How to Play Music on an Onkyo TX-NR676 AV Receiver

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

Your Onkyo TX-NR676 system is capable of playing music using Bluetooth, USB, the built in radio turner, or internet radio and apps.

This guide will explain how to play or stream music with your AVR.

A home theater setup

2. Input and Navigation

All playback options involve setting the receiver to the correct input, navigating the TV screen if needed, and playing media appropriately for that medium.

To select the input source from the AV receiver itself:

Onkyo 3900 showing the display LED and the input buttons


  1. Press input button you wish to use.
  2. The Display will show the currently selected input.

To select the input source using the remote control:

  1. Select one of the Labeled buttons to choose a source.
Onkyo 3900 remote input buttons
  1. Common navigation controls for your AV receiver:
Navigation buttons on remote control.
  1. Setup - Displays setup menu screen
  2. Home - Displays home menu screen
  3. Arrows â–²/â–¼/â–º/â—„ - Move the focus in the menu screen
    Enter - Selects the focused menu / item
  4. Return - Returns to the previous menu or screen

Depending on your individual AV receiver's model, your remote's button layout may vary slightly from the images above.

To select the input source on your Television:

  • Depending on what device you are electing to use with your AV receiver and how your equipment is connected, you may also need to adjust your Television's input settings as well. To adjust your television's input:
  • Ensure the TV is powered on (1).
  • Depending on your TV remote's button layout, press the button labeled AV, Input, or Source (2) on the remote to display the input selection menu.
Television remote control with labeled buttons. Diagram.
  • Use the Up and Down arrow buttons to highlight the desired input, then press the OK button to select said input.
Television input menu. Diagram.
  • This process can be repeated at any time to switch to a different video input on your television. For example, switching from watching Cable television to a DVD player and then back again.

The images above are only a general guide on changing your television's input settings. Your television remote's button layout will vary depending on the manufacturer and model television being used.

3. Play from External Device

An external device can be anything connected to this unit: TV, radio tuner, CD / DVD / Blu-ray Disc player, VCR, record player, video game console, etc.

External devices connected to AV Receiver.
  1. Turn on the external device connected to your AV receiver that you would like to use.
  2. Using the AV receiver's remote control, or the front panel controls indicated previously, set your AV receiver and Television to the correct input settings.
  3. You can then begin using your external device.

4. Connect USB

Plug your USB thumb drive into the back of your AV receiver.

The back of an onkyo receiver showing the usb port.

5. Play from USB

  1. Press the Net button your remote.
A diagram showing the net button on an onkyo remote.
  1. Using the cursor buttons, navigate to USB.
A diagram showing the selections on an onkyo receiver
  1. A list of folders and files on the USB drive will be displayed. Standard playback controls can now be used to navigate and control your audio content.
Onkyo usb menu

6. Connect Antenna

If you have not already done so, ensure that you've connected the supplied radio antenna to its proper port.

The back of an onkyo receiver showing how to connect the antenna.

7. Radio

  1. Press the Tuner button your remote to select either AM or FM.
An onkyo remote showing the tuner button
  1. Press the Mode button on the remote so that TunMode:Auto shows on the display.
An onkyo display showing Tuner Mode Auto.
  1. Use the Up and Down cursor buttons to select a station.
An onkyo remote showing the directional cursors.

8. Network

The Net function for your Onkyo receiver gives you access to several built-in music apps as well as internet radio and audio resources you might have available on your home network.

  1. Make sure your television is set to the correct input to see your receiver's on-screen display.
  2. Press the Net button your remote.
A diagram showing the net button on an onkyo remote.
  1. Using the cursor buttons, navigate to the service you wish to use.
A diagram showing the selections on an onkyo receiver

Using the "Net" function, you can:

  • Use internet radio services.
  • Use streaming music services such as Spotify and TuneIn Radio.
  • Use wireless home network playback via Apple Airplay.
  • Use the Music Server feature to stream music from network connected PCs and Network Attached Storage devices.

9. Music Playback Controls

Common playback controls for your Onkyo receiver:

Playback controls on remote control.


ButtonFunction

Play symbol.

Starts playback

Pause symbol.

Pauses playback

Stop symbol.

Stops playback

Search symbol.

Searches backward and forward. Search speed changes with every button press

Track skip symbol.

Skip to the beginning or previous track and to the next track

10. Play with Bluetooth Device

This unit can be used as a Bluetooth receiver.

  • When paired as a receiver, audio can be streamed to the unit from a transmitter.
Unit receiving data over Bluetooth.

11. Play from Bluetooth Device

Bluetooth technology allows you to stream content wirelessly between devices without having to connect a single cable. With your device connected to your Onkyo receiver via Bluetooth, your home theater system is where your device will output sound rather than its built-in speakers. Playback can take place normally. The following steps are examples of playback options for your devices.

Playing music via bluetooth to AV receiver. Illustration.

12. Apps for Streaming

There are multiple apps that can be downloaded from the Google Play Store for the purpose of playing or streaming music and audio on your device.

  1. Open the Google Play Store.
Play Store.
  1. Within the Google Play Store, tap Categories then Music & Audio.
Google Play store with path to music apps highlighted.
  1. Browse through the listed music apps and select the one you prefer. You can even check the most popular ones by tapping Top Charts.
Music apps in Google Play store.

Some popular Apps for streaming or playing music are:

Spotify.

