Onkyo Introduces Its First THX Ultra2Plus and THX Select2Plus Certified A/V Receivers
Gröbenzell, August 11, 2008. Onkyo has introduced the new TX-SR806, the company's first A/V receiver to carry THX's new Ultra2Plus certification. The 180 watt-per-channel TX-SR806 features five HDMI v1.3a inputs (one output), 1080p video upscaling capability, and new THX Loudness Plus technology. Like the acclaimed TX-SR805 that it replaces, the new model features Onkyo's Push-Pull amplification design, internal high resolution audio decoding, Audyssey MultEQ automatic calibration.
At the same time, Onkyo has begun shipping its first AV receiver to carry the new THX Select2 Plus Certification. The 7x100 watt TX-SR706 features HDMI v. 1.3a repeaters, 1080p Faroudja DCDi upscaling, onboard decoding for lossless and HD audio formats, Audyssey MultEQ and Audyssey DynamicEQ processing.
Both new A/V receivers will be available in stores from September 2008.
TX-SR806
The TX-SR806 is Onkyo's first AV receiver to include the new THX Ultra2Plus Certification, ensuring the highest performance standards are met in rooms of 3,000 cubic feet and larger, and at a screen distance of 12 feet or more. The receiver also includes the recently announced THX Loudness Plus technology, which improves audio reproduction at reduced volume levels by adjusting front-to-back speaker levels and frequency balance to ensure the highest possible level of detail and fidelity to the original soundtrack at listening volumes below the THX reference level.
The Onkyo TX-SR806 features HDMI inputs for up to five sources, and is fully compatible with HDMI v. 1.3a, including 1080p and Deep Color™ 36-bit video signals. It includes a high-quality Faroudja DCDi Cinema video processor that provides upscaling of all video signals to 1080p for output over HDMI, regardless of input, greatly simplifying connectivity for modern video displays. The video upconversion technology also delivers 1080i resolution through the component video outputs.
Onkyo's TX-SR806 features dual Texas Instruments Aureus™ DSP chips for digital audio processing, including onboard decoding for Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital HD, and DTS-HD Master Audio, making it fully capable of exploiting the high definition audio capabilities of the HD-DVD and Blu-Ray disc formats. It also includes top-quality Cirrus Logic 192kHz/24-bit DACs on all channels. The receiver features seven amplification modules, each capable of delivering 180 watts into an 8ohm load and each module features the company's dual push-pull configuration, coupled with a three-stage inverted Darlington circuit for outstanding efficiency and high current with very low distortion.
For optimum set-up, the Onkyo TX-SR806 includes Audyssey's acclaimed MultEQ room acoustics correction 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 MultEQ provides both frequency response and time domain corrections throughout the entire listening area, rather than just at a single position.
This receiver employs the new Audyssey Dynamic EQ algorithm, which adds moment-by-moment refinement to the receiver's frequency response and surround levels in order to compensate for volume-dependent deteriorations in the listening experience, particularly at low volume levels. When used in combination with the Audyssey MultEQ system, this feature tailors the receiver's output to correct for room acoustics, listening position, and playback-level distortions, delivering an overall experience that is a much closer match to what the audio production engineers originally intended.
The TX-SR806 also includes the company's new Music Optimizer software, which improves the quality of MP3 and AAC encoded audio source material. While these compressed audio formats sound quite acceptable over small headphones or PC speaker systems, when reproduced on a full-scale home theater system the loss of high-frequency information becomes much more apparent. The Music Optimizer employs sophisticated equalization and optimization algorithms to overcome these faults, and enhances the reproduction quality of digitally compressed music.
The TX-SR806 also features Onkyo's Powered Zone 2 capability, which can be used to power stereo speakers in a second room while listening to 5.1-channel sound in the main zone thanks to a dedicated set of zone 2 L/R speaker terminals. There is also a Zone 2 pre-out that can be used in conjunction with a dedicated zone amplifier or receiver. For those with main stereo LR loudspeakers that support bi-amplification, the back surround channels can also be reconfigured for this operating mode.
For integration with whole-house control systems, the TX-SR806 includes a bi-directional RS-232 port. Additionally, RIHD (Remote Interactive over HDMI) capability allows it to seamlessly integrate with other leading brand-name devices, including all Toshiba CE-Link equipment and selected Panasonic VIERA Link, Sharp, and Samsung products. The receiver is also compatible with Onkyo's RI (Remote Interactive) iPod dock/charger models.
The Onkyo TX-SR806 includes a high quality AM/FM radio tuner and a newly redesigned pre-programmed learning RI (Remote Interactive) remote control unit with macros and mode-key LEDs. Finally, systems set-up is even easier simpler thanks to the implementation of a newly designed GUI (Graphical User Interface).
