Onkyo TX-NR646 7.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver

Edit 28-AUG-2020: I made an incorrect statement below. Would you believe that after 2 years I discovered this unit does indeed have HDMI pass-through? You can choose to pass-through a specific input when the unit is "off", or just pass-through the last used input. This feature is off by default, but it's there! Finding that feature after a couple of years was like an early Christmas present. Lesson learned: go through ALL the menus when you get a new receiver!Original Review:There is a lot to love about this receiver! It has all the features you’d expect, setup is easy, the on-screen display works well, the remote app (I’m using it on Android) actually works (Unlike some other receiver remote apps… I’m looking at you, Marantz), it has a phono pre-amp (!!!!), a second audio zone, is a great price, and is just a great all-around receiver for home theatre and hifi audio use.I will also say here that I used to have my LaserDisc player connected to my modern Samsung TV via a DVDO upscaling unit, as this was the only way I could make the LaserDisc output look acceptable on a modern TV. I’ve done away with the DVDO unit now because this receiver converts analog to digital video extremely well. My Laser discs have never looked so good, actually! Huge points for this one, Onkyo!Also, huge points for having a built-in phono pre-amp. This is hard to find on home theatre receivers these days and to find one on a unit in this price-range is refreshing!All that being said, I can’t leave a review of this unit without discussing some of the annoyances and quirks. As stated, this is a great receiver, but there are a few things that I wish worked differently.HDMI HANDSHAKING: This may just be a problem with TiVo, but when I switch the receiver to the hdmi input dedicated to my Tivo Bolt, sometimes (about 10% of attempts in my completely unscientific calculation) it just doesn’t work. Switching the input away from TiVo and back to it doesn’t fix it… I have to power-cycle both the Samsung TV and the receiver to get it to work. It always works when I do this, but I don’t know what the issue is that requires this tap dance in the first the place. The problem did not occur when running my Tivo Bolt through my Yamaha or Marantz receivers to the same TV. This isn’t a huge problem as there is a simple remedy, but it’s annoying when it happens. Of course, I can’t say for sure this is a problem with the receiver itself… it could be something with my set-up.ZONE 2 AUDIO: As far as I can tell, you can only send analog audio sources out the zone 2 line outs. This is disappointing. Considering this receiver is quite capable of converting analog video to digital video, why doesn’t it work with just audio as well? So if you’re playing an HDMI source, for example, you get nothing out of the Zone 2 line outs. Perhaps there is a way to make this work that I just haven’t found yet, but if so its buried in menus somewhere. I didn’t find anything relating to it in the normal on-screen setup menus.NO PASS-THROUGH HDMI WHEN THE RECEIVER IS IN STANDBY MODE: Onkyo certainly doesn’t claim that this unit has that feature. I’m just mentioning it here because it’s a nice feature to have (my Marantz does this). This lets you watch an HDMI source while the receiver is off, and just use the TV speakers. I wish it did this… but again not a deal-breaker.NO LINE OUT/RECORD OUT AUDIO: That’s right… hooking up any kind of tape deck to this thing is going to be particularly problematic because there are no REC OUT or LINE OUT audio jacks except for the single ZONE 2 analog line out. I am using the ZONE 2 out with a stand-alone switchbox to get around this shortcoming, but that’s a bit of a kludgy solution.LACK OF INPUT SELECTIONS: This one is a little hard to describe, because when you look at a picture of this device it has a ton of inputs. The issue here is it has way more physical inputs than logical input selections. For example, one single input selection (let’s say “CD”) can have up to 3 physical inputs connected to it: Analog audio, Digital Audio, and HDMI. To connect all my equipment, I had to double and triple things up this way, and then set the input names to reflect all the devices on that logical input selection. So, for example, I have one input named “MDD/DCC/Bray” – and entering these names is sort of tedious in itself. Which one actually comes through the speakers depends on the priority setting and which devices you have powered on and that are sending a signal. It gets confusing, trust me!TOO FEW DIGITAL AUDIO INPUTS: There are only 3. So I had to forego connecting certain items digitally and use plain old-fashioned analog instead. 4 or 5 digital audio inputs would be a more acceptable number.All of these are minor issues, however. I would definitely recommend this unit to anyone who’s looking to put a home theatre system together and doesn’t want to spend a fortune. The addition of analog video inputs, the phono pre-amp, and the plethora of audio inputs makes this ideal for folks with older gear as well. Bravo Onkyo… good stuff here!

