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Onkyo is looking to consolidate its dominance of the AVR market with the release of two new, feature-packed receivers - the TX-NR717 7.2-channel Network Receiver, and the even better featured and more powerful TX-NR818 7.2 Channel Network Receiver.
With these new releases Onkyo says it aims to tempt the 'true home cinema enthusiast' by offering value for money, THX-certified performance, introducing what were previously considered premium technologies at ever more affordable price points. For example, the TX-NR818 comes equipped with Audyssey MultEQ XT32 room acoustic correction - the companys most advanced technology to date.
No less than three seven-channel expansion systems are included on this model, with DTS Neo:X joining Dolby Pro Logic IIz and Audyssey DSX. As found on Onkyos high-end models, DTS Neo:X incorporates Front Wide or Front Height channels along game, music, and movie modes.
The TX-NR717, meanwhile, features Audyssey DSX for Wide Channels, and Dolby Pro Logic IIz for Height effects, as well as multi-channel expansion of stereo sources.
Another new feature of particular appeal to smartphone users is the front-panel Mobile High Definition Link HDMI port that's provided on both models. This allows users to connect and play high-resolution media stored on compatible smartphones with up to seven channels of surround sound.
Onkyo is keen to point out that they are also first to market with InstaPrevue technology, which displays video thumbnails representing available content on devices connected via HDMI.
The TX-NR818s exclusive dual core engine employs an HQV Vida VHD 1900 video processor for scaling, supported by Marvells 4K video processor with Qdeo technology. Qdeo technology - which can 1080p video to four times that resolution - is featured on both models for users that have, or plan to have, a 4K display - all four of you. Additionally, the TX-NR818 offers isf calibration controls, which is nice.
Both receivers earn THX Select 2 Plus certification with enhancements to Onkyos WRAT amplifier technology. They claim distortion is all but eliminated by the use of three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry, with power supplied by a high-power transformer. Both units feature Burr-Brown 192 kHz/24-bit DACs on all seven channels. The TX-NR818 has PLL jitter-cleaning circuits to further improve signal quality, as well as physically separated power amp and pre-amp blocks.
Both boast eight HDMI inputs (one front, and seven rear) and two outputs. HDMI implementation enables full 3D video support, as well as DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD audio decoding. The receivers feature an Audio Return Channel over HDMI, allowing the playback of broadcast TV with surround sound. Onkyos high-resolution GUI (Graphical User Interface) offers an overlaid Quick Setup menu that provides access to frequently used settings.
For networking, users can connect using a standard ethernet cable, or add an optional UWF-1 Wireless LAN Adapter to the rearside USB port, leaving the front-panel USB free for an iPod, iPhone, or flash memory device. As well as a huge selection of internet radio channels, and music streaming options from the likes of Spotify and Simfy, users can enjoy their personal cloud-based music collections via MP3tunes Ethernet connectivity also enables the playback of music from PCs or media servers, as well as simplifying the process of downloading firmware updates.
Both the TX-NR717 and TX-NR818 have the ability to send audio to up to three rooms via dedicated line-outs, or by allocating surround channel loudspeaker outputs for the purpose. Audio signals can be sent to stereo speakers in Zones 2/3, with Zone 2/3 line-outs available for further distribution. Users can also control playback in any of those rooms - along with all major home cinema settings - from anywhere in the house using an Onkyo remote app for iPhone or Android phone.
While both receivers include a wide selection of digital and analogue A/V connections and offer front-channel bi-amping, the TX-NR818 also boasts a differential DAC arrangement that assigns two DACs for each front channel, as well as a unique new onboard Digital Crossover Processing Network to cancel frequency interference when bi-wiring the front monitors.
To further enhance integration between smartphones, tablets etc and Onkyo network receivers, owners will also be able to purchase the UBT-1 USB Bluetooth Adapter later this year, along with an updated remote app for the iPhone, enabling direct music streaming from handset to receiver.
