Onkyo TX-RZ30 AV Receiver Review

[popej]

I was curious if the on purpose 4-ohm switch gave similar power suck as the unintended limp mode.

Usually there are only 2 voltages for amps, switched by a single relay. So yes, it should be the same power for 4 Ohm and when it is playing at low volume.

 

[a.dent]

I've always appreciated ASR and love the objective focus. Unfortunately here, you are not testing the unit the way 99% of owners would use it.

Who would buy an AVR and use a 2 channel source in direct mode when they could use Dirac and multichannel to take advantage of the technology and get far better sound?

As far as the crippled mode to stop the power restriction simply set the speaker impedance to 6 Ohm or above.

You can use the web interface or the remote. This is from my Integra 8.4 but it will be the same on the Onkyos.

 

[Soulone]

I've always appreciated ASR and love the objective focus. Unfortunately here, you are not testing the unit the way 99% of owners would use it.

Who would buy an AVR and use a 2 channel source in direct mode when they could use Dirac and multichannel to take advantage of the technology and get far better sound?

As far as the crippled mode to stop the power restriction simply set the speaker impedance to 6 Ohm or above.

You can use the web interface or the remote. This is from my Integra 8.4 but it will be the same on the Onkyos.

View attachment 536027

View attachment 536026

That's the same menu I see in the RZ70 with ciuser / ciuser

 

[a.dent]

That's the same menu I see in the RZ70 with ciuser / ciuser

Yes. All Onkyos and Integras are the same.

 

[pure]

I bought a Marantz for the Dirac Art.

However, compared to when using the Dirac RC, the Onkyo product was superior in terms of clarity and detail in the high frequencies.

 

[aagstn]

This receiver is just fine for its intended purpose, multichannel surround sound for watching movies. I doubt anyone using it for that purpose will notice any issues with it. At this price point you are hooking it up to multiple 8 ohm speakers, calibrating it with Dirac, and enjoying a movie. Receivers are always going to have trade offs to pack that many features in a single box.

 

[DoctorRobert]

The weird power-management is an itch if you buy this device, but in the in the end I think that for most people, most of the time this should be fine. To be more precise, anyone who has a subwoofer that takes over below 80 Hz will never run into problems. Lately, I have moved from a Denon X2600 crossed over @ 95 Hz to a X3800 crossed over @ 40 Hz for the front speakers. The X3800 gets noticeably warmer (though not hot). And to be clear, the X2600 is not known for its unlimited power delivery. (Just to illustrate where the amplifier power goes.)
I think, if you choose between the Denons and this one (or a family member), the room correction options are where the real differences are. This one (TX-RZ30) includes Dirac. Denon comes with Audessey and the OCA hack (A1 EVO Acoustix, highly recommended) with the option to purchase Dirac at a high price. The X3800 als includes the option to use up to 4 subwoofer calibrated individually. I am not really sure if the Dirac version that is included in the Onkyo is the same as what can be purchased for the Denons. If it measures up, the Onkyo is clearly a bargain on the Dirac front. (I based my choice, partly, OCA's work. Different strokes for different folks.) Anyway, the differences you will hear, will be mostly, if not completely depend on the room correction.
If you want to use floorstanding speakers without a subwoofer, then the TX-RZ30 is probably not the perfect match. If you use at least one subwoofer, and you like what Dirac does, then this may well be a bargain for you.
To be complete, there are differences in specifications that could be relevant in specific use cases but I doubt if they matter to many people.

 

[EWL5]

I don’t understand why Onkyo and sister brands don’t respond to battering received from this site. Products are sold at discount compared to Denon because of ASR. The complaints are widely disseminated, especially after AI. Remedies are not difficult or expensive.

You are mistaken if you think the Onkyo products are sold at a discount because of this "unintended 4 ohm mode" notoriety. They are sold at a discount because they can. Onkyo is a "volume seller" whereas Denon is happy to make more profit selling fewer units (who else has the balls to increase MSRP after ART availability and tariffs?).

There'll be no better proof of this than when the next gen Onkyo MSRP is revealed in 2027.

 

[EWL5]

I've always appreciated ASR and love the objective focus. Unfortunately here, you are not testing the unit the way 99% of owners would use it.

Who would buy an AVR and use a 2 channel source in direct mode when they could use Dirac and multichannel to take advantage of the technology and get far better sound?

As far as the crippled mode to stop the power restriction simply set the speaker impedance to 6 Ohm or above.

You can use the web interface or the remote. This is from my Integra 8.4 but it will be the same on the Onkyos.

View attachment 536027

View attachment 536026

It appears you don't understand the "unintended 4-ohm mode" issue. Go read the reviews for the 7100, 505, 505 retest, and the first post of this thread. Once you understand, feel free to ask questions.

 

[EWL5]

The weird power-management is an itch if you buy this device, but in the in the end I think that for most people, most of the time this should be fine. To be more precise, anyone who has a subwoofer that takes over below 80 Hz will never run into problems. Lately, I have moved from a Denon X2600 crossed over @ 95 Hz to a X3800 crossed over @ 40 Hz for the front speakers. The X3800 gets noticeably warmer (though not hot). And to be clear, the X2600 is not known for its unlimited power delivery. (Just to illustrate where the amplifier power goes.)
I think, if you choose between the Denons and this one (or a family member), the room correction options are where the real differences are. This one (TX-RZ30) includes Dirac. Denon comes with Audessey and the OCA hack (A1 EVO Acoustix, highly recommended) with the option to purchase Dirac at a high price. The X3800 als includes the option to use up to 4 subwoofer calibrated individually. I am not really sure if the Dirac version that is included in the Onkyo is the same as what can be purchased for the Denons. If it measures up, the Onkyo is clearly a bargain on the Dirac front. (I based my choice, partly, OCA's work. Different strokes for different folks.) Anyway, the differences you will hear, will be mostly, if not completely depend on the room correction.
If you want to use floorstanding speakers without a subwoofer, then the TX-RZ30 is probably not the perfect match. If you use at least one subwoofer, and you like what Dirac does, then this may well be a bargain for you.
To be complete, there are differences in specifications that could be relevant in specific use cases but I doubt if they matter to many people.

