This is a THX Certified Select 7.2 channel AV receiver which comes with a plethora of features and a modest price tag to boot. Onkyo TX-NR696 is well regarded by many HT enthusiasts not just because of its affordability but also due to the level of sonic performance you can get at this price point. What TX-NR696 needs now is a matching subwoofer.
By connecting a powered subwoofer to your Onkyo TX-NR696 AV receiver it will help to deliver subsonic low-ends, providing you with authoritative bass responses You should get a subwoofer that will match well with the TX-NR696 and also fit your requirements. We will start preparing a list of the best subwoofers to go with the Onkyo TX-NR696 and will be shared with you later on.
Table of Contents
Sound Characteristics of Onkyo TX-NR696 and Your Subwoofer Requirements
The Onkyo TX-NR696 is a 4K AV receiver and supports audio formats such as Dolby Atmos which could provide you with a more immersive home cinematic experience. As it is only a 7.2 channel AVR, you can only go for 5.2.2. setup if you want to use the Dolby Atmos format. There are other notable features like 4K HDR and Dolby Vision to further improve your visual experience. Onkyo TX-NR696 has a built-in 32-bit/384kHz DAC (AK4458), Bluetooth receiver, and many more. You are certainly getting a lot from a modestly priced AV receiver.
It is also quite powerful for the price, the AK4458 has a power output of 100 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms (2 channels driven) and can go even further up to 175 Watts into 6 Ohms with 1 channel driven. It would be enough to drive a pair of efficient floor-standing speakers as your L/R main fronts but adding at least one subwoofer is a must. Another useful feature of the Onkyo TX-NR696 will be the AccuEQ with subwoofer EQ as this will help to optimize both your speakers and subwoofers to perform their best in your home theater room.
More Details at Amazon – Onkyo TX-NR696 Audio and Video Receiver,Black
Onkyo TX-NR696 has a nice level of clarity which makes the presentations sound clear. The treble is crisp and the bass doesn’t overwhelm the upper registers. When the need arrives, TX-NR696 could deliver impactful subterranean bass responses that shake the room and vibrate your furniture. You would need a subwoofer capable enough to deliver such bass performance though. When it comes to music, the Onkyo TX-NR696 does lack a certain charm to it and could fall flat at times. All in all, it is a well-balanced performer.
This AV receiver allows up to 2 active subwoofers to be connected and this is great if you have a large listening room. Going with 2 subwoofers would also give you more headroom to play with as well. Before you decide, you might want to work on your budget first. We suggest going for 1 high-quality subwoofer rather than 2 budget subs and saving up till you could afford a 2nd high-quality sub if you have a tight budget. For home theater performance, a ported subwoofer will always be the ideal choice unless you require a tighter and more precise bass response.
There are also many types of cabinet design you can go for and this will depend on the available space you have inside your HT room. Before you start choosing the subwoofers based on their dimensions, you might want to find out how deep you want the sub to reach into the bass extension. We suggest pairing subwoofers with your Onkyo TX-NR696 that could reach down to 20Hz as most movie soundtracks do hit around this region. You should also get more requirements from your spouse or loved ones who are sharing the subwoofer/space with you.
Onkyo TX-NR696 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: 10Hz-100kHz (+1 dB, -3 dB, Direct Mode)
- DAC: AKM (AK4458)
- Wireless: Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2, WiFi
- Inputs: 7 HDMI inputs, 1 MM Phono input, 4 Analog inputs, 1 Optical input, 1 Coaxial input, 1 USB input, Ethernet
- Outputs: 2 HDMI outputs, Headphone output, 2 Subwoofer outputs, Zone 2 output
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 435mm x 173.5mm x 379.5mm (17.1″ × 6.8″ × 14.9″)
- Weight: 10kg (22lbs)
Best Subwoofers to pair with Onkyo TX-NR696
The Rythmik Audio LV12F is an amazing choice to go for and match with the Onkyo TX-NR696. This is an entry-level 12″ ported subwoofer and it uses Direct Servo technology to deliver tuneful and accurate bass performance without compromising the energy and impact. Rythmik Audio LV12F has a really wide frequency response for an entry-level ported subwoofer which is at 19Hz-300Hz. It has a built-in Class D amp that pumps out 300 Watts of RMS power. It will certainly be worth your while to have a look.
The SVS PB-1000 Pro is another exceptional entry-level ported subwoofer and is a bit more flexible than the LV12F sub. You can switch between “Standard” (ported) or “Sealed” mode, allowing you to change the sonic characteristic of the PB-1000 Pro to suit your mood or audio source. It is a powerful ported subwoofer to partner up with the Onkyo TX-NR696 AV receiver, the SVS PB-1000 Pro has an RMS power of 325 Watts and goes up to 820+ Watts (Peak). The frequency response is equally remarkable which is 17Hz to 260Hz.
More Information at Amazon – SVS PB-1000 Pro (Black Ash)
HSU Research ULS-15 MK2 is a powerful 15″ sealed subwoofer and will be an ideal choice for your Onkyo TX-NR696 AVR. It is an active sealed sub that could reach down to 20Hz bass extension and has a whopping peak power of 2000 Watts (short term). With this level of power, the ULS-15 MK2 can handle most bass demands. It has another notable feature and this enables you to turn the HSU Research ULS-15 MK2 into a midbass module. At this mode, the subwoofer could focus on delivering more midbass punch and slam.
For audiophiles who prefer higher bass quality over quantity, the Rythmik Audio F12SE will definitely be a worthy subwoofer to seriously consider and pair with your Onkyo TX-NR696. This is a 12″ sealed subwoofer and has garnered plenty of accolades over the years. It is capable of reaching down to 14Hz (-2dB) bass extension and is been driven by a Class AB amplifier with 370 Watts RMS power. The Rythmik Audio F12SE articulate bass performance is great for music playbacks and delivers ample sonic impacts too.
For listeners who have larger HT rooms and prefer to use only 1 subwoofer, the SVS PB-3000 will be an excellent choice. This is an extremely powerful ported subwoofer with a 13″ bass driver been powered by a Sledge STA-800D2 DSP amplifier with up to 2500 Watts (Peak) which is simply incredible. SVS PB-3000 can deliver room-shaking bass performances and lets you enjoy an exhilarating home cinematic experience. It could also produce below 20Hz low frequencies with prominence and weight.
More Details at Amazon – SVS PB-3000 13″ Ported Subwoofer
If you prefer a large sealed subwoofer over a ported model, you might want to take a look at the Rythmik Audio F15HP. It will be an amazing subwoofer partner for your Onkyo TX-NR696 AV receiver. The F15HP is capable of producing powerful and clean subsonic bass frequencies. The bass delivery is tight and agile, allowing it to keep pace with both movie and music audio sources. It also uses Direct Servo technology and could reach below 20Hz bass extension. The Rythmik Audio F15HP uses a Class H amplifier with 600 Watts RMS power.
To Sum It Up
Depending on your requirement, if you are going for 2 subwoofers, please choose similar models for a more seamless overall sound reproduction as they should have the exact same sound signatures. The listed subwoofers are some of the finest on the market and are worth your time to have a further look at them. You might want to audition the potential subwoofers first before seriously considering purchasing them as you need to find out if they sound good when partnered with your Onkyo TX-NR696 AV receiver.
