Onkyo HT-S5200 7.1-Channel Home Entertainment Receiver/Speaker Package with iPod Dock (Black)

This system sounds GREAT. I did a LOT of research and purchased (and then returned) a few systems by other brands before settling on this one. Yes it's true that you can get a superior system for more money, but this Onkyo is head and shoulders above everything else under $500 and better than many systems that cost a good deal more. KEEP IN MIND: this is not an "HTIB-for-dummies" system like so many others in this price range. You must take the time to read the manual and adjust the settings in a way that sounds best to YOUR ears in YOUR environment. And always remember the old rule: garbage in equals garbage out. If you use inferior connections, you will get inferior sound. And remember, not every TV show ever made was broadcast in stereo, some older movies don't sound great even on Blu-Ray, and some TVchannels/DVDs/CDs/MP3s just sound better than others. There are a lot of settings and connection types to consider and if you don't think you're getting good sound out of this unit, it's most likely because the source is bad or the system is not set up correctly. I have a brand new TV with good sound that was connected directly to the Onkyo with an optical audio cable, but I wasn't getting that full, rich sound that I had expected. Then I discovered that in order to get full 5.1 (or 7.1) sound, I had to bypass the TV and make the connection from my digital satellite box directly into the Onkyo. WOW - huge difference! Take the time to do the auto-calibration, too - it's worth it. Once you're all set up, tweak the settings over the first few weeks until it sounds right to you. It might take a while to get it the way you want it.

AND BE SURE TO READ ALL OF THE REVIEWS BOTH HERE AND ON CNET. I'm no dummy when it comes to sounds systems, but I learned a lot from what other people had to say - both good and bad.

I was apprehensive about buying a sound system without hearing it first but decided to take the chance. Really glad I did! I cannot imagine a better sounding system at anything close to this price. I've been enjoying it in my 10' screen home theater for about 4 months....I love it! It is, however, important to know that the receiver does not do any format conversion...for HDMI out you must have HDMI in, component out requires component in, and so on. Buy it...you'll love it!

Love my new S5200!
I've never installed an entertainment center before,and I found it easy enough,just don't rush,take your time,and read the instructions well!Don't just read the quick set up... read the manual,like I said...take your time and you won't have any surprises.
What I write about next pertains both to the Onkyo S7200 and S5200(I first tried the S7200 and had to return it for a faulty receiver).These are my impressions:
PROS: -I love the HDMI connections.S5200 doesn't have the up-converting capabilities of the S7200,what it means to you:you will end up with more wires on the back of the 5200.With the 7200 you can go IN with a composite (or many other types) and come OUT of the receiver with an HDMI saving you lot of space and theoretically improving your original image(up-converting).
-both sleek looking and non intrusive.
-both sounded great(the S7200 while it lasted...).
CONS: -The S7200 receiver gets VERY hot and inside the furniture I was really worried about the ventilation,if you have an open concept TV stand you shouldn't have any problems but if space is limited I would be careful.The S5200 receiver is great and it doesn't overheat as much as the S7200. I ran it for hours and then I checked it with my hands and it was barely warm.
-The wires are short,and if you need to go far make sure you buy some extra wire(don't buy fancy/expensive ones,this systems don't need professional ones).I had to use it for the back surround speakers.
-I did like the S7200 side speakers better than on the S5200 because they have high stands and they didn't take space on the furniture.
While you unpack don't destroy the box! If anything goes wrong it will be so much easier to return it in its original package. I took pictures while I emptied the box, and guess what? I had to return my first purchase!So glad I knew how to put it all back together.Its quite a package...
Now it has been nearly 2 months and no problems. I am considering using the ZONE 2 that allows to use two stereo speakers in another room simultaneously with the main room while listening to different modes,say one movie and the other the radio(I am planning an outdoor patio).

I've been a fan of Onkyo products for years, and this is a wonderful addition to their line of products. The wiring of this unit is very simple and straightforward~ each speaker has its own color, with matching colored wire and a matching colored terminal on the receiver making it very easy to know which speaker goes where. The Ipod dock is external, so you can set it anywhere within a few feet of the unit, and plugging in all of your other components(no matter what kinds of wiring) is very painless.
After I had all of my speakers positioned and everything plugged in, I decided to break the unit in with "The Lobby Scene" from The Matrix. It was amazing, I heard ricochets out of every angle and heard new sounds I'd never noticed before! And when the granite wall shatters at the end of this scene, the entire floor just rumbled.
Next, I decided to play the 1812 Overture as loud as I could to see what the system was really capable of(old tradition) and then Mars(From Gustav Holst's "the Planets"), and I've never heard them sound so amazing before. The various instruments of the orchestras were crisp and clear throughout the entire spectrum. And the bass drums and cannons were so powerful that I turned the sub down to only about 25% power! I've saince listened to everything from Maynard Ferguson(jazz), to Oakenfold(techno/trance), to Rammstein(metal/industrial), to Kenny Chesney(country), and even some various audio books I've got. Not once have I been dissatisfied with what I've heard.
If you are a true audiophile, this is a wonderful system at a great price, and you will most likely be thoroughly content with it for a long time to come. Onkyo has built a track record of quality components, and this is no exception to their standards of quality.

Im VERY happy with my S5200. I've had my system now for about 6 months. I read at least 500 product review when making my decession to buy. I settled on this product because the price point and of course the Onkyo name. Dont waste time trying to decide which on to get if your budget is $500 or less. Just go ahead and buy it, you will not regret the move. And also, I read where almost all of the bad reviews were because the system did not come with an optical cable??? Big freakin deal. I went ahead and purchased the cable when I ordered the Onkyo. Here on Amazon I paid a whole 1 cent for the cable... Not a typo, 1 penny (plus $2.98 shipping but hey were still talking about $2.99 total). So all in all, its a kick ass system for way under $500 and your movies and/or video games will take on a whole new life!