Onkyo TX-SR601 Overview
With so much competition amongst mid-fi receiver manufacturers, features and usability become almost as influential as sound quality and performance when choosing a home theater solution. Most recent $500 receivers will incorporate the following key features:
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192 kHz/24-bit DACs
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Dolby Digital EX, DTS-ES, Dolby Pro Logic II, DTS Neo:6
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Digital inputs/outputs
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Component video inputs/output (50MHz or higher)
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Multi-channel inputs for DVD-A & SACD
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80W - 100W per channel
What determines a receiver's staying power (other than brand loyalty, of course) is the quality of sound reproduction and features that make for a successful home theater experience. With that in mind, let's take a look at one of Onkyo's newer additions to its mid-priced line-up.
Upgrades, Upgrades, Upgrades.
For those of you familiar with the TX-SR600, Onkyo has made some very important updates to its new "01" line of receivers:
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Added approximately 5W per channel
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PCM 192kHz/24-bit DACs for all channels
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DTS 96/24 support
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Extended crossover adjustment (added 60Hz & 150Hz)
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Additional S-video output
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Zone 2 Line output
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Zone 2 speaker output uses binding posts (TX-SR600 used spring-clips)
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12V trigger output for Zone 2
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IR input terminal
These changes show that Onkyo hasn't just been sitting around. A company's product changes are really a good reflection of its willingness to listen to its consumers, keep up with industry advances, and improve its products accordingly. The addition of PCM 192kHz/24-bit DACs to all channels and DTS 96/24 support are especially welcome additions, as are the extended crossover frequency options.
What I liked about the Onkyo receiver was the ability to tweak many different parameters to enhance and customize the unit to my particular needs. From the input routing matrix, to using the IntelliVolume feature (I can't believe every other manufacturer doesn't use this), I was able to efficiently integrate the Onkyo into my home theater system.
