everything

Its gonna make me buy a centre rear now for the 6.1

Fantastic sound from this beast. All the features you can want at a great price in comparison to the other receivers out there (Yamaha, Denon, Marantz etc). I just bought $600 worth of DVD and DTS stuff to play with :P

I'm yet to determine the cause of the remote control's partial funtionality, though I'm sure its my error somehwere along the way.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha RX-V490

A real "Power Block"(6x100W, all channels driven, 20-20,000 Hz), THX-EX certified, dts-es and dd-ex matrix, zone 2 and it's OSD.

"ONKYO do not have weaknesses"

In Surround mode this amp is a killer machine. And is capable of driving with low impedance speakers, in all channels. For periods the impedance was 2 Ohms.
In surround mode I always use the THX-EX section, because of the Re-EQ and the bass-management. My speakers are not THX certified but that is not necessary, it sounds really good enyway. For TV listening, in Stereo, i use normal Pro Logic and in mono i use Mono-movie.
All my speakers are 8 ohms, and I have real 7.1 without an external amp. I'am driving two speakers at the surround back channel, it can handle it.
In stereo mode I'am using the zone 2 also. I use it for Bi-amping, and it is really loosing up the sound, especialy the treble, and the bass becomes more powerfull. But I have to "rewire" the speakers in surround mode. When turning up/down the volume, I think (haven't tried), you can use the zone 2 kit.
I only use this with my cd-player, which is also is an ONKYO, also one of the bests.
Compared to the Denon 3801, the 787 have much more control, and you can exactly pinpoint the things happening on the screen. I have discovered new things in my old movies that i thought wasn't there.
The Pioneer also sounds good, but it losses the control at higher levels, it also turns of because of overheating.
H/K have alot of power but the sound isn't as clear as the 787.
The Denon 4800 is better than 787, but not much, and 4800 is also way more expensive. I find the 4800 to "dead" in the sound and becomes to boring to listen to it.
I also use my 787 for surround only, when I'am watching a movie at my old Pioneer LD player, without digital output. Compared to my old tx-ds 717 pro, the new 787 is much better, also because of the THX section which make the sound, sound even better in Pro Logic.

Other things in my Home Theater:
Pioneer CLD 1450 LD player
ONKYO DV-S535 DVD player
ONKYO Integra DX-6850 cd-player
KLIPSCH RF-3 front speakers (two)
KLIPSCH RC-3 center speaker (one)
KLIPSCH RS-3 surround speakers (four)
KLIPSCH KSW 12 subwoofer (two)

If there really was something to complain about it would be that it can't cook and clean the house

So I just have to give this reciver 5 stars. I would have givin it 10 stars if I could.
The BEST reciver ever!!!

Similar Products Used:

Denon 3801, 4800 (AVC-A10SE in Europe), H/K AVR 7000 and Pioneer VSX-909, just listenings. Have owned an ONKYO TX-DS 717pro.

Home Theater, flexibility, sound, cost

None

This receiver is awesome. I have had it for several weeks now and I am stunned by it's performance on everything. In fact, it is really too much for the room that I put it in. I am embarrassed by the wealth of features and sound output this thing has.

Set up was easy (once all of the wires were attached) and things sounded great right away. I didn't run any sound to my tv- everything goes through the 787 and it sounds great. Even plain TV sounds much better (due to the surrond modes).

I haven't done much Dolby Digital testing, but DTS is fantastic. I put in the Hell Freezes Over DVD and I was shocked by the sound that was out out. You can hear fingers sliding up and down the guitar strings. There is one song where Don H. is leaning into the microphone on occasion. You can close your eyes and tell when he is leaning into the mike and when he is not. I don't know if that is a true audiophile test, but it sounded good to me.

This thing does reveal details that I never heard before on CD's that I have had for years.

I left this thing running with the volume on 60 all day and night to break in some new speakers. When I went down the next morning, I checked for heat and it did not feel like the unit was on. I searched everywhere for heat and it was like I just turned the unit on and it had been working for 24 hours!

