Onkyo HT-S6100

[46XBR4Owner]

Update: 8/20/08

Information:

Link to Onkyo HT-S6100 Information From Onkyo Website

Stamping the Onkyo Trademark on High-Def Entertainment with Superior A/V Processing and iPod Connectivity

The launch of the HT-S6100 marks another milestone for Onkyo: the company’s first receiver/speaker package to simultaneously handle 1080p video and bit-for-bit audio processing.The HT-S6100 anchors your home theater by integrating the full potential of high-definition media (think Blu-ray Disc) and high-definition displays.With an HDMI™ platform as good as it gets (integrating up to four sources), you have every reason to be impressed. But the HT-S6100 is also going to take analog sources (from component video, S-video and composite video) and upscale them to HD-friendly 1080i resolution for HDMI output. Featuring some valuable options—single-cable dock connectivity for iPod, Audyssey room acoustic correction technologies, and integrated control with other leading brand-name devices—this receiver/speaker package puts the emphasis on value for money.
Special Features

• HDMI v1.3a Repeater (4 inputs, 1080P compatible)
• 1080i Upscaling powered by Faroudja DCDi Edge
• TrueHD, DTS-HD Decoding
• Slim, wall mountable 7.1 speaker system with 290W powered subwoofer

Pictures:










DOWNLOAD OWNER'S MANUAL: http://63.148.251.135/redirect_servi...T-S6100_En.pdf

PRICING:

Suggested Retail Price: $699

Lowest Street Price as of 8/18/08: $529 (+$30 Fuel Surcharge + Free Shipping) at www.us-appliance.com (Mods, if I'm not suppose to post links to vendors, please let me know) - NOT IN STOCK

Amazon.com (sold by Vanns) currently has it in stock for $649 + free shipping. No tax I believe.

CircuitCity.com has it for $599 and has a coupon for 10% off for purchases over $249 + Free Shipping. You will have to pay sales tax based on your location.

REVIEWS:

Link To CNET Review

There aren't really any good reviews out there yet. Let me know if you find any.

FAQ:

(1) What is the difference between the HT-S6100 vs. HT-S7100?

The HT-S7100 has everything the HT-S6100 has and also the following:

- 1 Pair AS-140 Speaker Stands Included
- Sirius Ready
- A/V capable DS-A1XP Ipod dock (6100 only has the audio DS-A1L Ipod Dock)

There is a $100 SRP Price Difference

(2) This HTiB includes the HT-R667 receiver, is it similar to the TX-SR606 receiver?

- They seem very similar. I am still researching the differences. Anyone please chime in.

Suggested Enhancements/Mods:

(1) The included speaker wire is a thin gauge and meant for short wire runs. Many members are upgrading their speaker wire to the 14-16 AWG so quality would not degrade in longer runs. If you are planning to upgrade the subwoofer cable for longer runs, you will need RG6 (18AWG) or RG59 (22AWG) RCA Cable.

Here is a extremely useful website that is widely accepted among experts in this forums:
http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm

(2) Another item to purchase would be banana plugs. It provides for a clean install and also prevents cross termination of stray strands that can overload the system. You will need 7 pairs for this HTiB.

(3) Which speaker stands should I buy?

- Several members have purchased the Sanus brand speaker stands. One member recommends the Sanus HTB3. I personally have purchased the Sanus Hover HF1B. You can obviously also go for the Onkyo brand speaker stands.
- The front and center speaker weighs 4 lbs each. The surround speakers weighs 2.9 lbs each. Make sure you purchase stands that will support the weight of these speakers.

[Green Chemist]

Wow... Onkyo.com doesn't even have a suggested retail price yet.

$0.00 - I'll take it!

It looks like it uses a 667 receiver, which looks to be the same as the 606 with the exception of more wattage: 90W/Ch vs. 130W/Ch. I don't know if I'd believe the 130W/channel statement, but it looks real good.

As far as the speakers go, I've got an HT-SR800, and I'm a big fan of the much larger L/C/R speakers. The speakers on this system seem small in comparison. Though that will help with the WAF.

[46XBR4Owner]

Amazon has it for $699 but does not ship for 7-9 weeks

[alleyez69onme]

Hrmm. I just bought the S5100 a week ago. I'm wondering if I should take it back and wait for the S6100. Looks like a great system, gotta see the price now.

[Mike415]

I was checking out the 5100, but I see the 6100 is coming out . Does this seem like its going to be a good purchase?

ETA anyone? It has to take a regular cable line right? (Coax?)

