Great audio and visual quality, zoom effects are impecible, colour saturation and black level adjustments with my Sony Vega make it unbelievable. Quality.

The remote does suck, was expecting it to load and change faster but still beats my old panasonic changer hands down.

Overall this is a very solid DVD changer. More and more dvd's are being released with the bonus features on a second disc, having a changer makes alot of sense nowadays. Personally the lack of a random shuffle for cds isnt that important since I own about 200 cds it makes more sense to have a 200 magazine cd changer for that specific purpose. The remote is a joke and that isnt an exaggeration
but that is the only caveat, besides if you want a fancy remote there are thrid party remotes out there with learning macros and such.
I enjoyed the enhanced black level it really made movies such as Seven and 8mm truly frightening.
If your looking for a great solidly built DVD player that is built to bring dvd's to life this is the player. Buy one and once you open it up, look at it and feel its construction you'll know you made the right choice.
I have had no problems with it and it survived the trip from Virginia to Canada no problemo.
Value rating is lower than the overall rating because the remote is truly very poor, but press play and you'll enjoy your dvd's more than you expected.

Similar Products Used:

panasonic changer, pioneer single dvd

Many

None apparent at this time

I felt the need to upgrade my Panny single disc to a multiple disc player. I looked at the Onkyo 601 and immediately appreciated it's build quality and the capability of playing 1 more disc.
I got it for $280 including taxes brand new. Let me first say this that UBID is NOT the place to be buying Refurbished stuff. You have no idea what you'd be getting to begin with. Back to the rview.
I was nicely surprised by the Onkyo's pleasant OSD and ease of setup. The OSD is Icon based and very pleasing to the eye. I had read reviews below about it not playing dual-layered discs but I had no problems with any DVDs yet. It plays them flawlessly. The brightness control on this unit won me over. I saw Croucihin Tiger which is mostly shot in dark and I felt I was watching it in the theater.
Lastly, the sound is phenomenal with it's burr-brown DACs, etc.
This is a great product if not purchased from UBID.

Similar Products Used:

Panasonic A-110

audio/video

can't read disk problem

It would seem that the only problem with this otherwise excellently built DVD player is a very short ribbon cable that connects the laser assembly to a small circuit board below it. That ribbon cable was not designed properly and works itself loose. It is also harder to diagnose because to get to this cable one must completely disassemble the unit (which is not such an easy task.) If the cable is pulled out and pushed back in it will work again, at least until the ribbon cable works loose again. If anyone finds a way to secure this cable permanently, or knows of a replacement part please post it so any mechanically inclined people (who are out of warranty) might be helped.

Similar Products Used:

none

Solid build, 6 disc carousel

Reliability, remote

When this unit works it's pretty nice, but I've unfortunately had the same experience as many others: the unit was great for a few months, then started having problems reading discs. The first time this happened, I unplugged it overnight and then checked it the next day and it was fine. Now, about 3 months later, it has failed a second time (both times when I had a friend over to demo my HT... hmmm) and does not seem to be waking back up. Haven't decided yet whether to attempt repair (I'm somewhat discouraged by reports here of repairs that don't last) or just give up on it. Regardless of that issue, I also agree that the remote is awful, but I have a universal remote (Home Theater Master MX-500, the king of hard button remotes) so as long as it works well enough to learn from once, no big deal.

I rate this a little higher for value because for the price it's a solidly built and pretty nice player, but the overall rating obviously suffers because of terrible reliability, apparently in the optics/circuitry.

Similar Products Used:

Toshiba 3109

Great ausio and video quality
zoom feature

I've had it in the shop more than I've had it in my entertaiment center!
QUALITY OF THIS UNIT IS HORRBILBE!
pay attention to all the poor reviews below!