I have kids and I love being able to set the min and max balance- they are always playing with the volume knob.

You can also set many defaults so that it is easy for the novice to use on a dialy basis, but you can tweak things as much as you want.

The remote is nice, but I have yet to find a remote that is not audio-centric. I use my remote mostly for changing channels on my satellite, but they all seem to be designed more for DVD players and recievers than for satellite and cable.

I looked at several other units. I was not impressed with the Denon at all. I know that a lot of people give it great reviews, but if you look at the equipment most of those people had before (sony, aiwa, technics, etc.), it makes sense they think it sounds great. Next to the Onkyo, it sounded strained. Most of the lower-end stuff in the 787 price range from the high end manufacturers still focused on music and short changed home theater. That's fine if you listen to music a lot sitting in a chair in the middle of you sound dampened basement, but I got kids running around, dogs barking, the neighbor mowing the lawn, cars driving by, etc. The 787 sounds great on music. You can control everything. I upped the base just a little from the default and everything sounds fantastic.

My System-
Onkyo 787
Energy Take 5.1 with Exl 10" base
Apex DVDCD player
Toshiba 36" Colorstream TV
Dish Network reciever with Digital out

Similar Products Used:

Denon, NAD, Marantz, Adcom

Plenty of power!, 6.1, future upgrade to 7.1 (via preamp) Nice OSP, easy to use

Binding posts too close to each other. No discrete DTS ES.

After buying and setting up this reciever, (which took no time at all) I was amazed with the 2 channel sound. Then I switched to Dvd... Again blown away with the power this reciever has. I only wish I waited till this fall when the 797 comes out. It has all this reciever has and more! Like prologic II. It could use a few more digital inputs as well. For movies, the soundstage sounds huge with proper imaging. Overall, this reciever deserves a listen and all the attention its getting!

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo 777

Remote, Features

Needs ventilation

This is a follow-up after about 3 months of use. This unit kicks major ass. I felt I had to post this message as a response to John (from NJ) bellow. I don't know what his problem is but this receiver does not deserve such a low rating. Even if compared to high end separates, this unit has to rank higher than one star. I strongly believe that reviewers such as John are either not knowledgeable about stereo equipment or they have an illogical attachment to a competing brand.

I've now had this unit for 7 months and couldn't be happier. The only change I've made was speakers. The B&W's were replaced with PSB's. I've had no problem with overheating. I've ran my system for 8 to 10 hours at a time on weekends since I've had it. (I've left in on all night, no problems) Other than speakers, it is the best thing I've purchased yet. My previous Kenwood, Denon, and JVC (all were newer units) aren't even in the same league as this receiver. Try it AT HOME if at all possible before you buy it (on anything, speakers, receivers, DVD's), and you won't go home PO'd and feeling as if the store salesman screwed you, because it sounded better in the store. That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING

CANNOT GO DIRECT TO THE DESIRE LISTENING MODE

BEST RECEIVER FOR IT'S VALUE. FOR THOSE USER WITH PROBLEMS, I SUGGEST YOU TO CHECK YOUR WIRING OR CONNECTIONS. THIS RECEIVER HAVE SUFFICIENT BASS AND TREBLE OUTPUT. I HAVE MY BASS SETTING @ 2 AND IT'S MORE THAN PLENTY. SUGGESTION FOR THOES NOT SATISFIED WITH THE BASE OUTPUT. INVEST ON A QUALITY SUB CABLE, IT'S WORTH IT.

MY SYSTEM:
SONY 36" XBR(HD)
DVD PIONEER
REC ONKYO TX-DS787
SPEAKERS AR SB&REAR
MIRAGE FRX7 FRONT AND CTR

Similar Products Used:

JVC, POINEER VSX-D709

The appearance, remote control, conections and low THD (in volume 61-62 > reference at 0dB its good.

