Easy setup and adjustment of speaker parameters for different films and Prologic II will rock your world.

You have to switch to listen in Prologic II.

Prologic II will rock your world. Watch TV in this mode and it''s like nothing you ever heard before.

Similar Products Used:

JVC, Pioneer DD, NAD 710 Integrated, NAD AV713 Prologic

East Set-up, Sleek looks. Plenty of inputs. Phone Jack(thank-you).

Volume Control--why must you turn the dial a good 2 full turns to get to a decent listening volume---again the older vintage receivers you didn''t dare go past 2 or 3 out of 10--unless you wanted to lose your hearing permanently.

I sampled many home theater receivers before purchasing this one.(I say home theater receiver---because basically that is what dolby-dts digital receivers are all about, as opposed to quality beefy-gutsy STEREO Receivers of the past--for example the Old Marantz-Pioneer 1970-80''s amps/receivers that were built using True Power Vs. RMS Power). Anyway,the receiver proved better than others in stereo mode(they all perform well in surround-dolby digital pro-logic etc.The Eagles-Hell Freeze''s Over DVD sounds excellent even on the cheaper Kenwoods. Every movie we''ve watched is superb. Our speaker setup is POLK 800i(fronts), POLK fx/300i''s(Surround) and Infinity IL25c Center. No Subwoofer---but I think one is needed---the sound is just too bright when listening to cd''s--albums etc. Ouch!!! turn down the treble(bass is already all the way up). By the way I believe the tweaking is most important. Distance/Speaker Calibration, you really need to suit based on room size, speaker size etc...give this full attention. Hoping that adding a subwoofer will help put out the full rich gutsy stereo music we used to enjoy again--or at least improve it, if not we still have the Vintage stereo system set-up in another rec-room.

Similar Products Used:

HK AVR-520,Kenwood VR-507(or close). Integra 7.1

Easy to use remote. Pre-amp outputs. Every input imaginable except for USB or Firewire. Quality sound!

No digital or optical output. Occasionaly skips a second of sound when switiching bit rates in PCM mode.

After 2 months worth of research reading reviews both both positive and negative I can honestly say I have purchased the finest receiver for the sub $1000 bracket. I am now down to using one remote since the one included handles everything I have and even my wife can easily run it. I use my old computer as a DVD player with the digial input and the quality is simply pristine.

Similar Products Used:

An Old Merantz receiver

Good Remote Control

CD sound Quality and DVD surround steering need to be more defined.

The Onkyo 696 is average at best. It just does not sound very good. It has all of the features I want without paying for the ones I do not want. I have been shopping for an AV receiver for about 5 months. My criteria was above average sound quality, A-B switching for outdoor speakers, DD, DTS and Dolby Pro Logic II. It seems like I must have read every magazine article and web site on the subject. I decided to purchase the Onkyo 696 due to my still lingering concerns about the Marantz Sr7200 quality. I got the 696 home it worked fine except the sound was muddy and not as clear as I expected. I also had problems switching the sound to my outdoor speakers. I called Onkyo Support a few times and even called my local Monitor Audio rep in case something was wrong with my speakers. It was too much trouble, it did not work and I was not happy with the sound so I returned the Onkyo 696. I finally bought the Marantz 7200 and I absolutely love it. The Circle Surround is great and the Source Direct product gives pure two channel stereo sound. Since Direct mode bypasses all unneeded circuitry, the sound is almost audiophile quality and give much better imaging with my MA 8i''s. Perhaps the 696 isn''t a good match for my MA "Full Metal Jacket" speaker system. The Onkyo is a good product but in my humble opinion, my ears prefer the Marantz SR7200.

Similar Products Used:

Marantz SR7200

Outstanding remote, superb Dolby Digital performance, Pro Logic II, THX Cinema Re-Eq, copious power, Onkyo''s bullet-proof build quality, heavy duty speaker posts, S-video to component switching, easy set up menus, second zone capability

Four annoying bright green lights around the Jog Dial, no front panel inputs...that''s it!

I''m the guy who got into Home Theater reluctantly. After spending over a decade meddling in High End audio separates, I was ready to get the big screen TV, the DVD player, and the Dolby Digital 5.1 rig. I wanted to forget all about biasing tubes, aligning phono cartridges, and $20 a foot speaker cable. My only concern was how much 2ch music enjoyment would I have to give up to have a true Home Theater? After reading the glowing review in the Jul/Aug 2001 issue of Sound&Vision, my mind was made up, I would try the TX-DS696. Of course, finding one on eBay, NIB, at a full 25% discount was pretty convincing too... After getting it all set up in the space formerly occupied by my beloved Adcom amp and preamp, I played a few CDs and noticed no degradation in stereo playback through my mains (a well-broken-in pair of Klipsch Fortes.) In fact, I wanted to fight the sneaking suspicion that the Onkyo actually sounded BETTER than the separates. It had slightly better imaging and noticably tighter and richer bass. Had I been listening to inferior equipment all these years? I pushed that disturbing thought to the back of my mind as I continued hooking up my Panasonic PV-VS4820 S-VHS deck and my Panasonic RV31 DVD player. Once I had wired up a few spare pairs of Polk M3 IIs that had just been lying around as my new surrounds and center, I was ready to play a few movies. Words cannot do justice to the overwhelming flood of stimulus one has to process when watching a well-mixed DD movie. Remember, I was going straight from 10+ years of 2ch video to the Mother of All HT formats - Dolby Digital. I never messed with basic Pro Logic because I didn''t think it worked well enough to be worth the hassle. Wow! I was hooked. I immediately began buying DVDs like they were crack. Every movie gave me my fix but left me wanting more. Eventually, I went whole hog and upgraded my Toshiba 27" set (which had been doing a great job) to a Sony KV-32FV27 WEGA FD Trinitron. OK - NOW we were watching some movies! And you know what? Whenever I just want to listen to a few CDs in 2ch, the sound is so good that I totally forget about my old separates...until I stub a toe on them in the back of the closet! The Onkyo TX-DS696 is Highly Recommended by this former High Ender!