Onkyo TX-SR717 - Networked 7.2-channel home cinema receiver (available in black or silver in May) - £799.99
Onkyo TX-NR818 - Networked, ISF-certified 7.2-channel home cinema receiver (available in black or silver in May) - £999.99
With these new releases Onkyo says it aims to tempt the 'true home cinema enthusiast' by offering value for money, THX-certified performance, introducing what were previously considered premium technologies at ever more affordable price points. For example, the TX-NR818 comes equipped with Audyssey MultEQ XT32 room acoustic correction - the companys most advanced technology to date.
No less than three seven-channel expansion systems are included on this model, with DTS Neo:X joining Dolby Pro Logic IIz and Audyssey DSX. As found on Onkyos high-end models, DTS Neo:X incorporates Front Wide or Front Height channels along game, music, and movie modes.
The TX-NR717, meanwhile, features Audyssey DSX for Wide Channels, and Dolby Pro Logic IIz for Height effects, as well as multi-channel expansion of stereo sources.
Another new feature of particular appeal to smartphone users is the front-panel Mobile High Definition Link HDMI port that's provided on both models. This allows users to connect and play high-resolution media stored on compatible smartphones with up to seven channels of surround sound.
Onkyo is keen to point out that they are also first to market with InstaPrevue technology, which displays video thumbnails representing available content on devices connected via HDMI.
The TX-NR818s exclusive dual core engine employs an HQV Vida VHD 1900 video processor for scaling, supported by Marvells 4K video processor with Qdeo technology. Qdeo technology - which can 1080p video to four times that resolution - is featured on both models for users that have, or plan to have, a 4K display - all four of you. Additionally, the TX-NR818 offers isf calibration controls, which is nice.
Both receivers earn THX Select 2 Plus certification with enhancements to Onkyos WRAT amplifier technology. They claim distortion is all but eliminated by the use of three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry, with power supplied by a high-power transformer. Both units feature Burr-Brown 192 kHz/24-bit DACs on all seven channels. The TX-NR818 has PLL jitter-cleaning circuits to further improve signal quality, as well as physically separated power amp and pre-amp blocks.
Both boast eight HDMI inputs (one front, and seven rear) and two outputs. HDMI implementation enables full 3D video support, as well as DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD audio decoding. The receivers feature an Audio Return Channel over HDMI, allowing the playback of broadcast TV with surround sound. Onkyos high-resolution GUI (Graphical User Interface) offers an overlaid Quick Setup menu that provides access to frequently used settings.
For networking, users can connect using a standard ethernet cable, or add an optional UWF-1 Wireless LAN Adapter to the rearside USB port, leaving the front-panel USB free for an iPod, iPhone, or flash memory device. As well as a huge selection of internet radio channels, and music streaming options from the likes of Spotify and Simfy, users can enjoy their personal cloud-based music collections via MP3tunes Ethernet connectivity also enables the playback of music from PCs or media servers, as well as simplifying the process of downloading firmware updates.
Both the TX-NR717 and TX-NR818 have the ability to send audio to up to three rooms via dedicated line-outs, or by allocating surround channel loudspeaker outputs for the purpose. Audio signals can be sent to stereo speakers in Zones 2/3, with Zone 2/3 line-outs available for further distribution. Users can also control playback in any of those rooms - along with all major home cinema settings - from anywhere in the house using an Onkyo remote app for iPhone or Android phone.
While both receivers include a wide selection of digital and analogue A/V connections and offer front-channel bi-amping, the TX-NR818 also boasts a differential DAC arrangement that assigns two DACs for each front channel, as well as a unique new onboard Digital Crossover Processing Network to cancel frequency interference when bi-wiring the front monitors.
To further enhance integration between smartphones, tablets etc and Onkyo network receivers, owners will also be able to purchase the UBT-1 USB Bluetooth Adapter later this year, along with an updated remote app for the iPhone, enabling direct music streaming from handset to receiver.
Onkyo TX-SR717 - Networked 7.2-channel home cinema receiver (available in black or silver in May) - £799.99
Onkyo TX-NR818 - Networked, ISF-certified 7.2-channel home cinema receiver (available in black or silver in May) - £999.99