Customer Ratings & Reviews

I bought this on sale for $250 as it seemed far and away the best in that price range. It replaced a 10 year old insignia 5.1 receiver that sometimes had issues decoding from my Firestick. The sound on this is way better than before. I am adding two additional speakers to get the full Atmos sound. The setup was simple and it has multiple ways to input the sound. I suspect there are better ones out there, but not at this price point.

I am no professional by any means but I do my research and know my electronics. I have 2 surround systems in my house a 7.1 in the Living Room and a 5.1 in the bedroom. I am thinking of upgrading to Atmos with an additional 4 ceiling speakers so I have been doing a lot of research on what receiver I would purchase next. I currently have an older NAD 7.1 receiver in the bedroom and a Yamaha 2020 in the living room. I was never very happy with the Yamaha's sound. Just never seemed punchy enough for me. The NAD has great sound but it was outdated and no auto calibration setup of the speakers (which some may say is a good thing because it forces you to do the adjustments by yourself to your preferences) Neither was HDCP 2.2 compliant so that was another issue. I was down to 3 brands Denon, Marantz and Onkyo/integer when my Yamaha just stopped working after about 2 years. You have to remember that I was looking to replace 3K receivers so I was looking at models way above this one but needed something quick so I decided to test one of the lower models out to see what I thought before splurging for the top end. I picked this up as an open box at my local store, Hooked it up in no time changing out my Yamaha and then did the auto sound calibration. It took over from there and I have not had one single issue with it. It is better sounding and louder then my Yamaha which was 4 times the price. I have had it only a month so cannot attest for its reliability as of yet but I am happy with it. This one is going to replace the NAD in the bedroom and I think one of the top of the line models will be purchased soon

Really great receiver, especially for the price! Easy to hook up, great sound, absolutely no complaints. We installed in our master bedroom (about 700 sq.ft.) and it’s got plenty of power. Pass through is great when I watch the news, really don’t need amp on. Have had a couple of other Onkyo receivers in the past and always liked them but this is a steal!

Rarely do I feel the need to post a review, but this receiver has to be complimented. I bought this receiver to replace an older Onkyo model (HT-R580) that was part of a HTIB package. The older receiver still works if I may add. I wanted to upgrade due to the creation of different audio codecs throughout the years and quite honestly all the talk about noticeable difference in sound quality with the latest receivers had me curious. I bought this receiver due to the fact that I was on a budget and I couldn't see myself paying over $1,000 for a receiver. I also decided to stay with the Onkyo brand due to the fact that my old HTIB has been super reliable, so why not stick with the brand!? I saw this receiver on sale for $249.99 so I figured why not take a chance. I stayed with original HTIB speakers, invested in some 4K HDMI cables that I found on Amazon from a company called iVanky, went through the set up process with the mic calibration, connected the PS4 and a basic 4K Blu-ray player and all I can say is WOW!!! The picture looks sharp and the sound is out of this world. I have been thinking as of late... if things sound this great with HTIB speakers what would it sound like if I was to actually upgraded the speakers.

I am not an audiophile and I normally don't write a review unless I have played with the product long enough. However, it looks like this model is going to be replaced by a 2019 model, a review published later would be of no use to anybody. So here I am. I haven't tested it thoroughly yet but find it easy to use (much easier than my 5 year old Yamaha) and everything seems to work. The sound quality is pretty decent (to my ears and with my setup), much better than the sound bars I tried before (I have tried a few). If you want a decent receiver that has all the important features, this is the one to buy (at this price range). Best Buy seems to be the only national chain still selling this model and they sell it at a good discount now.

After weeks of research (and a handy sale going on!) I snagged this receiver. Having tried similarly priced options (thanks BB Elite Plus!) this is hands down the best. Here’s a list. Pros- *Tons of inputs, including HDMI, component and composite, as well as Bluetooth. You’ll pretty much be able to plug in anything you’ve ever owned. *Easy set up. This was the most important. The setup screen is incredibly effective and easy to navigate. It’s especially easy to choose what kind of setup you have, so you can start with a 2.0, 3.1, or ball out in a full 7.2 Dolby Atmos experience! It even shows you pictures and makes sure that you set up your Atmos speakers properly (can choose between things like on ceiling setup or on top of floor speakers). Finally, the microphone does a great job calibrating everything. *Powerful for beginners. Again, 7.2 speakers here. That takes up a lot of juice, and this bad boy handles it no problem with similarly priced speakers. Don’t bother getting expensive Klipsch speakers, though. If you were, you probably wouldn’t be reading this. *Easy to fiddle. I know this is part of the setup, but I can’t tell you how invaluable it is for a beginner to know that each speaker works properly. The setup allows you to individually adjust each speaker, so you can test everything properly on a per speaker basis to know everything works right. No more looking for specialized videos that cycle over and over! *2 outputs!!!! I can rest easy knowing that when I want to upgrade my setup, I can make it so I can display into my TV, or get projector and go all out on movie nights! Cons- *MASSIVE. This thing is CHONKY. Prepare yourself for the monstrosity as your S/O looks at you with either anger or shame if you fail to tuck it away properly. As long as you are prepared, you’ll be fine. *Wiring is weird for a beginner. Again. First receiver, so as a heads up, GET BANANA PLUGS. You don’t need anything crazy (Amazon has cheap ones, BBY does not, and they ain’t any better) but please invest in these. All of the speaker inputs accept this, and it’s incredibly annoying having to screw them in manually. *Weird CEC control. My one true con. It gets confused with my tv and doesn’t properly manage it sometimes. Recommend a good Harmony remote in the future, as dealing with this, plus a bunch of consoles can be quite annoying.

