Onkyo HT-RC160

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Onkyo HT-RC160

Comparing the features of competing AV receivers is already a difficult chore, but many manufacturers, such as Denon and Yamaha, invite more complexity by offering two lines of nearly identical AV receivers: a custom-install-friendly line and a more-consumer-based line. For better or worse, Onkyo has followed suit with the HT-RC160, which is the consumer-friendly analogue to the TX-SR607. As much as we dislike the confusion created by the duplicated models, the HT-RC160 is a good deal. The differences between TX-SR607 and HT-RC160 are simple: no front panel HDMI input, no onboard Sirius support, and slightly less power. Otherwise, they are virtually identical and the HT-RC160 is selling for about $100 less online. The HT-RC160 isn't our favorite midrange receiver (that would be the Pioneer VSX-1019AH-K), but taking value into account, it's the next best choice.

Design
The trend in home audio is to make gear smaller and sleeker, but Onkyo receivers are unapologetically big and bulky, coming in at 17.13 inches wide by 6.94 inches high by 12.94 inches deep. You'll want to leave plenty of space in your home theater rack to fit the receiver, especially since it tends to run hot. The front panel offers the standard assortment of buttons and knobs; the focus is definitely on function over form. We're not picky about aesthetics when it comes to AV receivers, but if you are, you'd probably be better off looking at options like the Sony STR-DN1000 or Pioneer VSX-1019AH.

There's a standard-def video input on the front panel, but no HDMI input, like on the TX-SR607.

The included remote control is the same as last year's and we generally like its simple design. Instead of offering all the functions directly on the remote, the HT-RC160's clicker uses a simpler design that relies more on navigating onscreen menus. While some old-school home theater fans may prefer having all the buttons at their fingertips, we felt like this design was much less intimidating for the average user.

While more AV receivers are starting to feature true graphical user interfaces, the HT-RC160 features a text-based onscreen interface. To be fair, there are some graphics accompanying the menus, but they're comparatively low-fi--although they easily best the onscreen menus of the Yamaha RX-V665BL. Graphics aside, the menus are easy to get around and we didn't run into any snags during our setup. Our one nitpick is that there's no capability to change the upscaling resolution in the menu system; you need to use the button on the remote instead.

Setup
Like all of Onkyo's receivers of recent memory, the HT-RC160 features Audyssey's 2EQ automatic calibration system. The comprehensive system confirms the wiring polarity for each speaker is correct ("+" to "+" and "-" to "-"), adjusts each channel's volume level and time delay/distance setting, determines the speaker "sizes," and the speaker/subwoofer crossover settings. Audyssey 2EQ also provides equalization corrections to the speakers, which may or may not improve the sound. In our case, our Aperion Intimus 4T Hybrid SD 5.1 speaker/subwoofer system was warmer and richer sounding with the EQ turned on. Does that mean better? Not to us, but it's a matter of personal taste.

The 2EQ system uses a microphone to analyze the speakers' and subwoofer's sound from three listening positions in your room. The setup process took about 12 minutes to complete, during which time the receiver sent test tones to all five Aperion speakers and the sub. After each series of tones was completed we were instructed (via the onscreen display) to move the measurement mic to the next room position.

Once the Audyssey 2EQ setup was finished it was easy to confirm the results, which were pretty accurate overall. Speaker and subwoofer measured distances were spot-on, and the volume levels, including the subwoofer, were perfect. We were less happy with the subwoofer-to-speaker crossover settings: Audyssey 2EQ selected 40 Hertz for the towers, 90 Hz to the center-channel speaker, and 60 Hz for the surround speakers.

The settings for the towers and surround speakers were too low (a low setting would result in a lack of midbass). So we changed the towers' crossover to 60Hz and the surrounds crossover to 90Hz in the manual setup. Granted, the sound, even before we made the changes was perfectly fine, but it was a smidge better after we made the changes.

We definitely liked the Audyssey 2EQ setup results overall and recommend taking the time to do the autosetup.

Features

Key features
Dolby TrueHD + DTS-HD MA	Yes		Onscreen display	Text-based
Analog upconversion	1080i		Source renaming	Yes
Selectable output resolution	Yes		Satellite radio	No

In addition to Dolby Pro Logic IIz, the HT-RC160 has onboard decoding for both of the new high-resolution soundtrack formats, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Analog upconversion is provided up to 1080i, although we really weren't satisfied with the image quality--we'll get to the details in the performance section. The onscreen display for the HT-RC160 is primarily text-based, although there are some basic graphics accompanying the menus. Unlike the TX-SR607, the HT-RC160 lacks Sirius support, although you can add it with a standalone tuner (or a streaming-audio unit that utilizes the online XM Sirius stream).

Connectivity
HDMI inputs	5		Optical audio inputs	2
Component video inputs	2		Coaxial audio inputs	2
Max connected HD devices	8		Stereo analog audio inputs	2
Composite AV inputs	5		Analog multichannel inputs	No
Max connected video devices	8		Phono input	No

The HT-RC160's five HDMI inputs are excellent at the price range, bested only by its sister product, the TX-SR607. We were also impressed that it's possible to connect eight simultaneous HD sources, which means there are enough input "slots" to cover all five HDMI inputs and the two component video inputs. The rest of the connectivity options are standard at this price range, although there are some notable omissions. There are no S-Video inputs on the HT-RC160--which is becoming common--but there also isn't a 7.1 multichannel analog input, which may disappoint some buyers with older gear. Like most receivers in this price range, the HT-RC160 also lacks a phono jack.

