Onkyo Home Theater Receivers 101: Some Useful Basics
Onkyo home theater systems with 5.1 channel hardware can project sounds just about anywhere you place them, such as in a corporate multimedia room or a movie-viewing corner of your house. Each Onkyo speaker is designed for a specific zone in an environment, and all the pieces in the system can be lined up around a television for surround-sound effects. Onkyo sound systems can be used with a variety of devices because they're manufactured with multiple audio and video ports.
What are the audio and video port options?A typical theater receiver has audio ports for AM-sound hardware, coaxial digital accessories, and HDMI cords. You'll also find audio options on some units for turntable audio equipment. Also, many receivers have input and output spots for multichannel devices by RCA.
The video options include ports for coaxial RF cords, component lines, and composite hardware. Some systems have several ports for HDMI cables and options for S-video lines. If a unit is built with media solutions, a few USB ports will be mounted on the housing as well.
What are the sound formats these devices use?All Onkyo 5.1 surround-sound systems are engineered with audio hardware by Dolby or DTS. Some examples of Dolby formats include:
- Dolby Digital
- Dolby Pro Logic
- Dolby Digital EX
- Dolby Digital Surround EX
- Dolby Pro Logic II
- Dolby TrueHD
Dolby hardware pairs very well with the audio from blockbuster movies because the hardware produces sound frequencies that bounce around an environment when different effects generate high or low levels of bass and treble.
What are some Onkyo home theater system features?- Wi-Fi: Most hardware is built with Wi-Fi capability that can play HD radio stations. If a product lacks this option, the hardware can be upgraded by using a Wi-Fi USB adapter.
- DVD or Blu-ray player: Many systems are designed with either a DVD player or a Blu-ray player. Typically, when a system includes a Blu-ray player, you will be able to play DVDs since most Blu-ray systems are compatible with DVD hardware.
- Digital tuner: A digital tuner broadcasts local television channels in a digital format. Combo receivers that have a digital tuner can be used with cable equipment.
- Digital display: Surround-sound units have a digital-display panel that provides information about the different program modes. The illuminated information is bright and bold, and everything will light up so that it's easy to view in a dim environment.