Onkyo TX-NR7100: Specs
Worth: $1,299 / £999 / AU$2,299
Colours: Black
Ports: HDMI, Digital Optical Audio, Digital coaxial audio, analogue stereo, Part, Ethernet, USB
Audio channels: 9 (7.1.2)
Audio codecs: Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, DTS:X, DTS, PCM
Energy output: 9x 100W
Wi-fi: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Apple Airplay, Chromecast
Sensible assistant: Alexa, Google Assistant
Dimensions: 17.1 x 14.92 x 6.81 inches (w/d/h)
Weight: 22.9 kilos
Onkyo might have been off the AV receiver scene for just a few years, however has returned with a swagger. The Onkyo TX-NR7100 is a 9-channel residence theater receiver with copious energy, and a complicated function specification to entice each players and film followers.
The TX-NR7100 has sturdy connectivity, which makes it a go-to mannequin for hooking up extremely hi-res, or quick body fee sources — all 6 HDMI inputs provide 8K and 4K 120Hz playback assist. It boasts 100W per channel amplification and may be configured for as much as 7.1.2 or 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos loudspeakers. There’s additionally DTS:X compatibility, plus IMAX Enhanced certification and THX submit processing. ? You have to be.
For this overview, I listened to the UK and European amplifier model. Learn on to see the way it carried out and to find if it makes the grade to rank as the most effective AV receivers round.
Onkyo TX-NR7100 overview: Worth & Availability
Obtainable now, the Onkyo TX-NR7100 sells for$1,299. In Australia, it’s priced at AU$2,299, whereas within the UK, the Onkyo TX-NR7100 retails for £999. It is available in a black end solely and is that can be purchased direct from the Onkyo on-line retailer.
It may well recurrently be discovered discounted and is presently on sale for $699 at Crutchfield and Amazon.
Onkyo TX-NR7100 overview: Design
The TX-NR7100 AV receiver has the identical angular traces and distinctive massive inexperienced show as its predecessors, however it comes with a cutting-edge specification.
The general design is clear and utilitarian. There’s no pull down panel on this mannequin, simply a big quantity dial to the precise, and a bar of operate buttons beneath the principle show. Helpfully although, there are entrance panel connections together with an HDMI port alongside an audio mini-jack and headphone jack. It’s a comparatively gentle receiver weighing in at 10.4kg.
The most important break with custom is the equipped compact distant management. It feels a little bit of a price range design and doesn’t provide any backlighting of keys, which suggests you would be fumbling in the dead of night when making an attempt to entry performance come film night time.
Onkyo TX-NR7100 overview: Connectivity
Connectivity is beneficiant although, and can be key to its attraction. All 6 rear HDMI inputs, plus the 2 HDMI outputs (predominant and second zone) are HDMI 2.1 4K 120Hz 8K enabled, so that you’re unlikely to expire of area within the foreseeable in terms of hooking up extremely hi-res, or quick body fee sources. The principle monitor output is eARC enabled.
The HDMI board can be compliant with VRR (Variable Refresh Price), ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) and QFT (Fast Body Transport), acronyms that can probably make each gamer’s coronary heart beat a little bit sooner.
Different inputs embrace coaxial and digital optical audio, 6 analog stereo pairs, one element enter (engaging to house owners of legacy video games consoles?), an MM phono stage enter for a turntable, USB, and Ethernet, to assist bi-directional Bluetooth aptX and Wi-Fi. A pair of screw-on Wi-Fi/Bluetooth aerials are joined by an FM/AM/DAB radio aerial.
There’s additionally a stereo pre-out, and a second zone stereo choice, alongside two subwoofer outputs.
Onkyo TX-NR7100 overview: Organising
Set up is aided by a step-by-step onscreen information. It’s much like what we’ve seen on the Denon AVR-X4800H and Marantz Cineam 50 AV receivers, albeit with out the polish.
There are two choices in terms of Room EQ: Onkyo’s personal AccuEQ system, and Dirac Reside room correction.
