Review: Onkyo TX-NR414 Receiver

I have a friend that works for a small production company that was trying to find a home theater system that could be used when they performed at smaller venues. The sounds and light department did some research and found that the Onkyo TX-NR414 would be ideal for their situation. Here is what the production company said about the home theater system after they purchased it.

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"Thanks to the excellent capabilities of the AV receiver, the entire audience can enjoy surround sound quality. No matter what part of theater you're in, you can enjoy a sense of movement that's similar to that of a midsized home theater. The system supports BluRay, Dolby and DTS video, and is perfect for use with a digital or analog television. We were able to use the system with a variety of settings and the DTS Neo 6, the Dolby Pro Logig IIx, and Onkyo's DPS listening modes were all amazing. The front speakers output the overall sound and their role in the system provides a good, solid anchor for the sound image. It's best if the speakers are placed to face the listeners in relation to their ear level. Create a triangle by angling them inward and the apex of the audience" says Keyoto, the lights and sound manager.

For a full sound image and to enjoy distinct sound movement, the center speaker should be set up to enhance the front speakers. The production company uses this set up primarily for dialog. They noticed that the surround speakers allowed for exact sound placement. They were able to add some realistic ambiance by positioning the speakers to the side or slightly behind the audience at about 3 feet above ear level. Next, they set them to be equidistant from the audience. They really like the surround back speakers because they allow listeners to enjoy DTS-ES Discrete, DTS-ES Matrix, Dolby Digital EX, etc. They perfectly augment the surround sound realism and improve the sound localization for the back audience. They had great results when they were placed behind the audience 2-3 above ear level.

The front high speakers were basically used to enjoy the Dolby Pro Logic IIz Height, but they also significantly improved the spatial experience. By placing them a minimum of 3.3 feet above the front speakers, the sound was improved dramatically. While they can be placed at an angle that's slightly wider than the front speaker for good sound placement, it's best to set them up directly above the front speakers.

The bass sounds of the LFE channel are perfectly handled by the subwoofer. The quality and volume of the subwoofer's bass output depends on its placement as well as the shape of the listening area. Keyoto said, "We found that the entire system was exactly what we needed in order to put on a quality performance in a small theater setting, much like the average home theater. The Onkyo TX-NR414 would be perfect in any home theater."

As you can see, even professionals recommend the system for a home theater. When you're ready to say "lights, camera, action" for an upcoming night of entertainment with your family, you can be sure that the Onkyo TX-NR414 will deliver exactly what you're looking for at a price that fits your budget.