The "Official" Onkyo TX-SR608 Thread (No Price Talk)

Will the 608 handle HDMI 1.4a signals, as well as HDMI 1.4?

I can't wait to take this rig for a spin. I will be returning my HT-RC160 when my 608 arrives from J&R. Onkyo has already started shipping these to retailers.

Thank you for the information about HDMI 1.4a.

By asking the question about HDMI 1.4a, I don't mean to suggest the 608 does not handle HDMI 1.4a, or that it does. I simply don't know. As I understand it, the new mandatory formats of HDMI 1.4a were previously part of the 1.4 spec, but just not mandatory, so it won't have come as a surprise to Onkyo. It's possible we don't see HDMI 1.4a advertised for the 608 only because there hasn't been time to go through the certification process for 1.4a.

The 607 has Audyssey 2EQ, Audyssey Dynamic EQ , and Audyssey Dynamic Volume (but no DSX)

See Onkyo's specs.
http://www.us.onkyo.com/model.cfm?m=...s=Receiver&p=f

New 4 DSP Gaming Modes: Rock, Sports, Action, and Role Playing
--> does anyone know what these are?

will they reduce processing lag of the receiver for example?

are they meant for real 5.1 or more (non-DTS or whatever artificial surround technique) sound coming directly through HDMI from a PC?
or are they meant simulate imaginary 3D that was never meant by the creators of the games?

Anyone know if the HDMI input 5 marked as "PC" actually supports PC resolutions (like 1360x768 etc), or is it just marked like that and only supports 720p and 1080p?

Is Audyssey multEQ really any better then Onkyos 2EQ ? Is it worth the added cost ?
Whats the best to date deal for this AVR, Was the 1.4a issue cleared-up?

Dont give up your Denon yet until you see the Denon line

I can't wait to hear about the new denon bugs, denon didn't fix the old ones fully.
Do onkyos still click when mode switching when watching TV, 5.1 to 2ch back to 5.1, that really bugged the hell out of me.
When a had the 607 (2EQ) in my home, other than that it was better sounding then the denon (multEQ).
Looking forward to testing out this one (608).
The pioneer 1120 looks good to but may be to pricey and the 1020 has no amps for balls.

new to the current generation of av receivers here. my B&K receiver is several years old and things have certainly changed!!

i'm looking to buy a current av receiver but wish to ask how important an ethernet input is for firmware upgrading/future proofing? it would seem to me that it is rather important for trouble-free, easy upgrading, as well as music from free sources like Pandora.

may i ask for input/advice please?

the reason this is coming up is that if i didn't really want the ethernet input, i can easily buy a less expensive receiver. BUT, if i wanted the ethernet, i'd have to go for the 807 at the minimum, right?

look forward to hearing. thx in advance!

**** that's a long time. I bought all my speakers to prepare for this, but I don't know if I can wait another 45 days.

Great news, I was hoping that was a typo from NewEgg on the release date. I'm still trying to hold out and wait for the 608 but it dang sure better be coming out in April. It sucks not having a receiver to watch stuff with. I'm having to use my tv speakers. I would go with an older model but at this point in time it just seems to make more sense to go with the newer 3D ready, 1.4 models.

Considering the fact that the 807 is now substantially discounted (basically most of the x07 models are more heavily discounted), would it make sense to buy a higher end 2009 model versus a lower end 2010 model?

I'm struggling to decide between the 807 which has RJ45 for internet radio, possible firmware updating, and various other networked advantages, versus the 608 which is obviously a far better/improved model than its 607 predecessor?

I am in the same status...waiting ( though i havent ordered ) . 707 is matching more closely in the features with 608 , except for the 1.4 HDMI thingy.
I checked with Onkyo and JR , they said April ( may be late April also) . New egg is 15th May...seems way late. I have definitive speakers waiting !

Did they say HOW a firmware update would fix it? There's no ethernet or usb?!?!

If it involves taking it to a service center, I'm out of luck, nearest one is 6 hours away, one way!

I am thinking about selling my 1007. I think most of the extra stuff is fluff. I keep second guessing this purchase, just like my 807.
Before the 807 I had a 602 Never once gave that a second guess. Gave me great performance for a few years.
It must be my untrained ears, but I feel I have wasted money with 1007.
The 608 looks really nice. Good specs. Can't wait to see it in action.

