What Hi Fi Sound and Vision
09 MAY 2008
Onkyo TX-SR606
It’s an indication of how comfortably the Award-winning
Onkyo TX-SR605 led the £400-ish receiver pack that its replacement, this TX-SR606, was the subject of rabid speculation on the whathifi.com forums for almost two months earlier in 2008.
Anticipation was reaching fever pitch by the time we got our hands on an example, and as it's five-star
First Test demonstrated, it may not be another huge leap forward but the ’606 receiver is still mightily impressive.
The TX-SR606 grabs your attention from the off with its brutal looks, comprehensive specification (four HDMI inputs should be sufficient for even the most expansive system) and, most significantly, the absolutely barnstorming nature of its sound.
It’s a simple device to get the best from – on-screen menus are clear, extensive and a lot nicer than the Denon AVR-1909 equivalents, the remote control (reworked since the demise of the ’605) is logical and not overloaded, and the mic-driven set-up is reasonably quick and precise.
Bags of boom for your buckEverything admirable about the Onkyo is reiterated in the first few minutes of our
I Am Legend Blu-ray. In terms of sheer dynamic clout, the Onkyo can’t be touched by its rivals – it can make you leap out of your seat with the sudden intensity of its attack.
Generating a big, well-defined soundstage, the ’606 steers effects nimbly, separates and integrates dialogue well, and simply slams through low-frequency stuff.
None of this is at the expense of finesse, though, and the Onkyo can tickle the hair on the back of your neck in a tense, quiet scene just as effectively as it can clip you ’round the ear during a big action set-piece.
It’s just as exciting with non-HD multichannel audio or stereo music. There’s no doubt the ’606 can become a tad brash
in extremis, the top of the frequency range becoming clamorous if you’re really pushing on, and this is a trait that’s been made more obvious by the Denon AVR-1909’s greater body and richer tonality.
But if, above anything, it’s full-on movie thrills you want, you won’t spend £400 more effectively than this.