Amber Technology Blog

Onkyo has added a long list of value-packed amplifiers and receivers to their portfolio of residential home cinema and audio equipment.

Onkyo Unveils A High-Performance THX® Certified Select™ AV Receiver  

Onkyo is continuing its mission to make home entertainment more immersive and ever more adaptable with the launch of three new products announced today. They comprise the THX Select certified 7.2-ch TX-NR696 Network A/V Receiver, the 5.1.2-ch HT-S5915 Home Cinema Package, and the 5.1-ch HT-S3910 Home Cinema Package - all supporting Dolby Atmos® and DTS:X® soundtracks to wrap viewers in a seamless 3D sound environment. 

TX-NR696 7.2-Ch Network A/V Receiver 

Developing 175 W/Ch (6 ohms, 1kHz, 10% THD, 1-ch driven), the TX-NR696 benefits from noise reduction measures such as a refined HDMI® board, isolated network board, and enhanced amplification system featuring a strengthened power supply. It also boasts a quad-core SoC (System on a Chip) enabling high-speed 802.11ac 2x2 MIMO*1 Wi-Fi® and evolved network functionalities. In addition, 3D sound virtualisation technologies from Dolby® and DTS®, simplified multi-room audio distribution, 4K HDR support, and a host of proprietary functions underline this new AVR’s compelling price-to-performance advantage. The TX-NR696 is THX Select certified having met and exceeded 2,000 stringent bench-tests in 75 categories covering 14,000 data points, satisfying THX® sound-quality requirements for achieving cinema-reference volume in rooms where the viewing position is about 3.5 m from the screen. 

The TX-NR696 can play Dolby Atmos and DTS:X formats through 5.2.2 channels as well as legacy soundtracks remapped for 3D audio playback through height speakers using Dolby Surround® or DTS® Neural:X upmixers. Dolby Atmos Height Virtualizer*2 enables a more immersive listening experience with Dolby formats, creating a virtual surround and height effect from an existing speaker system without having to provide additional new surround or height speakers. DTS Virtual:X™*2, also enables a more immersive listening experience from any stereo or multichannel content without the need for additional surround or height speakers, to bridge the gap between the content and the end consumers’ speaker configuration. 

The sheer speed, force and resolution required for thrilling surround-sound are delivered by Onkyo’s suite of Dynamic Audio Amplification technologies. These include a custom-made High-Current, Low-Noise Power Transformer, custom-designed capacitors and discrete non-phase-shift amp topology. As well as improving speaker control, high current flows deliver stable power delivery into difficult 4 ohm speaker loads. Several design enhancements preserve signal purity and improve S/N (Signal to Noise) performance. The HDMI board has shortened signal-paths and large, effective grounding paths to limit noise. The SoC board is isolated from analogue audio signals and a more robust power supply circuit assists with providing driving power. And for the Front L/R and Centre channels, a second power transistor has been added to the amplifier output stages, doubling current-handling capabilities. Whether listening to vinyl via the built-in phono equaliser or streaming Hi-Res Audio, these upgrades are both heard and felt as improved sound separation and localisation, a bigger soundstage, and punchier bass. 

TX-NR696 - $1,399 RRP - Click here for more information

Onkyo Launches Value-Packed AVRs with Dolby Atmos® and DTS:X® for 3D Audio Through Any Speaker Layout 

Onkyo presents a persuasive value proposition with two Dolby Atmos and DTS:X enabled A/V receivers, the 5.2-ch TX-SR393 (155 W/Ch) and 7.2-ch TX-SR494 (160 W/Ch). Both products bring extraordinary flexibility to simplify next-generation home entertainment. 

Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks are mixed in a 3D domain. Metadata transposes sound origins within the scene to their corresponding positions in the listening space, tracking effects vertically and horizontally and placing sounds all around the audience. 

Dolby Atmos and DTS:X formats adapt to any speaker configuration. Onkyo aims to deliver sound at highest quality through whatever layout the customer desires. TX-SR393 offers a space-saving 3.2.2-ch solution to native Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, while the TX-SR494 expands object-based audio playback through 5.2.2 channels. Dolby Surround® and DTS Neural:X® upmixing technologies remap legacy soundtracks for playback through any speaker layout, including those with height channels, for more spatially realistic sound. 

When playing any Dolby® format, engaging new Dolby Atmos Height Virtualizer*1 enables a more immersive listening experience, creating a virtual surround and height effect from traditional speaker layouts without employing additional surround or height speakers. DTS Virtual:X®*2, meanwhile, creates a 3D sound-field through any speaker layout without surround or height speaker connection. DSP-based algorithms wrap the audience in sound from all directions. 

While 3D sound virtualization creates a spatial sound-field from as few as 2.1 channels, the TX-SR393 offers real 5.2-ch or 3.2.2-ch surround-sound and the TX-SR494 real 7.2-ch, 5.2.2-ch, or 5.2-ch surround-sound, the latter with either Front L/R Bi-Amping or Powered Zone B audio distribution. With speakers in another room, users can enjoy any AVR audio source in Zone B simultaneously in Main and Zone B. 

Both receivers feature four HDMI® inputs and one ARC-enabled output with pass-through support for 4K/60p and HDR (Dolby Vision®, HDR10, HLG, and BT.2020) along with the 4:4:4 color sub-sampling. To confirm that content is playing as desired, the GUI includes an overlaid OSD information window. Input/output data can be called up to show details such HDR format, video resolution, frame-rate, and audio codec which can otherwise prove tricky to check in real time. 

Onkyo deploys its discrete high-current analogue amplification system backed by a High-Current Low-Noise Power Transformer and large audio-grade capacitors. Power is evidenced by 4-ohm simultaneous speaker-driving capability, muscle that few comparable products can match. 

*1 Dolby Atmos Height Virtualizer will be enabled with a future firmware update. Works with Dolby Atmos, Dolby codecs, PCM and DSD audio only. *2 Works with DTS:X, DTS formats, PCM and DSD audio only. 

TX-SR393 - $699 RRP Click here for more information

TX-SR494 - $999 RRP Click here for more information

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