Onkyo 2012 entry level AV receiver range packs in 7.2 and Spotify
Onkyo have revealed their 2012 entry-level AV receiver range, packed full of enough bells and networked whistles to rival other brands higher-end gear, such as Spotify streaming.
Kicking off with the cheapest model, you’ve got the £299.99 5.1 Onkyo TX-NR313. Though it doesn’t have networked capabilities, it boasts 5 3D compatible HDMI ports, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, and sARC (Audio Return Channel) to pump a compatible TV’s audio back to the receiver. Power output is 5 x 100W, and there’s also a USB port on the front for hooking up an iPod, iPhone or memory stick.
Next up is the £399.99 Onkyo TX-NR414. It’s again a 5.1 reciever (with a slight power bump to 5 x 130W) but also comes with networked capabilities, such as internet radio, and Spotify access. You can also use it to stream music from a networked PC.
The receiver also features InstaPrevue technology, which lets you peek at a thumbnail preview of your HDMI sources before switching between them, and a Hybrid Standby feature, which lets the audio and video source bypass the receiver when it is in standby mode to save on the bills. The TX-NR414 also has a Zone 2 line-out, allowing it to pump a separate audio source to a different room in the house.
Moving up the ladder again is the Onkyo TX-NR515 at £499.99. It’s a 7.2 channel networked receiver, with a 7 x 130W power output. It has MHL badging with its HDMI (letting it play back 1080p video with 7.1 audio from a smartphone or tablet). It has all the other features of the TX-NR414 and TX-NR313 receivers, but also adds 4K2K upscaling for compatible displays, Dolby Pro Logic IIz, and pushes the 3D HDMI port count up to 8.
Lastly, the £599.99 Onkyo TX-NR616. It has all the features of the TXNR515, but adds Audyssey DSX expansion for extra front wide channels, and Audyssey 2EQ room acoustic correction to ease the set-up process. It also comes with THX Select 2 Plus certification, and has a power output of 7 x 165W.
All models will be available in silver or black from March, with the exception of the TX-NR616 which touches down in April.