Great sound reproduction! Improves the sound of my Klipsch 15m speakers over my previous amp. Also adds functionality which allows boosting the lows to make these great bookshelf speakers sound even better. Additional features I was seeking such as Bluetooth and built in WiFi are easy to set up and expand my system nicely. Even displays song title being played from Spotify! I have owned the Onkyo 646 for three years and I’m totally pleased with it. I’m using it to power a pair of Klipsch S2s which sound phenomenal together. This 686 is just a newer model with a few upgrades such as increased power. This receiver is a great buy.

So, I wanted an A/V receiver that would support open Bluetooth protocols and this baby (TX-NR686) does it really nicely! Long story short, I had a Yamaha A/V receiver that purported to support BT, but found out after purchasing it that it only supported Yamaha's version of BT. I wanted the ability to connect to my A/V received via BT from my Android phone (LG V30) so I could play the music stored on the phone... bought this baby and problem solved! The amp has many features (haven't even explored them yet) and the audio section sounds very nice to my ears. I'm driving some very old Marantz 3-way cabinets (w/15" woofers) and really don't even need a sub-woofer, along with some Onkyo SKH-410 height speakers (space constraints) and really enjoy the fullness of the sound from this amp... your mileage may vary but if you can find one of these, buy it!

I am very satisfied with this TV amplifier. We set it up with a new home's 5.1 in ceiling surround speaker setup and could not be happier with the sound. Setup was minimal to get timing and eq right as it has an auto eq mic. Additionally there are a ton of other options for speaker config including Atmos type config and even odd speaker configurations. It handles all of my sources well and seems to pick the sound mode based on show / movie quite well. Right now I have a SheildTV, LG Blueray player, Nintendo Switch all as sources. I plan to add phono sources in the near future as I have come to understand that this sports the preamp stuff necessary for this. Bottom line: this is one robust surround sound amplifier for a reasonable cost.

Caught this open box for less than 200 so I figured I'd give it a try. It had all the stuff ie remote, antennas etc. and not a scratch. I'm new to this game and c19 gave us all a lot more tv time. Setup is easy enough but it entices you to play and tweak, I'm a techie by trade. I have a couple of klipsch r625fa and r51m on it right now. A sub would actually blow the neighbors off their seats. I consider the receiver more mid level than beginner. It will deliver what you require. Special shout out to Best buy curb side service in Glen Burnie,Md. Motivated, never lost their edge for customer service and well organized. Even gave a bag of treats. Hadn't had bubble gum in a while and I'm 56. Thanks Best Buy

This receiver is a great value. Has all the capabilities of receivers twice the price. A couple things to note. Enhanced 4K (Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG) and Deep Color need to be enabled physically on the front panel control and not on the GUI. Also, this receiver is longer in depth than my previous Onkyo receiver by about two inches. I needed to cut a panel from the back of my entertainment center to fit it.

My husband set up our family room with surround sound and speakers in ceiling and the entire deal when we added on our addition. We originally had another receiver but thanks to the monkey business of our little people it died. Sadly our system sad idle and unused because of it for some time. I surprised my hubby and purchased this Home Theater Receiver for him for Christmas and it was a huge hit! It set up so much easier than the previous receiver and even I was able to set it up and make all the connections (I'm not technical at all). The basement family room is once again the hub of all things entertainment!

I install receivers for a living (not for Best Buy) So at 2 a week for 16 years it's been conservatively 1,760 receivers. ( some weeks I've installed more than 2 ) This is the coolest, highest value receiver I've installed to date. It has some legacy inputs for those customers that need them. Wii any one? The sound is fantastic. The app is the sexiest built in app I've ever used in a receiver. I can't speak for this receivers replacement as it lacks the legacy inputs but this model is wonderful.

