Onkyo HTS590 5.1 Channel Component Home Theater Audio System Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this system based on reviews I read at a major retailer's website and here at Amazon. I wanted a home theater system without a DVD player which would offer flexibility. This system certainly offers performance and flexibility for the price. Many features and easy setup.
There are some easy and economical things we did to improve the sound. First, because this system allows you to upgrade the speaker wire, we bought 16 gauge speaker wire from a major discount chain for the center, front and rear channel speakers. We got 14 gauge speaker wire for the subwoofer (thicker wire passes more current to the sub and has improved the performance of the 8-inch woofer). We spent $14 for a coaxial cable at another discount store which carries the digital signal from the DVD player to the Onkyo receiver--this improved EVERYTHING--movies and music. We found speaker stands at a major discount chain for $78--speakers sound much better when they have a strong/rigid support. This may sound like stuff an audiophile would do to a $5000 audio system, but it all is cheap, easy and effective. Sound improved by about 45%.
We were surprised at the tuner in the Onkyo receiver--we're using a small Terk powered FM antenna and getting very good FM stereo reception in our hilly river community. All in all, for the small cost of this system, we're enjoying home theater greatly. We might spend a little to get a new sub at some time, but for now we're really happy.

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Onkyo 6 Channel HTIB HTS590

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Soundcast SOU-ICO410 OutCast Outdoor Wireless Speaker Review

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(More customer reviews)The initial quality is great, but after a few months I found many quirks that don't justify a large price tag. First complaint is that the "audio in" jack snapped it now jiggles around creating static if I can even get it to pick up the feed. The second is the interference with my Wifi network, the transmitter drastically reduced the strength and range of my network. I also use a Sonos system that is also effected by the transmitter. Engineers should be fired, and ill take my money back!

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The OutCast weather-resistant, wireless speaker lets you enjoy rich multi-directional stereo sound throughout your house, in your yard, on your patio and even on a boat. With broadcast range of up to 350 feet, this powerful wireless speaker receives transmissions through walls, floors, and ceilings without the hassle of running wires.

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Pioneer Elite SC-07 - AV network receiver - 7.1 channel Review

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(More customer reviews)I recently purchased the Pioneer Elite SC-07 receiver. It replaced my old Elite VSX-72TXV receiver. Along with the receiver, I purchased the Polk RTi A7 front speakers, CSi A6 center channel, FXi A4 surrounds and DSW Pro 500 subwoofer. I have the Kuro Elite PRO-111FD display to compliment the set up. The result is just breath taking sight and sound.
When you first turn on the receiver without any calibration, you can hear and feel the raw power. After the full automated calibration and some manual minor fine tunings, I couldn't be happier. The first thing you'll notice is the clean, powerful yet natural sound output the receiver has to offer. If you're not into manual calibration, let the receiver do the full auto calibration. That'll make a world of difference. All of the video components are connected via HDMI, so I can't really comment on the performance of the Faroudja upconverting chipset. Just like the former Elite receivers, SC-07 comes with ipod connection (a USB port instead of a cable this time around). The GUI is much easier to use compared to Denon receivers. I like the fact that the menus are straight forward enough to navigate through the settings easily without referring to the manual every single time.
Initially, I was going to wait for SC-27 to come out. Then again, the major difference between the two are color GUI with the ability to show the album art work on the ipod and a different upconverting chip. Personally, I don't care about the extra bells and whistles. Amazon (3rd party retailers) probably have the best pricing I've seen so far. I have no regrets and I'm looking forward to enjoying it for quite some time.

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Onkyo HT-SR800 7.1 Home Theater Entertainment System (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)As you can see from a quick search this is almost always reviewed highly and is also highly rated by Consumer Reports. I recently got my own and I wasn't disappointed. The system was easy to set up and a quick browse through the instructions gave me all the info I needed. I have listed the 3 most common complaints about the system below.
1. The HDMI is just a pass through you have to connect the sound to the unit separately (not really that big a deal).
2. The included wire is too thin: this is true you can replace it cheaply with wire bought on Amazon, so its not devastating. I recommend the METRA Ltd S14-100 MTA 14 Gauge Clear Speaker Wire which you can get here for $21.53 and will really improve things.
3. Onkyo doesn't make speaker stands for this system and the speakers only have keyhole style brackets on the back for mounting which can make buying wall brackets difficult.
I'm not positive how to resolve this, B-tech makes some screw in mounts you can put in if you dont mind putting some wholes in the speakers B-TECH BT1 Universal Speaker Bracket for Small Speakers (Pair per box). They also make a wall mount that clamps the side of the speakers if youd prefer not putting holes in your new speakers B-Tech BT77 Speaker brackets Black.
But both of those solutions are kinda expensive (30 per pair for screw in, 70 per pair for the clamps).
I recently bought some universal mounts (Premier Mounts PSPK-5B Universal Speaker Mount for Walls and Ceilings with 2.5-Inch Extensions (Black)) that supposedly work with keyholes so we'll see.
UPDATE: the speakers are great, make sure to use the microphone to calibrate, this is part of the value of the system and makes a big difference in the sound quality.
About the mounts:
The cheap universal mounts, were ok.
They worked fine on the Satellite speakers but there were some design flaws and they don't have the strength to hold up the big front speakers. One of the pieces broke during assembly but as I had 5 and couldn't hang the front speakers with them anyways that wasn't too big of a problem.
I used the 29.99 B-Tech mounts mentioned above (the ones that have to be screwed in) for the front speakers and they worked perfectly. Enjoy!

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When it comes to all-in-one home theater, the HT-SR800 has made a clean break from the pack. You're looking at packaged home theater that neatly integrates your high-definition entertainment and your HDTV through an HDMI channel that transports video with a resolution all the way up to 1080p.Ably supported by component video switching; the HT-SR800 will handle most of the A/V components or formats currently available, as well as the spectacular quality of high-definition discs. Also, reinforcing the convenience of matched components, this package is the first to use an Audyssey room-correction technology specifically designed for integrated systems. The options--XM Radio (including 5.1 surround sound radio with Neural Surround decoding), and iPod integration--can really extend your reach, making the HT-SR800 one of the more complete home theater packages available.

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Bose® 3 2 1® Series II DVD Home Entertainment System Review

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(More customer reviews)Bose claims that this system, with only two speakers and a subwoofer (Acoustimass module in Bose-speak), approaches the sound of a conventional 5 speaker system. This was evident the first night we listened to it. I had not yet taken down the rear speakers of my old surround-sound system, and my step-son commented that the sound of the movie was great coming from the rear speakers. They were no longer hooked-up! It's not a perfect surround-sound experience, but for two speakers and a subwoofer it's amazingly close. And the clarity! From old movies to newly recorded music, the detail if fantastic. The Acoustimass module delivers outstanding performance. The ease of setup was inline with Apple standards -- very simple directions, and the setup CD was a bonus. It's difficult to believe that three speakers and a media center replaced 6 speakers, a DVD player, a receiver, many and lengthy wires, with the end-result being a far more satisfying experience. Oh! The universal remote actually works for all my devices! I suppose I have to list a "con", so I'll say that $1000.00 for a home theater system is pricy, and should indeed provide a lot of bang for the buck. Yet the 3-2-1 Series II delivers on these expectations. I highly recommend this home theater system.

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