Onkyo HT-S790 Home Theater System

Onkyo HT-S790 Home Theater System - powerful 7.1 surround sound package

The typical shortcomings of home-theater-in-a-box (HTIB) packages, such as meager power and subpar sound quality, are nowhere to be found in this 7.1 HTIB package from Onkyo. The HT-S790 offers a high-performance surround-sound system bundled in a convenient and simple-to-install HTIB package.

Look and Feel

The HT-S790 looks good in either black or silver. The speakers -- four satellite speakers, two front speakers, one dedicated center-channel speaker, and a 10-inch subwoofer -- are powered by a full-featured seven-channel AV receiver that includes all of the popular surround-sound decoding options, including the most widely used Dolby Digital and DTS formats.

The receiver measures in at an average size of 17.1 x 14.8 x 5.9 inches, but its 21.2 pounds make it heavier than most HTIB receivers. This weight speaks to sturdy construction and ample power: The receiver drives each speaker with a hefty 110 watts per channel. A nicely laid out remote control benefits from partially backlit buttons.

Features

Onkyo's wide range amplifier technology (WRAT), exclusive to its receivers, makes the HT-S580 well suited for both medium-size and large rooms.

The HT-S790 has some nice features not typically found in HTIB systems, such as adjustable crossover. This allows you to set the frequency of the subwoofer crossover, which lets you customize for more or less bass response. Another bonus is AB speaker switching, which gives you the option of setting up multiroom audio -- a 5.1 surround system in one room and a two-channel stereo system in another, for instance.

The receiver can pick up XM satellite radio stations. An extra antenna, however, sold separately, is required to take advantage of this feature (as well as a subscription to XM radio).

Installation is very straightforward, with color-coded wiring matching up to color-coded terminals. Three digital optical inputs and one digital coaxial input provide enough audio-expansion options to suffice for most home-theater needs.

There are a couple of things you won't find in this Onkyo HTIB. Most notable is the absence of a DVD player, which is often included in HTIB packages at this price. Also missing are video-switching connections for HDMI video, which will limit your expansion capabilities should you want to connect a high-definition display.