Spotify allows you to search for any track, artist or album and listen for free. Make and share playlists. Build your biggest, best ever music collection. Get inspired with personal recommendations, and readymade playlists for just about everything. Listen absolutely free with ads, or get Spotify Premium.

 

Google Play music.

Google Play Music gives you millions of songs and thousands of playlists for any situation. Powered by Google, we serve up music based on where you are and why you’re listening, getting smarter and more assistive as we get to know your tastes. Subscribe to create playlists, listen offline, and get ad-free YouTube with YouTube Red (where available).

 

Soundcloud.

SoundCloud is the world's largest music and audio streaming platform – 150 million tracks and growing. With a buzzing community of artists and musicians constantly uploading new music, SoundCloud is where you can find the next big artists alongside chart-topping albums, live sets, and mixes for every occasion.

Pandora.

Pandora gives you a personalized music experience that continually evolves with your tastes. Create stations from your favorite songs, artists or genres. Or search browse to find recommended stations for your mood or activity.

13. Apps for Streaming

There are multiple apps that can be downloaded from the Apple App Store for the purpose of playing or streaming music and audio on your device.

  1. Open the App Store.
iOS app store icon.
  1. Within the App Store, tap Apps.
iOS App store menu showing Apps highlighted.
  1. Scroll down to Categories and tap See All.
iOS app store top categories menu highlighting see all.
  1. Tap Music.
iOS app categories menu showing music highlighted.
  1. Select the App you want or tap See All to see more.
iOS music category highlightning apps and see all.

Some popular Apps for streaming or playing music are:

Spotify.

Spotify allows you to search for any track, artist or album and listen for free. Make and share playlists. Build your biggest, best ever music collection. Get inspired with personal recommendations, and readymade playlists for just about everything. Listen absolutely free with ads, or get Spotify Premium.

Apple music.

Apple Music gives unlimited access to millions of songs and your entire music library—totally ad-free. Apple Music works seamlessly with your iTunes library to give your personal music collection a major upgrade. Start your trial today, cancel anytime.

 

Google Play music.

Google Play Music gives you millions of songs and thousands of playlists for any situation. Powered by Google, we serve up music based on where you are and why you’re listening, getting smarter and more assistive as we get to know your tastes. Subscribe to create playlists, listen offline, and get ad-free YouTube with YouTube Red (where available).

 

Soundcloud.

SoundCloud is the world's largest music and audio streaming platform – 150 million tracks and growing. With a buzzing community of artists and musicians constantly uploading new music, SoundCloud is where you can find the next big artists alongside chart-topping albums, live sets, and mixes for every occasion.

 

Pandora.

Pandora gives you a personalized music experience that continually evolves with your tastes. Create stations from your favorite songs, artists or genres. Or search browse to find recommended stations for your mood or activity.

14. Bluetooth Playback Options

Now that your device is outputting its audio via Bluetooth, media playback can take place normally. All audio that is played will now be played through the connected Bluetooth device instead of the built-in speakers. Common playback options can be found below.

  • Groove Music is a music player app that was introduced by Windows 10 and its primary role is playing music stored locally on our devices. The Groove Music app is useful for many: it is one of the best universal Windows apps, and with it, you can play your locally stored mp3 library, or even listen to the songs you have stored in your OneDrive.
Windows 10 Groove Music app.
  • Windows Media Player 12 is a common media player option built into Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 for playing music and video files. Windows Media Player has the ability to play music, rip music from and copy music to compact discs, burn discs in audio CD format, or as data discs with playlists such as an MP3 CD.
Windows Media Player.
  • Spotify is like a jukebox you only need to feed once, or a radio that plays what you want in between ads. Spotify’s music library contains everything from mainstream pop hits to obscure death metal classics.
Spotify windows application interface.
  • iTunes is a media player made by Apple that is used for playing digital music or video files. iTunes is also used to purchase digital music files or subscribe to podcasts through Apple's iTunes Music Store.
iTunes windows application interface.
  • VLC Media Player is a free and open source media player. VLC is a portable multimedia player, encoder, and streamer supporting many audio and video codecs and file formats as well as DVDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols.
VLC Media Player windows application interface.

15. Bluetooth Playback Options

Now that your device is outputting its audio via Bluetooth, media playback can take place normally. All audio that is played will now be played through the connected Bluetooth device instead of the built-in speakers. Common playback options can be found below.

  • iTunes is the default music playback software built into the Apple operating system and is standard on all Apple Mac computers used for playing digital music or video files. iTunes is also used to purchase digital music files or subscribe to podcasts through Apple's iTunes Music Store.
Apple iTunes for Mac.
  • Spotify is like a jukebox you only need to feed once, or a radio that plays what you want in between ads. Spotify’s music library contains everything from mainstream pop hits to obscure death metal classics.
Spotify application.
  • VLC Media Player is a free and open source media player. VLC is a portable multimedia player, encoder, and streamer supporting many audio and video codecs and file formats as well as DVDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols.
VLC Media Player for Mac.
  • Amazon offers free music streaming with Prime, a paid music service for an additional monthly fee, direct MP3 sales, a way to get MP3s when you purchase audio CDs, and a music locker you can upload your own songs to.
Amazon Music application.

16. Play or Stream

For other types of devices, please refer to their respective documentation for more information on available software and apps for music and audio playback.

17. Pair Bluetooth Devices to Your Onkyo TX-NR676 Home Theater System

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