If you know what a home theater receiver is, you know that it receives audio signals from various components and then decodes them to power the home theater system. The next big thing to hit home theater systems is 3-D. Onkyo has jumped on board to embrace this new technology with a range of AV receivers in its new model, Onkyo TX-SR308 Home Theater Receiver; this model boasts all of the latest technology.

This particular model has three HDMI 1.4 inputs and a 5.1 channel receiver. They should support 3-D playback and audio return channel. The simple front layout makes it easier to use. The volume control is on the right and standby button is on the left. There’s a digital display, but it’s faint enough not to be distracting if you are watching your movie in a dark room. There are also inputs for headphone jack and mic, for easier interaction with a single user.

The new model has included various options for connectivity which include: 3 HDMI inputs and one HDMI output. These are placed on the top of the receiver to ease connection. The new model also has 2 component video inputs and 4 sets of composite video inputs which target low resolution devices. Onkyo has also included a universal port for the iPod/iPhone in the Onkyo TX-SR308. This is to tap into the large market which uses the devices.

The new home theatre receiver model also comes with support for 3D video, which is supposed to allow a user to simultaneously connect 3 high-definition sources. The most popular video source components that are connected include: a Blue-ray player, a gaming console, and a satellite tuner. It also includes Burr-Brown DACs to optimize analog audio performance. The DACs are supposed to reduce jitter to allow for clearer sound for both audio and video.

There are on screen set up menus through the receiver, overlaying the video image so that you can adjust settings without having to go back and forth between blank screen and video. Front panel audio input is via direct connectivity, so that if you use an iPod or MP3 player, you can connect immediately to playback through the front panel. This also has technology that optimizes music, so that you can take compressed portable music player files and enhance their quality.

This home theatre receiver’s use may be optimized by setting up a home theatre system to listen to music in multiple rooms in a home, and not only the living room. One can also listen to music from outside the house. The new system can enable its user to enjoy quality and enhanced sound, which may be pumped through in-wall speakers and ceiling speakers.

The Onkyo TX-SR308 Receiver has come with a slew of features that are set to improve the services offered by a home theatre receiver. However, with all the products that are flooding the market nowadays only time can prove whether this new home theatre can deliver its promises and whether it will have the desired effect on home entertainment.