Onkyo has always made great products in the low-mid range of the price spectrum. Don’t get me wrong, I am not suggesting that $300 -$400 is cheap for a receiver, but that is what you can expect to shell out for something that will give you acceptable performance. It is not audiophile equipment, but it will sound very good to the average person, which for most of us, is all that we need. Onkyo’s two new releases are the , which are similar in most respects. The slightly pricier TX-SR576 will put 80 Watts into each of the seven channels, while the TX-SR506 will give you 75 Watts.

Other than that, they are essentially the same technology according to Audio Junkies:

Both receivers use 32-bit DSP processing and 192 kHz/24-bit digital-to-analog converters on all eight channels of surround processing for Dolby Digital EX, Dolby ProLogic IIx, DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, and DTS Neo:6. Both will be available this April.

With the option to bi-amp your stereo speakers with the rear and front channels, you should see some impressive performance. If that is not enough, both models are capable of powering a second zone. So long as you are prepared to forgo two channels of sound in your main zone, you can enjoy a separate stream of stereo sound in another zone. If you don’t have the budget for your own over the top home theater, either of these amps will get you through the door and play sound that is more than acceptable.

Prices: $479 for the Onkyo TX-SR576 and $379 for the TX-SR506

Sources: Audio Junkies

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