The option to add THX bragging rights into your home theater setup is getting a lot more affordable. Onkyo just announced plans to start shipping two THX-certified 7.2-channel receivers this May.
Both the Onkyo TX-NR717 and TX-NR818 are designed to work with 7.2-channel systems, offering THX Select 2 Plus certification and a host of web features. Each model also boasts three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry and Burr-Brown 192 kHz/24-bit DACs, with the TX-NR818 adding in PLL jitter-cleaning circuits. Other features include eight HDMI inputs and two outputs on each AVR, with support for 3D content, as well as DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD audio decoding.
Another perk is that each AVR has new InstaPrevue and MHL (Mobile High Definition Link) technologies. The InstaPrevue feature can put video thumbnails on-screen to show available content on connected devices, making the switching process simpler.
The TX-NR818 is the top dog here, adding in Audyssey MultEQ XT32 audio calibration capabilities, as well as DTS Neo:X, Dolby Pro Logic IIz and Audyssey DSX surround processing modes. Another feature is Onkyo's Dual Core Video Engine, which combines a HQV Vida VHD 1900 video processor with a Marvel Qdeo processor, for all of your upscaling needs. That same video calibration is up to ISF standards, which means that it should be pretty darn accurate.
The TX-NR717 is no slouch, either, with the Marvel Qdeo processor offering upscaling of all sources up to 1080p and 4K. Other features include Audyssey DSX and Dolby Pro Logic IIz support, as well as Audyssey 2EQ room calibration.
Each AVR also includes Audio Return Channel over HDMI, a new 1080p, high-resolution GUI, and support for the optional UWF-1 Wireless LAN Adapter for connecting an iPod, iPhone or flash memory device. There are also plenty of digital and analog A/V connections, front-channel bi-amping, and dedicated line-outs for three-room audio distribution. Both receivers can be controlled using the add-on Remote App 2 for iPhone or the Remote App for Android devices.
Onkyo says that a new iPhone app, a Kindle Fire app, and a new UBT-1 USB Bluetooth Adapter will be coming soon. There's no word on when these new options will be available, but Onkyo says that the TX-NR717 and TX-NR818 receivers will begin shipping in May. Expect to see MSRPs of $999 and $1199, respectively.
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