Onkyo ready to unveil Dirac ART-capable products at CES

[dlaloum]

Better late than never . Great to hear that we might have more choice in the future.

I certainly hope that they will design new gen of products with great thought and view of the current market and features. My hope is that D&M will also have a new and improved line by 2027 and that PAC will bring their best to the game to compete with them.

Will be interesting to see if PAC can do better Bass Control and ART pricing than D&M.

Tonewinner are promising to include ART in the price of their new AT600...
If this trend were to take hold, I would expect Onkyo to follow suite.

However right now they are only showing and discussing "concept" designs.... much like the RZ90, which clearly went all the way to prototype and prototype certification testing, but was never released.

So the take aways for those of us in the AV space are:

1. New Generation of AVP/AVR's in 2027 (no word of WHEN in 2027... it could be at END of 2027)
2. New Generation will include support for Dirac ART
3. No word or even Hint that ART will be brought to existing platforms

For those who have been waiting for an Onkyo/Integra implementation of Dirac ART - there is a likely further 2 year wait

Those who want ART before then.... look to Monoprice (HTP1), Tonewinner (AT600), D&M, and of course Storm and Hyperion

I am still of the opinion that PAC has made a major error in not releasing ART for the current models, and that it will cost them many faithful Onkyo/Integra users, who will jump ship mostly to D&M

 

[dlaloum]

I agree there's a lot of marketing speak/fluff and not a lot of detail (sure to come in the next few days of CES). What worries me is if Dirac ART will only be pushed to AV Processors and not their AVR lineup.

Doubt it - IF they finally release an AVP again... it will almost certainly share its processing board(s) with the flagship AVR(s).... and there would then be no reason not to support ART (and plenty of good marketing reasons to support it)

 

[EWL5]

So I've scoured through the Onkyo promotional materials for this year's CES and there's really nothing capable of ART despite the initial buzz. It is truly a nothing burger from Onkyo for 2026!

You are welcome to rummage and see if I missed anything:

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

 

[dlaloum]

So I've scoured through the Onkyo promotional materials for this year's CES and there's really nothing capable of ART despite the initial buzz. It is truly a nothing burger from Onkyo for 2026!

You are welcome to rummage and see if I missed anything:

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

That is my impression too - ART is mentioned as being for devices that are in planning (conceptual) stages for 2027/2028

No current devices have ART, and no current devices have been confirmed to be receiving ART as a future upgrade. (they have rolled back previous commitments to release ART for the Icon series).

 

[dlaloum]

This was posted on AVS, taken at CES 2026:

Onkyo stressed that these are "conceptual models" - so no commitment to anything!
Very important to have your pinch of salt ready here... the previously mentioned several times (at past CES and CEDIA interviews) RZ90 flagship model (in both AVR and AVP forms) has reappeared here as the RZ91.... which may well never happen, as per the RZ90!

Models on the chart:

• PR-RZ91
  • AVP
  • 15ch
  • Dirac ART support
• PA-RZ11
  • Power amp
  • 11ch
  • 150W
• PA-RZ04
  • Power amp
  • 4ch
  • 150W
• TX-RZ71
  • AVR
  • 11ch
  • 145W
  • ART support
• TX-RZ61
  • AVR
  • 11ch
  • 135W
  • ART Support
• TX-RZ51
  • AVR
  • 9ch
  • 120W
  • ART Support
• TX-RZ31
  • AVR
  • 9ch
  • 100W
  • ART Support
• TX-NR7200
  • AVR
  • ?ch (probably 9ch)
  • 100W
  • ART Support

The new Display on the RZ series looks nice - there are random notes elsewhere on the display placard, mentioning Auro3D, others mentioning Dirac Limited included (not full frequency?) and "Paid, up to ART"

They are handsome... more so than the current generation.

But 2027? (and from experience with these announcements that could mean 2028!)

 

[kyuu]

others mentioning Dirac Limited included (not full frequency?)

Looks to me like it says Dirac Full Included.

