Onkyo TX-NR7100 AVR Review

[EWL5]

I disagree. It's a lower tier line and I've expected it to be a paid option if it ever happened. It's a $300 option for the RZ50, so I'm not sure why you're saying "free"?

Onkyo TX-RZ50 – Dirac

DIRAC LIVE FOR Onkyo TX-RZ50 Get your license

www.dirac.com

You're confusing Dirac Live Bass Management (DLBM) with Dirac Live Bass Control (DLBC). Anyone who already had Dirac Live Full Bandwidth license is eligible for DLBM, which includes RZ50 and similar brethren (Pioneer 505 and Integra DRX5.4). I had access to DLBM last year when my Denon 3800 had a firmware upgrade similar to what the RZ50 is getting now.

After the calibration results that included DLBM, I was satisfied and opted not to pay for the additional DLBC license (especially since I only have one SW)!

As I stated before in a previous post, I suspect Voxx didn't update the 7100/305/DRX3.4 for DLBM/DLBC in order to create further market separation from the more expensive siblings despite the hardware being nearly the same! If it was going to get DLBM/DLBC, it would have been available at the same time as the RZ50/505/DRX5.4!

 

[Power Pop 23]

I may be acting prematurely. With this firmware update, I have changed my votes in the polling for the Onkyo TX-NR7100, Onkyo TX-RZ50, and Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505 to 'Fine'.

 

[EWL5]

I may be acting prematurely. With this firmware update, I have changed my votes in the polling for the Onkyo TX-NR7100, Onkyo TX-RZ50, and Pioneer Elite VSX-LX505 to 'Fine'.

It's definitely going in the right direction but I would really like some indication (bench test is best) that the "limp mode" is a thing of the past!

 

[andrewskaterrr]

You're confusing Dirac Live Bass Management (DLBM) with Dirac Live Bass Control (DLBC). Anyone who already had Dirac Live Full Bandwidth license is eligible for DLBM, which includes RZ50 and similar brethren (Pioneer 505 and Integra DRX5.4). I had access to DLBM last year when my Denon 3800 had a firmware upgrade similar to what the RZ50 is getting now.

After the results that included DLBM, I was satisfied and opted not to pay for the additional DLBC license (especially since I only have one SW)!

As I stated before in a previous post, I suspect Voxx didn't update the 7100/305/DRX3.4 for DLBM/DLBC in order to create further market separation from the more expensive siblings despite the hardware being nearly the same!

Ah I see. I can't find anything official mentioning DLBM, but from what I see in forums and my own AVR, DLBM is just Dirac Live adding a simple Sub Crossover like every other Room Calibration software. My NR7100 is able to EQ the sub but not adjust a crossover, that's handled by the Onkyo, hence only DL. Denon did add DLBC last year, so I'm they added it when adding DLBC support. I still don't see how this would rule out DLBC being a paid option in the future for the NR7100, they just may not have gotten to it yet.

 

[EWL5]

Ah I see. I can't find anything official mentioning DLBM, but from what I see in forums and my own AVR, DLBM is just Dirac Live adding a simple Sub Crossover like every other Room Calibration software. My NR7100 is able to EQ the sub but not adjust a crossover, that's handled by the Onkyo, hence only DL. Denon did add DLBC last year, so I'm they added it when adding DLBC support. I still don't see how this would rule out DLBC being a paid option in the future for the NR7100, they just may not have gotten to it yet.

My understanding is that the 7100 has 80-90% of the RZ50's hardware. If they were going to do it, they would have made it available in the update that came out yesterday, no?

In my mind, this is just one easy way to market the RZ line as more premium over the NR line for Onkyo!

 

[andrewskaterrr]

My understanding is that the 7100 has 80-90% of the RZ50's hardware. If they were going to do it, they would have made it available in the update that came out yesterday, no?

In my mind, this is just one easy way to market the RZ line as more premium over the NR line for Onkyo!

Not really. It's a tier below the RZ, and less popular I'm sure. So it makes sense to work on this option for the RZ first, and then the TX later. I'm not holding my breath but I see no "nail in the coffin" to the NR7100 getting it. Personally I think at most it will get DLBM, but it would be cool if it got DLBC.

