I was looking to replace some burned out computer speakers so I started checking prices and reviews. Like my last set computer speakers they are high for a high end system and they don’t seem to last more than a few years. I started looking into component systems wanting to add more sound and end up with something I wasn’t going to have to replace in a couple of years.

     For around the same price of the higher end computer speakers I ran onto the Onkyo HT-S790 Home Theater Audio System.  I read through the comments that people who bought them had posted and they all were extremely pleased with the systems. I decided to give them a try and see just how well they will work for me.

     The Onkyo HT-S790 comes in black or silver to try and match your setup a little better. I decided to go with the black system to match the desk and placed my order.

     The UPS man arrived wheeling the large box on his little cart so he didn’t throw his back out carrying the system.

     Upon opening the box I noticed some of the Styrofoam pieces was broken and I was expecting something to be damaged but it appears the foam did its job and protected the system.

     In the box you will find The Receiver, Speakers, Remote control, Wiring, Fm-Antenna, Manual, and Batteries.

     The speaker boxes are all constructed of wood and not thin plastic, while they still have plastic the box's themselves are wood/particle board. The front and center speakers are huge (about at tall as a computer tower and 1/2 as deep) unlike the small cubes that you see a lot of. I have a large desk but these will be hard to place on there without some creativity. The Sub woofer is large standing about 19" tall and 16" deep while the rear and side speakers are smaller.

     Onkyo's HT-S790 Home Theater System in silver is the perfect complement to your HDTV and/or DVD player to provide you with 780 Watts of total power to bring you into the experience whether it be a DVD movie, TV or serious surround audio.

     This system contains a powerful A/V receiver, two front tower speakers, four surround bookshelf speakers, a center speaker, and a 10" powered subwoofer that combine to create an encompassing sound field full of acoustic ambiance and smooth, thumping bass.

     The HT-S790 Home Theater System comes with built-in Dolby and DTS decoders, four digital audio inputs, a "remote interactive" remote control, an easy setup, Onkyo's proprietary CinemaFILTER and WRAT technology, and more to give you the versatility you need for all your home theater and audio needs.

Key Features:
 
• 110 Watts of Power/7.1 Channels
 The HT-S790 combines 110 watts of power on each of its seven channels combined with a 230 watt-powered 10" subwoofer to produce an enveloping sound field to draw you into the experience. 
 • Dolby Digital EX, Pro Logic II, DTS, DTS ES, DTS Neo:6
 The HT-S790 is compatible with the top digital audio formats to provide an expansive, quality sound field from any source. 

 • WRAT (Wide Range Amplifier Technology)
 This superior amp technology gives the power stage a linear frequency response to ensure it's up to snuff from even the most demanding audio sources.
 
• Optimum Gain Volume Circuitry
 This receiver has the ability to adjust the gain allowing for less noise contamination especially at lower volumes.
 
• CinemaFILTER
 Onkyo's proprietary CinemaFILTER restores the correct tonal balance to movie soundtracks that can otherwise play too edgy and bright over home audio equipment since they are designed for large theaters.
 
• Dot Matrix Fluorescent Display
 This highly readable, classic display is pleasant to look at and easy to use.
 
• Color-Coded Speaker Terminals
 Taking the guesswork out of attaching speakers, the color-coded terminals make setup of your home stereo system a breeze.
 
• Four Digital Inputs
 To complement the audio and composite A/V inputs and outputs, this unit also features four digital inputs for high-quality digital components.
 
• HDTV-Quality Video Compatible
 The HT-S790's range of inputs and outputs includes component video switching for flawless signal processing of progressive scan DVDs and HDTV.
 
• IR Remote Control
 You can control all your audio and video equipment with the included remote.

Specs:

Receiver 
 
Stereo RMS Power 110 Watts x 2, .08% THD, 1kHz, 8 ohms
 
Surround RMS Power 110 Watts, .08% THD, 1kHz, 8 ohms
 
No. of Channels 7.1
 
AM/FM Presets 30
 
Input Optical Audio: x3
Coaxial Audio: x1
Composite A/V: x4
Audio (RCA): x6 (4 A/V)
S-Video: x3
Component Video: x3 
 
Output Composite Video: x2
Headphone: Stereo Mini x1
S-Video: x2
Component Video: x1 
 
Surround Format Dolby Pro Logic IIx, Dolby Digital EX, DTS, DTS ES Discrete 6.1, DTS Neo:6, DTS 96/24
 
Dimensions (WxHxD) 17.1 x 5.9 x 14.75" (435 x 149 x 375mm)
 
Weight 20.7 lb (9.4 kg)

 
  
