Onkyo have thrown down their new entry-level AV receiver range, with the shiny new units packing in a range of features including Spotify access and PC streaming.
Onkyo TX-NR313
Sitting at the bottom of the range is the £299.99 5.1 Onkyo TX-NR313, which should get your sofa reverberating with its 5 x 100W output.
There’s no less than five 3D compatible HDMI ports ports onboard, plus Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, sARC (Audio Return Channel) and a USB port on the front for hooking up an phone or memory stick.
Onkyo TX-NR414
The £399.99 Onkyo TX-NR414 is another 5.1 reciever and adds networked capabilities, such as internet radio, and Spotify access, as well as the ability to stream music from a networked PC.
The power is nudged upwards to 5 x 130W, while the natty InstaPrevue technology lets you look at a thumbnail preview of your HDMI sources when you’re selecting channels.
A neat Hybrid Standby feature lets the audio and video source bypass the receiver when the amp is in standby mode to save a few pennies, while a Zone 2 line-out lets you send a different audio source to another room in the house.
Onkyo TX-NR515
Shimmying up the ranking to the penultimate model is the Onkyo TX-NR515, a 7.2 channel networked receiver priced at £499.99.
Ready to rock the house with its 7 x 130W power output, the unit packs in all the features of the TX-NR414 and TX-NR313 receivers – and can play back 1080p video with 7.1 audio from a smartphone or tablet
There’s also 4K2K upscaling for compatible displays, Dolby Pro Logic IIz, with the number of 3D HDMI ports notched up to a mind boggling eight.
Onkyo TX-NR616
Sitting at the top of the range and ready to empty your wallet to the tune of £599.99 is the Onkyo TX-NR616.
This beast has everything the TXNR515 has, and bolts on Audyssey DSX expansion for extra front wide channels, and Audyssey 2EQ room acoustic correction to help you get the best sound out of your set up.
Sporting THX Select 2 Plus certification, this mutha can blast out 7 x 165W which should ensure that cinema style rumble is felt.
The range will be available in silver or black finishes in March, with the exception of the TX-NR616 which will be strutting into town a month later.
Press release:
Onkyo Redefines “Entry Level” with 4 Heavy-Hitting AVRs
UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (2/13/12) — Onkyo, the leader in home theater technology, has announced the first four new AV receivers for its 2012 line, including three with network capability, including one with THX certification. All have USB connections and additional HDMI® inputs. The line also includes the world’s first AV receivers to employ Silicon Image’s InstaPrevue™ and Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) technologies. Furthermore, the three network capable models are the world’s first AVRs to include music ‘cloud server’ access via MP3tunes™.
The four new models are the Onkyo TX-NR616 THX-Certified 7.2-Channel Network Receiver, TX-NR515 7.2-Channel Network Receiver, TX-NR414 5.1-Channel Network Receiver, and TX-SR313 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver.
Onkyo’s powerful WRAT (Wide Range Amplifier Technology) is now implemented throughout the line. This low negative-feedback topology reduces signal noise and guarantees superb performance with minimal distortion. Even the entry model TX-SR313, Onkyo now uses this discrete-component output stage rather than lower cost integrated circuit amplifiers.
The TX-NR616 is most powerful model in this release, and it is backed by a THX® Select2 Plus™ guarantee of cinema-quality sound. Achieving this demanding certification standard for audio quality is made possible partly by the use of Onkyo’s three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry.
The TX-NR616, along with the TX-NR515 and TX-NR414 are the world’s first to include InstaPrevue, which provides on-screen video thumbnails to show the content currently available on HDMI-connected components making input source selection easy. The TX-NR616 and TX-NR515 are also the first to include MHL, an interface protocol that facilitates the playback of 1080p video and stills with 7.1 channels of surround sound over HDMI from MHL compatible smartphones and other portable devices.
Whether using the hard-wired Ethernet connection or wireless networking via an optional Onkyo UWF-1 Wireless USB adapter, these network receivers allow users to enjoy a vast selection of internet radio stations, stream from services such as Spotify or MP3tunes ‘Cloud’ services or connect to computers and other devices on the network. Users can control all network AVRs with an iPod touch®/iPhone® or Android phone with a free Remote App. A slick GUI makes setting up, controlling input sources, and streaming music from the handset (Android phone only) a stress-free experience.
The front-panel USB port on all four receivers also provides a direct digital connection of an iPod®/iPhone® or flash-memory device. The TX-NR515 and TX-NR616 have an additional USB port on the rear panel that can be used for the optional UWF-1 adapter leaving the front-side USB free for iPod and iPhone.
The TX-NR616 and TX-NR515 also offer superior video performance thanks to on-board Qdeo™ processing technology by Marvell. This provides analog video upscaling to 1080p, and up to 4K (4096 x 2160 pixels) scaling when used with a compatible 4K display.
