Home > Consumer Reviews > Onkyo SKS-HT540 7.1 Channel Home Theater Speaker System
Onkyo SKS-HT540 7.1 Channel Home Theater Speaker System
See it at Amazon.com for $349.00Average Customer Rating
(4.5 out of 5)
Amazon Customer Reviews
Most Helpful First | Newest First | + Share3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
sweet sound
(4 out of 5) by K. enea on Feb 28, 2008 (Ontario)The sound from these speakers is awesome. I was never big on movies until I got my Onkyo 605 and these speakers. What a difference! The only reason I gave it four stars is becuase they are very big and heavy.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
You can't beat this buy
(5 out of 5) by David A. Gerlach on Feb 8, 2008 (Gainesville, VA USA)These speakers have great sound for the price. I agree with most of the comments posted prior regarding: Speaker wires, connector, and mount. I used my own cable/wire but wished I could have been able to use a banana connector for the speaker. I used the Sanus WMS-2 for the large speakers and the Sanus WMS-5 for the surround speakers. I had no difficulty mounting them.
I am driving the speakers with a Pioneer VSX-1016TXV-K. The speakers came up short when I let the Pioneer determine how to use them. However, by adjusting the db bias and crossover, I was able to get some pretty darn good performance out of the speakers.
On a slightly negative note, I would be surprised if the sub-woofer really was capable of pushing 230 watts to the actual speaker. I wouldn't be surprised if Onkyo isn't referring to the amount of power draw from an 110v outlet. I have the speaker biased +15db and the rheostat on the back maxed.
My home theater room is 23'3" x 15'7". The floor is carpeted and the room has a tray ceiling. The speakers are mounted per Dolby recommended height and position. The speakers are more than adequate for this room.
Again, for the price, you're getting a heck of a deal.
I am driving the speakers with a Pioneer VSX-1016TXV-K. The speakers came up short when I let the Pioneer determine how to use them. However, by adjusting the db bias and crossover, I was able to get some pretty darn good performance out of the speakers.
On a slightly negative note, I would be surprised if the sub-woofer really was capable of pushing 230 watts to the actual speaker. I wouldn't be surprised if Onkyo isn't referring to the amount of power draw from an 110v outlet. I have the speaker biased +15db and the rheostat on the back maxed.
My home theater room is 23'3" x 15'7". The floor is carpeted and the room has a tray ceiling. The speakers are mounted per Dolby recommended height and position. The speakers are more than adequate for this room.
Again, for the price, you're getting a heck of a deal.
31 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
Onkyo SKS-HT540 Medium Quality Surround System
(3 out of 5) by J. Ewach on Feb 12, 2007 (La Palma, CA USA)I purchased this system after reading reviews that told me that I would be disappointed if I used them for music. That review is right. I am VERY disappointed when listening to them with my music system.
The first thing I noticed when I opened the shipping box was that the primary speakers (center + left + right front)were physically much SMALLER (5" shallower) than specified by Onkyo. The boxes are smaller, and have about 40% less internal volume than advertised. Also, the subwoofer was specified as 230 watts. The nameplate on the sub specifies only 130 watts. Significant false statements made by Onkyo. The primary speakers sound thin and dull when listening to music (virtually ANY type of music). When connected to surround sound for a movie, the sound is OK, but just OK. The Onkyo system is sturdier in design than most other medium and low cost surround systems on the market. Onkyo uses MDF (medium density fiberboard) boxes, rather than resonant aluminum extrusions or cheap plastic housing. MDF is the material of choice for better quality speaker enclosures, due to it's excellent dampening properties.
If you are looking for an inexpensive sourround speaker set, this Onyko provides very good value for the money. Just remember that in this lifetime, you do get what you pay for. If you are serious about the quality of sound you desire from a surround speaker system, you will need to cough up closer to $1,000 for a decent system.
The first thing I noticed when I opened the shipping box was that the primary speakers (center + left + right front)were physically much SMALLER (5" shallower) than specified by Onkyo. The boxes are smaller, and have about 40% less internal volume than advertised. Also, the subwoofer was specified as 230 watts. The nameplate on the sub specifies only 130 watts. Significant false statements made by Onkyo. The primary speakers sound thin and dull when listening to music (virtually ANY type of music). When connected to surround sound for a movie, the sound is OK, but just OK. The Onkyo system is sturdier in design than most other medium and low cost surround systems on the market. Onkyo uses MDF (medium density fiberboard) boxes, rather than resonant aluminum extrusions or cheap plastic housing. MDF is the material of choice for better quality speaker enclosures, due to it's excellent dampening properties.
If you are looking for an inexpensive sourround speaker set, this Onyko provides very good value for the money. Just remember that in this lifetime, you do get what you pay for. If you are serious about the quality of sound you desire from a surround speaker system, you will need to cough up closer to $1,000 for a decent system.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Excellent cost-performance
(5 out of 5) by Smeagol on Jan 9, 2009 (Lubbock, TX)If you have $1000+ taste, and a $1000+ budget, these speakers are not for you. If you want to build a solid home theater to watch movies with family and friends, take a good hard look at these. The subwoofer has decent but not exceptional oomph. The surround effects are terrific. The only reason I'd "outgrow" these speakers is if the kids dump orange juice on them.
It may be a little while before you actually see many BluRays with real 7.1 audio, but it'll show up eventually. With heavy CGI movies, it can't be all that hard to calculate 2 more channels.
It may be a little while before you actually see many BluRays with real 7.1 audio, but it'll show up eventually. With heavy CGI movies, it can't be all that hard to calculate 2 more channels.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Excellent for my first home theater setup.
(5 out of 5) by A. W. Foote on Jan 7, 2009 (Peru,IL USA)I've never had a surround sound system when I was growing up, so I don't claim to be an expert on speakers. I decided to get a surround sound setup recently and didn't want to spend a whole lot so after a lot of searching these appeared to be the best deal I could get. I have them hooked up to an onkyo tx-sr706 and they sound great. I'm sure when I get the money I will buy nicer speakers, but for less than $300 I don't think I could have made a better choice.
The only warning I have is that they are big compared to htib speaker sets, but that was not a problem for me. J&R music and computer world has a video review of these that gives a good sense of the size of them.
The only warning I have is that they are big compared to htib speaker sets, but that was not a problem for me. J&R music and computer world has a video review of these that gives a good sense of the size of them.