Onkyo TX-NR7100 9.2-Channel THX Certified AV Receiver

Product Information

The arrival of yet another A/V receiver doesn't usually engender much excitement here at S&V's currently sub-arctic regional headquarters in New England. But Onkyo's new TX-NR7100 is not "just another" receiver. First, the TX-NR7100 features a true nine-channel-power layout, which makes possible a full 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos system without supplemental amplification within hollerin' distance of the magical ten-Benjamins line. Just as notably, it's among the first affordably priced AVRs to incorporate Dirac Live, the eponymous Swedish tech firm's widely praised room/speaker-correction software system, at no extra cost. Denon AVR-X3800H and Onkyo TX-NR7100 support DTS:X. A technique used in DTS:X is similar to the one used in Dolby Atmos. Instead of a fixed number of channels, DTS:X defines object locations from the listener in polar coordinates. An a/v receiver then dynamically renders sound according to the current speaker configuration. The speaker layout employed by DTS:X is the sum of Dolby Atmos and Auro-3D. It has standard 7.1 channel base layer, a 5 channel height layer above the base layer on the front and side walls, and 3 rows of speakers on the ceiling.

Denon AVR-X3800H was introduced in 2022. It is equipped with 9 channel amplifier with 105 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven) power per channel and is capable of 11.4 maximum channel processing. It supports Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Auro-3D, passes 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz and upscales up to 8K 50/60Hz and 4K 100/120Hz 4:4:4 video signal. Prices valid in stores (all including VAT) until close of business on 26th November 2023. (Some of these web prices are cheaper than in-store, so please mention that you've seen these offers online.) The Onkyo TX-NR7100 is, unfortunately, without an optical drive. Nevertheless, it compensates for this shortcoming with a highly reliable power output of 170 watts per channel (1KHz@6 Ohm). The set delivers high-quality audio with no distortion or interference in the signal.I have had no issues with the Onkyo TX-NR7100. It detects the correct codec and applies it or up-mixing as required. I won’t get into “sound” because it functions as expected and provides clean and clear sound. As expected, I noticed no difference in powering my speakers with the Onkyo over my old AV receiver. I do think that Dirac Live does mix surrounds and overheads a bit hot because I have noticed my surround speakers a lot more with the Onkyo. So I need to get more accustomed to Dirac and see how it’s setting my speaker levels.

DTS Play-Fi allows you to enjoy high-quality music from connected online services, networked media servers, and your device library over Wi-Fi ®to any number of compatible products using the Onkyo Music Control App for iPad, iPhone, and Android smartphones/tablets. DTS Play-Fi can synchronise the music in every room. Each member of your family can use their own device to listen to their music in a room or group of rooms. DTS Play-Fi lets you structure a comprehensive multi-room ecosystem that satisfies virtually any need. Extensively tested, the Onkyo TX-NR7100 meets THX Select Certification. THX are a Californian company founded by George Lucas of Star Wars fame. To gain THX approval, products are bench tested to a rigorous level, covering every aspect of audio performance. Only a handful of products gain the THX certification, making it a true badge of honour for any home cinema product.Variable Refresh Rate (VRR): VRR enables a gaming source such as a console or computer to deliver video frames as fast as it can, which in many cases is slower than the normal static refresh rate. It allows the TV to adapt to certain frame rate which reduces or eliminates lag, judder and frame tearing for more fluid and better detailed gameplay. LFC (Low Frequency Containment): While high frequencies are easily stopped by walls low frequencies pass right through. After identifying the frequency range that most readily passes through walls Audyssey developed a technique, called Audyssey LFC (Low Frequency Containment) that reduses the volume at those frequencies and applies psychoacoustic processing to restore the perception of low bass for listeners in the room. The result is no more angry neighbors and no loss of enjoyment for listeners.

If you’re using Sonos speakers or have been looking to build a Sonos multi-room system, the Onkyo TX-NR7100 is a good budget receiver to get you started. All you need is to integrate a Sonos port and use the Sonos app to stream music and other audio content from any enabled device. The best part is that you can control the unit remotely and switch between various inputs automatically. Other features Bass Management: THX requires an 80Hz crossover point in the setup menu to ensure proper bass management in every THX Certified AVR. This setting confirms that the subwoofer handles low frequencies, freeing up the loudspeakers to handle mids and highs. Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization: Both models support Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization which is a digital signal processing solution that leverages Dolby's deep understanding of human audio perception to create the sensation of overhead sound from the listener-level speakers. But the entire range, including the RZ50, are aimed at the mass market / value market... and in terms of electronics - the prepro section is very good, and Dirac is a game changer - a dramatic improvement.

Specs

I replaced the internal amps with power amps via the Pre-outs, the congestion went away. Seems to me the internal amps are just not designed to cope with speakers having substantial impedance dips, reactive drivers, requiring substantial current to drive them. Logically, a THX Select amp can only be so far from being THX Ultra certified because the difference between being 10' or 12' from a speaker is only about 1dB due to dispersion loss. A room with 50% more volume will reduce boundary gain though but not by more than 1dB. So in practice a THX Select rated amp should need to be no more than 2dB more capable to be Ultra rated. So it's not as significant a difference as some might think. Picture: Stunning, ultra-vivid 4K HDR picture that utilizes the newest, proprietary Digital Media Remastering technology (DMR) developed by IMAX. DMR accurately reduces noise and grain under the filmmaker’s guidance to best optimize the content for a much higher-quality, higher-brightness display. Without this technology, high-dynamic range content can actually look worse than what was originally seen and intended by the filmmaker. Did a bit of viewing that evening - was great watching Peaky Binders on Netflix... definitely an upgrade from my previous setup - and most of the improvement seems directly due to Dirac - definitely feeling vindicated about my wait for the Dirac Based Onkyo/Integra unit....