Each are used along with the equipped setup mic. The previous is dealt with by the AVR itself. You’ll be able to acquire information from as much as 9 listening positions which is then processed. To check the unit with AccuEQ I took 6 measurements to cowl off my listening place(s).
Dirac Reside Room Correction is carried out on the Onkyo Controller app, and for this I used three positions.
There are noticeable variations between the 2 room calibration methods. AccuEQ does a good job and delivers fairly profound bass slam. Dirac Reside produces a extra cohesive immersive soundstage, with actually elegant panning round and up excessive, however I discovered it lighter on bass. Even so it was my most popular choice.
Onkyo TX-NR7100 overview: Options
That includes 9 channels of amplification, the NR7100 may be configured for as much as 7.1.2 or 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos loudspeakers. For this audition it was run in a normal 5.1.2 sample.
Energy output is rated at 100W (into 8 ohms) per channel, however there’s some dynamic head room on high of that. Suffice to say it goes loud, and would go well with reasonably sized film rooms.
Codec assist covers Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, and comes with IMAX Enhanced certification and THX submit processing.
Considerably uncommon is a particular Klipsch optimization mode, designed for use with audio system from the stablemate loudspeaker model, particularly the crossover values that apply to Klipsch’s Reference Premiere audio system. Onkyo mum or dad Premium Audio Firm, additionally owns Pioneer and Jamo, so it’s fairly a household!
There’s sensible residence assist for Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple AirPlay. The Onkyo can be DTS Play-Fi enabled, so it may be used as half of a bigger Play-Fi ecosystem, each for multiroom audio in addition to hi-res music streaming.
This Onkyo will even work with a Sonos House Sound System, when paired with a Sonos Port. This implies you need to use the Sonos-app to manage enter choice and quantity management.
Onkyo TX-NR7100 overview: Efficiency
THX is a function that has fallen from favour in terms of residence theater, due to the appearance of object based mostly sound codecs, however it nonetheless has worth in terms of upmixing. It introduced an enormous enchancment in staging and storytelling to sci-fi based mostly TV dramas because the THX processing provides scale and further atmosphere to onscreen drama.
The AVR additionally handles advanced sound sequences properly. When Napoleon Solo makes his escape from East Germany, in Man Ritchie’s The Man from U.N.C.L.Ethe ring of the metal zipline is satisfyingly metallic, earlier than Solo travels from stage left to proper, all whereas a cool Nineteen Sixties inflected soundtrack is clearly delineated within the combine.
With energy output rated at 100W per channel, and a few dynamic head room on high of that, this AV receiver goes loud and can go well with reasonably sized film rooms.
It may well additionally sound ominous and heavy. Spinning the Blu-ray of Everest in Dolby Atmos, the deep rumble of the ice storm rolls throughout the left of the soundfield, earlier than howling winds lash the complete soundstage. The thunderous LFE (Low Frequency Results) is deep and chilling, and when the ice shards race in, you may virtually really feel their sting.
Taken as a two channel stereo amplifier, the TX-NR7100 somewhat underneath performs its value level. It sounds fantastic, with loads of toppy element and mid-range character, however it doesn’t fairly ship the emotional richness I hoped for. Audio constancy runs to DSD256, and PCM audio to 192kHz/24-bit, however in comparison with equally priced AVRs, I discovered its two-channel audio a little bit one dimensional.
Issues enhance when all channels are invited to fly. Dolby Atmos Music advantages from exact panning, and there’s an vitality and pleasure in regards to the soundstage that’s deliciously infectious.
Onkyo TX-NR7100 overview: Verdict
There’s lots to advocate the TX-NR7100. If you happen to’re a gamer, or an early adopter of 8K, then the AVR’s provision of common HDMI v2.1 assist is vastly reassuring.
I used to be enamoured by the choice of THX processing, if solely as a result of it appeals to my sense of residence theater legacy. Whereas Dolby Atmos is quick turning into customary with new streaming reveals, there’s nonetheless loads of content material to view, or on disc, that’s passive multichannel, and advantages from THX submit processing.
Having Dirac Reside on faucet through the app is a major bonus, and in terms of worth, options and total efficiency, the TX-NR1000 delivers.