When I first got this model home, I loved it. The video and audio quality was equal to if not better than the Denon I had tested at the store. CD playback in particular was excellent. I was thrilled. Finally a great all around DVD changer.
Then about four months later the player started to freeze up on DVDs that I had played multiple times. I'd take the discs out, and reinsert them. The player would spins the whole tray, and come up with "NO DISC"!!!! WHat the F***??? I turned the power off, popped a combination of DVDs and CDs in the tray, and closed the drawer. Again the player couldn't recognize any of the discs! The next dat it worked fine. Shortly thereafter, it stopped recognizing the discs all together. This piece of crap has been in for three repairs since then, and the problem still has not been resolved. The repair shop can't figure out what's wrong with my player. I'm going to have to purchase a new DVD player. Onkyo knows they have a major LEMON with this product, but they're refusing to do anything about it. Their new receiver line is the same way. The specs are very overrated, and they've cut a lot of corners on the build quality. I own several of their components, but I certainly won't be buying anymore
STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLAYER!!!!!!

Similar Products Used:

Donon, Pioneer Elite, Toshiba

sound, picture (when it works)

doesn't work

This was my first foray into DVD territory and after doing my research I decided to purchase this player based on reviews on this site and others shortly after this model became available. Everything stated at the time was true! (great sound, picture, and features) But what they didn't say (or know) is that this unit is a piece of junk after 3-6 months of use. I am on my 3rd unit and it is refusing to read discs of any kind just as the other 2 did after only a few weeks of limited use. Everyone on this site with similar experiences should get together and sue Onkyo for releasing a knowingly inferior/unreliable product. That is the only way you will get this piece of scrap off the shelf. DO NOT BUY THIS PLAYER - IT WILL BREAK!!!!!

Great picture and Sound.

Broken! Returned!

This disc player is the best and the worst. After owning it for six months and never having a problem, it stopped reading discs. CC fixed it. Two months later, Disc Error. CC fixed it. And again. On the fourth failure, they gave me in-store credit which sucked because the only multi-disc changer they offered was the Onkyo. They discontinued the Harmon Kardon for some reason.

Onkyo makes great stuff, but the QC dept must have been at a training seminar when they manufactured this one.

Similar Products Used:

Toshiba SD1700, Sony d360

It used to play DVD's, CD's, CD-R's and VCD's. CD-only play.

Doesn't recognize any discs anymore. Worst remote I've ever seen. No random play.

Never mind the features or how reasonably priced it may have been. If it doesn't work, it is a "Complete joke."

I've sworn off cheap DVD changers. Looks like I'm gonna buy a single-play Toshiba SD-5700; good price, good company, good features, well-received. When I'm ready, I may buy a **CD** changer.

great DVD picture quality

IT DOESN'T WORK!

Boy, I wish I had found this site sooner!!!! I would never bought this player. My 601 stopped working within the first month I had it. Although I was pissed, at least I was still within my thirty day retun policy. Thanks to this site, I knew not to exchange my first unit for another one. Thanks to all those who took the time to post honest reviews. Heed the warnings and stay away from Onkyo DVD players. Their receivers seem to be well built, but the DVD players aren't worth the plastic feet they stand on!

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer, Denon, Toshiba units

WHEN IT WAS WORKING, great picture, zoom feature

total lack of quality control!!!!

This unit knocked my socks off with it's superb audio and video playback for the first two months, then the honeymoon was over! This piece of sh** started to not recognize DVDs or CDs . I would shut it off, unplug it, and try again. This worked the first few times, and then it stopped recognizing discs all together. I called Onkyo, and they knew right away which DVD player I had before I even gave them the model number! Unfortuantely, as evidenced by all the posts on this invaluable site, many others have been screwed by Onkyo, and are stuck with this piece of dung just like I am.
I paid $350, because up to the purchase of the 601, I was a HUGE Onkyo fan. My experience with this unit, and the new Onkyo recievers, all of which are underpowered and built with much smaller power suppiles, etc. than last years models, have guaranteed that I will NEVER buy another Onkyo product!!!!
If Onkyo knows this unit is a problem, why haven't they stepped up to the plate and offered us new units???? Because Onkyo doesn't care. They take our money and run.
Where am I now? Since Onkyo would not give me a new unit, and repairs were ineffective, I called my local Circuit City, and asked if I could get a store credit, since I was over the thirty day policy. To my suprise, I got through to a sympathetic ear, and I brought my doorstop back, and got my credit. Kudos to CC for going out of their way!
BE WARNED-DO NOT BUY THIS PLAYER< DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!!!!! IT'LL BREAK YOUR HEART!!!!!

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer, Sony, Denon units