[sr20rocket]

I have been looking to put together a home theatre set up and I have always loved the Onkyo components I have had in the past.

I wanted something that would do Dolby decoding through HDMI though and I don't think any of the other HTIB's that onkyo makes would do it that were in my price range.

If you want to believe a cached google website you may be able to see the price.

Got to google
Search for: Onkyo s6100
about the 7th link down is a link to shoponkyo.com
Click on the little blue cached link and it will pull up the shoponkyo website with a price listed....

I can only hope that that price is correct. If it is, I will be one of the first to jump on that bandwagon.

Rick

[stub]

what about the S5100 alleyez? sound good? receiver work good with the hdmi inputs....u can get one of those on fleabay new and shipped for $420, + with the MS Live 20% deal going on right now that takes it down to the $350 range.....

[blackbird2150]

Problem with the 5100 is it doesn't decode the Dobly TrueHd or DTS-hd.

[stub]

True but if you using a PS3 for your dvd/bluray it will decode TrueHD & DTS-MA so as long as the receiver can process LPCM your good to go. (& HDMI 1.1 or up)

[blackbird2150]

Originally Posted by stub

True but if you using a PS3 for your dvd/bluray it will decode TrueHD & DTS-MA so as long as the receiver can process LPCM your good to go. (& HDMI 1.1 or up)

According to crutchfield:
1080p-compatible HDMI digital video switching (3 in, 1 out) — pass-through only (a separate cable connection is required for audio)

So if it is pass through, doesn't that mean it can't decode LPCM because it would require an optical cable...?

[umr]

I worked on an Onkyo system with these speakers yesterday. The speaker cabinet in this design has a very anoying resonance at about 1kHz and the tweater was way too loud and non-linear. I would look at Yamaha. I have had much better results with their HTIB units.

[blackbird2150]

If you can recommend a yamaha that does HD decoding at 7.1 speakers at a reasonable price i'm all ears. I'm all ears for all suggestions, at this point. i really don't want to get the Sony ss2300

[umr]

Originally Posted by blackbird2150

If you can recommend a yamaha that does HD decoding at 7.1 speakers at a reasonable price i'm all ears. I'm all ears for all suggestions, at this point. i really don't want to get the Sony ss2300

At this price point I would not waste my time with 7.1. Focus on the best speakers in a 5.1 system with reasonable power. I work on systems costing upward of $250,000 to HTIB for audio and 7.1 is not something I find differentiates the best from the rest.

Decoding the new HD formats is a very minor factor as well. Blu-Ray using SPDIF or Toslink is 99.9% of what the loss less systems offer.

The most important factors for audio are...

- Quality Speakers
- Speaker Location
- Adequate Power
- Accurate Processing
- Accurate System Setup
- Proper Connection Type
- Good Sources
- Reasonable Room Acoustics

[blackbird2150]

So if you had to recommend a system for a college student that has a 1080p 42" tv (brand new), that uses ps3, htpc, hd tv, and had around a 600$ budget what would you say?
I was considering the yamaha rx-663 (i think thats the model) and then pushing my budget to get the polkrm6750 5.1 set.
Thoughts?

Edit: and eventually when i could afford another 150 bucks or so, getting 2 more speakers.

[umr]

I would not buy Yamaha if you are going with separates. They have some bugs with HDMI video clipping and 7.1 surround processing. I guess you still don't believe me about 7.1. If it was me I would save some money and get better speakers for your 5.1 system and bag 7.1 entirely.

I would look at an Onkyo TX-SR606 receiver and speakers from HSU at the low price end like these. Ascend makes very good low cost speakers, but it sounds like they are too expensive for your budget. HSU is what I would look at for the lowest cost speakers that sound reasonably good.

http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/performance1.html

http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/enthusiast1.html

http://www.ascendacoustics.com/

[blackbird2150]

I was more considering the upgrade to 7.1 to be long term and maybe (probably) not even on this setup. Sorry if i didn't make that clear or if my edit was poorly worded

I had also considered getting the onkyo that you had suggested.
Hrmm... yeah those speaker sets are a little out of my price range.

[umr]

Here is another system that would be great if you can afford it.

http://www.crystalaudiovideo.com/ and go to the TX-T12 system for $999

[blackbird2150]

Yeah, those are too far outside my price range.
Is there an HTiB you might recommend by any chance?
and, do you just consider the polk set to be of poor quality, for $250?

[umr]

Originally Posted by blackbird2150

Yeah, those are too far outside my price range.
Is there an HTiB you might recommend by any chance?
and, do you just consider the polk set to be of poor quality, for $250?