The HT-RC160 has some missing connections, but it's mostly made up for by its five HDMI inputs.

New this year on Onkyo receivers is the "universal port," which is a proprietary connection used to connect Onkyo-branded accessories. Current universal port-compatible accessories include the UP-HT1 HD radio tuner ($160), DS-A3 iPod dock ($140), and UP-A1 iPhone dock ($110). The accessories certainly aren't cheap, but they have some advantages over buying separate components in that they'll work with your AV receiver remote and can interact with the onscreen display. Also new on the HT-RC160 are two subwoofer outputs, for those who want to run a dual subwoofer configuration.

Multiroom features
Line level 2nd zone outputs	Yes		Line level 3rd zone outputs	No
Speaker-level 2nd zone outputs	Yes		Speaker-level 3rd zone outputs	No
2nd zone video output	No		2nd zone remote	No

Multiroom functionality is standard on the HT-RC160, with second-zone functionality offered using line-level or speaker-level outputs. Note that using the second zone speaker-level outputs requires you to use the would-be surround-back channels of a 7.1 configuration; you can't have a 7.1 setup and a second zone.

Audio performance
With or without the Audyssey 2EQ equalization the basic sound of the HT-RC160 was agreeably sweet and smooth. The Beatles musical "Across the Universe" Blu-ray was pretty terrific sounding, and the Gospel choir that brings "Let It Be" to life was beautifully rendered. Rockers and ballads fared well, and the HT-RC160's poise remained steadfast throughout the film.

The ground-force battles depicted in the American siege of the Somali city of Mogadishu in the "Black Hawk Down" Blu-ray were more demanding tests of the HT-RC160's home theater skills. Surround immersion, with the high-pitched whine of the helicopter engines, and the fierce, percussive blasts of assault weapons amidst the chatter of radio communications were all clear and distinct.

But when a helicopter is hit and crashes onto city streets, the HT-RC160 couldn't convey the dynamics as well as some receivers we've heard of late. Turning the volume up didn't result in greater impact, the receiver doesn't seem as capable in that regard as Sony's STR-DN1000, which betters the HT-RC160 in the power oomph departments.

The HT-RC160 was no slouch with two-channel music. On its "Din of Inequity" CD, funk-jazz group Sex Mob laid down groove after groove, with thick meaty basslines that gave our subwoofer a nice workout. The band's boisterous brass section sounded realistic, without the nasty edge we sometimes get from midprice receivers. If anything, we would have preferred a bit more in the way of resolution; the HT-RC160 can sound a wee bit too laid back on some CDs and Blu-rays. Still, we'd opt for that over a receiver that goes the other way, to overly hyped detail and brightness.

Video performance
Editors' note: In our testing, we observed virtually identical performance from the HT-RC160 as we did from the Onkyo TX-SR607. Therefore, this section of the review is similar to that of the TX-SR607's.

The Onkyo HT-RC160 is capable of upconverting analog signals to its HDMI output, so we put it through our video testing suite. We connected the Oppo BDP-83 via component video to the HT-RC160, with the BDP-83 set to 480i output. The HT-RC160 was set to output at 1080i over its HDMI output, connected to the Samsung PN50B650.

We've complained about Onkyo's upconverted image quality on previous models and the HT-RC160 suffers from the exact same issues. First, we looked at test patterns from Silicon Optix's "HQV" test disc. The initial resolution pattern told the whole story, as the HT-RC160 was clearly not depicting the full resolution of DVD. On every image we saw, there appeared to be comblike artifacts on nearly everything, indicating how much resolution was actually missing. The HT-RC160 failed the other jaggies and 2:3 pull-down tests we looked at, as well, but the limited resolution was almost always the more obvious deficiency.

We switched over to program material, and the HT-RC160 continued to struggle. Generally we look at titles like "Star Trek: Insurrection" and "Seabiscuit" for issues like excessive jaggies or faulty 2:3 pull-down processing, but again the loss of resolution was visible in every scene and for many it would be considered unwatchable.

To be clear, the problems we saw were only on analog video signals upconverted to the other resolutions listed above over the HDMI output. If you're planning on using the HT-RC160 only for HDMI sources, you won't run into these issues at all.

Additionally, these issues only occur if you're trying to upconvert analog signals to 1080i. You can set the HT-RC160 to "through" mode, which means the HT-RC160 will convert the analog signals to HDMI, but leave it at 480i for your HDTV to do the upconversion. In nearly all cases, this will result in better image quality, as long your HDTV can accept a 480i signal over HDMI.

The main takeaway is that you shouldn't go with the HT-RC160 if you're looking for an AV receiver with excellent upconversion video quality, but with almost all new gadgets (except the Nintendo Wii) featuring HDMI, we expect fewer people actually need that capability.

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