Similar Products Used:

None (first Home Theater receiver)

PPPPPOOOOOWWWWEEEERRRR 100 BEEFY, POTENT, REAL HIGH CURRENT LOAD OF RMS WATTS UNBELIEVABLE, PRISTINE, SMOOTH AND DETAILED STEREO. The best interface in audio; user friendly, bold and elegant, this unit is built!!!

That it is as good as it gets!

Please pay serious attention to the following statements. I reviewed on this unit months ago and am very dissaponted that a few pseudo-audio enthusiasts have bombarded the 696 with extremely false comments on performance. Don''t pay the minimum attention to those who try to deviate your interest in an espectacular piece of electronic. I think the all don''t have the least idea of what high end audio equipment means and believe me Onkyo is in that range, they are Japan''s most regarded authority in pro audio and video. Read thoroughly this site and you''ll find very controverted opinions of those who write non-sense stupidities. The rest of audiophiles have the answer, don''t be bothered or hesitate to diminish the all mighty 696, the Best Receiver in the range up to $900.00. And if you don''t believe me ask the audiophile community, e-mail the guys at sound & vision mag or Audiophile mag, or count the numerous professional grade reviews posted in thissite of some serious well prepared audiophiles. Yes, I considered necessary to defend the unit that has me more than satisfied, that''s one thing thats great of Onkyo, you become part of their vintage.

Similar Products Used:

Denon 2801, 2802, 3801, 3802, HK 510, 520, Marantz SR7000, 7200, Yamaha RXV1000

Sound Power Digital performance (DTS and Dolby) Build quality

not THX

I bought this receiver about 2 months ago and I can''t find any faults with this unit. It''s sound is detailed and spacious. The DTS and Dolby Digital performance of this receiver is phenomenal. Watching concert DVD''s is more satisfying that I could have imagined. The power output feel as though it is every bit of 100W per channel. I am very satisfied with the build quality and sound that this unit provides.

Prologic II; well thought-out panel controls, ease of set-up, very good remote, clear and well written instruction manual and above all, it performed well beyond expectations.

nothing significant

After years of stereo, this was my first venture into HT. Like some of my tribe, I began by listening to high-end or near high-end HT systems (for reference standard)in show rooms whose in-house audiophile-cum-salesman I was well acquainted with. After more than two months and countless auditions of various systems, I finally gravitated to this recent edition by Onkyo. For analog material, the PL II was head over shoulders compared to 5-channel stereo. Also, this unit gave a sterling performance in either DD or DTS. Curiously, although not THX certified, Star Wars I was presented with a tremendously satisfying aural and palpable cinematic experience not different from the DS787 in THX 6.1 set-up. The Gladiator in DTS enveloped one amid cheers in the arena faced by certain death by a foreboding "swoosh" of the heavy chain-swinging fierce adversary. The Tomb Raider in DD was chest heavy (pardon me) and gut-riveting. I might venture to say that the TX-DS 696 in its optimal 5.1 rendition gave me and my family and friends more than what we had expected from a very resonably priced A/V receiver. If one were considering a unit in this price range, it is certainly worth the audition. Bring your favorite DVD and enjoy the show, as we did.

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auditioned TX-DS989 integra and TX-DS787

Clean, effortless sound, Prologic 2

none

Just got through listening to 7 straight hours of music. First, pipe organ music to finish up the break-in of my new Hsu VTF-2's. Then, Van the Man Morrison "LIVE" in concert in my very own bedroom. And, it was played loud, even by my standards. On reflecting about this Onkyo, I do love the clean, effortless sound it puts out. Drums, bass, brass, vocals all come to life and make for a great listening experience. The sound stage is excellent and I want to also commend its DVD performance, with wonderful staging of the voices, sound track, and special effects. I was stunned by how good it was when watching "Pearl Harbor" this last weekend. Yes, bombs were exploding in my bedroom! I'm no newby to stereo components and have enjoyed buying and using equipment for many, many years. I have three systems set up in my house right now. To these ears, this Onkyo is not only impressive sonically and feature wise, but it carries on the fine Onkyo tradition with regards to build quality and ergonomics. A great achievement.

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo, Sony receivers

power, looks, sound quality

non

Overall I am very pleased with this receiver. More power than I need and great sound. I really enjoy PL II it adds a new dimension to regularly broadcast movies. Makes my DVD's with DTS ES come alive!! Overall a very nice product. Very easy to use and great remote.