Onkyo HT-S6500 and HT-S7500 HTiB Preview

Onkyo has gotten so good at making Home Theater in a Box (HTiB) systems that we practically don't have anyone else to talk about in this market. It isn't only because they put out so many different versions (though they do) but mostly because just about everything they put out we like. It makes it easy when we are recommending systems to people as we just have to remember a single name. That isn't to say that there aren't other good HTiB offerings out there. There are. It is just that Onkyo is so consistent that they are the first name on our tongues.

The two newest offerings from Onkyo are nearly identical in features and price. In fact, it is easier just to list the few difference first before the long list of similarities. The HT-S7500 is the larger and more expensive offering at $899 with the HT-S6500 coming in at just a little cheaper at $799. The HT-S7500 has 7.2 channels (dual subwoofer outputs) with large, floorstanding front speakers and a dedicated center channel. The HT-S6500 offers 5.1 channels with five matched satellite speakers. Both sport the same 120 watt subwoofer.

While both of the new HTiB offerings have support for a second zone of audio, the HT-S6500 only offers pre-outs while the HT-S7500 can also route the surround back channels to power the second zone. The HT-S7500 has seven 3D ready HDMI inputs while the HT-S6500 has one less. Lastly, the HT-S6500 has two component video inputs while the more expensive HT-S7500 has only one. It is unusual to see the number of inputs reduced on a more expensive offering.

HT-S7500	HT-S6500

It's clear to see that Onkyo is thinking about the end user with these offerings. Just because you only want/need a 5.1 system, doesn't mean you want less features. And these two HTiB offerings are packed full of features. They feature the brand new InstaPrevue functionality which allows PiP (Picture in Picture) viewing of connected HDMI devices. Aside from supporting 3d, the HDMI connections support ARC (Audio Return Channel). Also on the video front in the Marvel Qdeo video processor which will upscale your content to 1080p or even up to 4k.

While the HT-S7500 and HT-S6500 have different number of channels of amplification (7 and 5 respectively), they both sport 80 watts per channel. Top -quality TI Burr-Brown 192 kHz/24-bit DACs on used on all channels plus Onkyo's exclusion WRAT (Wide Range Amplifier Technology) and discrete amplifier design is on board. For HDMI sources, there is automatic decoding of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio high-resolution audio sound tracks plus Dolby ProLogic IIz front height channels.

As we've come to expect with Onkyo offerings, the HT-S7500 and HT-S6500 include streaming from Pandora, Rhapsody, Slacker, SIRIUS XM Internet Radio, Last fm, vTuner, Spotify, and AUPEO! . They are DLNA certified, Windows 7 compatible, and support playback of MP3, WMA, WMA Lossless, FLAC, WAV, Ogg Vorbis, AAC, and LPCM audio files through a local network or from the front-mounted USB port.  Both receivers support Onkyo's remote control Apps for most iPod touch/iPhone, Android phones and Kindle Fire.

Onkyo and Audyssey have long partnered for room correction and the HT-S7500 and HT-S6500 are no different. While Audyssey 2EQ is long in the tooth, it will make the best of your room. Onkyo has integrated an Initial Set-up program with the HT-S7500 and HT-S6500 and have gone so far as to include the Audyssey calibration with this program.

Conclusion

The new HT-S7500 and HT-S6500 Home Theater in a Box offerings from Onkyo have reaffirmed that Onkyo is dedicated to staying at the very top of the HTiB game. These offerings differ little on the feature front and include many features we're only now seeing in receivers from other manufactures. While the Audyssey 2EQ is a bit outdated and we question the logic of adding a Zone 2 to a HTiB solution, you can't argue that 4K upscaling, InstaPrevue, a full suite of streaming features, and 6+ HDMI inputs are very attractive. Add in speakers and a price tag under $900 (under $800 for the 5.1 channel HT-S6500) and color us impressed.

For more information, please visit www.onkyousa.com.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.