs and could handle the digital audio inputs to analog outputs as well without all the additional wiring required to plug in all potential input types (digital/analog, composite/s-vhs).

For the price, these issues are not unexpected so I give this a strong recommendation based on the value and features, especially nice touches like Re-EQ normally only found on THX-class receivers.

very nice color

Flimsy case. Unit was completely flattened when I accidentally backed my Freightliner King-Cab over it.

The color of this here audio unit is nice. Not real black, and not real silver. Kinda' like a silver-black. Volume knob rocks, and the volume gets louder the more you turn it to the right. There are other knobs, but I don't know what they do. Most of them seem to have something to do with the sound the unit makes. How Onkyo they knew I was a big time fishing enthusiast, I don't know, but I noticed there is a special "bass" button! Next purchase for me is speakers for sure. But I need to have this unit worked on due to the fact that it now sits 1/2 inch high. Although I only have one speaker (taken from the reciever of my Motorola CB), no CDs, and weak FM reception, I am looking forward to some rockin' NPR on the local AM station when it comes in clear (usaully after 1:00 am). Bottom line, this thing blows the competition away as far as sound is concerned. They only need to make the case stronger.

Similar Products Used:

Atari, Commodore 64, Frogger

Well-rounded receiver!!

Possibly too awesome for a beginner's receiver

Skip the story if you wish…but if you’re an interested buyer, please read.

“I think I’m gonna get a DVD player” I said to myself one day. I knew all I needed was a TV with one RCA input. The picture was outstanding; it was better than any VCR could reproduce. When my DVD collection surpassed 15 titles, my craving for sight and sound multiplied. That’s when it was time to go crazy.

I decided to buy a Sony WEGA. The picture was great, I connected my DVD player via S-video, and I connected some Bose amplified speakers to the DVD player’s audio output. Although my friends were more than impressed, I still yearned for more. When I packed up to go off to college, I expanded my horizons.

My hall mates crowded around to admire my setup—by that time I was up to 34 DVDs and I had component video cables hooked up. The sight aspect was taken care of. Now all that was left was sound. With the miracle of the Ethernet, I learned more about a/v receivers and speakers than I could handle. Along with Crutchfield’s help, I came upon audioreview.com, which has really helped me to make my choices. It was made clear exactly how to hook up 5.1 Dolby digital via that little optical output I always wondered about. After finding 5 speakers at the right price (check out my other reviews) I got on the phone with Crazy Eddie to order the amp. I totally knew that the Onkyo TX-DS575X was the receiver for me—great price, wonderful reviews, and multitudinous capabilities.

I was having a bad day; nothing was going my way. Then I went down to check the mail. BOOM! My Onkyo had arrived! I told my roommate to get ready because it was GO time! I knew exactly how to make the connections provided that I studied the picture of the 575X’s rear panel. After unpacking the speakers I had sitting in boxes for a week, cutting the speaker wire, and making the proper connections, I powered up the 575X and played a christening scene from The Fifth Element. I was blown away (and the RA was about to blow me away because he was pissed!). Now it’s been two months. I’m up to 41 DVDs and I’m a little deafer. I’ve experienced nearly all of the 575X’s possibilities:

1. EASE OF USE. Beautiful green display, large, foolproof buttons, knobs, and labels, nice manual.
2. QUALITY CONSTRUCTION. Brick house! Solid, heavy, aluminum, steel, sturdy. Does not run hot at all…even when watching Matrix at volume 70!
3. FLAWLESS DOLBY DIGITAL AND DTS DECODING. Has coaxial and optical inputs…I went optical since light at 3x10^8 meters per second is faster than the electron flow of a coaxial cable.
4. LEARNING REMOTE CONROL. Probably the best remote made, I’d buy another one if I could…just hold up other remotes to it and the Onkyo’s universal remote will learn. Also lights up nicely.
5. 5 CHANNEL STEREO & OTHER DSP MODES. The 5ch stereo option is amazing…the dorm shakes; the girls upstairs kinda like it.
6. TWEAKABILITY. You can set up each speaker in order to balance sound. For example, my left main is partially blocked by my desk so I added 2dB to it in order to compensate for the other speakers.
7. SEVERAL INPUTS & 5-WAY BINDING POSTS. 5.1 input, 5 S-video inputs, 4 video inputs, 6 audio inputs, 1 phono input, 2 coax, and 2 optical inputs. 1 S-video output, 2 video outputs, 1 subwoofer output, 2 audio outputs. Not to mention B-speaker terminals and AM/FM terminals. All are arranged simply and beautifully.
8. POWER. 70watts per channel may sound weak, but it really kicks! I once read a nice review by Dan Coleman that compared 100W receivers to this one: “The 70watts plays like the 100watts from Sony and Kenwood. Maybe the industry should standardize the way they rate this stuff.” I agree.
9. DISTORTION. There is none. 0.08% THD at 8 ohms to 5 channels is an understatement. Don’t be fooled when a receiver is advertised with low THD because they may be referring to THD to 2 channels, which is typically lower than THD to 5 channels.
10. OTHER GOODIES. The 575X can be programmed to turn on with the same volume every time (Power-on volume function), so if you turn it off with the volume really high, It has the capability to turn on at a SANE volume of your choice. FM stations can be “muted” to cancel out noise created by the transmission in order to provide clear sound.
11. VALUE. Go to pricescan.com to find the lowest price. You’ll be happy you did.

Obviously I’m going to give this receiver 5-stars. In addition to names like Denon and Marantz, Onkyo is deserving of audiophile recognition. I’d highly recommend the TX-DS575x. My next step is the subwoofer…you can kiss my enrollment at Miami University goodbye when that happens!

My System:
Fisher DVD-S1000
Onkyo TX-DS575X
TOSHIBA M675 (VCR)
SONY KV-27FS12
JBL S-CENTER
MISSION 704
MISSION 701

12 AWG Acoustic Research speaker wire (Model No. HT-222)
MOSTER CABLE MK1000 Video Cable
UltraLink Challenger Toslink
Various other RCA for other components (until I have money to buy good stuff)

Rock solid; no hissing;Ease of setup;

none yet

While this receiver is rated at 70 watts, with my Atlantic Tech, T70 speakers (which are 6 ohms) it puts out 90+ watts per channel. It puts out a very clean sound, with no hissing in the speakers. DD/DTS is unbelievable. I can rock the house with no effort at all. The remote is pretty good, and can be programmed to replace all my other ones.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha RX750

Everything....

No THX

I'm very happy with my Onkyo, toooo good to own one!
Backlite remote...ooh...great!
AC-3 & DTS decode...oooh......YES!
Thank---GOD
GOD, must be told Onkyo to made 575x on the eigth-day..
GOD, tell them to made good product but charge less..
GOD, tell us to buy them peacefully...
GOD, say 575x sounds very good with my Mission 703 speaker.

BEST BUY...

OH...Yamaha.......nau....not again!
I don't want to see their so called technical support anymore!

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Sony STR-555e