Onkyo TX-SR605: Look no further!

Author: daniel  //  Category: receiver

There are not many models that come close the Onkyo TX-SR605, when it comes to providing you with an extensive range of features and advanced specifications at a street price. One special feature that particularly sets it apart is the inclusion of integrated high-definition audio decoding. This is then aptly supported by the latest HDMI 1.3a connections, which is also easily compatible with most of the popular new HD audio formats used by Blu-ray players.

Then, each channel is powered by a reasonable 140W of amplification, which pleasantly enough, can be easily coupled with advanced set ups so that the audio performance can be enhanced by bi-amping the front two speakers. You should also love the fact that setting up the Onkyo TX-SR605 is hassle free and is assisted by advanced features like the advanced automatic calibration system, with further assistance coming in the form of the basic Audyssey 2EQ and clearly presented menu screens.

Meanwhile, the latest HDMI 1.3a connections give you the leverage to switch between compatible high-definition sources, consequently making it convenient for you to operate the unit while at the same time removing unwanted cable clutter. The HDMI feature included with the unit is not the ordinary type, as it made with the latest technologies and with the intention to last a long enough time without becoming outdated. It is compatible with a variety of contemporary formats like Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio, and also accepts Deep Colour picture enhancements.

On the downside, the automatic calibration system tends to be a bit time consuming, and the Audyssey 2EQ system also has the same problem. The good thing with the latter feature is however that it is pretty accurate.

Onkyo DV-SP406 DVD Player: Still delivering the Goods

Author: daniel  //  Category: DVD

Despite Onkyo’s decision to take the plunge into the untested waters, by manufacturing Blu-ray players, the company still continues to deliver one quality upscaling DVD player after another. The DV-SP406 DVD Player is a true reflection of that and encompasses almost all the important criteria that you desire from a quality player. Moreover, the price tag of the product is kept at a reasonable level, making it all the more alluring.

The one feature that has made a difference is the1080p upscaling feature, which will especially come in handy for those movie buffs that are not yet ready to make the transformation to Blu-ray, but otherwise have hi-def TVs and projectors. Apart from the upscaling feature, the Onkyo DV-SP406 DVD player has many other contemporary features that will keep you interested. You will especially take heart at the multimedia playback capability of the unit as it supports almost all the popular formats including (DVD+RW/+R, DVD-RW/-R, CD, CD-R/-RW and Video CDs). The icing on the cake appears to be the ability of the player to spin DVD-RW discs recorded in the Video Recording (VR) format. It is not all though as you can enjoy various formats like MP3, WMA, DivX and JPEG files.

The aesthetically build unit, displays a USB port on the front panel making it easy on you part to play the above mentioned media formats. The operation of the device is also ridiculously simple. Important connectivity of the player includes an HDMI, component and composite outputs, plus a SCART socket that offers RGB output.

Onkyo TX-NR906 AV Receiver: No messing About

Author: thomas  //  Category: receiver

Onkyo has already proved its mettle as far as low-end entry-level receivers are concerned, with the much appreciated Onkyo TX-SR576. The company is now ready to take the plunge into the high-end range with the highly anticipated Onkyo TX-NR906 AV Receiver. The AV receiver is actually an updated version for the universally adored TX-NR905 and it is therefore natural that this unit is also hotly anticipated. The one thing that will surprise you is its outstanding ability to decode movie soundtracks, while simultaneously performing a wide a host of essential functions with a great deal of finesse.

The networking ability of the unit is simply flawless and ranks among one of its most lovable features. The unit also provides you the platform to stream MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, FLAC, and Ogg Vorbis audio tracks from a networked PC, along with listening to internet radio stations using the vTuner portal with the minimum of fuss.

