This receiver has good sound and fairly comprehensive switching features.

My unit has the dreaded hum in the center channel when using the surround modes

For all of those who have posted reviews stating that those who have reported the center channel hum/buzz are crazy...you're absolutely...WRONG! My unit has exhibited this problem since I first turned it on. The noise is only present when using any one of the surround modes. And it is pronounced enough that it can be heard from 10 feet away during quite passages in music or movie soundtracks. I was told by one of their tech guys that the problem was the receiver's proximity to my TV. However, after spending an hour to unhook everything and totally isolate the receiver from any electrical device, it exhibited the exact same problem. So much for the tech's theory!

I've contacted Onkyo on numerous occasions trying to seek resolution of this problem. Since I bought my unit from a non-authorized dealer, I was told that I'd have to pay for any fixes. However, I sent them an e-mail about two weeks ago and quoted quite a few people who have reviewed the product on this site and have the same problem. To me, this problem is in the design. Since it was a manufacturing problem, I feel that the authorized/non-authorized issue is a moot point and that they should fix the problem at their expense. I sent them a second notice a couple of days ago and have still not heard back from them. I am very dissatisfied with the lack of responsiveness I've received from Onkyo USA. Customer satisfaction seems to be very low on their list of priorities.

All of this is a shame, since overall, the unit is a great product...with the exception of the hum. If you are interested in purchasing one of these models, I highly suggest that you negotiate your best price with a reputable dealer with the promise that you may return the unit if it exhibits the humming problem. If they won't agree, I wouldn't buy an Onkyo product. These receivers cost too much money to have to put up with such petty problems. And I'm afraid that I wouldn't count on prompt service from Onkyo even if you did request warranty work. I know that all of this sounds like a vengeful review, but it's really not. If the receiver worked as it should, I would have given a glowing report. However, I think anyone contemplating the purchase of this model should be made aware of this problem before it's too late.

Similar Products Used:

Sony Pro-Logic receivers

Sound quality, power, on screen display

"joystick" on remote

This reciever is the best (in its price category) i have ever seen and listened. Setup is easy because of its on screen display, you just tap in speaker distances. Also it's D/A converter is very high quality. I didn't noticed any "hiss" sound even, when i turned volume to maxium.

Similar Products Used:

Rotel

5 channel stereo,osd,speaker terminals,remotes cool.

thats right hiss,buzz folks

for those of you who got one with no buzz,hiss sound your very lucky.thought reviews were full of b,s but they were right too much money for a hiss sound at vol,1 but no hiss at min vol.very very very disapointed.ooh and forget about customer service no help at all.

Similar Products Used:

sony strde835

WRAT, Great construction, DTS/Dolby 5.1/Dolby PRL) Cinema-re-eq, 96/24

Slight hiss(sub/center channel but its no problem it is a sound of how powerful Onkyo is!

What can I say with this reciever it is a "Box of Power" If you really want to boost up such audio power this is the machine for you. The sound is clear,powerful and has a Deep regulated bass. The video is great for it has several video inputs available. With this machine you're future worry-free for it has multi-channel inputs, and has a 96/24 capability.

About the hiss, for me its a sound of how powerful the machine is. but this can be easily configured if you want some bass to be deminished. Just lessen your bass if you have an active sub-woofer you don't need to increase the bass on the amp let the sub do the amp. Just increase the LFE level on the machine and increase the sub db I assure you theres no difference in the outcome of the bass. But the good thing here is, the hiss are lessen.

Thats all folks.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer VSX-D606s, Yamaha DSP-A1

Plenty of power, Plenty of hook ups.
Learning remote great... I am able turn on the tv,
change channels via my WebTV, and adjust the volume on
my Onkyo without changing the device each time.

Manual is unusually brief. Doesn't turn on by itself like
my old Mitsubishi did when it detected an input

Mitsubishi 60" tv, Sharp DVD player (179 at costco), Monster optical audio cable and SVideo to my Onkyo and Wow. Very clear sound, no hiss when watching DVD at volume #60. Have 5 speakers plus powered Subwoofer. Try "The Haunting" DVD...it really uses a full range of sound. Movies in my living room way better than at the theatre with this much power.

Similar Products Used:

Mitsubishi Prologic receiver

Excellent sound on movies and music . Nice remote , plenty of inputs , easy to set up.

Depth of case . May not fit in some racks or entertainment centers.

