I'm a rookie when it comes to Home theater, but I did a little research before I bought these. I bought a clearanced Samsung Home theater in a box which has been ok for the price I paid $80, $250 retail but it was time to match my HDTV and all my gaming systems and movie player (HD DVD and Blu Ray) with some decent sound. Should get it in at least a couple of weeks with free shipping and no tax. Tell me what you guys think of this receiver and speaker package:

Receiver:

Onkyo TX-SR705 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver



Redefining its Class with Controlled Power and High-Definition Prowess
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a mid-range home theater A/V receiver that packs the TX-SR705’s amplification power and audio processing capabilities. It might be comforting to look to its THX™ Select2™ certification for confirmation, but as the THX engineers have seen, there’s a lot more here than just efficient amplifier drive ability and all-round home theater performance. The TX-SR705 breaks new ground in the mid-range category by featuring not only the lossless audio codecs, Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD® Master Audio, but also the most advanced version of HDMI.And with a wealth of other class-leading features — 1080p video processing, Audyssey’s MultEQ® XT technology for room calibration and advanced processing devices from Texas Instruments and Cirrus Logic — nothing has been sacrificed in the making of this remarkable home theater component.

THX Select2 Certification for a Better Class of Home Theater
From its development stage to its final conception, the TX-SR705 has been engineered to comply with the most stringent requirements of THX Select2. Select2 certification means that the TX-SR705 is ideally suited to a home theater where the viewing distance from screen to seat is around 10-12 feet and the room volume is no greater than 2000 cubic feet. Among its technologies, Advanced Speaker Array (ASA) digitally reconfigures surround speakers for three listening modes: movies, music and gaming. The THX stamp of approval also covers an A/V receiver’s amplification characteristics. For example, under THX testing, the TX-SR705 has been proven to provide 12.5 amperes of peak current for its front channels and 6.2 amperes for its surrounds.

Processing 1080p Video and High-Resolution Audio via High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI 1.3a)
With three HDMI inputs, you can receive and switch the latest high definition components—Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD players, satellite and cable boxes, media centers and gaming consoles — for a pure, one cable digital connection to an HDTV. HDMI also delivers the latest high-definition audio formats — Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby® Digital Plus and DTS-HD® High Resolution Audio — to be processed by the TX-SR705’s onboard decoders. These new formats enable unprecedented quality, including bit-for-bit reproduction in the case of TrueHD and Master Audio. Also, HDMI 1.3a gives you greater bandwidth to deal with higher resolutions, 36-bit Deep Color™ and high frame rates.

HDMI and Component Video Upconversion for a Single Output to High-Resolution Displays
The TX-SR705’s HDMI inputs can receive pristine digital video from HDMI-enabled components, for a single-cable output to a display device with an HDMI or DVI connection. The TX-SR705 can also upconvert analog signals to HDMI so that all connected video sources can be outputted via one cable. And if your display doesn’t have HDMI capability, you can use the HD-quality component video connections, which will also cover your S-Video and composite video sources. To support progressive scan, the TX-SR705 features a deinterlacing chip with Faroudja DCDi Edge™ (Directional Correlational Deinterlacing). This technology helps to effectively eliminate video artifacts from HDTV images.

Audyssey MultEQ XT for Powerful Room Acoustics Correction
MultEQ XT is Audyssey’s most powerful built-in solution for countering distortion in dedicated home theaters. This technology detects speakers, and then sets levels, delays and crossovers, as well as measuring room acoustics. Using the receiver interface, it takes up to eight measurements around the listening area and uses high-resolution equalization filters for satellites and subwoofers. MultEQ XT covers both the frequency response and the time domain (where most of the problems lie) across the entire listening area. The results are immediately obvious—a clear, well-balanced and natural sound.

