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ALL YOURE LOOKING FOR IN ONE SMALL CHEAP PACKAGE Onkyo HT S650 Theater System Ok let me start by saying this system is awesome. i am a home theater enthusiast and i have research long hours on...

Onkyo HT-S650 Theater System Product Technical DetailsTechnical Details:HT-S650 Key FeaturesIncluded Components:...

This system sounds amazing!! Better than many others I have heard. I really like that this receiver will switch the sound and the image on the TV with the same button press, as opposed to have to change the sound on the receiver, and then the video setting on the TV. The remote also controls the TV, VCR and DVD player (other brands too), so it has also helped reduce the remote clutter with more functionality. I still need a remote for CATV and I still overlap with the VCR remote for programming the VCR. The DVD remote capabilities are great, menus and everything. The TV, DVD and old stereo remotes are now in a box. I have my old all-in-one stereo plugged in to the new receiver to use the CD changer (optical input) and tape player. The receiver has a connection for the Onkyo cassette player, so eventually I will get that to reduce remote usage. Other brands of DVD/CD changers probably will work fine, but since Onkyo is so good, I’ll probably stick with the brand. I also have the transmitter for my cordless Advent headphones plugged into the secondary speakers, so by pressing a button I can turn the sound on to them (and off to the main speakers if I so desire). Also, I am planning on getting cordless speakers that work with the same transmitter so that I can have the sound in my bedroom or on the deck.

This package is the best. If you buy the receiver and the speakers separately, the price is $600 ($299 for the TXSR500 receiver and $299 for the speakers), so it is already a savings to buy together.

One disadvantage is that the receiver doesn’t have component video (only S-Video and regular composite) as does the next Onkyo model TX-SR600, but that receiver alone is the same price as this package with excellent speakers that are priced at $300 alone. My current TV doesn’t have component video, but when I get one, I will have to either upgrade the receiver or connect the component video from the DVD directly to the TV and change the TV setting. For the price you can’t go wrong.

The usage is very simple once it is all hooked up. Hookup on the other hand is a little bit tricky, I invested in an extra composite video to S-Video converter ($5.95 off the internet, would have been $38 at Radio Shack for same functionality) to connect the VCR to the S-Video input so that the TV could remain set up as S-Video and not have to change TV settings. I strongly recommend hooking up all the components in almost every way possible (although redundant) for more flexibility. There are two outputs for S-Video and for composite video, which are kind of confusing, just try it out, I couldn’t get everything to work the way I wanted it on one of the outputs, but using the other one worked fine. The volume from digital cable is higher than from my DVD, I yet have to figure out if I can change that. When using the digital audio inputs, there are pre-defined configuration selections. These selections can be modified by programming the receiver to use different audio inputs for the various components, and it is quite simple, once you read the manual (yeah, needed to read it!).

I did get Monster cables and although the system will receive analog audio and work wonders with it, using the digital audio inputs is much more amazing!! I can feel the Star Wars Episode I space ships fly by and hear the sound of the bullet in Spiderman bouncing off things in the same direction that the robber on the movie fired the shot.

Onkyo has done it! Onkyo HT S650 Theater System I picked this system out for my folks. However, I had the challange of finding a good system without costing alot...

Outstanding Little Onkyo ! Onkyo HT S650 Theater System I really like this little system, it has everything one really "NEEDS" in a compact HTIB, (Home Theater In a Box...

One Rocking System You Will Not Be Disappointed Onkyo HT S650 Theater System IMPORTANT: -- No matter what system you ultimately buy, make sure you buy it from an AUTHORIZED dealer or y...

Excellent Value and Performance Onkyo HT S650 Theater System The system provided excellent value at a cost of $499.00 The overall system performance is above other brands I c...

A theater system you can have without breaking the bank! Onkyo HT S650 Theater System The Onkyo 650 system has a beautiful crisp, clear sound that you can take home for under $500! The Speaker S...

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If only it had the “.1″ Onkyo HT S650 Theater System

A Diamond amongst the rocks. Onkyo HT S650 Theater System