When it comes to home theater audio, these two 7.2 channel models feature Dolby® Pro Logic® IIz expansion to incorporate Front Height channels, and to convert stereo sources to surround sound. The TX-NR616 also includes Audyssey DSX expansion for additional Front Wide or Height channels. Both systems provide a more realistic movie or gaming experience. Users can also connect two subwoofers via parallel pre-outs in a 7.2-channel set-up. Naturally, Audyssey 2EQ room acoustic correction ensures the best possible performance in any listening space.
To help support the increasing numbers of HDMI devices available, Onkyo has given the TX-SR313 four HDMI inputs while the TX-NR414 sports six. All support 3D video, Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio™ decoding and ARC all through an easy-to-use interactive OSD. The top models incorporate eight inputs plus two outputs for connecting a TV and a projector. A ‘Q’ remote button overlays a ‘Quick Set-Up’ menu on the program being watched via HDMI. Furthermore, Hybrid Standby allows HDMI pass-through to the HDTV while the receiver is off, allowing the user to quickly catch the news, weather, or kids’ TV without powering up the whole home theater system.
All models have connections for legacy analog and digital audio technology. Additionally, the TX-NR515 offers distributed audio with Powered Zone 2, while the TX-NR616 adds Powered Zone 2 and a Zone 3 line-out.
Later this year, Onkyo plans to release the UBT-1 USB Bluetooth Adaptor which will allow even better integration between electronic devices and Onkyo network receivers.These four receivers redefine the kinds of features and performance the consumer can expect at the entry level, and show Onkyo to be driving the industry forward with innovation, imagination, and style.
The TX-NR616 will be available in April with a suggested retail price of $699; the TX-NR515, TX-NR414 and TX-SR313 will all be available in March at suggested retail prices of $599, $499 and $299, respectively. .
About Onkyo
Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company’s philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. Visit Onkyo’s website at www.onkyousa.com. Follow Onkyo USA at www.facebook.com/OnkyoUSA.
Onkyo Home Theater Packages Ace the Entry-Level
UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (2/13/12) — Home theater specialist, Onkyo, has assembled two class-leading packaged home theater systems for the first round of its 2012 model introductions. Each system combines a high-value audio video receiver with a matched set of home theater speakers to take the guesswork out of purchasing an entry-level surround sound system.
The HT-S3500 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver/Speaker Package offers outstanding audio performance, abundant HDMI® connectivity, and unbeatable value for money. Users seeking to power larger rooms might consider investing in the step-up HT-S5500 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver/Speaker Package, which includes an Audyssey room acoustic correction system and an upgraded speaker package.
Four HDMI inputs on both receivers facilitate Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio™ high-resolution soundtrack decoding. HDMI implementation also supports an Audio Return Channel for TV audio through the home theater system, 3D video, and an overlaid on-screen display.
Both receivers also feature a frontside USB port for direct digital connection of an iPod®, iPhone®, or music-filled flash memory device. Users can control playback using the system remote, and enjoy improved sound quality thanks to Onkyo’s onboard advanced music optimizer system.
The A/V receivers included in this release now come equipped with WRAT (Wide Range Amplifier Technology), a proven amplification concept that reduces signal noise and provides large amounts of controlled power instantaneously. Top-quality TI Burr-Brown 192 kHz/24-bit DACs on all channels, a powerful 32-bit DSP processing chip, and discrete output-stage components-not inexpensive ‘all-in-one’ amplifier chips-contribute to exceptionally good audio performance.
The HT-S3500 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver/Speaker Package consists of the HT-R391 A/V receiver, two high-gloss bass reflex front speakers, two satellite surrounds, and a powerful bass reflex center speaker. A subwoofer with 8-inch (20 cm) down-firing cone is also included to add impact to movie scores and game soundtracks.
Users can step up to seven-channel surround with the higher-powered HT-S5500 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver/Speaker Package. With Dolby® Pro Logic® IIz expanding any audio source to include two additional Front Height channels, users can enjoy a more detailed and realistic entertainment experience.
A carefully matched Onkyo speaker set delivers clear, dynamic audio reproduction. Two-way front speakers feature a 5-inch (12 cm) OMF Diaphragm woofer for fast and accurate mid-range response, plus a balanced-dome tweeter for well-separated highs. The center speaker has twin cone woofers and tweeter, while the four bass reflex satellite speakers feature a single full-range driver. A gloss-finished 120 W powered subwoofer allows the receiver to operate more efficiently by concentrating all its power on the mid-range and upper-end frequencies.
To ensure a perfect install, an Audyssey 2EQ room acoustic correction system with microphone is included, while Audyssey’s Dynamic EQ® loudness correction and Dynamic Volume® guarantee a smooth, consistent performance regardless of sudden changes in dynamic levels.
For users making their first foray into the world of home theater, these two packages offer simple installation, stress-free operation, and sparkling performance. The attractive price points may even prompt many current home theater owners to invest in a second surround sound system for another room in the home.
With this release, Onkyo demonstrates its commitment to providing superior audio and state-of-the-art features at all levels of the home entertainment market.Both the Onkyo HT-S5500 and HT-S3500 will be available in March at suggested retail prices of $649 and $399 respectively.
[Via]
