FIRST TIME HOME THEATER SETUP: WHICH ONKYO TO CHOOSE?
Breaking down the differences in the TX-NR5100 and TX-NR6100 so beginning home theater buffs can start their system with a bang
Everyday more and more people are putting together their first home theater systems. This often happens after upgrading from an apartment or condo to a new single family house, or when folks are expanding their entertainment options in their current pad. For instance, you might already have an epic home theater setup in your living room, but now you’re building a man cave in the basement and want premium entertainment there too. No problem! Onkyo offers audio video receivers (AVRs) to fit every need and budget, and here we’ll break down two of our most affordable products for those new to the hobby: the TX-NR5100 and TX-NR6100.
BUILD A PROPER HOME THEATER
Both the TX-NR5100 and TX-NR6100 allow you to build proper 7.2-channel home theater systems. This means you could install the following speakers for immersive, spatial sound (with some help from our good friends at Klipsch):
HIGHEST RESOLUTION FOR CRISP, CLEAR VISUALS
Both Onkyo AVRs mentioned offer HDMI 2.1 with 8K60 resolution for the newest movies on the market today. It supports eARC and delivers a super-immersive viewing experience so you can catch all the fine details the movie maker intended. Gamers benefit too from 4K/120 ultra-fast motion UHD so your high-performance consoles produce the very best on-screen resolution.
SPATIAL OVERHEAD SOUND THANKS TO DOLBY ATMOS
Dolby Atmos® Height Virtualizer enables a more immersive listening experience, creating a virtual surround and height effect from traditional speaker layouts without employing additional surround or height speakers. This means you don’t have to install speakers in your ceiling, yet you still get the overhead sound effects thanks to this revolutionary technology. It’s like bringing a bit of the theater home, only you don’t have to do demolition or electrical work first. (And the snacks are much cheaper!)
MORE WATTS PER CHANNEL
Both the TX-NR5100 and TX-NR6100 offer enough power per channel to process your favorite TV show, movies, and games. But the TX-NR6100 has a bit more power per channel: 210 Watts, compared to 165 Watts of the NR5100. This means that you’ll be able to get a little more volume with the NR6100.
This is especially appealing to those who are building their first entertainment system in a single family home after leaving an apartment or condo—crank up that volume without fear of disturbing the neighbors!
EXTRA CONNECTIONS FOR MORE DEVICES
If you’re really into gaming and need extra HDMI inputs to accommodate all your consoles, be sure to upgrade to the TX-NR6100. It comes with six HDMI inputs so you can connect your TV, PlayStation, Xbox, and more without having to adjust cords. The TX-NR5100 comes with four HDMI inputs for those who are loyalists to just one console and don’t require additional options.
BRING THE THEATER HOME WITH THX CERTIFICATION
Onkyo was the first company to build AVRs that were THX® Certified, and we still include this epic technology today in our higher-end models like the TX-NR6100. THX Certified Select guarantees the same reference volume and sound quality of a commercial theater in rooms where the screen-to-seat distance is about 12 ft. (3.5 m), and our AVRs have passed the 2,000 tests to qualify for this sweet certification.
ADDITIONAL ZONE FOR MULTI-ROOM AUDIO
The TX-NR6100 allows you to power a 5.2-Channel setup in your MAIN room and an additional 2-Channel Zone 2 system in another room. This is a rather technical process so be sure to thoroughly read the User Manual for more details.
PRO TIP: online forums for AV enthusiasts and new home theater buffs are a great way to get inspiration for multi-zone setups and troubleshoot questions from long-time users.
MAKING THE DECISION: WHICH ONKYO AVR TO CHOOSE?
For those just starting to create their dream home theater system, either Onkyo AVR is an excellent starting point. Both models mentioned in this article are affordable, reliable, and offer the most sought-after tech for enjoying modern movies and games.
Keep in mind the kind of home entertainment experiences you want to have now, but also for the next few years. You might start out with a 7.2-Channel system in your living room now, but in future you may move that setup to the basement when building up your man cave. And when that happens and you need a new living room system, you can continue relying on Onkyo for bigger, louder, and more advanced tech as your home theater interests grow and evolve.
