The evolution in high-tech A/V receivers is accelerating at a dizzying pace. It used to be that advanced features would debut in flagship receivers and then trickle down into more affordable models a year or so later. Nowadays quantum leaps in technology occur seemingly overnight. A year ago you could not have found any receiver—flagship or otherwise—that offered the incredibly rich features provided in Onkyo’s $899 TX-SR705 AVR.
But beyond impressive, high-profile technologies, this receiver offers something even more important—satisfying core sound quality that makes it one of the sweetest bargains in today’s mid-priced receiver market.
Features
The TX-SR705 is a dual-zone, THX Select2-certified receiver that uses Onkyo’s signature WRAT (wide range amplifier technology) circuitry to put out a healthy 7 x 100 watts per channel. In addition to the expected AM/FM tuner, it has facilities for adding both Sirius and XM satellite radio antennas and provides THX Neural Surround pro¬cessing so you can enjoy XM HD Surround broadcasts (and other Neural Surround-encoded programs).
The SR705 supports the latest HDMI 1.3a interfaces that can carry digital video signals at resolutions up to 1080p while simultaneously delivering up to 7.1 channels of high resolution digital audio offering better-than-CD-quality sound. It is also one of the first receivers to provide decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks.
Video buffs will be pleased to learn the Onkyo converts composite, S-video and component video signals for 480p HDMI output, while providing Faroudja DCDi video processing. Faroudja processing cleans up incoming video signals, helping to eliminate jaggies (a stair-step effect that mars the edges of objects) and other annoying picture problems before they ever reach the TV screen.
For audio purists, the receiver provides both a Direct mode, which reproduces audio signals with minimal processing, and a Pure Audio mode, which turns off all display and video circuits, except for HDMI pass-through signals.
To simplify setup tasks and improve overall sound quality, the SR705 incorporates an updated version of Audyssey’s MultEQ XT room/speaker equalization system—one that lets you take calibration measurements from up to eight listening locations. For iPod fans, Onkyo offers the optional DS-A2X docking station. Finally, the Onkyo receiver includes a phono input—an old-school touch that ac¬knowledges the fact that, for many music lovers, vinyl still rules.
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Video Performance
The SR705 cleanly switched video from DVD, Blu-ray, and HD DVD players as well as from an HD satellite box, adding no visible noise or other artifacts of any kind. To try out the Faroudja processing we connected an inexpensive DVD player known to have decent but not great video performance, and found that image quality—especially on difficult jaggies tests—improved noticeably.
Movie Performance
As fate would have it, we were able to compare the SR705 with the superb Anthem Statement D2 controller/Statement P5 amp combo in our reference system—a very tough act for any receiver to follow. I won’t tell you Onkyo was the equal of the mighty Anthem rig, but I will say it came closer than it had any right to given its modest price.
The most noticeable differences were very slight reduc¬tions in overall sonic detail, resolu¬tion, and focus vis-à-vis the more than ten times more costly controller/amp combo. I frankly didn’t expect the comparison to be as close as it was.
On movies soundtracks three things stood out: Richness of detail, eerily coherent surround sound imaging, and a generally smooth and punchy sound. To appreciate what I mean, check out Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto on Blu-ray Disc with the soundtrack set for “5.1-Channel Uncompressed” play¬back. On the chase scene from the “Man Who Brings The Jaguar” sequence, the Onkyo served up grippingly realistic, 3D jungle noises as Jaguar Paw sprinted for his life through the undergrowth.
The illusion that I was dashing forward at breakneck speed through a dense tangle of vines and low hanging branches was downright spooky—an effect that was given added power by the Onkyo’s ability to render detailed sounds that appeared to emanate from directly beside the listening area.
Even at the height of the action in Apocalypto, the TX-SR705 never became flustered. Instead, it consis¬tently presented the film’s exotic, Mayan-themed soundtrack with pure, audiophile-grade clarity. The urgent sound of strange, ominous percussion instruments intertwined with haunting ceramic flutes created a sonic backdrop that turbocharged the emotional impact of the film. More so than other mid-priced receivers I’ve heard, this one can disentangle complicated soundtrack elements without breaking a sweat.
Music Performance
The Onkyo proved a satisfying performer on music, too, responding particularly well when fed high-resolution multichannel recordings. I tried one of my latest discoveries, Blue Chamber Quartet’s First Impressions [Stockfisch, multi¬channel SACD], and marveled at the way the receiver teased out the distinctive voices of the quartet’s four featured instruments: piano, vibraphone, harp, and double bass.
On the performance of the beautiful Chick Corea composition “Children’s Song 16,” the song’s deceptively simple rhythmic theme is first stated by the vibraphone, then picked up and reinforced by the piano and acoustic bass. Later, the piano and vibes drop away, allowing the main theme to be carried by the harp with a gentle touch of bass. Even though the ranges of the vibraphone, piano, and harp overlap, I never had any doubt as to which instruments were carrying the theme at any given moment.
The SR705 effortlessly distinguished between the ringing, chime-like voice of the vibraphone, the penetrating attack and deeper sustain of the piano, and the luminous bloom of the harp as the harpist’s fingers raced over its strings. It’s exactly this sort of natural, almost offhand clarity and purity that really sets the Onkyo apart from competing receivers.
