Onyo high receiver's

Onkyo have announced the release of three new models at the top of its A/V receiver line for 2012, including a new nine-channel flagship, the TX-NR5010 Network A/V Receiver; a more affordable nine-channel alternative, the TX-NR3010 Network A/V Receiver; and lastly, a seven-channel solution, the TX-NR1010 Network A/V Receiver.

Onkyo have been busy in R&D and the fruit of the investment, says Onkyo, is evident in these three new releases, with an across-the-board focus on high performance technology:


• THX Ultra2 Plus certification to recreate the cinematic experience with dynamic Reference Level sound in larger home cinemas (up to 85 cubic meters in size and at a viewing distance of approximately 3.5 metres).

• 11.4-channel pre-outs with DTS Neo:X 11-channel upmixing support on both the TX-NR5010 and TX-NR3010, another world first for Onkyo.

• First consumer electronics partner to incorporate Cisco Linksys' SimpleTap router connection technology.

• Audyssey MultEQ XT32 room equalization with multi-channel upmixing from DTS Neo:X, Audyssey DSX, and Dolby Pro Logic IIz.

• An additional HDMI output to enable 1080p playback on a second TV or zone.

• Front-panel Mobile High-Definition Link HDMI port for phone/camcorder.

• Extra HDMI inputs to support 3D Video plus Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio (8+1 inputs on all three models).

• InstaPrevue picture-in-picture video input preview and selection technology.

• Bluetooth 3.0 and aptX wireless audio streaming via optional adapter.

There's access to both free and subscription audio streaming services, such as Spotify Premium, and connectivity for smartphones, tablets, and PC via DLNA or Bluetooth.
Because of the importance of 'superior usability' in the connected home, Onkyo has been working with Cisco to incorporate SimpleTap, a technology that is said to deliver better connectivity and control experiences. With its inclusion in these three high-end receivers (via firmware update in October/November for European models), Onkyo becomes the world's first company to integrate SimpleTap technology into consumer electronics products. Further firmware updates are under development eventually to enable all 2012 Onkyo Network-enabled receivers to take advantage of this new technology.

"We share the vision that the connected home should be simple and enjoyable, and we are proud to be the first consumer electronics partner to incorporate Cisco Linksys' SimpleTap technology into our new AV receivers," said Nobuaki Okuda, president, Onkyo Sound & Vision Corporation. "SimpleTap really simplifies how our new 2012 AV receivers can be connected to the network, so people can instantly enjoy their favorite tunes from music streaming services such as Spotify Premium, and many other Internet Radio services."

Multi-room operation has also been enhanced by adding Zone2 HDMI connectivity, so removing the need for a secondary analogue connection in order to access audio in a second zone. Powered audio is available in up to three zones simultaneously - with multi-zone playback and setting controls managed by remote iPhone/Android apps.

To conjure up the 'signature Onkyo sound', audio signals are passed through a DAC stage, with PLL jitter-cleaning, VLSC noise-mitigation, and TI Burr-Brown DAC modules Signals are then amplified through discrete Three-Stage Inverted Darlington Circuitry, with a triple transistor array that is designed to cut distortion and boost current flow to the speakers. The design is supposed to capitalise on the benefits offered by a low negative feedback topology.

All three models feature Onkyo’s Dual Core Video Engine which pairs the HQV Vida VHD1900 module with Marvell’s Qdeo technology for scaling to 4K. The onboard ISF (Imaging Science Foundation) video calibration can only help.

The flagship TX-NR5010 is aimed squarely at the avid home cinema enthusiast. As part of the THX certification promise, this receiver is designed to deliver the highest audio and video quality for an 'unsurpassed home cinema experience' right out of the box. Housed in a rigid chassis with separate anti-resonant aluminum top and side panels, the unit has a massive toroidal transformer supported by two discrete transformers for audio and video processing.

Like its slightly more powerful sibling, the TX-NR3010 also boasts multiple transformers for A/V processing, but features a heavy-duty EI transformer in place of the TX-NR5010's toroidal type. All models feature isolated power and preamp blocks to reduce interference with a super-rigid chassis to prevent vibration.

A new Differential DAC Mode and Digital Crossover Processing Network are also included on all three models to optimise performance when bi-wiring and bi-amping the front channels.

All three models boast an exhaustive list of A/V connections. In addition to the capacity to link with an iPhone, iPod, or flash memory device, these models include two USB ports in the front and rear to accommodate the UWF-1 Wireless LAN Adapter and UBT-1 Bluetooth USB Adapter (sold separately).