Onkyo has been producing audio products since 1946. In 1966 Onkyo was voted the “Best Buy,” in Japan’s consumer report and they have been receiving awards for their products ever since. Onkyo entered the home theater market in 1993 and received great reviews for its THX receiver. Onkyo continued to improve their home theater product line and in 2000 introduced the world’s first 7.1 channel A/V receiver with THX’s surround EX and then in 2004 introduced the world’s first fully modular AV home network receiver. In 2007 they introduced the first receiver that featured Dolby True HD and DTS decode which is the first generation of receivers to handle video and audio in high definition.

With that kind of report card, it’s no wonder that Onkyo plays an important part in the home theater market. True innovators like Onkyo often stay in the background for years before they hit the mass market. Onkyo’s HT- S5100 7.1 Channel Home Entertainment System, which is a set of nine pieces, is an awesome investment. It measures 20.2 Wide x 30.7 High x 31.2 Deep. The total system weighs 88 pounds. This system gets the best performance out of high-definition sources.

The Onkyo HT-S5100 has 1200 watts of power and has Audyssey room correction technology incorporated into the system which creates a perfect surround-sound experience. It’s the first system to include a dedicated dock for iPod playback. The video and the audio features included in this system are incredible and you can even hook up to Sirius radio if you purchase some minor optional equipment. The 7.1 speaker package is designed to give the listener a truly great audio sound no matter what video venue is operating.

This Onkyo system includes 7 speakers and a subwoofer in black or silver. The receiver has 2 HDMI outputs and 1 output, 2 optical inputs and 2 components in and 1 out input and one coaxial. The system also includes a 130 watt magnetically shielded speaker terminals which are color coded along with speaker cable that connect to the full range front and back speakers. It has a preset Sirius/AM/FM music optimizer. The 5 OMF woofer and balanced dome tweeter make this system sound like a million dollars.

Like any other system there are always things that consumers want to correct about it, this system has a microphone that seemed to be flat and there are reports that the overall system runs hot. That could be because the area that the system was placed in was not ventilated properly. The wires are to thin and should be upgraded according to some consumers. Some consumers say that you can’t get true 7.1 outputs with this system unless you have a separate Blue Ray player. Other consumers suggest that the Onkyo HTS-6100 is the system to buy because all of these issues have been addressed and corrected in that system.

Like all systems the Onkyo HT-S5100 has some great features and it has some perceived issues as well. The Panasonic Sc-PT760 does give this system a run for the money when you compare price and some extra features. The Panasonic has wireless rear speakers and a five-disc changer which makes it an attractive alternative to the Onkyo HT-S5100, but it all depends on consumer needs and preferences.

Overall, this home entertainment system gets very high marks from the consumers who have purchased it. In its price range, the only real competition it has is from other Onkyo models. That’s good news for Onkyo but it’s no surprise. With a track record like Onkyo they will continue to produce quality products that offer value, dependability and performance for a variety of consumers. They have mastered that ability and as consumers we should appreciate that service.