Bottom line
At $899, Onkyo’s TX-SR705 receiver is a bona fide bargain, providing a nearly ideal combination of cutting-edge technologies, features that make a meaningful difference for listeners, and—most important—so¬phisticated sound. No other AVR I’ve heard does more for less.
Pros
• Up-to-the-minute technologies and features
• Updated Audyssey MultEQ XT system makes setup a snap
• Fine core sound
• Value off the charts
Cons
• What’s not to like?
Specifications: Onkyo TX-SR705
• Power output: 7 x 100 Wpc @ 8 ohms
• Decoding formats: THX Surround EX; Neural Surround 7.1/5.1; Dolby TrueHD, Digital Plus, Digital EX, Digital, and Pro Logic IIx; DTS-HD Master Audio, HD High Resolution, DTS-ES/DTS, 96/24, and Neo:6; nine proprietary DSP modes
• Video inputs/outputs: Composite video (5 in, 2 out), S-video (5 in, 2 out) component video (3 in, 1 out), HDMI 1.3a (3 in, 1 out)
• Audio inputs/outputs: Stereo analog (6 in, 3 out—1 for Zone 2), 7.1-channel analog (1 in, 1 out), digital audio (3 optical in, 3 coaxial in; 1 optical out), HDMI 1.3a (3 in, 1 out), XM and Sirius satellite radio (1 in each), headphone output.
• Other: RS-232 control port, IR input, 12V trigger, Audyssey calibration mic
• Dimensions: 17″ x 6.9″ x 14.8″
• Weight: 28.4 lb
• Price: $899
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Words from Onkyo
Redefining its Class with Controlled Power and High-Definition Prowess
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a mid-range home theater A/V receiver that packs the TX-SR705’s amplification power and audio processing capabilities. It might be comforting to look to its THX™ Select2™ certification for confirmation, but as the THX engineers have seen, there’s a lot more here than just efficient amplifier drive ability and all-round home theater performance. The TX-SR705 breaks new ground in the mid-range category by featuring not only the lossless audio codecs, Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD® Master Audio, but also the most advanced version of HDMI.And with a wealth of other class-leading features — 1080p video processing, Audyssey’s MultEQ® XT technology for room calibration and advanced processing devices from Texas Instruments and Cirrus Logic — nothing has been sacrificed in the making of this remarkable home theater component.
THX Select2 Certification for a Better Class of Home Theater
From its development stage to its final conception, the TX-SR705 has been engineered to comply with the most stringent requirements of THX Select2. Select2 certification means that the TX-SR705 is ideally suited to a home theater where the viewing distance from screen to seat is around 10-12 feet and the room volume is no greater than 2000 cubic feet. Among its technologies, Advanced Speaker Array (ASA) digitally reconfigures surround speakers for three listening modes: movies, music and gaming. The THX stamp of approval also covers an A/V receiver’s amplification characteristics. For example, under THX testing, the TX-SR705 has been proven to provide 12.5 amperes of peak current for its front channels and 6.2 amperes for its surrounds.
Processing 1080p Video and High-Resolution Audio via High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI 1.3a)
With three HDMI inputs, you can receive and switch the latest high definition components—Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD players, satellite and cable boxes, media centers and gaming consoles — for a pure, one cable digital connection to an HDTV. HDMI also delivers the latest high-definition audio formats — Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby® Digital Plus and DTS-HD® High Resolution Audio — to be processed by the TX-SR705’s onboard decoders. These new formats enable unprecedented quality, including bit-for-bit reproduction in the case of TrueHD and Master Audio. Also, HDMI 1.3a gives you greater bandwidth to deal with higher resolutions, 36-bit Deep Color™ and high frame rates.
HDMI and Component Video Upconversion for a Single Output to High-Resolution Displays
The TX-SR705’s HDMI inputs can receive pristine digital video from HDMI-enabled components, for a single-cable output to a display device with an HDMI or DVI connection. The TX-SR705 can also upconvert analog signals to HDMI so that all connected video sources can be outputted via one cable. And if your display doesn’t have HDMI capability, you can use the HD-quality component video connections, which will also cover your S-Video and composite video sources. To support progressive scan, the TX-SR705 features a deinterlacing chip with Faroudja DCDi Edge™ (Directional Correlational Deinterlacing). This technology helps to effectively eliminate video artifacts from HDTV images.
Audyssey MultEQ XT for Powerful Room Acoustics Correction
MultEQ XT is Audyssey’s most powerful built-in solution for countering distortion in dedicated home theaters. This technology detects speakers, and then sets levels, delays and crossovers, as well as measuring room acoustics. Using the receiver interface, it takes up to eight measurements around the listening area and uses high-resolution equalization filters for satellites and subwoofers. MultEQ XT covers both the frequency response and the time domain (where most of the problems lie) across the entire listening area. The results are immediately obvious—a clear, well-balanced and natural sound.
Special Features
* HDMI V1.3 repeater (3in/1out, 1080p compatible)
* HDMI video up-conversion with DCDi technology
* Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD decoding
Source: Onkyo
