Reviews Written by Dave

WOW, great system at a awesome price

Pros: 6.1 surround, 1000watts, 220watt 10in Sub, Numerous connections for outputs/inputs

Cons: System/speakers rather large. No back lit remote

I had researched for months on end for a Home Theater In a box (HTiB). I searched numerous websites and went to numerous stores testing out every possible HTiB I could.
Some of my requirements for getting one was to have a quality receiver, powerful, 6.1, DVD player was optional since I already have a good one. My biggest concern was having numerous connections to hook up other components. I wanted to have a system that would really let me "experience" the movie for my 11x20 room. This system did not let me down!!
First thing I have to say if you are planning on buying this. Bring a truck/van/svu to pick it up. Anything smaller and you'll have to take it out piece by piece in the parking lot. The overall system size is quite large. The subwoofer alone takes up a quarter of the box. The surround sound speakers are the size of some front speakers on other HTiB.
I'll be the first to admit I'm not one to read instruction manuals. Even though I'm horrible at electronice I still didn't use it to hook it up. Other then the colorful wire chart they had. Everything is color-coded for you. Even the back of the speakers are colored to match the wires supplied. First thing I would do and should have done is gone and replaced the standard 22 gauge wire with 16 gauge. Wire is way to thin. However, the sound that comes from it is enough to impress me to hold off for a bit.
From opening the box until turning it on with everything connect took me just under 2hrs. 30mins of that was disconnecting and rerouting wires from the setup I had before.
Inital setting up the sytem took me some time however as I was just pressing buttons. It was until I read the manual and started going through the steps told in there that I was able to tweak the system to my liking. It really isn't that confusing.
The remote however can be a little. A lot of buttons and options on there that you don't use in everyday use. Some other reviews complaing of not being able to program their TV and DVD player with the supplied numbers in the book. I must have been a lucky one because I was able to program both with no problem and cut my remotes from 6 to 2.
There are roughly 6 surround sound modes you chance choose from 3 from each of the main settings. Both sound extremely well and for one who doesn't know tuning I really couldn't tell too much difference.
The 1000watt power rating might throw some people off and think "oh it can't be that much" Again i'm not an audiophile by any means but have had a fair share of knowledge in car steros. I would say this system comes close to what it rates at. The subwoofer alone is 220 watts. I have yet been able to crank it to max. The system is just too loud. Anything over 50 is too much for me. In a larger room this would be even better because of the power.
The best thing about the system is price. With taxes it cost me 468 dollars at Circuit City. Matched up to Sony, JVC, Panasonic and such the Onkyo slaughters the competition. You can't go wrong!!! ...