 

[dlaloum]

View attachment 502503

Looks to me like it says Dirac Full Included.

At the bottom - to the left of the NR7200....

Seems to indicate the possibility (pinch of salt!) of a divide between premium models with Full included, and base models with only limited included...?

At the top near the RZ71 it does indeed say Dirac Full included...

 

[kyuu]

At the bottom - to the left of the NR7200....

Seems to indicate the possibility (pinch of salt!) of a divide between premium models with Full included, and base models with only limited included...?

At the top near the RZ71 it does indeed say Dirac Full included...

Hm, if I had to guess I'd say it's probable the NR-series will have Dirac Limited while the RZ-series will have Full. Don't know why anyone would want correction past 500Hz anyway, main benefit is a (presumably) cheaper upgrade path to ART.

 

[benje]

Tonewinner are promising to include ART in the price of their new AT600...
If this trend were to take hold, I would expect Onkyo to follow suite.

However right now they are only showing and discussing "concept" designs.... much like the RZ90, which clearly went all the way to prototype and prototype certification testing, but was never released.

So the take aways for those of us in the AV space are:

1. New Generation of AVP/AVR's in 2027 (no word of WHEN in 2027... it could be at END of 2027)
2. New Generation will include support for Dirac ART
3. No word or even Hint that ART will be brought to existing platforms

For those who have been waiting for an Onkyo/Integra implementation of Dirac ART - there is a likely further 2 year wait

Those who want ART before then.... look to Monoprice (HTP1), Tonewinner (AT600), D&M, and of course Storm and Hyperion

I am still of the opinion that PAC has made a major error in not releasing ART for the current models, and that it will cost them many faithful Onkyo/Integra users, who will jump ship mostly to D&M

Re; 3 - Onkyo support confirmed to me that none of the existing line-up will be receiving ART. Was a bit of a kick in the teeth given the RZ-70 is not even 3 years old yet.

 

[dlaloum]

Hm, if I had to guess I'd say it's probable the NR-series will have Dirac Limited while the RZ-series will have Full. Don't know why anyone would want correction past 500Hz anyway, main benefit is a (presumably) cheaper upgrade path to ART.

I use full range... ie: I did not limit it to 500Hz... I found the main gain from Dirac Live was improved clarity in the midrange, vocals, dialogue, imaging - much of which is in the post 500Hz frequencies.

However, I choose to EQ with a "light touch" - having experimented with using Dirac's handles/shelves as well as with using a target curve which intentionally follows the measured "in room" performance of the main speakers (L/R).

It is important to apply such a curve (whatever the mains need) to surrounds and heights however, to ensure that you have as close as possible to a Timbral match... the easiest way to mess up immersion, is to have a voice or effect travel around the room varying its "sound / timbre" as it moves from speaker to speaker.... instant collapse of the immersion bubble!

Yes EQ needs to be used.... carefully, and in the knowledge that the measured performance, is NOT the anechoic behaviour of the speaker, but the in room performance of the speaker, including reflections etc... and that our own brains will filter out most of the reflections (as long as they are sufficiently delayed over the direct sound) - so crude EQ based on crude room measurements can result in an awful mess.... hence the "don't EQ above schroeder/500Hz" recommendation....
But approaching EQ more intelligently - while being aware of the pitfalls, and what the various measurements mean, there are definite benefits to be gained from full range EQ.... even if what you do is follow the speaker curve, allowing Dirac to do impulse and phase adjustments that enhance clarity, while making little or no frequency/amplitude adjustments.

 

[EWL5]

Re; 3 - Onkyo support confirmed to me that none of the existing line-up will be receiving ART. Was a bit of a kick in the teeth given the RZ-70 is not even 3 years old yet.

View attachment 502512

I'm surprised they would share that but the statement is not surprising. At least now folks have a path forward to decide if they want to wait until 2027/28 or just buy what already works now for ART!