The upscaling capability from the unit stands at 1080p, which is basically the norm with most high-end players. The Onkyo Tx-Nr906 is however unlike them; because the technology has been developed using the world’s most advanced video processors, viz. the HQV Reon-VX chipset from Silicon Optix. Moreover, the AV receiver features video calibration abilities. This feature will now entrust you with the ability to play with functions like brightness, contrast, hue, saturation and gamma levels on each video input until you get satisfied.

Another grand improvement it has done over its predecessor, the TX-NR905, is that the sound quality has become much more sharp and clear. You can easily comprehend the sound quality when it is supported by 7 x 230W of power. Further, outfitted with three Texas Instruments Aureus 32-bit DSP chips the player is a master at decoding any format that you might throw at it, including Dolby True HD, DTS HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS HD.

Onkyo TX-NR906 AV Receiver: A staggering Assembly of quality Features

Author: daniel  //  Category: receiver

Onkyo over the last couple of years has been consistently dishing out some memorable receivers, especially on the lower end of the price scale, which are all high on sound fidelity. It consequently has acted as an encouragement for the discerning public who by now are increasingly beginning to have high expectations from the company. They are actually filled with excitement and anticipation regarding the high-end products that the company has lined up for the customers. The excitement stems from the deduction that if the company can deliver such amazing stuff via its low end products, then they in all likelihood will bring the house down with their high-end products!

The latest from the company’s high-end bandwagon is the Onkyo TX-NR906 AV Receiver, and is the follow up to the universally acclaimed TX-NR905. As a high-end product, the Onkyo TX-NR 906 will cost you a fortune, but what is impressive is that its specifications are absolutely staggering, and gives a virtual demo of how contemporary AV receivers have evolved and progressed beyond our imaginations. The unit is not only game to decoding simple movie soundtracks, but is much more in the sense that it performs a whole lot of other activities, not all of which are audio related.

Going through the product specifications, the networking capability of the unit simply stands apart and allows you to stream MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, FLAC, and Ogg Vorbis audio tracks from a networked PC, in addition to providing you the leverage to listen to internet radio stations, all thanks to the vTuner portal feature that has also been included.

The video upscaling capability at 1080p compares favourably with its contemporaries. The unique aspect of this upscaler is that it utilizes technology, recognised as one of the most advanced video processors. Meanwhile, the TX-NR906 to put into perspective also happens to be the world’s first AV receiver to feature video calibration facilities.

Onkyo TX-SR576 AV Receiver: Keeping your Budget in Check

Author: thomas  //  Category: DVD, receiver

The Onkyo TX-SR576 AV Receiver has come as a real blessing for those who are looking for an inexpensive arrangement that is equipped with the expertise to handle the latest formats. Blu-ray players may still prove to be a rather costly proposition, particularly when you are on a tight budget. The TX-SR576 apart from being pretty affordable, gives you instant and uninterrupted access to HD audio.

The best thing about the unit is its built-in Dolby Digital Plus decoding feature, which allows you to connect a Blu-ray player to one of its three HDMI v1.2a inputs so that you can enjoy some enthralling sound that has been intrinsically enhanced. Quite interestingly, if your Blu-ray player can internally decode HD audio formats to uncompressed multichannel PCM, then you can use it as a source for the Onkyo TX-SR 576 via HDMI and enjoy the benefits of Dolby True HD, DTS HD and DTS HD Master Audio. Moreover, it has onboard Dolby Digital EX, DTS ES, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, DTS Neo:6 and DTS 96/24 decoding features.

Meanwhile, it also supports full 1080p HDMI video switching, which means that can pass up to three hi-def video sources through the unit to your display. The lack of an upscaling option is, however, quite glaring. The unit is also generous as far as video socket is concerned and provides you two component video inputs and one output, three S-video inputs and one output, apart from three composite inputs and two outputs.

The audio socket section, on the other hand, is decorated by two optical and two coaxial digital audio inputs, four analogue stereo inputs and a set of colour-coded 7.1-channel analogue inputs. The last feature, in particular, is quite significant as it allows you to feed in decoded audio signals from Blu-ray, DVD-Audio or SACD players.

