Onkyo HT-RC260

Onkyo HT-RC260

Each of the midrange receivers we've tested this year has shined in one specific area, and the Onkyo HT-RC260's overwhelming strength is value. It comes in at over a hundred dollars less than its competitors and still manages to offer six HDMI inputs, which is enough to cover virtually every home theater. On the downside, the HT-RC260 features a traditional bulky Onkyo design, and its graphical user interface doesn't live up to the eye candy of the Yamaha RX-V667 or Pioneer VSX-1020-K. We were also surprised that the HT-RC260's sound quality wasn't quite up to the level we generally associate with Onkyo, although that might be due to sacrifices to hit the rock-bottom price. The bottom line is that if you're on a tight budget and want to maximize your HDMI connectivity, the Onkyo HT-RC260 is an easy pick. If you've got other priorities--like sound quality or iPod connectivity--there are better options for your home theater dollar. If you've seen one Onkyo receiver, you've pretty much seen them all. The company hasn't changed the exterior look of its receivers in years, favoring a big, boxy approach that makes no attempt to be sleek or slim.