Onkyo has announced four new THX Certified receiver models to be
introduced beginning this spring, incorporating a range of high-end
features and core performance improvements designed to deliver the
highest levels of performance available. These new THX Certified Onkyo
A/V receivers will feature HDMI 1.3a compatibility, including internal
decoding for DTS-HD, Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus. Each will
also feature a sophisticated set of internal video processing
capabilities, with two of the models boasting the first inclusion of
Reon-VX HQV processing in an A/V receiver. Three of the new models, the
TX-SR805, the TX-SR875, and the TX-NR905, each feature THX Ultra2
certification, while the TX-SR705 is THX Select2 Certified.
From early design concepts to product rollout, THX and Onkyo worked
together to ensure every detail of the receivers were mapped to the THX
performance standards. And THX engineers spent countless hours testing
and analyzing the receivers for sound quality, usability and
interoperability. Each certified receiver includes a number of
proprietary THX technologies, designed to compensate for the acoustical
errors that occur when movies, music and games are translated from the
professional studio to the home environment.
All four receivers are both XM and Sirius satellite radio ready, and
will feature a comprehensive range of audio and video connections,
including HDMI 1.3a switching for three (TX-SR705 and TX-SR805) or four
(TX-SR875 and TX-NR905) HDMI sources. The TX-NR905 will also feature a
second HDMI output for even greater flexibility. Each receiver is
capable of accommodating single-cable pure-digital audio and video
transfer from HDMI sources, including 1080p and Deep-Color™ capability.
Additionally, each model will include the company's RIHD (Remote
Interactive over HDMI) communication protocol. This feature allows
future integration of many system control functions between compatible
components via the HDMI connection, and will also feature compatibility
with Toshiba's CE-Link™ enabled 2007 Regza LCD TV line and Panasonic's
EZ-Sync™ TV line, as well as similar protocols from other manufacturers
to be announced later in the year.
Two of the new models, the Onkyo TX-SR875 and TX-NR905, will be the
first A/V receiver models to include Silicon Optix's acclaimed Reon-VX
HQV™ video processing. This sophisticated IC chip-based technology
provides the receivers with current state-of-the-art video scaling and
deinterlacing capabilities, including upscaling of all video sources to
1080p for output over the HDMI connection. Additionally, all video
sources will also be upconverted to HD output via the units' component
video outputs to accommodate video displays lacking an HDMI input.
The TX-SR805, TX-SR875 and TX-NR905 receivers will all feature a new
dual push-pull amplifier configuration, coupled with a three-stage
inverted Darlington circuit and top-of-the-line Burr-Brown DACs for
outstanding efficiency and high current with very low distortion. Two
of the receivers' seven channels can also be reconfigured for
bi-amplification with compatible speaker systems. On the TX-SR875 and
TX-NR905, these two channels can also be reconfigured for bridged
operation with the front L/R channels for high power output.
Onkyo's new receivers will be the first models available to feature
Neural-THX Surround™ decoding for broadcasts and gaming. This new
surround sound technology allows for broadcast content to be
transmitted in a two-channel format, and later decoded for up to 7.1
discrete audio channels, as well as enabling 7.1-channel audio support
for many modern video gaming consoles.
For simplified setup, all of these models incorporate Audyssey Multi-EQ
room acoustics correction, the most powerful built-in solution
available for countering room distortion in dedicated home theaters.
This technology uses an included microphone to detect and configure
speakers in the room, and then adjusts each channel's level, delay, and
crossover settings to best suit the room's acoustics. By incorporating
measurements at up to eight points in the listening room, Audyssey
Multi-EQ provides both frequency response and time domain corrections
throughout the entire listening area, rather than just at a single
position.
Additional features on the TX-NR905 include a high-current power supply
with a massive toroidal transformer, built-in HD radio reception and a
powerful set of networking capabilities for integrated home media
systems. The receiver will include an Ethernet port for support of
Internet radio and streaming multimedia, as well as additional control
and multimedia functions to be announced later in theyear. There is
also an included USB port to allow for the addition of USB-based
portable audio players, and for the use of USB-based memory devices.
The Onkyo TX-SR805 will be shipping in May at a suggested retail price
of $1099. The TX-SR875 will be available in June at a suggested retail
price of $1699. The THX Select2 Certified TX-SR705 will be available in
July at a suggested retail price of $899. The TX-NR905 will be
available in August at a suggested retail price of $2099.
Source: Press Release