Onkyo LS-V501 Universal DVD system: Making Room for your living Room!

Author: thomas  //  Category: Home Cinema

There is no doubt that 5.1 channel systems are still very much the leader when it comes to filling up your living room with the richest sound. The problem is, however, that the logistics involved with a 5.1 channel system on many occasions discourages people, as they instead opt for something simpler like the 2.1-channel systems. The Onkyo LS-V501 is precisely such a system but with a wee bit difference in the sense that it takes a more audiophile approach to the concept, placing its emphasis on performance. Accordingly, you will find many of the company’s acclaimed features, especially from the 2007 range of AV receivers.

The unit manages to get you hooked from the word go with its stunning looks. The front speakers, which are wall-mountable, sport a pleasant black finish and stylish circular stands.

The main unit, which can even be purchased separately at a much lower price than the 2.1 package, is a combination of a 50W-per-channel amplifier and a DVD player. The latter is particularly adept at playing DVD-Audio, SACD, and CD, in addition to digital media formats like MP3, WMA, DivX and JPEG. Moreover, its ability to play high-resolution audio formats makes it a great asset and rightfully earning the ‘Universal’ tag.

You can enjoy movies without much ado as the unit comprehensively upscales DVDs to 720p and 1080i. Yet, you will feel letdown as it doesn’t offer the popular 1080p upscale option. Moreover, on the audio side the Onkyo LS-V 501 decodes Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks, apart from the Theatre Dimensional DSP circuit, which generates a virtual 5.1-channel effect for movie playback.

Onkyo HTX-22HD Home Cinema System: Reverberating with brilliant Surround Sound

Author: thomas  //  Category: Home Cinema

Onkyo is a real giant when it comes to Home Cinema Systems and has been consistently delivering one quality product after another. The company has recently come up with the world’s first true one-box, high definition (HD) surround system and consequently has managed to outwit it rivals in the continuing battle for supremacy. To be precise, the unit seeks to add a new dimension to the typically unimpressive sound quality that has been the bane of the latest flat screen TVs.

The unit at its core is a 2.1-channel digital home cinema system and involves a “one-box” A/V amplifier with built-in subwoofer and comes with front satellite speakers. Moreover, it has also been inscribed with the latest built-in Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoders that allow you to literally replicate the high definition surround sound from the source. This impressive quality has contributed in the unit’s rising fortune as it has found a great deal of acceptance among the latest generation of Blu-ray and DVD players, gaming consoles and digital television receivers.

That’s not all, since the HTX-22HD has made a record of sorts be becoming the first unit to incorporate the innovative DTS Surround Sensation feature. In the meantime you will feel absolute bliss once the unit starts delivering a virtual 5.1 surround sound experience from two speakers, supported by the long-awaited new software algorithm. Moreover, another significant aspect of the Onkyo HTX-22HD system is that you can transform the unit into a full-fledged 5.1 system. All you have to do is purchase an optional add-on package of centre-speaker and two rear surround speakers! The unit has all the necessary speaker terminals to accommodate the same.

Other priorities of the unit include providing you a superior sound quality, and the inclusion of Audyssey 2EQ room calibration feature is a firm step in that direction. The calibration is meant to precisely match surround sound to your home.

Onkyo HT-S770: Inspired by Performance and not by Design

Author: martin  //  Category: Home Cinema

It won’t take a great deal of effort on your part to differentiate Onkyo’s HT-S770 home cinema system from the towering tallboy speakers and futuristically slender receiver with DVD players that are the fashion recently. The HT-S770, successor to the excellent HT-S760, instead offers a component-size 6.1-channel receiver, a fully powered subwoofer, and rather odd fashioned boxy speakers. The design is peculiar to say the least, especially at a time when the thrust appears more towards more glitzy and stylish looking sets. The unit however, more than makes up for its insipid design by delivering a memorable performance, with the audio output turning out to be the standout performer. It goes without saying that the unit outperforms its stylish counterparts on a number of fronts.