I bought a refurbished unit from Sound City for 469.00 delivered. The unit looks and performs like new . No hum or hiss at all.I guess Onkyo is installing the ground loop before repacking these units. The factory warranty is for one year as opposed to two years for a new unit but at this price I'm not complaining. This model is much improved over last years 656 which now resides in my bedroom system. No fan noise and no more hard to adjust motorized volume control. I can also view the on screen display through s-video and gained DTS , an additional optical input and an additional video input . The only thing I can think of you lose this year is a second tape loop . This is the fourth Onkyo receiver I've owned and I would buy from them again . As for those owners that have experienced problems I feel your pain. I once owned a Kenwood 1080 VR which developed an annoying hum. I gave the unit to my brother and we later learned the problem was due to a loose circuit board grounding problem, which my brother fixed by installing a machine screw with a nut to tighten the board down . That receiver has worked fine ever since then but the problem bothered me so much I went out and bought my Onkyo 656 and actually bought the four year extended warranty. The Kenwood 1080 VR receiver is listed in the audio review hall of shame by the way. I'm giving the Onkyo 676 5 stars for value at the price I paid and 5 overall as I cannot find a serious fault with the design or sound of the unit.

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo 656 , Kenwood 1080VR

Clean Power, General Remote, Appearance, Input & Outputs Galore!

Bass Managment, Learning Remote Optioons.

***********Remote listed as strengh and weakness:
Great layout of buttons, and easy to program the learning commands. The gripe concerns the defualt settings. When you switch modes, the the unit still lets the Volume controlled by the Onkyo Reciever. This is fine, but thre are other commands, such as input selection that I wish would be able to be performed without switching the mode back to Audio. I am sure I can learn those codes, but since I have only the one remote, I cannot. I plan on going to Besy Buy and borrowing a remote there and programming it like I want!



******************I have a slight problem with bass Management!

From reading about Dolby Digital unit without a sub is supposed to direct all bass to corresponding speakers, except when a speaker is set to small. Small speakers bass will be sent to the Front L/R Speakers. Enabling the Subwoofer should provide the LFE channel from the soundtrack and take over bass from small speaker entries.

The Onkyo only simply High passes the bass from the entire set of speakers when Subwoofer is enabled. Sending 100% of the bass to the sub. While this may be great in a strategy with bookshelf speakers, I have powerful Towers as my main! This happens in every Mode, including the Analog inputs from say a DSS hookup.

The 676 is not a THX certified unit. But this is exactly the way a THX mode is supposed to work. I hope there is a way to disable the THX soundstage in the 676, because since it does not support it. Therefore, I cannot enable or disable it from my knowledge!

I am currently using the pre-amp L/R outputs to run the sub. This is providing satisfactory results, but I am hoping for better control!

RICK

Similar Products Used:

Sony. JVC.

Great sound. lots of connectors, ability to map any video source to any audio source, easy-to-use learning remote

No auto scan on AM/FM frequencies. Need to manually search for radio stations

Bought one of the refurbished units at eBay auction from Bestpriceaudiovideo.com. No hiss. Incredible sound from Dolby Digital and DTS DVDs. Room rocks with the Klipsch KSW-12 subwoofer

Incredible number of audio/video ports. Using almost all of the inputs :phono, combo CD/DVD player, Tape Deck, VCR, Playstation, Nintendo 64, DVD video and audio out from my PC, and front video/audio inputs for my video camera. Love the ability to mix and match video out to the TV with any audio out to my 5.1 Surround sound system. Also have secondary speakers in separate room running off the B speaker output.

Easy to use On Screen Display to change setups.
Love that learning remote. Able to learn by pointing another remote at it and assigning the function from the second remote to any key on Onkyo remote. Can now control TV, VCR, CD/DVD player, the DS-676, and my X10 Infrared remote, to lower/raise lights, from the single Onkyo remote.

Similar Products Used:

Sony STR-D615

Eazy to use, remote control, clean sound, value

None

After months of searching for resonable HT and MUSIC setup, I am pleased to have bought the Onkyo. There is no hiss or hums on any of the speakers. Playing SPR puts you right in the middle of the battle field. Music is superb too. Highly reccommended.

Front : B&W 603S2
Centre : B&W LCR6 S2
Surround: Goodmans Maxim 2
Sub: M&K VX-75 MkII

DO NOT BUY THIS RECEIVER !!
I will finish the review that was started 11/8/99 below. Onkyo couldn't believe the 'hiss' could be heard from several feet away so they wanted it to test. I shipped it to them and after a couple weeks of not hearing from them (and not returning my 5 phone calls) I got a hold of them - they didn't have the unit. Later that day, they did find where it was shipped (not my fault) and decided just to ship me a new one. It still hisses, but not as bad.
So if you're shopping for a receiver, keep shopping.
Previously rated it a '3', doesn't deserve an average rating.
Also, to all the people who said the receiver doesn't hiss - good for you if you got a good one or your speakers aren't efficient enough for you to hear it from your listening position. But don't tell (more than half of) us we're wrong, Onkyo has issued a tech release for this problem, it's real.