Onkyo HT-S990THX 7.1 THX Home Theater Entertainment System Review

I’ve actually had this for almost 2 years, but came here because the price went down and I’m thinking of picking one up for my dad. I’m not sure why the reviewer above me says you’d get better sound with Denon. Onkyo and Denon are in the same exact class of Audio products, and Denon doesn’t offer anything that comes even close to this quality at this price point.

The sound quality is the best I have ever heard from a HTIB set up. The speakers are made solid and don’t feel flimsy like most HTIB speakers and deliver a very crisp and clean sound. The 12 inch powered sub delivers very rich and full bass, powerful enough to shake your room while your watching a good action flick but clean enough to listen to your favorite music without much distortion. If your limited in space, the speakers and sub may be a bit bulky for you, but they are by no means an eye sore in your living room or family room. If your looking for something the size of a Bose system, this isn’t the one for you. If your looking for something that sounds fantastic (better than Bose in my opinion) without breaking the bank, this is the system for you.

Set up was a breeze. Even the most inexperienced person should have no problem following along with the user manual. The directions are written very clearly and in easy to understand language. Diagrams are also included for virtually every step of the process. If you choose to use the included speaker cables, they are all color coded to help you with speaker placement. However, I recommend spending the extra money and buying some heavier guage monster wire. Your system will only sound as good as your weakest link and many people make the mistake of using inferior wire and then wonder why they are disappointed with sound. If the speaker wire is not in your budget for now, the included wire is definitely adequate until you spend the money. All other wires (digital/optical cables, etc.) are sold seperately.

The receiver is powerful and very feature rich. It has multiple inputs for all your components, with multiple types of input jacks for each. The only type of input this receiver is lacking is HDMI, which is a minus if you hate cables, but not a big deal. If you’re worried that you’ll have 5 remote controls, don’t… The univeral remote included operates my T.V., DVD , VCR, Digital Cable Box and of course the receiver itself with almost no loss of functionality. Once you program the device you wish to control, a little experimenting will lead you to find that almost every feature on the original remote is available at one of the buttons of the universal. My only gripe is that there is no On-Screen viewing that I’ve come to expect with a receiver of this level. If you’ve never had it, you won’t miss it. A multi-zone function is also available, for listening to your favorite music or movies in other rooms of the house.

There are a ton of listening modes to choose from. You can find one to suit any person, mood or environment. Music, Movies or Televisiion all sound excellent. The user manual is very easy to follow and gives some very helpful hints on which sound mode best fits which scenario. It also gives good advice on setting proper speaker distances which is key to any surround sound set up, especially a 7.1 system. Last but certainly not least of all is the THX modes. THX certification isn’t just handed out to anybody, and as of right now, this is the only HTIB system that is THX certified. When you watch a THX movie, you’ll see why it’s so important. I watched Star Wars Episode 3 and was blown away. The sound was amazing! Dim the lights and pop some popcorn and you’ll feel like your sitting in the movies.

What attracted me most to this system was the price. I shopped around for quite some time, and resigned myself to the fact that I would be spending well over 00 on just the receiver and speakers, never mind the cables and sub-woofer. When I started reading some of the reviews on this system (which was not widely available at the time) I decided to give it a shot and ordered it online. I was not disappointed. The sound quality and features offered for under 00 is amazing. If you’re not familiar with Home theatre, in can be a daunting task trying to put together a quality system on a budget. Well, Onkyo has taken the guess work out of it for you and put together a great system for a great price. This system still leaves room to grow if down the line you decide you want some full size front speakers in favor of a sub, or even in addition to. Overall, I highly recommend this system.

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Overview

The HT-S990THX is the first system to meet the parameters set by THX for overall system performance as opposed to separate loudspeaker and amplifier performance. In effect, the HT-S990THX represents a high-performance, powerful multichannel solution that combines the convenience of all-in-one systems with the performance of much higher priced separate components. With full THX processing capabilities– THX ASA-derived playback modes (THX Cinema2, THX Music Mode, THX Games Mode)–you can be assured that this system brings out the full potential of surround sound for all entertainment options. Equally as important, Onkyo’s Wide Range Amplifier Technology (WRAT) gives the system a perfect base for stellar amplifier performance. Also, the HT-S990THX’s compatibility with XM Satellite Radio and the iPod offers a completeness to this home entertainment system that has rarely been seen before.

Feature

• 110 Watts per Channel Minimum into 8 Ohms, 2 Channels Driven, FTC
• HDTV-Capable (50 MHz) Component Video Switching (3 Inputs/1 Output)
• Color-Coded 7.1-Multichannel Inputs (Receive 7.1 Surround Sound from Compatible Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD Players)
• XM Ready with XMHD Surround

Customer Reviews

Nice – dshark – SE Missouri
Love it…haven’t used the system to its full potential but it sounds great so far.

Great system for 7.1 sound – Martin R. Petrov – Sofia, Sofia Bulgaria
If you are into buying a good PC with proper X-Fi high-end card and spend sufficient money on a good monitor and want to have something that makes it possible for you to enjoy the 7.1 sound, plus you have a proper home theater system and want to enjoy the sound part of it, this system is just great. Yes, there may be issues, but would you buy each component separately, spending days in calculating what should go where and how to configure it? And believe it or not, but even with a EUR 4000+ PC you still would not be keen to spend EUR 10,000+ for the sound system to make it enjoyable. Overall, this is the best 7.1 system we could find in Eastern Europe and well worth the money.

Great system! – Luther Caudle III – Richmond, VA USA
I have had no problems at all. The kit came out of the box and went up in less than 3 hours, wires ran and boxes flown. Everything sounds great and the surround is awesome! However, the biggest flaw to this system is its lack of HDMI support. I have a PS3 and the only way to get true 7.1 from it is to use an HDMI cable, but there are no HDMI inputs on the receiver. So I can only send a 5.1 signal through the optical out which is then upconverted to 7.1 by the receiver. The unit copies the sound from the surround L/R and mimics it on the rear L/R, sounds great with COD4 but still is not a true 7.1. If you really want a true 7.1 from a PS3, then either build a system or pick up this one and another receiver. Other than the PS3 7.1 issue, this system is kick @$$! I can crank it up and clearly hear the music outside of the house with all the windows and doors closed! The sub likes to rattle the trim around the house too, I love it.

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