 

[EWL5]

Not really. It's a tier below the RZ, and less popular I'm sure. So it makes sense to work on this option for the RZ first, and then the TX later. I'm not holding my breath but I see no "nail in the coffin" to the NR7100 getting it. Personally I think at most it will get DLBM, but it would be cool if it got DLBC.

FYI: DLBM and DLBC capability go hand in hand. If an AVR gets DLBM functionality, it'll be DLBC capable (should you choose to pay)!

The 7100 is below the RZ50 only because Onkyo made it so. Unlike the 7100, the equivalent Integra DRX3.4 has a full set of pre-outs, which makes it a decent alternative to the slightly more powerful RZ50!

 

[andrewskaterrr]

FYI: DLBM and DLBC capability go hand in hand. If an AVR gets DLBM functionality, it'll be DLBC capable (should you choose to pay)!

The 7100 is below the RZ50 only because Onkyo made it so. Unlike the 7100, the equivalent Integra DRX3.4 has a full set of pre-outs, which makes it a decent alternative to the slightly more powerful RZ50!

Are you positive though, or just speculating based on what Denon and Onkyo got? It's literally the difference of a crossover. I don't think we have a concrete answer, it's just unknown right now.

 

[EWL5]

Are you positive though, or just speculating based on what Denon and Onkyo got? It's literally the difference of a crossover. I don't think we have a concrete answer, it's just unknown right now.

This is my experience from following the 2021 Voxx products (RZ50, 7100, etc.), 2023 Voxx products (RZ70 owners who told me they had DLBM before they purchased DLBC), and the current Denon lineup that's DLBM/DLBC capable.

I have yet to see an AVR that can do DLBM but can't do DLBC.

I'm also very active on the nearly 24k post Dirac thread on AVS where many other brands are also covered (StormAudio, JBL, Arcam, etc.).

 

[EWL5]

Very early reports are that the RZ50 firmware update that brought DLBM availability "cured" the SW bug for Dirac RC. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for 7100 users whose firmware is noticeably absent of DLBM. I'll report again after a week and the dust settles some more...

This is very good news for RZ50 Dirac users and not so much for 7100 ones. I suppose this is how Onkyo will try to upsell you to the RZ30 though the RZ50 can be had for much less at current street prices!

 

[dlaloum]

Very early reports are that the RZ50 firmware update that brought DLBM availability "cured" the SW bug for Dirac RC. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for 7100 users whose firmware is noticeably absent of DLBM. I'll report again after a week and the dust settles some more...

This is very good news for RZ50 Dirac users and not so much for 7100 ones. I suppose this is how Onkyo will try to upsell you to the RZ30 though the RZ50 can be had for much less at current street prices!

Looks like the same firmware updates came out for Integra 5.4 and 3.4, sadly the 3.4 missed out on DLBM/DLBC just like the NR7100.

(What will the RZ30 twin in the integra range be? - will there be one?)

 

[silverstreak_2006]

I switched to 6 ohms and at -08 dB the Kill-A-Watt meter measures a power draw that is fluctuating between 267 watts and 301 watts.

That's it.

 

[Power Pop 23]

Accessories 4 Less dot com is currently selling new samples of the Onkyo TX-NR7100 AVR for $599.

ONKYO NEW TX-NR7100 Dirac 9.2-Ch x 100w THX 8K A/V Receiver

New Factory Repack

www.accessories4less.com

 

[EWL5]

Accessories 4 Less dot com is currently selling new samples of the Onkyo TX-NR7100 AVR for $599.

ONKYO NEW TX-NR7100 Dirac 9.2-Ch x 100w THX 8K A/V Receiver

New Factory Repack

www.accessories4less.com

DLBM/DLBC not an option (even in newest firmware) if Dirac is important to you!

 

[EWL5]

Very early reports are that the RZ50 firmware update that brought DLBM availability "cured" the SW bug for Dirac RC. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for 7100 users whose firmware is noticeably absent of DLBM. I'll report again after a week and the dust settles some more...

This is very good news for RZ50 Dirac users and not so much for 7100 ones. I suppose this is how Onkyo will try to upsell you to the RZ30 though the RZ50 can be had for much less at current street prices!

