Onkyo TX-SR603 vs. SR703

tbone1

I am fairly new to home theatre and this is my first post. I recently bought a Pioneer Plasma TV and I am wanting to now purchase a reciever, DVD, and speakers. I have just about narrowed it down to a set of RTI 10s with an appropriate center channel, sub, and rear bookshelves. I am going to buy it all piece by piece starting with the reciever. I have really been looking at the Onkyo 603 from crutchfield thats on sale right now for $399 normally $499. It seems like an awesome deal for this reciever. My question is will this reciever be enough to push the RTI 10s. Or do I really need to step up to the 703. The only real difference is 10 watts per channel from 90 to 100 and the added THX certification. There is a significant price increase and I don't want to pay it if there would not be a noticable difference in performance. Any input or advice is appreciated. Thanks.

aaharvel

at that price, THX means nothing. It's an Onkyo receiver, and 90/100 watts per channel also means nothing. You have RTi10's. Get a separate amplifier to do them justice, or at the very least a decent brand of receiver that's honest with it's wattage specs.

Welcome to the forums.

Mike682

If you are limited to only those two onks, then consider the 703 because it has pre-outs.

speakergeek

Mike682 wrote:

If you are limited to only those two onks, then consider the 703 because it has pre-outs.

Yeah, for when you decide you want an external amp.

Toxis

and you will do so eventually...

tbone1

Thanks for the responses. It seems to me that either my choice of reciever will be severely underpowered or I have chosen too large of speakers for my purpose. The reason that I am leaning toward what I am is because of my budget. I have budgeted $400-$600 for a decent reciever and around $1800-$2000 for speakers. For this price range, am I going in the wrong direction. I am probably wrong but I thought that the point of THX cert. was basically to certify that it really will produce what is says so they can't lie about the specs. As I said before, all comments are appreciated.

Holydoc

tbone1 wrote:

Thanks for the responses. It seems to me that either my choice of reciever will be severely underpowered or I have chosen too large of speakers for my purpose. The reason that I am leaning toward what I am is because of my budget. I have budgeted $400-$600 for a decent reciever and around $1800-$2000 for speakers. For this price range, am I going in the wrong direction. I am probably wrong but I thought that the point of THX cert. was basically to certify that it really will produce what is says so they can't lie about the specs. As I said before, all comments are appreciated.

The point of the THX certification is that it guarantees that the receiver will perform to a certain level given it is connected to a certified THX system. It does not mean that the specs have to reported in a certain format that is standardized in any way(notice I did not say the specs were wrong. I am just saying they may be misleading).

For example, Onkyo reports the SR703 to output 100watts/channel of power. Does this mean with all seven channels running at one time? Does it mean with just one channel running at one time? Onkyo leaves this vague. When companies leave this vague, they are doing it for a reason. Typically this is to fool the consumer into thinking that the receiver will perform at 100watts output on all channels at the same time while it cannot do even a portion of that.

What you forgot to mention in your price comparison of the two receivers were that the 703 also contains pre-outs, 7.1 multi channel input, cinema re-eq, more audio inputs, more digital inputs, pure audio mode, a phono input, and a backlit remote. All the above features are not included on the cheaper one. These are some significant items for expansion purposes.

Therefore for upgradability and a receiver that you can live with for a while, I would select the 703.

landry_p2000

I am living with the 601, which I got for $300 and I wanted the 701 Onkyo which was a lot more than I wanted to pay at the time. I wish I had the 701 instead, but I am content, eventhough I am holding my RTi10s back. A new pre-amp and seperate amp are in my near future.
My advise to you, if those are your choices, get the 703 onkyo, because it allows you expandability since it has a built in pre-amp. It will hold you over until you get the big boy powerhouses that you need to make those RTi10s do the damn thing. Good luck to you.

tbone1

Thanks to all of you who responded. Great advice. You have prevented me from making a mistake that I may have regreted in the future. The info that you provided are things that I had not thought of because I didn't know to ask. I ordered the 703 today. Thanks again.

josh_parsons626

DONT GET AN ONKYO! I cannot stress this enough. I dont care if it's the TX-NR1000, it's still a piece of crap. Onkyo is junk, take it from me. I have one and I hate it! But I cannot afford to go out and get another receiver. I would try Denon, Yamaha, or Pioneer Elite before I would go out and get a damn Onkyo! Trust me dude I own one and I will never buy another product from Onkyo.

zombie boy 2000

josh_parsons626 wrote:

DONT GET AN ONKYO! I cannot stress this enough. I dont care if it's the TX-NR1000, it's still a piece of crap. Onkyo is junk, take it from me. I have one and I hate it! But I cannot afford to go out and get another receiver. I would try Denon, Yamaha, or Pioneer Elite before I would go out and get a damn Onkyo! Trust me dude I own one and I will never buy another product from Onkyo.

What issues have you had with yours? (just curious)

Holydoc

zombie boy 2000 wrote:

What issues have you had with yours? (just curious)

Same here. I am very curious to hear.

Toxis

true because when you buy the lowest end model they have, it speaks for the entire line. I saw a Chevy corsica on the side of the road today with engine problems... stay the hell away from the corvette!!! It's a POS too. I would know, I saw a corsica dead!

Sherardp

denon 3806 AVR, CSI5 center, FXi3/5 surrounds, Rtis 4/6s for rear surrounds, svs sub, 3xM2200 monoblocks for front stage amps. Anything along that line and youre good.

wingnut4772

My first processor was an Onkyo 701 and it was a nice first foray in HT. Don't get anything without pre outs and I would definitely only get used at this point because if you are as crazy as we are ( and you know you are!:D ) there WILL be upgrading in your future.

landry_p2000

Good deal. The 703 will hold you until you get an external amp.

PhantomOG

No problems with my Onkyo, congrats on your new receiver.