Integra
and Pioneer Elite have simply introduced new flagship AV receivers, so it was solely
a matter of time till Onkyo did the identical. The brand new 11.2-channel Onkyo TX-RZ70 AVR ($2,799) is amongst
the primary batch of merchandise launched since Premium Audio
Firm — a Voxx Worldwide subsidiary —
bought the Onkyo model in 2021. (Premium Audio Firm
additionally owns owns Pioneer’s residence leisure division, together with Integra, Klipsch, Jamo, and the German
loudspeaker firms HECO and Magnat.) Based on PAC, the brand new Onkyo
flagship was a collaboration between Onkyo Japan and its new mother or father firm,
which endeavored to “retain and embrace the experience and many years of
institutional information of the engineers at (Onkyo’s) Know-how Middle in
Osaka.” The TX-RZ70 shares quite a lot of DNA with the brand new Pioneer Elite VSX-LX805however sells for $200 much less.. The Pioneer is itself a pair
Benjamins cheaper than the Integra DRX-8.4making the Onkyo essentially the most
inexpensive of the bunch. For that motive alone, the TX-RZ70 is a
highly-anticipated product for AV fanatics trying to construct an 11.2CH theater system. The dearer Pioneer and Integra
fashions provide a number of additional options, together with XLR connectivity and further
subwoofer outputs (although all three receivers max out at 2 unbiased
subwoofers, with the Pioneer and Integra providing an extra 2 outputs wired
in parallel). For the common AVR consumer with a living-room system, these
extra options may not be price the additional money. The Onkyo appears to be a real worth right here.
The
flagship Onkyo TX-RZ70 AVR is without doubt one of the first tasks our PAC product
improvement staff has labored on with the prevailing Onkyo engineering staff, and
represents a brand new commonplace of efficiency in its class.
—
Rob Standley, SVP of International Manufacturers – Elite, Pioneer, Integra, and Onkyo
Onkyo
says that the TX-RZ70 AVR “supplies stellar audio efficiency and studio-level
processing for music, residence theater, and gaming fanatics,” and that it’s “packed
with essentially the most superior immersive audio applied sciences.” At its core, the TX-RZ70
is a THX Choose-certified 11.2-channel receiver rated at 140 watts per channel.
(Enjoyable truth: Onkyo launched the world’s first THX-certified AVR again in 1993.)
Onkyo’s
discrete Class AB dynamic audio amplifier boasts excessive present functionality, which
ought to make it appropriate with loudspeakers with low impedance dips. The amp
additionally options low detrimental suggestions and a closed loop floor to reduce noise.
Noise is additional decreased by means of a shielded energy transformer. It will likely be
attention-grabbing to see how comparable or totally different the Onkyo’s amplification is from
that of the aforementioned Pioneer and Integra AVRs, that are each rated at
150 watts per channel. It’s attention-grabbing to notice that Pioneer and Onkyo have dropped their Class D amplifier topology in favor of a extra conventional linear amp design. In previous bench testing we discovered the Class D ICE powered Pioneer SC-07 had problem driving 4-ohm masses so we’re wanting to see the outcomes of this new amplifier design by comparability.
The
TX-RZ70 shares all the HDMI 2.1 applied sciences and options discovered within the extra
costly Pioneer and Integra receivers; these embrace 40GPS bandwidth speeds,
help for 8K/60Hz and 4K/120 Hz resolutions, and pass-through for varied HDR
codecs, together with Dolby Imaginative and prescient. Onkyo hasn’t skimped on audio tech both. The
TX-RZ70 makes use of premium 32-bit ESS Sabre DACs (a pair of ES9206 chips, to be
exact), which offer “unprecedented dynamic and ultra-low distortion,”
based on Onkyo. The TX-RZ70 additionally comes with Dirac Dwell room correction (a full-bandwidth license is included
within the buy worth), with an non-obligatory improve accessible for Dirac Dwell Bass
Managementwhich makes use of machine studying and AI to shortly decide ideally suited settings
for any loudspeaker/subwoofer structure. The only-subwoofer model of Bass
Management prices $349, whereas the multi-sub model prices $499. As I’ve identified
earlier than, homeowners of the brand new Everybody and Marantz receivers should pay for a Dirac
Dwell room correction license, and Bass Management isn’t even accessible as an
choice (for now, anyway). Should you’re searching for an AVR and also you really need
Dirac Dwell with Bass Management, the Onkyo TX-RZ70 is at present the least
costly choice I’m conscious of.
Like
most new receivers, the TX-RZ70 has community streaming capabilities, providing
Spotify Join, Chromecast,
and Apple AirPlay 2 connectivity, together with DTS-PlayFi, which provides Tidal, Amazon
Music, Pandora, and others. However
the large information for a lot of audiophiles is that the Onkyo, just like the Pioneer and
Integra, can be gaining Roon Prepared certification by way of a firmware replace in
September 2023. The TX-RZ70 additionally works with good residence assistants like Alexa,
Siri, and Hey Google.
As you’d anticipate from an 11-channel receiver, the TX-RZ70 helps Dolby Atmos, DTS:X,
and IMAX Enhanced, with Auro3D help
scheduled to reach by way of a firmware replace in June. One tech function which will
show attention-grabbing to Klipsch homeowners is Klipsch Optimized Modewhich reportedly permits the consumer to
simply and seamlessly combine Klipsch
Reference Premiere audio system with the TX-RZ70. Based on Onkyo’s International
Product Supervisor Rolf Hawkins, Klipsch and Onkyo teamed as much as implement the
exact crossover values for particular new Reference Premiere audio system so as
to simplify setup.
The
Onkyo TX-RZ70 AVR is on the market from licensed Onkyo
sellers, like our pals at Audio
Recommendation.
Extra
data: www.onkyousa.com
Except in any other case indicated, it is a preview article for the featured product. A proper evaluate might or might not observe sooner or later.
