Mar 10
First of all I’ll admit to being a fan of Onkyo receivers, my own TX-SR806 has served me well and has great sound as well as it’s THX certification works well with my B&W speakers. Now Onkyo has released a new line of upgraded budget receivers topped off with the new TX-SR608 their first featuring HDMI 1.4 and able to transmit 3D HD video to a compatible 3D TV. For audio this receiver also features HD audio decoding and Dolby’s ProLogic IIz adding two height channels. Another new feature is an analogue RGB video input for connecting a media PC or laptop, however most users should still use one of the I connectors to keep the video digital (wither via HDMI on your PC or using a DVI to HDMI cable). The 608 also includes Audyssey room correction and DVD upscaling to full 1080p.
This is how the new line up looks
TX-SR608 – THX Select2-certified 7.2-channel HD home cinema receiver with 1080p upscaling, analogue RGB in, Dolby Pro Logic IIz/Audyssey DSX – £450
TX-SR508 – 7.1-channel HD home cinema receiver with Dolby Pro Logic IIz – £350
TX-SR308 – 5.1-channel HD home cinema receiver – £250
Also announced are new all-in-one packages and speakers. To partner the above is a new budget Blu-Ray player priced at £200.
Jul 15
In a surprise move Onkyo has cut the prices on it’s market leading TX-SR507 and TX-SR607 receivers not long after they hit UK shops. The price on the 7.2 channel TX-SR607 drops from £500 to £450 and the 5.1 channel TX-SR507 from £350 to £330.
Jun 25
Onkyo has released two new receivers and a new BluRay player. Both receivers are THX certified with 7.2 channels. For audio quality they feature Audyssey MultEQ speaker/room correction and the latest Dolby Pro Logic IIz that adds a front height channel. Audyssey DSX like Pro Logic IIz can also add extra presence as well as either extra front speakers or height channels.
Key features
THX Select2 Plus-certified performance
Six HDMI inputs (including one front-mounted input on TX-SR707)
DLNA 1.5-compatible Networking Capability For Streaming Audio and Internet Radio Connectivity for LastFM/vRadio (on TX-NR807)
Audyssey DSX and Dolby Pro Logic IIz decoding
1080p video upscaling via Faroudja DCDi Cinema video processor
7 x 160w (TX-SR707), 7 x 180w (TX-NR807)
4 x dedicated DSP modes for Gamers
U.Port for one-cable connection to optional iPod dock/DAB+ modules
Firmware updatable over the internet (TX-NR807)
As you can see both receivers feature internet connectivity and the 807 allows streaming of internet radio from Last FM and can also update its firmware from the internet.
Expected pricing is £700 for the TX-SR707 and £800 for the TX-NR807
Dam it’s official my 806 is obsolete. However I notice that the TX-SR806 is THX Ultra2 plus but the new TX-NR807 is only THX Select2.
New from Onkyo is the slim-line DV-BD507 BluRay player. All the usual features are there including 1080/24p output for Full-HD movies, 1080p upscaling for all standard definition DVDs, Dolby TruHD/Dolby Digital+/DTS-Master Audio Essential decoding, BD-Live functionality and AVCHD/DivX-HD replay. The player also features a front mounted SD card slot for playing back video from a PC or camcorder.
Mar 18
I know I should be used to this after over twenty years in the IT industry but sometimes technology runs too fast, I should explain that I purchased an Onkyo TX-SR806 in November. Don’t get me wrong it’s a great sounding receiver but I held off until the second generation of receivers with the new high resolution audio codec’s where out and now Dolby Pro-Logic IIz is out adding two more speakers for front height information (actually I’m not sure I could get away with two more speakers in my current 7.1 setup).
Onkyo have announced April availability of the TX-SR307 (£250), TX-SR507 (£350), TX-SR577 (£400) and TX SR607 ( £500). All these new receivers feature Dolby Prologic Iiz which as explained above adds two ambient height speakers to the front soundstage. I know other manufacturers (mostly Yamaha) have had this in DSP modes in the past but as it’s a Dolby development we should see it from most receiver and processor manufacturers soon in their next range revisions.
These new receivers also feature new surround modes for playing games. I have to say I’m an advocate of surround gaming as a Warcraft player (yes I admit I have another habit other than AV) I run a Creative Extreme gamer card in 7.1 mode (even though you have to buy the special cable direct from Creative). But there’s nothing like doing a 25 person dungeon run in full 7.1 surround cranked high, most of the time I leave the receiver in THX Game mode. However it would be interesting to see what these new game modes can do with the Dolby Digital from an XBOX 360 or PS3.
All these receivers also feature lots of HDMI inputs as well as compatibility with the new DS-A3 iPOD/iPHONE dock.
More details visit Onlyo here or Dolby here
