Onkyo HT-S7100 7.1 Channel Receiver and Speaker Package Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is probably one of the best "home theater in a box" setups you'll run across. The receiver is the 606 model which has been very well received by most reviewers. It will accept pretty much any type of input and output it via HDMI so you can cut down on the spaghetti-nest of wires. The speakers are pretty good for this price point. No, it won't put a high-end system to shame, but it will hold its own (and unusually surpass) pretty much anything in this price range.
The sub is better than I expected. Good, solid bass. It's a down-firing setup which is nice if you have pets that like to mess with speakers.
The receiver runs pretty hot, as is typical with Onkyo systems. Make sure there is lots of ventilation (i.e., don't put it into a closed media cabinet).
It also includes stands for the front L/R speakers which is a nice touch, and adds to the overall value. It does not, however, come with a DVD player. But, that's a good thing - you're far better off putting the money into a better quality receiver such as the 606 than getting a system that includes a DVD player with a lesser quality receiver.
The model below this (6100) is very similar. The receiver is virtually the same -- different model number, but the specs are 95% the same. The biggest difference is that the 6100 does not include speaker stands. If there's a big price difference, the 6100 may be a better choice if you don't need stands.
I use this as a home theater/music setup in my basement, and have been very pleased with it. It does not sound as good as the Denon/KEF setup in the LR, but it produces solid quality sound. I have a Wii and a DVD player hooked to it, with the output being a single HDMI cable to a Samsung LCD.
Setup is very straightforward. The most time consuming part is running wires for the back speakers. There are some systems out that have wireless back speakers, but those come with their own set of problems as well (such as interference with wireless routers). Plus, unless you're willing to spend a lot more, wireless speakers in this price range will not perform nearly as well as traditional wired speakers.
Speaking of wires, the only disappointment with this setup was the speaker wires that were included. Very small gauge wire - toss them, and get some decent 16 (or perhaps even 14) gauge wire from monoprice.
If you are looking to keep the cost of a home theater setup to under $800, this system should be on your short list. If you're looking to spend more there are better choices, but this is a great value for the price.
One last thing - the box is heavy!! It comes well-packed, but the total weight is 100+ pounds, so have a hand truck ready!

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Onkyo HT-S7100 7.1 Channel Receiver and Speaker Package

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