The receiver seemed to have an on and off again issue since I bought it, but didn’t realize it was the receiver, thought it was my speakers. I would have intermittent static coming from one speaker that would come and go. I would check connections in back of receiver and even changed speaker wire and thought it was all good. Then one day a few weeks ago the receiver popped and threw codes on front panel. Now there is a permanent code of NG:L and within a few minutes the unit shuts off. Tried resetting the unit but it doesn’t help. Called the local onkyo service center in Clearwater, Fl Jersey Jim’s and they suggested the amp shorted out. Would cost $60 to properly diagnose the problem and wouldn’t give me estimated price for repair. I paid around $300 for this and not sure it’s worth repairing. Very bummed about this. Bought in 2019 to replace a Rotel 1057 whose digital board went out.

Very clean sound, has blue tooth and THX well worth the money don't need to pay 600 or 1000 for a receiver. This gets the job done and then some. Paid 250.00 worth every penny...

I bought this Onkyo TX-NR686 receiver to replace an aging Sony receiver I had owned for over 10 years. The set up on the new receiver was fairly easy. The sound quality is very good but the volume has to be turned up fairly high to hear it well. 50% on the new receiver is about the same as 30 % on old Sony receiver. For some reason in the last week or so the TX-NR686 recever has started switching sound fields and inputs on its own for no apparent reason. Kind of annoying to say the least. Still trying to trouble shoot the cause for these actions. Like the bluetooth and wifi capabilities quite well.

Onkyo has always been fairly easy to set up and use, and this unit doesn't disappoint. The set up menus are well organized and easy to follow. (Though, full disclosure: I used to hook up and sell av receivers years ago at Circuit City, so maybe my comfort level is greater than the average receiver buyer.) The sound is Onkyo: clear and crisp, with solid deep bass. Can you find more powerful receivers? Well, sure... but at a jump in cost. What about flexibility? Anything more useful? Of course... but not at this price point. All in all, this is a great value for your home theater dollar.

I had a surround sound system and got rid of it and bought a sound bar for my Samsung TV. Although the soundbar is nice I missed my surround sound and I decided to upgrade my surround sound system with the Onkyo receiver and all Polk Audio series. I got the whole system and love it from the receiver to the sub-woofer and the shelf speakers and the tower speakers and the center speaker. Love the quality and sound of the Onkyo and the Polk Audio system and the price and availability with Best Buy. Highly recommend !!!! Fantastic product !!!!

I had been looking at replacing an older Onkyo unit with a networked version for a couple of years, and found this one as an "open-box." While the open-box item was sold in the box, with the manufacturers tape sealed, it was obvious that it had been opened. The instructions had been colored on by a child, the Styrofoam was cracked, and one of the antennas was popped off. (wire still attached, so less of an issue) The calibration mic was also missing, but I had a spare from another unit. The unit includes 7 HDMI inputs, which covers a lot more inputs than I would need. They are also pre-labeled, and include options such as "streaming box" so the remote makes more sense to someone who is not familiar with the system setup. There are also a lot of non-HDMI inputs, though I do not know if the system can up-convert to an HDMI-out since this is not a feature I tried to test. The "Chromecast Inside" does work, though the setup is slightly more complicated than a standard Chromecast unit since getting Google's Home app to recognize the speaker means going a couple of menu items buried in the setup routine first. The Chromecast included in the system is audio only, and as noted on other reviews can be a bit slow to start. The advantage is that when it is initiated, the system will automatically turn on and switch to it without any outside system such as a Harmony Remote. Since this system is networked with Google Assistant controls baked in, it also has the added benefit of being controlled via Google Home. I am still in the process of setting things up, so my initial test of asking Google to turn the system on and switch inputs may be this system working as intended, or my Harmony's controls also controlling this unit not knowing the old unit was unplugged. The system's name is controlled by the Onkyo Controller app, and I still need to make some adjustments to avoid overlapping names. Overall, the system sounds good, and seems to work as needed. The open-box price was especially appealing, making it a good system for more of a lower-system price.

I purchased this receiver during the Christmas sale. For 7.2, or Atmos at 5.2.4 and 100w per channel, there’s no other receiver at this price point. Granted, maybe at regular MSRp there may be other options. I have been using it to power a pair of Infinity R162 and the matching RC263, two sound appeals as rear surrounds and up firing front pioneer Dolby enabled speakers and it is going pretty well! Only downside is there is no pre-amp hookups but at 100w, I think you’ll be fine with most entry-mid level speakers.