Onkyo makes a wide range of AV receivers, trying to cater to different budgets and requirements. The Onkyo TX-NR676 is a modestly priced AV receiver that provides high sound quality and great value to its users. It is well-received by both home theater enthusiasts and critics, garnering praises all around. To be able to unlock the Onkyo TX-NR676s’ full potentials, we will need to get matching speakers for them.
We need to learn more about Onkyo TX-NR676 sonic characteristics so that we can find the right speakers for this AV receiver. Finding out the TX-NR676 strengths and limitations will be helpful as well. The pricing of the speakers will also be one of the factors. Once we have all this information, we will then share with you the best speakers to go for and pair them with your Onkyo AV receiver.
Table of Contents
Sonic Characteristics and Important Specifications of Onkyo TX-NR676
The Onkyo TX-NR676 is a 7.2 channel home theater AV receiver with quite a high power output. It is rated at 100 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms (with 2ch driven) and is able to go higher as well, 165 Watts per channel into 6 Ohms (with 1ch driven). For an AV receiver at this price point, the power ratings are really good and this also allows us to drive most bookshelf speakers including some easier-to-drive floor-standers. The frequency response is 20Hz-20kHz but with the Direct Mode activated, it will be 10 Hz–100 kHz(+1dB, -3dB) which is great. Onkyo TX-NR676 enables us to connect up to 2 powered subwoofers and we will suggest getting 2 subs if possible especially when your home theater room is large sized.
It is also capable of decoding the latest 3D audio formats such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. You can use Onkyo’s Advanced AccuEQ automatic speaker calibration to optimize your speakers in your listening room so to give you a more immersive surround sound and better sound quality. The Onkyo TX-NR676 is a 4K AVR, able to process 4K Ultra HD video signals (4K/60p). It also supports HDR 10 and Dolby Vision. There is also a powerful built-in DAC Asahi Kasei AK4458 (32-bit/384kHz). There are still plenty of features such as Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay, etc., that come with the TX-NR676, and what we’ve mentioned earlier are the more notable ones.
More Details at Amazon – Onkyo TX-NR676 7.2 AV Receiver
The clarity of the Onkyo TX-NR676 enables the AV receiver to produce a very detailed cinematic presentation where the rich details fill up the sound field. The overall sound reproduction is cleanly delivered which allows immersion to set in quite easily. The accuracy of the delivery is impeccable as you feel that you are surrounded by orcs as they screech and grunt, we are quite invested at this point, and the bellowing roar of the dreaded Balrog is further intensified with the support of the subwoofers. Then the fleeing orcs start to scattered away in all directions around and above you.
The bass performance is pretty tight and controlled throughout the movie until it reaches the action scene crescendo that’s when the deep bass reproduction is kicked into full gear. The impact and weight of the low-end oomph are powerful, the pressure of it can be felt throughout the HT room. When it comes to music, the Onkyo TX-NR676 cleanly delivers but do find it lacks some enthusiasm and subtle details are not as audible. The Direct Mode does help to slightly improve the overall sonic purity. For movies, with the Direct Mode turned on, finer details can be heard at the top end and bass are slightly more textured but it may be too lean for some listeners so we will suggest experimenting with it for different movies.
The sonic performance of the Onkyo TX-NR676 is certainly better for home theater than music. When driven at high volumes, the overall sound reproduction is a bit strained and the imaging gets a little muddled during the busy or more complex passage. It is not overly bright at high volumes as well. At this price point, it is quite common for AVRs to have flaws, heck, even higher-end models have their own limitations. The Onkyo TX-NR676 is still one of the finer AVRs in their price category. It is finally time for us to start listing out the matching speakers which you can go for.
Onkyo TX-NR676 Specifications
- Power Outputs: 100 Watts per channel at 8 Ohms with 2 channels driven, 165 Watts into 6 Ohms with 1 channel driven
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz, 10Hz–100 kHz (+1dB, -3dB, Direct Mode)
- DAC: Asahi Kasei AK4458 (32-bit/384kHz)
- Wireless: Bluetooth, Apple Airplay, WiFi
- Inputs: 7 HDMI inputs, 1 Phono (MM) input, 1 USB input, 7 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-NR676
Going for a 5.1 home theater speaker package can be an easier path and the Q Acoustics 3000i 5.1 (3010i) is one of the very best HT packs to go for. It is made up of mainly award-winning Q Acoustics 3010i stand-mounters which your Onkyo TX-NR676 AV receiver can drive. These 3010i bookshelf speakers are energetic and entertaining, providing more excitement to the overall sound reproduction. The Q Acoustics 3000i 5.1 also comes with a matching center channel speaker the Q Acoustics 3090ci and a matching active subwoofer the Q Acoustics 3060s. The overall sonic character of this 5.1 speaker pack is a suitable match to the Onkyo TX-NR676 AV receiver as well and you might want to check them out.