This is my 5th Onkyo, and it's replacing the one that cost twice the price of this one. I presently have 4 stereo Surround systems in my home. I use everything from Pioneer, Yamaha and Onkyo AVR's. In the 60's growing up my dad was an audiophile, and so am I. In Germany stationed there in the 70's we had a smorgasbord of the best of the best HI Fi equipment on the planet and I got spoiled rotten. I still have some of it. It was all duty free too. Anyway, back to this NR646. It comes in at about 20 lbs. I'm running the full 7.2 system with Polk Audio RTI Series Floor,Polk Center back, Polk 15" sub. Polk RTI back and Klipsch for the ceiling. Setting up the network was very simple, using the remote takes about 5 minutes if you run the HDMI output into your TV. I'm running mine into a 60" Samsung 240mgh 3D. Anyway, just run a network scan and it picks up the network you want to use, input your password, and that's it. You can now stream Spotify, Pandora, so forth. Bluetooth, just hit the BT button on the remote, and connect your device. In my case I'm using my laptop to stream from my music files. Once I ran a BT scan it picked up the receiver in just a minute and out came led Zeppelin. But the difference was really amazing compared to what I had been listening to. And like I said from the start, I hauled out a monster. I can't remember how many times I've had people in my home just for music listening parties as we call them, because my system sounded so good to everyone. And this 646 at half the volume in a 500 sq. ft. room with these speakers, has this room literally shaking, and half my house rumbling. I honestly can not turn this all the way up. Setting this system up seemed simple for me. Maybe because I'm familiar with Onkyo and I've done it all my life. But if you'll just take your time if your new to this, it's really quite simple. Just always remember never turn on the receiver until after you have all the speaker wires plugged in. Your a lot less likely to cause a short.One thing I don't like is not having the front panel AUX inputs, but, there is an HDMI input on the front and plenty of RCA and HDMI inputs on the back, including the Phono input. That's one thing Onkyo does in this price range that Yamaha, Denon, Pioneer aren't doing. And being able to listen to records is still important to me. I still like my music. I want an AVR, but I also want my stereo. That's what this gives you. And you don't break your budget getting it. This is a really good AVR receiver. It really delivers on power and features. But I would encourage anyone buying this, or any other receiver to purchase a warranty or Square trade plan. Electronics of any kind can last for years, or a month. Surges in electricity, faulty wiring, who knows. I have a Pioneer Reel to Reel I bought in Germany 40 years ago, and it still works just fine. I've seen the negative reviews on this. But I know Onkyo. I've owned too much of their equipment and I know they make good stuff. But stuff happens. The most expensive receivers I've owned have been Yamaha's and Onkyo's and a Pioneer. The Yamaha lasted 3 years. And it wasn't as good as this. And neither was the Pioneer I just replaced this one with. If you were sitting where I am right now, and hearing what I am, you'd do one of two things, ask for another beer, or call the police because of the "noise". This is a phenomenal AVR. Don't let a few negative reviews scare you off. This receiver really kicks ass. And for this price, get the extra warranty and cover your backside, then sit back and enjoy all the features and pure sound. Because you will hear things you didn't hear before.. Oh, and use the setup mic for the best results for your speaker settings. Doesn't take long.. And you don't have to HDMI everything either. I add this if your like me and like to have the TV on with music playing in the background. Just run RCA plugs into the appropriate spots on your receiver. Just make your you have the main HDMI out coming from your receiver into one of the positions into your TV, and hopefully you have more than 1 HDMI hook up.. You need that for on screen display for the receiver...