TX-SR706
The TX-SR706 is Onkyo's first receiver to carry THX's new Select2Plus™ Certification, which includes the new THX Loudness Plus™ volume control technology. This new processing algorithm compensates for the tonal and spatial shifts that occur when the volume level is reduced below the reference levels that the original soundtrack was mastered for. For instance, by slightly increasing the relative volume of the ambient sound at lower volumes, the impact of movies, music and games is much closer to what the sound engineer originally intended.
The TX-SR706 features four HDMI inputs, and is fully compatible with HDMI v. 1.3a, including 1080p and Deep Color™ 36-bit video signals. It features onboard decoding for Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD Master Audio, and DTS-HD High Resolution making it fully capable of exploiting the high definition audio as well as video potential of the Blu-Ray disc formats, and all using a single HDMI cable connection. All HDMI inputs are upscaled to 1080p resolution using Faroudja's DCDi Cinema technology.
To simplify set-up and improve audio performance, Onkyo has included Audyssey's acclaimed MultEQ room acoustics correction, as well as the Audyssey's Dynamic EQ algorithm, which refines the receiver's frequency response and surround levels moment-by-moment to compensate for deteriorations in the listening experience at different volume levels. These functions work together automatically to tailor the receiver's output to correct for room acoustics, listening position, and playback-level distortions, delivering an overall experience that is a much closer match to what the audio production engineers originally intended.
The TX-SR706 also includes the company's new Music Optimizer software, which improves the quality of MP3 and AAC encoded audio source material. While these compressed audio formats sound quite acceptable over small headphones or PC speaker systems, when reproduced on a full-scale home theatre system the loss of high-frequency information becomes much more apparent. The Music Optimizer employs sophisticated equalization and optimization algorithms to overcome these faults, and enhances the reproduction quality of digitally compressed music.
The TX-SR706 also features Onkyo's Powered Zone 2 capability, which can be used to power stereo speakers in a second room while listening to 5.1-channel sound in the main zone thanks to a dedicated set of zone 2 L/R speaker terminals. There is also a Zone 2 pre-out that can be used in conjunction with a dedicated zone amplifier or receiver. For those with main stereo LR loudspeakers that support bi-amplification, the back surround channels can also be reconfigured for this operating mode.
For integration with whole-house control systems, the TX-SR706 includes a bi-directional RS-232 port. Additionally, RIHD (Remote Interactive over HDMI) capability allows it to seamlessly integrate with other leading brand-name devices, including all Toshiba CE-Link equipment and selected Panasonic VIERA Link, Sharp, and Samsung products. The receiver is also compatible with Onkyo's RI (Remote Interactive) iPod dock/charger models.
The Onkyo TX-S706 features a high quality AM/FM radio tuner. It includes a newly redesigned pre-programmed learning RI (Remote Interactive) remote control unit with macros and mode-key LEDs. Finally, systems set-up is even easier simpler thanks to the implementation of a newly designed GUI (Graphical User Interface).
About Onkyo
Onkyo is a world leader in hi-fi and home theater consumer electronics. The company has a rich product portfolio, ranging from classic audio equipment such as amplifiers, tuners and CD players to home theater components like AV receivers and DVD players and specialized equipment like mini systems, life-style devices and all-in-one solutions. Onkyo also manufactures and markets loudspeakers for these segments and is one of the world’s foremost manufacturers of loudspeaker chassis, which it supplies to global OEM customers in the automotive, telecommunications, and consumer electronics industries.
Onkyo was formed in 1946 under the name “Osaka Denki Onkyo K.K” in Osaka, Japan. Today the Onkyo Corporation comprises four business units. The best-known of these worldwide is the Audio/Video Consumer Electronics unit, which manages the brands Integra and Integra Research, as well as the main Onkyo brand. The Onkyo Corporation is headquartered in Osaka and has 13 subsidiaries and four group companies worldwide. Onkyo’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer is Naoto Otsuki.
During the early phases of its history, Onkyo grew as an innovator and specialist in audio, making the name Onkyo synonymous with music excellence, high-quality loudspeakers and first-rate hi-fi components. Through the 1970s, Onkyo stereo receivers were critically acclaimed. The products of the 1980s, including cassette tape decks, M-series amplification, turntables, AM/FM tuners like the 4040 and the 8080, and receivers garnered acclaim from critics and consumers. In the 1990s, Onkyo, with its many in-house developments and technological firsts, moved to the forefront of home theater equipment and today enjoys an outstanding reputation in this field.
Onkyo Europe Electronics GmbH, formed in Munich in 1972, is Onkyo Corporation’s European office. It employs around 30 people and supervises Onkyo subsidiaries and distributors throughout Europe.
