Onkyo is one of the go-to brands when it comes to high-quality AV receivers, and their affordably priced AVRs are some of the popular choices. One such AV receiver will be the Onkyo TX-NR656, it is highly rated by its owners and has garnered a few praises from home theater critics. In order to make full use of this talented AV receiver, it is a must to match the right speakers with the Onkyo TX-NR656. We will be sharing with you the best speakers that you can go for later on so please stick around.
We should first start with learning more about this wonderful AV receiver, such as the Onkyo TX-NR656 strengths, sonic characteristics, and also limitations. These are essential information needed to find compatible speaker partners and with this knowledge, you can also fine-tune the overall sound quality to your liking by matching certain speakers with their own unique sonic signatures.
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Sonic Characteristics and Important Specifications of Onkyo TX-NR656
For a 7.2 channel AV receiver, the Onkyo TX-NR656 is affordably priced and is jam-packed with features that should satisfy most home theater hobbyists. The power output is rated at 100 Watts into 8 Ohms with 2 channels driven and all the way up to 175 Watts into 6 Ohms with 1 channel driven (JEITA) which is pretty powerful. The frequency response is really impressive when the Direct Mode is activated which is at 10Hz-100kHz, the typical frequency response is between 20Hz-20kHz. Since you will be more than likely to connect more than 2 passive loudspeakers, integrating an active subwoofer will definitely be a must. An active subwoofer is more efficient in producing low frequencies and can help ease the load off your AV receiver by taking over the bass reproduction role. Allowing your Onkyo TX-NR656 to focus its power to drive the speakers so as to produce the rest of the higher frequencies. This also allows us to go for bookshelf speakers and the active subwoofer can help supplement the bass.
The Onkyo TX-NR656 is capable of decoding Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, providing you with an immersive surround sound quality. It is also able to process 4K Ultra HD (4K/60p) and 3D video signals. Other notable features will be the built-in high-quality Asahi Kasei AK4458 D/A converter, Advanced AccuEQ to automatically calibrate your speakers to sound their best in your listening room, wireless music streaming capabilities, new AccuReflex technology, and many more. With this many features, the Onkyo TX-NR656 certainly provides a lot of value to its users.
More Details at Amazon – Onkyo TX-NR656 7.2 A/V Receiver
For stereo music playback, the soundstage is wide and the overall sound reproduction can be a little thin. The stereo imaging is accurate but the separation is not as highly defined especially when the music starts to get more complex. Subtle details are not as audible when the music passage becomes really busy. The Direct Mode does help with the clarity and the music presentation is more detailed. Still, when it comes to a home theater performance, we prefer the Direct Mode turned off as it does makes the overall sound quality a little too cold and the bass reproduction a bit polite.
Onkyo TX-NR656 certainly excels when it comes to home theater performance as the sound field is larger than expected and the overall sound delivery is very detailed. Furthermore, the accuracy of the surround sound imaging is impeccable, the emergence of fighters jets from the rear, flying past us and towards the screen is vivid. Just to nitpick, if it was a 5.2.4 setup, the effects should be slightly more realistic. The bass performance is tight, giving weight to the sound quality, and punches really hard when it needs to. The deep bass performance of the Onkyo TX-NR656 is amazing and to utilize this, a high-quality subwoofer that can deliver subterranean bass frequencies with prominence is highly recommended.
The overall sonic presentation is clean and clear, can be quite bright-sounding but never sound too harsh. The Onkyo TX-NR656 is definitely better for home theater and is still enjoyable to listen to music with it. The Direct Mode does help improve the sonic purity and if paired with musical sounding speakers, it might significantly improve the music listening experience. All in all, an amazing AV receiver at this price range with a remarkable surround sound quality. The speakers that we should go for will be quite close to the price range of the TX-NR656. With these data, we can now start sharing with you the best speakers to match with the Onkyo TX-NR656 AV receiver.
Onkyo TX-NR656 Specifications
- Power Outputs: 100 Watts per channel at 8 Ohms with 2 channels driven, 175 Watts into 6 Ohms with 1 channel driven
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz, 10Hz–100 kHz (+1dB, -3dB, Direct Mode)
- DAC: Asahi Kasei AK4458
- Wireless: Bluetooth, Apple Airplay, WiFi
- Inputs: 8 HDMI inputs, 1 Phono input, 1 USB input, 8 Analog inputs, 2 Optical inputs, 1 Coaxial input, Ethernet port
- Outputs: Headphone output, 2 Subwoofer outputs, 1 HDMI ARC, 1 HDMI output, 1 Zone 2
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 435mm x 173.5mm x 378mm (17.1″ × 6.8″ × 14.9″)
- Weight: 10kg (22lbs)
Best Speakers to pair with Onkyo TX-NR656
The Q Acoustics 3050i 5.1 is one of the very best home cinema packages to pair up with your Onkyo TX-NR656. This award-winning home cinema speaker pack consists of talented loudspeakers like the Q Acoustics 3050i as the front main channel speakers and 3010i as the surround channel speakers. Along with the Q Acoustics 3090ci as the matching center speaker and the 3060s as the active subwoofer, you’ve got yourself a speaker system that is both amazing for music and HT. The Q Acoustics 3050i 5.1 is able to deliver an energetic performance with lots of insights and impeccable timing, not to mention, the overall sound reproduction doesn’t get harsh sounding when pushed. Certainly a worthy match for your Onkyo TX-NR656 AV receiver.