More Info at Amazon – Q Acoustics 3000i 5.1 (3010i) Home Theater Speaker Package
If you have a tight budget then the Klipsch Black Reference Theater Pack 5.1 will be an ideal choice for you and they are also great for home theater rooms with space constraints. It is made up of compact satellite Klipsch speakers which have high clarity and bright sounding characteristic. There is a dedicated center channel speaker and a matching Klipsch subwoofer. It is a down-firing wireless subwoofer, enabling you to fit it in nicely in any listening room. All in all, the Klipsch Black Reference Theater Pack 5.1 is an amazing budget option for your Onkyo TX-NR676 but we will suggest listening to them first, just in case it might be too bright-sounding for you.
More Info at Amazon – Klipsch Black Reference Theater Pack 5.1 Surround Sound System
For a tonally balanced sound system with a hint of warmth, you might want to take a look at Wharfedale Diamond 225. It is a pair of bookshelf speakers that garnered plenty of accolades due to its exceptional sound quality for the price. The smooth and warm sonic reproduction does make them suitable for music playbacks. The sweet highs and pleasing overall sound of the Wharfedale Diamond 225 speakers are well-matched with the Onkyo TX-NR676. You can go with the equally impressive Wharfedale Diamond 220 as surround channel speakers and the matching Diamond 220C as the center channel speaker. They will also be terrific for music playbacks.
More Info at Amazon – Wharfedale Diamond 225 Bookshelf Speaker
More Info at Amazon – Wharfedale Diamond 220 Bookshelf Speaker
The KEF Q350 is a stylish and modern design bookshelf speaker which not only looks good but also sounds good. The clarity of the Q350 is astonishing, digging out an impressive amount of details that complement the Onkyo TX-NR676 really well on this and delivering a very detailed presentation for both music and movies. The spacious soundstage that the KEF Q350 can deliver is remarkable as well. You can use the KEF Q350 speakers as the main front (L/R) and surround channel speakers. The KEF Q650c can be used as the matching center channel speaker. For the subwoofer section, you can go with either KEF subwoofers or other brands such as SVS, HSU Research, etc.
More Details at Amazon – KEF Q350 Bookshelf Speakers – Walnut
More Details at Amazon – KEF Q650c Center Channel Speaker
You can also set up your speaker format to 5.2.2 but you will need Dolby Atmos enabled speakers in order to play this specific 3D audio format. There are a few options to go for, one option is to go for separated Dolby Atmos speaker modules such as the KEF Q50a. Another option that you can go with, will be Klipsch R-625FA a floor-standing speaker with a built-in elevation that conforms to Dolby Atmos specifications. Due to the R-625FA high speaker sensitivity, your Onkyo TX-NR676 can drive these floor-standers with ease. In-ceiling speakers may probably be the best option in terms of sonic performance but also the most troublesome to set them up. You can check out Q Acoustics QI65C, an 6.5″ in-ceiling speaker.
More Information at Amazon – KEF Q50a Dolby Atmos Speaker
More Information at Amazon – Klipsch R-625FA Floorstanding Single Speaker
For active subwoofers, we will recommend going for the following brands such as SVS, HSU Research, and Rythmik Audio. Firstly, they have entry-level models which fit the price range of your Onkyo TX-NR676 AVR, and more importantly, their bass performances are impeccable. For home theater use, ported cabinet subwoofers are the top choices. You can check out SVS PB-1000 Pro for a start. If your home theater room size is quite big, you can either go for dual subs or a larger and more powerful sub such as SVS PB-2000 Pro. Dual subwoofers provide more headroom to handle sudden peaks without any issue and also cover more areas for an even bass performance throughout the listening room.
More Information at Amazon – SVS PB-1000 Pro
More Information at Amazon – SVS PB-2000 Pro
To Sum It Up
We will suggest that you have an audition with these speakers first to see if you like what you are hearing. You should also include the active subwoofers that you are using or intending to get during the speakers’ auditions. These are some of the best loudspeakers on the market and are definitely worth your while to check them out. You can also use them as references when comparing with other speaker brands or models not listed here. A side-by-side comparison will be highly recommended as you can immediately tell the difference.