The channels, six of them, are each powered by a hefty 130 watt and deliver quite a stunning performance. The 6.1-channel processing modes include Dolby EX and DTS ES. So the Onkyo HT-S770 home cinema is only overpowered by 7.1 systems like the Onkyo HT-S990THX. The Onkyo HT-S770’s connectivity is another one of the unit’s advantages, as it provides two component-video inputs, four A/V inputs and two outputs, four digital inputs, two stereo ins and one out, in addition to comprehensive front-panel-mounted connections. Remarkably, the 5.1 SACD/DVD-Audio inputs are also there. Moreover, the speaker connectors are all heavy-duty binding posts that accept banana jacks.

The specifications of the unit, on the other hand, suggest that it game for fairly large rooms. It really reaches its peak at high-volume and delivers quite a fearsome performance. The surround sound effects are also immaculate creating a dynamic and dramatic feel.

Onkyo CS-715 DAB Hi-Fi System: Totally on Point

Author: thomas  //  Category: Hi-Fi Systems

Onkyo, a renowned company in the electronic market with a global presence, has recently unveiled the CS-715 DAB Hi-Fi System. The launch of the unit bears a great deal of significance, not only for its mentors and makers, but for consumers as well as the unit, apart from having many cool features, also comes adorned with a DAB radio. The inclusion of the DAB radio feature is in no way revolutionary, but the manner in which Onkyo has fitted it is definitely noteworthy.

The dimensions of this stylish looking gadget are 205 x 116 x 335 mm, while the front panel is made of titanium coloured aluminium. The new CS-715 represents an upgrade from older models like the Onkyo CS-525. Made with the most advanced VL Digital Technology, the CS-715 supports Wolfson 192 kHz/24- Bit DAC and has 3 gold plated audio inputs and 2 out puts. Adept at playing CDs and also MP3-Encoded CDs, it has a front panel audio input and an optical digital output, apart from a subwoofer pre-out. The unit, in addition, has also been inscribed with a super bass function that comes into play when you decide to control the bass. A tone control function is there too.

You will also feel good that each channel of the unit is driven by 50W of power, enough to extract the maximum out them. Moreover, it has 25- tracking programming and a 4 timer setting. Using the preset option offered by the FM, you can tune into a mammoth 40 stations. Another feature that deserves special mention is the Aero Acoustic drive feature, as it ensures that the sound reproduction is powerful and natural.

Onkyo X-N7UWX Wi-Fi Mini HiFi: Satisfying the Critics

Author: martin  //  Category: Hi-Fi Systems

The last time Onkyo came up with a HI-Fi product was the CR-505DAB, which was not well received by the critics. However, despite the heavy criticism, the Onkyo CR 505 managed to do great business all over, particularly in Japan. The surprising outcome has highlighted the point that it has done something right that critics failed to take note of. The brand has now come up with its latest model, the X-N7UWX Wi-Fi Mini HiFi, which this time around, quite surprisingly, has drawn a lot of good vibes from the critics.

It won’t take you long to establish the reasons behind the approval by the critics though, as the deivce impresses you from the word go with its gorgeous looks. The unit is smartly dressed in a silver finish with a large LCD panel, and comes with a USB port and separate Hi-Fi unit. It thus lets you wirelessly connect the stereo up to your PC and listen to MP3s on your hard drive, or stream content from your desktop.

Apart from offering a wide range of listening options, it also has Wi-Fi and PC compatibility. You can easily notice the shrewdness displayed by the manufacturers as it comes stuffed with a number of convergence technology, including an iPod Dock compatibility feature that lets you control your iPod from the unit. Moreover, Onkyo has still persisted with the tried and tested MiniDisc format, including a MD player/recorder as well as a CD player. The unit also has an AM/FM receiver and a DAB radio onboard.