Special Features

HDMI V1.3 repeater (3in/1out, 1080p compatible)
HDMI video up-conversion with DCDi technology
Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD decoding

Onkyo SKS-HT540 7.1-Channel Home Theater Speaker System



The missing piece to your home theater puzzle is this 7.1-channel speaker package from Onkyo. The perfect addition to your DVD player and home theater receiver, the SKS-HT540 provides all the speakers you need to enter the all-enveloping world of surround sound. 130W output, 2-way bass reflex front, center and surround speakers provide the soundstage. The earth-shaking 230W powered subwoofer provides the impact. All provide the cinema experience in your home.

I'm watching the Onkyo SR series like a hawk. Personally, I think 7.1 is overkill, but I don't think you know what you're in for if you actually get it.
You get so much bang for the buck with Onkyo: multiple HDMI inputs AND multiple slots to upscale (not only convert) component input, 1080p, Audyssey speaker calibration, etc. etc.
I'm still looking at the 605, which I think is only different by being 6.1 instead.

Man, you are getting me so excited. I'm not too knowledgeable on speakers yet, but I'm sure Onkyo is giving you similar value. Unless you want to build a spaceship, I don't think you'll ever need more than 3 HDMI inputs.

Oh yeah, make sure your tv room is as light-proof and sound-proof as possible. And buy one of those sharper image iJoy massage chairs with foot/calf massager attachment. It's worth it, trust me.

Onkyo are fantastic. My parents have a receiver for their home system and it's amazing.

Just got an Onkyo TX-SR674 (black) last week and we are running everything HDMI into our brand new (just put up Wed.) Sony Bravia XBR4 46". We are really really happy with the Onkyo and would suggest it. We actually saved some money by getting the receiver on amazon.com. My wife and I don't watch much TV.... we are big movie people, but when we watch, we love it to look good.

Good luck on your purchase... and I hope my post doesn't sound too much like bragging or anything, just excited is all.

We are brothers!

Onkyo is good quality stuff. You also can't go wrong with Yamaha Receivers and Harmon Kardon.

What did all of that cost? Looks pretty sweet.

Good deal online:

$629 for the Receiver, Retails for $799

$230 for the speakers, Retails for $299

Both with no tax and free shipping

Wow, that's a fuckin' great deal on those speakers. Good job, Cartman.

That'll do 7.1 as well. The 605 is definitely one of the best values out there this year.

Can we change the title to "Onkyo appreciation thread"?

I love my Onkyo 7.1 receiver. It's been the only brand of receiver I've bought for the last 10 years.

Once the DVD format war ends, I'll be able to enjoy it even more.

Since Paramount and Dreamworks went to HD-DVD exclusively I don't think it's looking to good for Blu-Ray, and I heard there is an HD-DVD player coming that will retail for less than $200.

Blockbuster and Netflix are switching their rentals to 100% blu-ray based on custumer rental stats. Even Cnet and Consumer Reports are rooting for blu-ray. Honestly, it doesn't matter.

Btw, instead of buying those things separately, you could've bought the HT-SR800 HTIB for under $400 with very similar features.
http://reviews.cnet.com/Onkyo_HT_SR800_ ... =pdtl-list

That thing isnt even close to the 705.

No Audio pass through for HDMI
No upconversion for component
No HDMI 1.3
One less HDMI input
The audio sucks for Blu-ray and HD DVD True HD sound


The truth is I bought this for future proofing a sound system, i might upgrade speakers later but this receiver should be good for a few years down the road.

One of these days, Onkyo has GOT to put out a HTIB that upscales and has HDMI 1.3 and all the other features of the 605. There's so much competition out there with the high-definition explosion in full force.

It matters if the studios are choosing one format over the other and are exclusively releasing HD discs based on that. It's a bullshit pissing contest and they're spraying all over the customer.

I think the 605 is most appropriate for me. I have some leftover speakers from our last home theater (everything was Pioneer Elite) which consists of: two 3' floor speakers, two bookshelves for the rear, a center, and a 14" cubical sub. My system will be 6.1 at best, but all this isn't even our home theater! My father isbuilding a state-of-the-art home theater using a 1080p DLP front-projector, in-wall speakers w/ 2 subs, and stadium seating.