 

[DrStranger]

This was posted on AVS, taken at CES 2026:

View attachment 502500

Onkyo stressed that these are "conceptual models" - so no commitment to anything!
Very important to have your pinch of salt ready here... the previously mentioned several times (at past CES and CEDIA interviews) RZ90 flagship model (in both AVR and AVP forms) has reappeared here as the RZ91.... which may well never happen, as per the RZ90!

Models on the chart:

• PR-RZ91
  • AVP
  • 15ch
  • Dirac ART support
• PA-RZ11
  • Power amp
  • 11ch
  • 150W
• PA-RZ04
  • Power amp
  • 4ch
  • 150W
• TX-RZ71
  • AVR
  • 11ch
  • 145W
  • ART support
• TX-RZ61
  • AVR
  • 11ch
  • 135W
  • ART Support
• TX-RZ51
  • AVR
  • 9ch
  • 120W
  • ART Support
• TX-RZ31
  • AVR
  • 9ch
  • 100W
  • ART Support
• TX-NR7200
  • AVR
  • ?ch (probably 9ch)
  • 100W
  • ART Support

The new Display on the RZ series looks nice - there are random notes elsewhere on the display placard, mentioning Auro3D, others mentioning Dirac Limited included (not full frequency?) and "Paid, up to ART"

They are handsome... more so than the current generation.

But 2027? (and from experience with these announcements that could mean 2028!)

I like the design with the big screen, but a dissapointed that they keep Class-AB, not going for Class-D, who needs a suitcase size furnace.

At least the processor could have been smaller...

Wonder if, D&M and other brands comes out with new this year, it might boost Onkyo to release this year. From a Onkyo POV I dont see a need for upgrade, at least for me, going from RZ30. I can live without ART.

 

[ivo.f.doma]

I like the design with the big screen, but a dissapointed that they keep Class-AB, not going for Class-D, who needs a suitcase size furnace.

At least the processor could have been smaller...

Wonder if, D&M and other brands comes out with new this year, it might boost Onkyo to release this year. From a Onkyo POV I dont see a need for upgrade, at least for me, going from RZ30. I can live without ART.

The glass is big, the screen is actually small. That's an old trick. And the amplifiers are those from current AVRs.

 

[dlaloum]

The glass is big, the screen is actually small. That's an old trick. And the amplifiers are those from current AVRs.

I hope they use the screen real estate to provide more information...

 

[kyuu]

I hope they use the screen real estate to provide more information...

What screen real estate? The actual screen is pretty tiny. They won't be able to provide much information while keeping anything legible from more than 12" away.

 

[EWL5]

What screen real estate? The actual screen is pretty tiny. They won't be able to provide much information while keeping anything legible from more than 12" away.

So...it's the Marantz porthole but a square instead of a circle!

 

[kyuu]

So...it's the Marantz porthole but a square instead of a circle!

I would definitely take it over the porthole, but I still don't understand the decision making behind "we have giant box with plenty of real estate for a screen and which will generally be at a distance from the person using it, let's make the screen absurdly tiny".

 

[dlaloum]

So...it's the Marantz porthole but a square instead of a circle!

Yes that is my thinking.... it is handsome though.

 

[DrStranger]

 

[EWL5]

My main takeaways from the video:

1) The conceptual pic showed "Tone Listing Mode" instead of "Tone Listening Mode", which probably makes this an AI creation. I'm thinking we don't see production hardware until late 2027.
2) The RZ51 shows only 9 channels now whereas the new RZ61 shows 11 channels. Perhaps they got rid of 2 channels processing on the RZ51 to promote the "tweener" RZ61?
3) RZ61 and RZ71 both process only 11 channels still and not able to compete directly w/the Denon 6800 (can process 13 channels).
4) The new RZ91 processor only has "Dirac ART supported". A lost opportunity for differentiation in this segment.

Exciting for Onkyo fans but not enough of a buzz to steal D&M market share. It would be very disappointing if the new lineup doesn't offer 4 discrete sub-outs now that ART is on the table.