As I originally said I would look at Yamaha HTIB. This is one I would consider or you can move up in the YHT line.

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/htib/yamaha-yht-380

At $250 those polks are not going to compete with the Yamaha HTIB system.

[samsurd2]

True but if you using a PS3 for your dvd/bluray it will decode TrueHD & DTS-MA so as long as the receiver can process LPCM your good to go. (& HDMI 1.1 or up)

Originally Posted by blackbird2150

According to crutchfield:
1080p-compatible HDMI digital video switching (3 in, 1 out) — pass-through only (a separate cable connection is required for audio)

So if it is pass through, doesn't that mean it can't decode LPCM because it would require an optical cable...?

The S5100 doesn't handle any audio over HDMI period. It doesn't matter what the PS3 can or can't do.

May want to look at the 5.1 Sony HT-7200DH (1.3a HDMI, 3 in, 1 out). Using HDMI, it handles legacy DD and DTS AND it also handles lossless PCM decoded in the PS3 from TrueHD and DTS-MA on Blu-ray discs.

[Mike415]

So can anyone recommend another unit that will outperform this in the same price range?

Right now its just the Sony 7200

[HoustonPerson]

umr, Jeff.

What has been your experience with wireless surround speakers? Good Bad etc.? Do you think they are perfected now........or is it still a few years away?

[umr]

Originally Posted by HoustonPerson

umr, Jeff.

What has been your experience with wireless surround speakers? Good Bad etc.? Do you think they are perfected now........or is it still a few years away?

I have worked with a Sony IR system that worked fine, but I have not worked with any RF systems. RF has been plauged with interference issues in the past. Crystal Audio has one that supposedly fixed this problem, but it has not been released yet.

[VinnieVol]

Onkyo posted a press release on the 6100 and 7100 yesterday..

http://www.onkyousa.com/press_releases.cfm?id=144

It says the 6100 is shipping now, but I'm not seeing anywhere.. perhaps this means "shipping to retailers now", yes? No matter, I want this system! Looks like the perfect solution for me.

[sr20rocket]

Well, J&R has it on pre-order for MSRP right now. I am not sure I want to bother calling them for an expected delivery date though.

[VinnieVol]

Originally Posted by sr20rocket

Well, J&R has it on pre-order for MSRP right now. I am not sure I want to bother calling them for an expected delivery date though.

Well I was just pumped to get some different google returns for it this morning.
I hope this means we're getting close.. I need to have this puppy hooked up before football season kicks off!

[HoustonPerson]

I am def sold on the Master HD sound and the DTS HD sound and will not give that up. Also, all the new "final specs" for BluRay are cool too, apparently playing anything you stick in the tray. Those are things I really like about the Panasonic SC-BT100.

What I don't like is the wireless rear speaker "white noise", that is much worse on the right rear (almost none on the left rear).

I have finally figured out the white noise is generated internally, inside the main box. If all inputs are off, even the internal ones there is no excess noise, if you turn "any" input you get noise, even just plain CD's or DVD/BluRay. You can even at times hear the little cooling fan clicking in the right rear speaker. So there is no question there is some internal EMI/RFI leakage or lack of shielding on the inside of the main box. It makes even more noise with "toslink" input, from the Panasonic 800U. What I don't know, is if this is just a single bad unit, or a QA design flaw?

At this point I am just going to replace it with another, and if that does not work, then get the BD50 player (3rd generation BluRay like this one), and then perhaps this Onkyo HTS6100.

Problem is Jeff (umr) says the speakers are not up to snuff...........and there is the problem? I trust Jeff, cause he is a Genius on all this stuff, and he knows it far better than most.

5.1 is all I need (really do not want the 7.1), and could really use 3 toslink inputs (I do not need the HDMI ports, my TV has 4 ports already).

MudFlipper, you think they would make stuff you could just plug in and it work!

[andydumi]

I got the 908 package last year. It had the same speakers looks like and the 605 receiver.

I have none of the issues outlined in this thread concerning the speakers. No white noise, no reverb... Sure they are not the most powerful speakers in existence, but for a HTIB, they actually work quite well.

I do have a question on the receiver here, the 667, is it essentially a re-badged 606?

[46XBR4Owner]

Here is what I gather:

(1) Ipod dock difference
(2) 7100 is Sirius Ready
(3) 7100 include stands?

Did I miss anything? Is this worth the $100 difference and the wait for the 7100?

[jk1234]

wait so overall is it better to wait for the S6100 or just get the S5100?