Onkyo HT SP904 Home theater system 5.1 channel

Editorial Review
There's absolutely no reason why affordability and versatility can't be dished up in the same high-definition-compatible home theater system. That's what you're going to find with the HT-SP904. If you've made the investment in an LCD or plasma display, the HT-SP904 will be an excellent partner. It packs a challenging power capacity, 1080p pass-thru video via HDMI, XM and SIRIUS Satellite radio options, and iPod connectivity (courtesy of the included iPod dock) - all in the same package. You'll be able to handle a multitude of video sources, which you can match to the resolution of your display. And when it comes to audio, you can select from computer-based sources, such as MP3s or your iPod's content, as well as your entire CD collection.
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Customer Reviews

Great system with excellent sound

2008-07-12
I am probably violating Amazon policy here because I actually bought mine on sale at Circuit City a couple of weeks ago. Sorry Amazon. So far I am very happy with the receiver, the dvd player, and the speaker system. It is a very classy looking system and it all connects up well together. I am running it on a Charter cable box (Motorola) and a Samsung 46" LCD tv (which I did buy from Amazon). My only complaint so far is that the HDMI pass-through only works on the video side of things. In the fine print Onkyo does say that you have to have a separate digital coax or optical audio cable to connect to the receiver to get the surround sound out. Completely amazing to me that Onkyo engineers have not figured out how to pull the audio signal out of the HDMI cable and use it. What a pain and extra cables. Also, when I tried to use the HDMI pass through connections on the receiver, my cable box would freeze up anytime that I shut off the receiver. Almost like when the receiver is shut off, there is no bit-dumping to handle the data that probably keeps flowing from the cable box. Poor design on either Onkyo's or Motorola's (cable box/dvr) behalf. I have not determined who is at fault. Since I have 4 HDMI inputs on the tv I just connected the cable box and the dvd directly to the tv via HDMI, and used digital coax cables for the audio. The sound is excellent though and the subwoofer certainly handles the job. My girlfriend has yet to try out the ipod docking station. I am disappointed though that Onkyo did not include an AUX port to connect a simple MP3 player. Another feature left out that makes no sense.

Great System With an HDMI Caveat

2008-02-24
I purchased the HT-SP904 as part of a recent home theater upgrade. Overall the sound is excellent and the upscaling DVD player is a nice addition, but I really wish the HDMI was not limited to passthrough. Basically, any HDMI device plugged in to the receiver will need an alternate audio connection for full surround output. This is very strange considering the HDMI out passes the sound to the TV without issue. Why they couldn't they pass the sound to the receiver and surround speakers is beyond me. Despite this issue, the system is fairly easy to set up and work with. I'd recommend it for anyone looking for a mid-range system as a new addition to their AV setup.

Home Entertainment Products and Books

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Newnes Guide to Digital TV

The second edition has been updated with all the key developments of the past three years, and includes new and expanded sections on digital video interfaces, DSP, DVD, video servers, automation systems, HDTV, 8-VSB modulation and the ATSC system.

* A uniquely concise and readable guide to the technology of digital television
* New edition includes more information on HDTV (high definition) and ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committe) - the body that drew up the standards for Digital Television in the U.S.
* Written by an engineer for engineers, technicians and technical staff