Onkyo TX-NR609 Network-Ready Receiver

The Onkyo TX-NR609 is this year's addition to the 600 line.  It clears up the occasional video stutter of the 608 by using a completely different chip, and adds an ethernet interface for internet radio.

Internet Radio

Online radio is wonderful on your personal computer. You'll find it better yet over a high-quality audio system. To get that you once had to devote a personal computer to your audio system or maybe temporarily hook up your laptop computer. With an analog interconnection, your pc's electronics sometimes limited your audio quality. Digital ports steer clear of that, and recently available personal computers quite often incorporate an HDMI link. Even so, you still have to connect your laptop computer or maybe devote a desktop computer.

Onkyo TX-NR609

Enter the Onkyo 609.  It includes a network interface so it can directly receieve internet radio.  It's also a great value.

It features 7.2 channel surround sound. At 100 watts per channel there is certainly ample power. The audio is excellent quality, plus this receiver is known for a collection of capabilities you'd probably expect to find in a considerably more costly product. Onkyo calls their sound processing functionality "Audessy," and features automated equalization. The 609 is perfect for home theaters, and is able to select from as many as 6 HDMI video/audio channes. All video will be upscaled to high definition utilizing noise reduction as well as edge enchancemet in the process. All in all it truly is just the thing for home theatre systems.

The 609 additionally performs processing to enhance the audio quality from compressed inputs including MP3s plus some web based radio. So you will find much more improvement than simply improved audio speakers and amplifiers. For web-based radio, the Onkyo TX-NR609 is suitable for Slacker, SiriusXM, Rhapsody, plus Pandora among others. The on-screen graphic interface means that you can command internet sites including Pandora by using the hand-held remote control.

Have a Plasma TV Like I Do?

I've run across several blogs and forums noting the Onkyo 608's glitches feeding 24 fps video to a plasma HDTV.  I have a Panasonic plasma flat-screen, so I've been cautious.

I just learned that the Onkyo 609 does not use the same video chip, and I haven't found any reports of video flashes.  The list price is the same as the 608, but I've found the 608 at steeper discounts.  So the 609 would cost me about $60 more.  But it also has network connectivity, and I love Pandora, so I think this might be the one for me.

Award Winning Onkyo 608

Did you know that the Onkyo TX-SR608 won the 2010 "product of the year" award from What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision magazine?  The magazine also named it "best home cinema amplifier" in the $500 to $800 class.

Onkyo 608

Onkyo 608 Receiver

Combining a long list of capabilities and high-quality audio, the Onkyo 608 out does equipent costing significantly more. Historically, this products included an FM/AM reciever -- this is why they are still labeled "receivers." You get video switching, surround-sound processing, plus a good deal more with this particular Onkyo receiver.

5.1 + 3 = 7. 2 ?

Most people today are aware of 5.1 surround-sound systems. These include 6 speakers, four more than simple stereos. First, they include a center speaker that will fill any gap. You're encircled by speakers by having an supplemental left and right channel speaker behind you. And lastly, the sub-woofer punches out the bass of film special effects. Alltogether, that is a 5.1 channel system.

A 7. 2 system comes with another 3 speakers. There's an additional sub-woofer. This makes even the very low bass real stereo. For a big-cinema effect, there are a couple more front speakers set even further apart. With a 7. 1 channel audio there isn't any second woofer.

For an even more dramatic effect, the Onkyo 608 can process the audio for this pair of speakers installed above the others. With the SR608 there is also the alternative of placing these speakers in a different room in your home for independent stereo. It can even send them a totally different audio program. So, you see, there are many choices with the 608 regarding the way you use up to 9 speakers.

Audiophile Sound

Not exclusively for films and video games, the SR608 is also a superb audio system. This receiver also provides superb audio quality, drawning countless comments and positive reviews. That's particularly significant given its up to 100 watts per channel of power.

There's in addition plenty of audio processing functions. The 608's processing will even enhance the sound from compressed MP3s, and naturally you will find Dolby TrueHD to get the best surround sound. Like many receivers, the 608 provides equalization to adjust the sound to your specific room. But this particular receiver is capable of doing it automatically to get expert results. Other sound processing modifies bass and tone with sound level changes.

Audio-Video Switcher

You won't need to have switchers or converters to construct a home theater using receivers such as the 608. Most home theaters include three or four digital sources. This particular receiver includes 6 HDMI inputs, thus you are very unlikely to run out. Like the majority current receivers, video and associated audio are changed at the same time for simple and easy use.

For best viewing and the minimum distraction, this particular receiver always upconverts every video input into 1080p high-resolution. Unfortunately, that isn't perfect. There may be a momentary flicker in the event there is a data error in the input. That is only seen on slower sources for instance certain cable channels. Many High-definition TVs, in particular LCD and LED technologies, can process this out, however be cautioned that the Onkyo 608 won't do this itself.

Conclusion

Owners really like this particular reciever for music, motion pictures, video games, and more, notwithstanding some rare video glitches. A moderately-priced receiver, the Onkyo 608 includes features you would expect on considerably more highly-priced equipment, plus superb audio quality.

Here's my eZine article on the Onkyo 608.