i have always enjoyed Onkyo products, I have had several in the past and that is why I purchased this reciver, and I have to say that for the first couple of months it worked great, everything that one could want from an Onkyo product, but after the volume control was broken in, it would turn the volume up before it would turn down, from the remote or the front of the amp. which is a real pain in the butt when you are watching a movie at full volume and when you turn it down it gets louder, and not just a little louder sometimes by 10db or so. I thought that this was just a dud, but I have looked into it and it seems that lots of these amps have this problem, it drove me crazy so, I exchanged it for the Yamaha RX-v995 and I have been VERY happy with it.

other than that it was a relativly good reciver

Good sound both for music and home theatre

Crazy volume control. It leaps up quite noticeably before it reduces the volume, both with the remote and the front panel control

If only I could do something about that volume control I could grow to love this piece of equipment. However, I did buy a display model and at the price and given that the quality of sound, both for music and movies is reasonable, and I have two kids in college, so I'm not about to spend more $$ on an upgrade I'd have to say that I can live happily with it for a while longer.

Performance, value, flexibility, OSD

Volume Control, 2nd optical input would have been nice.

Like others, I've experienced the now infamous volume control. My experience is that it locks in better at higher volumes (I listen to 5.1 DVD's at around -15db, small room). When watching DSS I listen between -25 & -30db and get some fluctuations from time to time. I see increases and decreases seeming to correspond with the direction of the last volume adjustment. It usually only moves 2 or 3 db at most. In general it may stray 1 db in either direction. It would be best if this didn't happen but overall, I'm extremely pleased.

OSD is terrific. I have sufficient availability of inputs for my needs. I would have liked an additional optical input.

Quality of sound is consistent, especially with 5.1 DVD's. Music is great too.

Combined with:

Sony S3000 DVD
Sony 678 VHS
Sony DSS
Onkyo 540 6 disc carousel
Zenith 32in TV
Boston CR400 SUB
Boston CR2 center
Boston VR950 mains
Boston CR6 rears.

Overall, happy camper.

Similar Products Used:

Technics, Pioneer A/V, Onkyo 454 (Second System)

It's loud! put a good Sub on it and you got the windows cracking all around you :)

It's not very easy to level the sound. Bass is normally too high.

I'd say that the Onkyo DX-DS747 is a very good Amp, excellent for home cinema, especially with a Gas Plasma. Only downfall if that it's a bit on the basic side of things. you can't do enough on the amp to sort out the levels.

Good sound in music and HT

Remote is lousy,

I have had this receiver for over a year now, and I am generally happy with it. It sounds great, and for HT it does a great job!
The things I don't like about it is the remote stinks, no DTS (that is IF DTS ever takes off...), and no 5.1 inputs for future inputs. other than that it is a fine receiver.
The volume control does not get louder before it turns down, the review below is bogus!
I am now considering selling this unit and upgrading to seperates at this time, or maybe I will keep it and put it in my bedroom.

I would give it a 5 for value when it was state of the art, and a 4 only for lack of 5.1 inputs.

power, configurability, assortment of configurable analog and digital inputs

volume control knob, huge ugly remote control

I'm not really sure I understand the reviewers who are calling other postings "bogus" because they mention a volume control problem. Well I experienced it too, and it was the first MAJOR problem I experienced with this receiver. It can be incredibly annoying especially if you are testing out the mid levels of the receiver with efficient speakers. The unit will actually go down in volume when turning UP the knob, then suddenly zoom up in volume. Using the remote was almost a crap shoot on where the volume would end up. There were times I would gently hit the increase volume button on the remote and the indicator would show an increase in volume followed by a decrease, then it would gradually increase again, sometimes just barely nuding into another volume level. VERY ANNOYING.

I recently bi-wired my Wharfedales using Monster cabling, and this seems to have tamed my excitable volume control knob. Perhaps because an extra amount of power is now needed to drive the speakers, this has gotten rid of the sudden fluctuations in volume.

Otherwise the receiver sounds great, and it looks nice too. I haven't yet got the subwoofer output to work yet (my stereo inputs on my Infinity BU-1 sub put out a loud humming noise), so I don't know if the problem lies with the Sub or with the receiver.

Similar Products Used:

Nakamichi AV4

The problem with the volume increasing before it begins
decreasing does in fact exist. The temporary fix is
to turn off the unit, then rotate volume knob full throw
in both directions a few times, then turn unit back on.
This will fix the problem but only for a short time.
I am tired of the problem and I think I will take it into
service while still under warranty. Onkyo tech support
claims that they are not familiar with this problem.
I don't believe them however. We will see what the service
folks say.

sound, style, build quality

volume control

I actually have the Onkyo 656. Very similar and I mostly love it.

The only problem I have with it though is the volume control.

When I turn my volume up, the volume goes down, then back up. When I turn it down, it goes up, then back down. It's not extremely noticable (at least my wife hasn't complained) but I've heard it for awhile and thought mine was the only one.

I've learned to live with the volume know but may decide to try to get it fixed/replaced if it's not too late.
But it's still a really good home theater receiver.

Similar Products Used:

sony, denon, yamaha in same price range