okwestern
Novice Member
I am wondering when Onkyo is going to properly address the HDMI board issue.
I've literally gone through the whole TX-NR6 line now. I've owned TX-NR616, 626, 636, 646, 656, 676B and my current 686. All exhibits drop out of sound and weird video anomalies. In my previous models I could force the sound relays to click in/out by selecting NET or some other source to release the relay for the current source, then back to PC (I have a Mac Mini connected) and it would engage the relay again and the sound would follow. On my 686 there are no relay clicking between the sources, just when I power on/off. So I have to power cycle it when the sound drops. Also, the picture sometimes goes completely green. Same power cycle takes care of it.
What irritates me the most is the picture blinking in and out when my Mac Mini wakes from sleep. I push the keyboard, the Mac Mini immediately wakes up, picture comes on the TV, but after 2-3 seconds the picture disappears, then shows for a second or so, then disappears again, before steady viewing.
I've come to the conclusion, Onkyo is not worth investing in anymore.
This post was mostly to vent some frustration about a brand (not model since they've had over 12 years and 8 models to fix it) and perhaps some advice about alternatives to the TX-NR868.
*I use the receiver with a Mac Mini (only HD) and Samsung 4K QLED to show my movies, play music (youtube, mp3 or Spotify).
*Video quality is key (along with of course audio)
*I usually do not use the amps built-in apps (like Spotify - horrible to search with a tiny remote).
*same goes with internet radio and such.
*iphone app is nice, but I almost never use it. so no priority.
*stable and reliable bluetooth. That's actually my other complain about TX-NR868. I have a hard time connecting with my iPhone. It says connected, and the phone plays (music app says Onkyo) but no sound.
*should communicate seamlessly with the Samsung TV (both HDMI-arc and the feature that turns on/off, adjusts volume and stuff). I've experienced rather new AVs and TVs that don't speak well at all (not powering each other and so on).
*i have 1 center, 2 front (bi-amped), 2 back + sub. Don't think I'll expand anytime soon, but that's a minimum.
*price should be +/- the TX-NR868, but no dealbreaker with more expensive if it's worth it.
If anyone has some advice for me, I'd appreciate it
I've literally gone through the whole TX-NR6 line now. I've owned TX-NR616, 626, 636, 646, 656, 676B and my current 686. All exhibits drop out of sound and weird video anomalies. In my previous models I could force the sound relays to click in/out by selecting NET or some other source to release the relay for the current source, then back to PC (I have a Mac Mini connected) and it would engage the relay again and the sound would follow. On my 686 there are no relay clicking between the sources, just when I power on/off. So I have to power cycle it when the sound drops. Also, the picture sometimes goes completely green. Same power cycle takes care of it.
What irritates me the most is the picture blinking in and out when my Mac Mini wakes from sleep. I push the keyboard, the Mac Mini immediately wakes up, picture comes on the TV, but after 2-3 seconds the picture disappears, then shows for a second or so, then disappears again, before steady viewing.
I've come to the conclusion, Onkyo is not worth investing in anymore.
This post was mostly to vent some frustration about a brand (not model since they've had over 12 years and 8 models to fix it) and perhaps some advice about alternatives to the TX-NR868.
*I use the receiver with a Mac Mini (only HD) and Samsung 4K QLED to show my movies, play music (youtube, mp3 or Spotify).
*Video quality is key (along with of course audio)
*I usually do not use the amps built-in apps (like Spotify - horrible to search with a tiny remote).
*same goes with internet radio and such.
*iphone app is nice, but I almost never use it. so no priority.
*stable and reliable bluetooth. That's actually my other complain about TX-NR868. I have a hard time connecting with my iPhone. It says connected, and the phone plays (music app says Onkyo) but no sound.
*should communicate seamlessly with the Samsung TV (both HDMI-arc and the feature that turns on/off, adjusts volume and stuff). I've experienced rather new AVs and TVs that don't speak well at all (not powering each other and so on).
*i have 1 center, 2 front (bi-amped), 2 back + sub. Don't think I'll expand anytime soon, but that's a minimum.
*price should be +/- the TX-NR868, but no dealbreaker with more expensive if it's worth it.
If anyone has some advice for me, I'd appreciate it