In the past five years or so, something amazing has happened in the audio/video industry. Just like our counterparts in the computer industry, we've seen prices drop and performance rise, and the consumer is the greatest beneficiary of these developments. More and more features are included and pricing seems more and more affordable.

We have seen this trend recently with DVD players, and now we're seeing it with full- featured audio/video surround sound receivers.

Additional Resources
• Read more receiver reviews from HomeTheaterReview.com.
• Find a Blu-ray player to connect to the TX-SR700.

Many receivers now feature 6.1 surround sound processing, DTS-compatible playback, DVD-Audio/SACD compatibility, upgraded processing chips for better sound, improved video switching resulting in better picture quality, ProLogic II processing, and much, much more. All this, and the prices just keep coming down. To my absolute amazement, Onkyo's new TX-SR700 A/V receiver retails for just over eight bills, and offers a ton of features for the money (at least on paper). It was my job to see if, in fact, it offers just as much in the real world as it does on paper.

Unique Features
As I have already alluded, the TX-SR700 is loaded with all the features you'd want, like component video switching (for hooking up your high-definition satellite receiver and DVD player), 6.1 surround sound processing, multichannel analog inputs for DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD compatibility, S-Video switching for improved picture fidelity, a bevy of digital audio inputs and outputs (outputs are used for recording onto a CD-recorder), and line level outputs to upgrade the sound via outboard amplifiers. However, you're probably not going to need extra power, since the Onkyo comes standard with six 100-watt per channel amplifiers built in. This is plenty of power for a medium sized home theater setup, and should offer plenty of slam with this package.

Another neat feature that the TX-SR700 offers is the ability to play a separate source in another room of the house, once wired correctly. This flexibility allows the user to play, for example, a CD in the living room while the kids are watching Harry Potter in 6.1 channels of surround sound at full volume in the den. Many A/V receivers omit this convenient feature, but the Onkyo did not, much to my delight.

Installation/Setup/Ease of Use
Setting up the TX-SR700 (or any A/V receiver, for that matter) is quite a task. I've been doing it since I was in the womb, so it comes easy for me. For most people, though, I expect it may take some time and serious concentration to hook up any A/V receiver correctly. As far as A/V receivers go, however, the Onkyo TXSR700 is really well labeled, and the manual explains the hookup methodology pretty well.

For my purposes, I hooked up the Onkyo A/V receiver to my high definition satellite receiver, progressive scan DVD player, CD player and DSS/TiVo combination receiver. For audio connections, I used the optional digital audio inputs on the back of the TX-SR700 for my TiVo, high definition satellite receiver and DVD player. I used the analog outputs from my Linn CD player to connect to the Onkyo, as my Linn CD player has better digital to analog conversion than virtually anything else on the planet. On the speaker front, I hooked up my reference 6.1 Definitive Technology PowerMonitor 900 speaker package with adjoining subwoofer to the TX-SR700 for full surround sound capability. Within about twenty minutes of lifting, concentrating and sweating, I had my connections in line, and was good to go.