Khakimon: what about critiquing or advising me on going for the 807 versus waiting for the 608? the 608 is such a good and extensive upgrade from the 607, that the 707 is a no-go now for me. essentially, the 608 has become the 707 from last year!!

BUT, the 807 still retains a few good things: RJ45/network/internet radio not needing a pc/Pandora/firmware upgrade more easily.

frankly, i don't even know how important upgrading the firmware is since once you set it up, essentially it just sits there providing good service, hopefully, for a number of years without us having to futz with it anymore, right? my living room's B&K AV receiver cannot be upgraded unless you ship it to the factory and it costs a lot of money to do so. i didn't do it. everything is connected, working.

that's a long way of saying that maybe, just maybe, i really don't need the "easy firmware" upgrading as my in real life, practical terms as i think i do. however, the 807's internet radio, Pandora, do sound fun. it is as though we built a radio station for ourselves!! Custom, bespoke, radio station. Why not? That's what's giving me such a dilemma over waiting for the 608. the 608 WITH RJ45/internet radio/Pandora would be just want i'd like and want.

You have some good points. I feel the same over all.
Do not get me wrong the 807 and 1007 are beast for sure.
But do I need a beast. I have a 1800cu ft room. I think they are over kill for the money.
The networking is nice. But I stream more from my pc to my xbox and ps3 then I use the internet radio. So this was not a deciding factor for me. Updating firmware is for fixing bugs. I thought it might be used to add extras, but that is not the case. So again wasted money.
The THX stuff I thought I would really use. But I think it is on the muffled side. So I never use those modes. I prefer DTS-HD and DOLBY TRUHD. Sounds more detailed to my untrained ears.
The amp sections are definitely more powerful. So if you have power hungry speakers this may be for you. I use Monitors 70s and my old 80watt 602 pushed them just fine, with a sub of course. If you listen to 2ch stuff alot more power will be what you need.
Also if you plan on adding a separate amp one day then you will need to buy atleast the 707/708 to get the needed pre-outs for this. Something I thought the 608 has but does not. So I probably will go 707 or wait for the 708., since I might want to add a separate amp in the future. If I spend 600.00 and a avr and 600.00 on a separate amp I have just leap frogged the 807 and 1007....
Kinda of long winded but I hope I helped.

Other than 3-d what else does 1.4 give us. Super duper hd?

I have a hunch that the 608 will still pass 3D HDMI 1.4a signals through flawlessly out of the box

Yes with the "a"

Lets test this out my Avsforum brothers. Make sure to use the newest HDMI cables of course.

I am getting my 3D tv and 3D bluray in June, so someone else has to step up to the plate

i did more reading on users' reviews here and there on the 807. well, ugh. as much as i thought all those networked features, i.e. Pandora, internet radio, etc., sounded spiffy and good, plus the fact that the 807 is discounted a bit more now that it will soon be updated by the upcoming 808, users have reported unimpressive networked features!! Yikes.

basically, in a nutshell, the networked features all sound better than they really are in reality. disappointments with the networked features include: sluggishness in connecting (lack of responsiveness in handshake and locking in when you want a certain feature), troublesome firmware upgrading despite promises of easy "networked firmware upgrading", etc.

so, as much as it sounds nice to have a networked receiver, essentially, when you actually use those networked features, users have found that they are slow and troublesome.

that's an important, practical observation for me. the very reason i'm tempted to buy a 2009 model 807 is now essentially crippled by the actual execution of those very features.

that said, if the 807 needs improvements on its networked capabilities, it boils down to the 608! sadly, that translates to no receiver till the middle of May (as per Newegg). somehow, i trust the date of newegg over that of some rough "maybe April" type of guesstimate from others. 1 1/2 months of no receiver. this is because i don't consider the 2009 model 707 to be a viable option, as the 608 is such a big improvement over the 607 that the 608 is now essentially the 707, but at a reduced price point. kudos to Onkyo on that front.

that said, i might shift my attention a bit to see what Denon is offering (now that networked capabilities are more realistically discussed by actual users rather than merely listed as fancy schmancy features on a spec sheet). besides Denon, i will also look into Pioneer, despite its lack of Audessey though it has the Pioneer proprietary MCAAP or whatever their acronym is for the microphone-based automated bass management/measurement feature.

BUT, shouldn't it be like in the past with say the 805 which I had and members on here had the upgrade firmware file that you could download onto a cd/dvd and play it in your blu-ray/dvd player to upgrade your firmware? It was very easy and took like 5 minutes.