Latest report from AVS: at least one owner found a repeatable bug and it has been reported to Onkyo/Dirac. DLBM/DLBC is currently not perfect for RZ50 yet!

https://www.avsforum.com/posts/63627860/

 

[Miker 1102]

I was of the same mindset, got a Yamaha and had to have all channel pre-outs and mostly out of laziness, used it for quite a period with built in amps, and frankly never found them lacking.

When I finally mustered up the energy to move stuff around one day, and finally do my separate amps I was left a bit underwhelmed.

Not that it did not sound good per se, but that it was not apparent anything was truly better. I guess "Maybe" on really demanding stuff with loud deep bass, "I maybe" thought it sounded less stressed (with my 4 ohm mains) but I was truly not even sure.....??

I have read that many times on forums. Thst people don't gear a lot if dofferneces using separates. I have tried in for tbe front two channels. I wasn't sure what it was supposed to do. I knew it couldn't make it louder. More dynamic?

 

[dlaloum]

I have read that many times on forums. Thst people don't gear a lot if dofferneces using separates. I have tried in for tbe front two channels. I wasn't sure what it was supposed to do. I knew it couldn't make it louder. More dynamic?

If the AVR is sufficient to meet the needs of the speaker / room, then an external amp will add nothing.

It is only if the AVR's power amp performance envelope does NOT meet the needs of the speaker/room - in my case a speaker that goes down to 1.6 ohm and requires a high current power supply - using external and APPROPRIATE (!) amps made a substantive and immediately noticeable difference compared to the Integra DRX3.4 internal amps.

Those same external amps made no noticeable difference when compared to an Onkyo SR876 or Integra DTR70.4 (similar amp specs to the RZ70/DRX8.4).... so for my case, I expect the NR7100/DRX3.4 or RZ50/DRX5.4 would be improved in my setup with appropriate external amps.... but the RZ70/DRX8.4 I would not expect any improvement .... it has much higher current power supply, and would most likely handle the difficult speaker load without trouble.

So for those who have easy to drive 8ohm speakers - external power amps amount to bling....

 

[Miker 1102]

So in your case the value to you of the avr must be a really good bang for the buck. I guess I can see that now. If somebody had really nice speakers that were hard to drive and already had the amplification, the preouts (with Dirac included and and halfway decent dac ) and your good to go. You had mentioned your dilemma with the art. I wonder how far that is going to trickle down. I intended on using g Dirac with the 3800 but hated the way it sounded for music and vocals. I been stuck there in the hobby since.

 

[andrewskaterrr]

I intended on using g Dirac with the 3800 but hated the way it sounded for music and vocals.

I always find these types of comments confusing. Dirac is going to do a better job than the others at getting closest to the desired response. I use the Harman Curve files from JBL on both my main JBL SDP-55 with JBL Studio 590s system, and my bedroom NR7100 + Jamo 5.1 setup. I've done before and after measurements, and it follows the curve just like I set it. Of course I still get room reflections that mess it up, but you can see how the overall response follows just what I put. If you don't like the sound, then it may be your speakers, their positioning, or the room acoustics?
Here's a Before and After of my fun bedroom setup that is far from ideal. If I had a better room with acoustic treatment it would be better of course. I did raise the bed's head up when calibrating/measuring just like I do when watching movies.

 

[Miker 1102]

I always find these types of comments confusing. Dirac is going to do a better job than the others at getting closest to the desired response. I use the Harman Curve files from JBL on both my main JBL SDP-55 with JBL Studio 590s system, and my bedroom NR7100 + Jamo 5.1 setup. I've done before and after measurements, and it follows the curve just like I set it. Of course I still get room reflections that mess it up, but you can see how the overall response follows just what I put. If you don't like the sound, then it may be your speakers, their positioning, or the room acoustics?
Here's a Before and After of my fun bedroom setup that is far from ideal. If I had a better room with acoustic treatment it would be better of course. I did raise the bed's head up when calibrating/measuring just like I do when watching movies. View attachment 409609

It wasn't the Dirac itself but the tone of the music on thr amp. Played pure Direct, with the same Audessy settings i had been using for years....the music was fatguing. I also found the dialog low and the enhance effected the treble. So I am just going to purchase an abr with a better dac maybe? Lots of people commented the 3800 sounded great to them and it was in my head. But it's what I heard multiple attempts. I have used it three times in a year.