Speakers 
 
Configuration 1 x Center, 4 x Bookshelf, 2 x Tower
 
Shielded Yes/Magnetically Shielded
 
Connector Type Not Specified by Manufacturer
 
Speaker Type 2-Way
 
Drivers Front: Woofer: 5" x 2, Tweeter: 1"
Center: Woofer: 5" x 2, Tweeter: 1"
Surround: Woofer: 3.1", Tweeter 3/4" 
 
Dimensions (WxHxD) Front: 6.2 x 17.06 x 7.9" (157 x 433 x 200mm)
Center: 17.06 x 6.2 x 7.9" (433 x 157 x 200mm)
Surround:6.9 x 10.4 x 4.0" (175 x 265 x 102mm) 
 
Weight Front: 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg)
Center: 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg)
Surround: 3.1 lbs (1.4 kg) 
 
Enclosure Bass Reflex
 
  
Sub-Woofer 
 
Power Output 150 Watts
 
Driver 10"
 
Impedance 8 ohms
 
Connectors Not Specified by Manufacturer
 
Enclosure Bass Reflex
 
Dimensions (WxHxD) 10.8 x 20.4 x 16.2" (275 x 517 x 411mm)
 
Weight 30.0 lbs (13.6 kg)

  
General 
 
Power Requirements AC 120V, 60Hz
 
Warranty 2 Years Parts and Labor

     I connected the receiver to the Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic along with the Sound Blaster X-Fi I/O Console & Remote Control using The Sound Blaster Home Theater Cable and Digital Optical Cable. The connections where fairly quick and easy. 

     For what I will be using the unit for I will not be needing a lot of the connectors at this time. But there are connections to connect a few different things like DVD players, VHS players, and so on each has an S-Video connector and speaker connections.

     Connections are straight forward for the speakers, the connections and wires are all color coded to let you know just where they go.

     The back of each speaker is also labeled to where they need to be located so you don’t put one in the wrong location.

     The supplied wires are long and should be OK for most standard rooms; they are a little thin though if you have the extra cash you might want to look into some monster wires.

     Placement of the receiver in most living rooms shouldn’t be a problem, it is like adding a DVD player. For a computer setup things might get a little tougher since most desks don’t have the required space for the unit.

     The rear and side speakers have hanging brackets built into them to make them easy to place on about any wall or you can set them on a shelf. Since I’m putting them in a small room limited on space I chose to hang them on the walls.

     I powered up the receiver and started Winamp to see how things were going to sound. Turning up the volume in windows and on the receiver until I got them set to where I could hear them good enough to make some adjustments.

     I had to play around with the sound blasters settings and different setting on the receiver to get every thing sounding correctly. With games I'm running the receiver on multi channel, music I’m running on digital settings in stereo, DVD’s are running in digital using WinDVD 8.

     If you’re connecting the receiver to your TV and DVD, or VCR should have allot less adjustments to be made to get everything sounding correctly unlike connecting it to a computer. Connecting to a computer system add allot of adjustments since you have a control panel in there to work with.

     The receiver seems to run a little on the warm side, looking it over it appears to have enough room inside for a fan. I might try mounting a fan in there to help keep it cool later on down the road.

     I wouldn’t set anything that might melt on the receiver, and like the sticker reads do not block its airflow.

     The front receiver has a dimmer button to lighten the green dot matrix display if it’s too bright for your taste. The dimmer has three settings bright, med, and dark.

     Over all the HT-S790 setup sounds great and sounds sound like they're supposed to. Wile the Sub does fine with most base, If you like a lot of bass (thumping bass) you're not going to get it from the sub included with the HT-S790. 

     The sub has a volume control on the back of it if you feel it has too much base, I haven’t found a need to turn it down yet. The front has a small led that is green when powered and red when the receiver is off, connecting the power to the sub from the receiver turns off the sub when not in use and also kills the red led.

     The front speakers have two mid ranges and one tweeter in each, and have a blowhole in the back to help give them a little more base.

     If you’re looking for better sound and more volume than you get from standard computer speakers this system rocks. The Onkyo HT-S790 has more than enough power to blast you out of the room and performs well at high volumes without noticeable distortion.

     Connections are straight forward and should be simple for most DVD’s and VCR's. Connecting to your entertainment center you should have little or no adjustments unlike connecting to a computer system like I'm doing.

     The sub included with the HT-S790 does ok but distorts if you put to much bass into it. I like great sounding bass so the sub leaves me a little disappointed at higher volumes.

     Overall the Onkyo HT-S790 is a great system, you won’t be disappointed in once you get it setup.

The receiver runs a little warm. The sub could be better.