Onkyo HT-RC260 7.2-Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black)

While we may define it as an entry-level A/V receiver, the HT-RC260 gives you performance and features that leave class-competitors gasping in its wake. Six of the latest HDMI® 1.4a inputs provide easy connection for all your high-def sources and compatibility with the eye-popping new 3D video format. Another connectivity highlight is a handy Universal Port that allows you to hook up Onkyo peripherals such as a Dock for iPod/iPhone. Meanwhile, if you want to distribute music to another room, the HT-RC260 provides Zone 2 line-outs and speaker outputs. Regardless of their resolution, all video sources can be upscaled to stunning 1080p via HDMI and Faroudja DCDi Cinema . High-quality Burr-Brown DACs work alongside jitter-cleaning technology and three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry to minimize distortion and deliver extremely realistic audio for movies, music, and games. The HT-RC260 also offers compatibility with lossless Dolby and DTS codecs, as well as the expanded surround formats of Audyssey DSX and Dolby Pro Logic® IIz. Quality home theater has never been more affordable. read more..

Hot Features

• 100 Watts per Channel at 8 Ohms, 20 Hz?20 kHz, 0.08%, 2 Channels Driven, FTC
• HDMI (Version 1.4a to Support 3D and Audio Return Channel
• HDMI Video Upscaling to 1080p with Faroudja DCDi Cinema
• Audyssey DSX and Dolby Pro Logic IIz for New Surround Channels
• Powered Zone 2 and Zone 2 Line-Out for Playback of Separate Source in Another Room

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Excellent value by B. Gone
With my power amplifier out of commission I decided to use this receiver to drive my Mirage m1si speakers using a Krell cd transport connected to the Onkyo's optical input and MIT shotguns as speaker connects. Although it is pretty ludicrous to compare the Onky to my Krell pre-power combination, the Onkyo performed well enough to get a 5 star endorsement based on its price/performance ratio.



Out of the box this class B amplifier took about 6 hours to come into its own after which some serious listening could be done. Onkyo claims that their circuitry is "high current". This is not empty advertising. With an impedance that hovers around 4 ohms and a very "current hungry" dual woofer, I have heard many an amplifier bite the dust in controlling the Mirages. The Onlyo did an admirable job, even though it has about a sixth of the power at 4 Ohms of the amp that it temporarily replaces, there was decent bass. In general it sounded best in pop and rock, but smaller ensemble classical performances tended to nicely as well. Based on the listening here is a list of the good, the decent, and the bad.



Good:

Strange Angels "stereo fm, stored in my teeth!"

Immaculate Collection pops nicely

Cantate Per Il Marchese Ruspoli-Italian Cantatas 2 voice less than optimal, but timbre of instruments and placement in the soundstage excellent

Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas good dynamics

Basket of Wild Strawberries excellent in the ppp range

Universal Musician very good performance on the Bach Pastorale on harpsichord on disc 6





Decent:

We're All Together Again for the First Time good dynamics, not much of a soundstage

Planets good dynamics, timbre of winds ok, placement in orchestra blurry

Bruckner: Symphony No. 5 good dynamics, timbre of winds ok, placement in orchestra blurry





Bad:

Suzanne Vega butchered; voice grainy, transients on guitar hopeless

Symphonies 1-9 (Bruckner/Jochum) sure the recordings are old, but no differentiation within the orchestra whatsoever

Mozart - Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) (Solti) voices garbled, orchestra lackluster, placement in the soundtsage poor



This is of course only a tiny slice of what the Onkyo has to offer, yet many will choose this receiver to fuel a home theater system, for which its sound amplification quality will be the determining factor. At $350 this is a steal.