More Info at Amazon – Q Acoustics 3000i 5.1 (3050i) Speaker Package (English Walnut)
For listeners who have tight budgets and prefer speakers that are not bright-sounding. You should take a look at the Wharfedale DX-2 5.1 speaker system, it has garnered plenty of accolades and will match well with the Onkyo TX-NR656 AV receiver. It is designed and made for home theater use, the DX-2 5.1 is able to deliver a punchy performance and produce plenty of details. The level of details been produced and the accuracy of the speaker system helps build up an atmospheric surround sound field, the subwoofer is always hard at work as well, delivering ample bass. It is an entertaining 5.1 HT speaker system that doesn’t sound harsh or hard when driven at high volume.
More Info at Amazon – Wharfedale DX-2 5.1
The Klipsch Black Reference 5.1 home theater pack is also catered to home theater hobbyists who have tight budgets but prefer lively and bright-sounding speakers. If all these tick your checklist, then the Klipsch Black Reference 5.1 will be an ideal match to your Onkyo TX-NR656. This Klipsch 5.1 HT pack is very well-received and highly rated by satisfied owners. The compact size of the Klipsch satellite speakers and wireless subwoofer makes them ideal for tight spaces. The lively and energetic performance will provide you with an exciting home cinematic experience. The Klipsch Black Reference 5.1 has great clarity too. You might want to hear them out first before seriously considering them.
More Info at Amazon – Klipsch Black Reference Theater Pack 5.1
The KEF Q350 bookshelf speakers are probably one of the top speakers at their price range and should match well with the Onkyo TX-NR656 AV receiver. You should use the KEF Q350 stand-mounters as the front main channel speakers (L/R) and also as surround channel speakers. This will provide you with a cohesive and large-scale surround sound reproduction, with an impressive amount of details. The clarity of the KEF Q350 is also remarkable which allows you to hear subtle movie details with clear sound quality. The clean sound delivery of the KEF bookshelf speakers is a suitable match with the sonic characteristics of the TX-NR656. When pushed to high levels of volume, the KEF Q350 does not sound overly bright that you will cringe. You should match with KEF Q650c as the center channel speaker and integrate a high-quality subwoofer.
More Info at Amazon – KEF Q350 Bookshelf Speakers
More Info at Amazon – KEF Q650c Center Channel Speaker
For a 5.2.2 speaker setup, you can choose to go for speakers that have built-in elevation such as the Klipsch R-625FA, or separated Dolby Atmos speakers like the Klipsch RP-140SA. If you choose to go with separated Dolby Atmos speakers, you might want to stick with the same brand as the rest of your home theater speakers. For instance, KEF Q50a to go with your KEF Q350 home theater speaker system as both of them are from the same company and series, so their sonic signature should integrate seamlessly together. Another option will be in-ceiling speakers, which will act as overhead speakers above you and provide more accuracy but it will be a hassle to set them up.
More Info at Amazon – Klipsch R-625FA Floorstanding Home Speaker
More Info at Amazon – KEF Q50a Dolby Atmos Speaker
Subwoofers are an important part of your home theater system, and if you could invest in a high-quality subwoofer, it will be worth it. There are quite a number of brands that design and build powerful subwoofers with exceptional bass performance. Subwoofer brands such as SVS are one of the top choices and they have a wide range of models to suit your requirements as well as your budgets. You can check out their entry-level SVS PB-1000 as a start but if your listening room is huge then you might want to consider a larger and more powerful subwoofer such as SVS PB-3000. You can also go for the dual subwoofers option to cover more area in your listening room, for example, going with two SVS PB-1000 ported subs. Sticking with active subwoofers that are from the same brand as your speakers are okay too.
More Info at Amazon – SVS PB-1000 10″ Ported Subwoofer
More Info at Amazon – SVS PB-3000 13″ Ported Subwoofer
To Sum It Up
The speakers mentioned here are some of the finest on the market and are well-matched with the Onkyo TX-NR656 AV receiver. You can shortlist the potential speakers based on your budget and from there arrange an audition to have a listen, to see if you like the sound quality they are producing. Once you have heard their sonic performance, you can use this as a reference when comparing with other speaker models or brands that are not listed here. We will also suggest including the powered subwoofer that you are going to use during the speakers’ auditions.