In my case this equipment are auto-off (any type of protection), when the conected with B&W 604 S2 (not problem in my acoustics boxes) and high distortion up to level 63 (one number more of the reference volume).

I purchase this receiver with intention of audio quality. I have impress (volume 62 or less) but not offer a input limiter or input level. In high volume the distortion are very heared.
The connetions are best, simple and auto-explained.
The remote control is good.
My system is:

B&W 602 S2 fronts
B&W CC-6 S2 center
Polk Audio subwoofer PSW-350
B&W DS-2 surrounds Dipolar
Dvd Onkyo 5 discs/dvd´s
Receiver Onkyo 787
Cable Tv and
S-Vhs VCR JVC
Cables Monter Cable and Acoustic Research

Similar Products Used:

Sony, Pioneer, Marantz.

clean sound, great remote, great surround sound

none

I wanted to write a follow up for people that are considering buying this receiver or the 797. I have lived with the 787 for 6 months and my family loves it. The remote is excellent. I programmed it for everything and my wife prefers it to all of the individual remotes. I run my satellite dish through the receiver, so the receiver is always on if I am watching TV. I use the 5 channel stereo mode for TV viewing and it is great. I have fairly large room and noisy kids, but you can hear everything without cranking the volume up.

Some people have complained about the bass. I have good (not great) speakers- Energy Take 5's with a 12" sub. I calabrated everything last weekend and the bass on this thing is just right. I used several CD's and the digital music cahnnels on Dish TV. In all cases, the bass was appropriate for the music- sometimes shaking the house, other times nice and mellow. If you want MORE bass than what the source offers, I suggest getting a equalizer or something like that.

The reciever is great. I watch a lot of DVD's and the auto-sensing of the format is great. You program it so that it comes on to the same volume everytime you turn it on and you can limit the max sound output, both of which are great if you have kids.

I can't compare this to anything else, because I don't own other things. I will state that I am very happy with my purchase and I would buy this reciever again and I would recommend it to anyone. Anyone who really listens to mine is impressed with the strong but clear sound that is generated.

I hope this helps people make a buying decision. I gave it a 5 value rating and a 4 overall. It is a very good product at a tremendous price.

PRICE, especailly since it came from an authorized dealer.
THX, other no nonsense DSPs; solid, not great musically speaking, but downright phenomenal in HT! Better than the Denon 2802 in that respect.

You need an extra amp for 7.1 performance. Minor, though, since 6.1 was more than enough for my needs.

I'm riding a major upgrade fixation, so the 787 did not last in my home for very long. Having heard NEO and DTS ES, I started to wonder how much better the 787 would be with those formats included. Hence, with some reservations, I went for the the upgrade to the 797. That's another review for another time.

The 787 will curl your socks. Out of the box, the receiver doesn't impress. I suspect that most of those who wrote bad reviews for this receiver, did just that -- took it out of the box, plugged it in, and expected miracles. Your work is not done there.

The 787 has features on top of features, and you certainly have your work cut out for you setting up all of the sound parameters. I say this with a grin on my face. I simply love tweaking the sound, getting it just right for my listening pleasure. Out of the box, it's just a heavy monolith occupying your audio cabinet. Do some tweaking and you've got Russell Crowe spitting in your ear, Linda Blair curling your hair, and you're dodging shrapnel and all manner of hell with Tom Hanks.

After a day or two of toying with the setup, I finally settled in to the 787's music environs and truly enjoyed it. Every bit. It got to the point that my place really didn't feel like home without the ambiance of music playing. I was so impressed that I left the thing on for 2 days straight, albeit at low volumes. You can configure the speaker volume for all 6 channels, so i could play it very low at night and not miss a single detail of instrument.

If you're looking for introductory HT receiver, this is probably not for you -- far too many features. And yet, if you want a crash course in a proven HT receiver, you simply can't beat the 787, not for only $600. Not even for $900.

Similar Products Used:

Sony DTS & Onkyo stereo receivers; Denon