electronicsme - Electronics / Lifestyle/ Mini Systems made easy

Print this page

Onkyo CS-V720S: Review

Posted to Lifestyle/ Mini Systems 2009-11-07

The Onkyo CS-V720S DVD system is an integrated DVD player and stereo receiver. Sized to fit on a bookshelf, the unit features DVD and CD playback, a built-in digital AM/FM receiver with 40 station presets and two 2-way bass reflex speakers. The speakers incorporate a 5.125 inch woofer and a 1 inch tweeter. Power output is 30W per channel and the unit features stereo and virtual surround sound modes.

The DVD player is capable of playing DVD, CD, MP3, JPG, WMA and SACD formats. The unit features an XM ready tuner for use with the XM satellite radio service, Onkyo's remote interactive system, which allows you to integrate all of your Onkyo components on one remote, and Wide Range Amp Technology which reduces noise at high volume levels. The unit can also decode DTS surround and Dolby Digital formats into stereo.

Rating:

3.6 out of 5

Value

Onkyo makes good audio components, but the CS-V720S is on the pricey side for a system with its features/performance. Similar systems from the competition, notably Yamaha, cost less and produce similar sound output. Make no mistake about it, the CS-V720S produces excellent stereo sound at all volume levels, its just that it's priced higher than the similar competition. That being said, the unit does come with some excellent features, and is particularly strong in the area of format support. It will play back most anything you put in the DVD tray.

Features

The CS-V720S has about the same features as most of the competition in the bookshelf DVD system class. The XM ready tuner is an added plus if you need it, and there's an available iPod dock that gets more sound out of your iPod than you ever thought you could get. And support for various formats is better than most of the competition. The speakers are compact yet deliver a realistic stereo sound experience even when turned down low.

Summary

If you're in the market for a shelf-sized DVD system/stereo receiver combination, the CS-V720S makes an excellent choice if you don't mind paying a bit more for a name. You could buy a fairly good surround system from the competition for the same price. That being said, it does come with Onkyo quality, and it should still be on your shelf years from now if you purchase one.

Pros

Integrated DVD/AM/FM Stereo Receiver
30W per channel power output
XM ready tuner
Speakers have 5.125 inch woofers and 1 inch tweeters

Cons

Pricey