When comparing Denon AVR-S510BT vs Onkyo TX-NR656, the Slant community recommends Onkyo TX-NR656 for most people. In the question“What are the best A/V receivers under $400?” Onkyo TX-NR656 is ranked 1st while Denon AVR-S510BT is ranked 5th. The most important reason people chose Onkyo TX-NR656 is:
The receiver can play supported audio tracks with a more immersive sound than regular audio tracks. This is done through its object-based audio which can simulate a specific sound in a 3D environment inside your room. The employed features are Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Be aware that to enable DTS:X technology a firmware upgrade is necessary.
Specs
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Pros
Pro More options with dual subwoofers
Dual subwoofers can offer more choices for fine-tuning your system. It provides an optimal sound at multiple different listening positions and give the user options for different subwoofer placements.
Pro Easy to set up
Is quite easy to set up, even if it’s your first receiver. By following the instructions it will help you connect all the required parts to make it usable.
Pro Has enough HDMI inputs
In total it has 5 HDMI inputs, which is reasonable for the price. Three of those are HDCP 2.2 compatible to future proof your home theater.
Pro Can create shortcuts for your favorite settings
Can use four quick select buttons to switch to your most used sources and audio settings. It greatly simplifies the experience by bypassing multiple selection screens to arrive to your favorite settings.
Pro Creates an optimal sound through calibration
Offers a way of calibrating its settings specifically for your setup. It only lasts a couple of minutes and adjusts them to your room and speakers.
Pro Different options for music playback
A USB port, which is located at the front, is a convenient way of listening to your music. Also, Bluetooth connectivity with A2DP profile is available, to support streaming of music from other devices through Bluetooth.
Pro Another source of control
A dedicated control app is available on Google Play and the App store. The functions of Denon 500 Series Remote include on/off switch, volume up/down or mute and source selection.
Pro Immersive sound
The receiver can play supported audio tracks with a more immersive sound than regular audio tracks. This is done through its object-based audio which can simulate a specific sound in a 3D environment inside your room. The employed features are Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Be aware that to enable DTS:X technology a firmware upgrade is necessary.
Pro Impressive visual clarity
The displayed image with High Dynamic Range (HDR) and BT.2020 technology seems more real with greater depth. This is because it can display a larger scope of contrast and colors when compared to an ordinary receiver.
Pro Even sound distribution
The receiver has seven active speaker channels which provide a more immersive sound when compared to a five speaker setup. In addition, it has two subwoofers which increases the overall bass quality. The whole combination means that the sound is more evenly distributed through the room and you can have more quality options with speaker and subwoofer placements.
Pro Can play two separate sources of audio at the same time
The receiver can control the audio for two different rooms at once. Seven speakers can remain at the main room and two additional speakers can be connected that lead to another room. But be aware that only seven speakers can be active at the same time. This means that if you want to play some music in the second room, the main room will have only five active speakers available. It has nine binding posts available to avoid constantly reconnecting the different speakers to the receiver.
Pro Broad music playback options
There are a lot of options for music playback. With its internet connectivity it can stream music from internet radios like Spotify, Pandora and Deezer. It even has Apple’s Airplay available to stream content from Apple devices. Can connect to a Bluetooth device for music streaming and has a USB port for flash drives. This combination of features is just about everything that you would ever need for music playback.
Pro Video connectivity quantity
The receiver has eight HDMI inputs and three of those are HDCP 2.2 compliant. Other receivers at this price range usually have around four inputs which is a rather large increase.
Cons
Con No internet connection
The lack of Wi-Fi and Ethernet cable is a notable drawback if you tend to listen to your music using any of the streaming services.
Con An extra cable is needed to receive sound from TV
The lack of Audio Return Channel (ARC) means that you’ll need an optical cable to connect your TV’s audio channel back into the receiver. Without it you will receive no sound from the TV.
Con Employs lower quality connectors
Spring clips are being used to connect the speakers. The whole system is too delicate and can eventually lead to wire fraying. This also means that banana plugs are not available for use.
Con Unreliable sound calibration
The receiver has AccuEQ room acoustic calibration which isn’t nearly as good as those in other receivers. The settings are unreliable. Because of this, inexperienced users might not achieve the sound that the receiver is capable of.