1) Onkyo maxes out at DLBC while 3800+ can do all the way to Dirac ART.

2) RC is useless if the SQ is impacted by a software limited amp.

https://www.avsforum.com/posts/63676894/

 

[DoctorRobert]

1) Onkyo maxes out at DLBC while 3800+ can do all the way to Dirac ART.

2) RC is useless if the SQ is impacted by a software limited amp.

https://www.avsforum.com/posts/63676894/

About 2) I understand that you got burned by the power issue. (And I prefer the Denon options.) Still, 30 Watts or so is really quite loud, if there are no frequencies under 80 Hz involved. So, I still think that the TX-RZ30 can be a rational choice. All sensibly priced AV receivers have compromises, and I think that output power is easily overrated as determining parameter. Just don't trust the what is on the box.
Edit: I am not defending any design choices here, just well informed purchase choices.
YMMV

 

[a.dent]

It appears you don't understand the "unintended 4-ohm mode" issue. Go read the reviews for the 7100, 505, 505 retest, and the first post of this thread. Once you understand, feel free to ask questions.

Please explain. Are you saying 4 Ohm or less speakers will trigger the limp mode in all cases?

I run a 7.2.4 setup to ear bleeding volume with my Integra (Onkyo clone) receiver and the speakers definitely drop well below 4 Ohms at some frequencies. Sure, if I set the "Speaker impedance" to 4 Ohms, I can't get to that volume but I've never had a problem with it set to "6 Ohms or above".

 

[popej]

So, I still think that the TX-RZ30 can be a rational choice.

While measurement results are average and overload indication is a failure, there is no real life problem here. That said I don't think Amir's review is enough to make a decision. What really matters are features, usability, reliability. Personally I like Dirac and 2 sub channels, but I would miss features like presets or volume trim independent for each input. Buttons on front looks inconvenient and offered controls doesn't seem to be the most usable. Actually I would prefer to get direct buttons for playback modes and knob for input selection, but Onkyo decided otherwise.

 

[popej]

Please explain. Are you saying 4 Ohm or less speakers will trigger the limp mode in all cases?

No. Amir's way of testing triggers protection and the problem is, that AVR provide no indication of protected mode.

 

[Timcognito]

While measurement results are average and overload indication is a failure, there is no real life problem here. That said I don't think Amir's review is enough to make a decision. What really matters are features, usability, reliability. Personally I like Dirac and 2 sub channels, but I would miss features like presets or volume trim independent for each input. Buttons on front looks inconvenient and offered controls doesn't seem to be the most usable. Actually I would prefer to get direct buttons for playback modes and knob for input selection, but Onkyo decided otherwise.

This and price has hit $750 on several occasions, so ASR may help with a few more discounts. For modest setup or renter this unit could lead to some great HT and 2-ch sound.

 

[Power Pop 23]

This and price has hit $750 on several occasions, so ASR may help with a few more discounts. For modest setup or renter this unit could lead to some great HT and 2-ch sound.

I have no idea of the supply and demand for the Onkyo TX-RZ30 AVR.

Occasionally in 2025, Adorama in NYC offered the similar Integra DRX-3.4 AVR for as little as $569.

I wonder if the price of the Onkyo TX-RZ30 will fall to a similar level.

 

[Ismapics]

I have a beautiful paperweight with an Onkyo Logo on it. I have no way to service it locally, it's a hassle to find the HDMI board, its unsure that it will not break again and it costs $150 each way in shipping plus parts and labor. I am better off with a new Yamaha. We all talk about expendable electronics, but an $800 HTR was not what I have in mind. The Yamaha it replaced lasted 20 years. This is incomprehensible.

 

[mns3dhm]

I could hear Ballad Of A Thin Man somewhere in the background while reading through this. You wonder how many households have one of these or something similar without ever realizing what’s wrong with it. Yikes!

 

[Power Pop 23]

I have a beautiful paperweight with an Onkyo Logo on it. I have no way to service it locally, it's a hassle to find the HDMI board, its unsure that it will not break again and it costs $150 each way in shipping plus parts and labor. I am better off with a new Yamaha. We all talk about expendable electronics, but an $800 HTR was not what I have in mind. The Yamaha it replaced lasted 20 years. This is incomprehensible.

That is regrettable to hear.

I had a failed HDMI output on an Onkyo '805' over a decade ago

This morning I could not access the GUI of the 'System Setup' of a similar Pioneer '505' AVR - used as an AVP - with the '805' powering four channels.

The Pioneer remote app for iOS could not connect to the AVR either.

An execution of a 'factory reset' via the front panel display restored functionality.

My 4.1 home theater configuration will become a 2.1 configuration going forward if and when this AVR fails.


The JBL 'MA' series of AVR's uses Class-D amplification and all models weigh less than 17 pounds.

That relatively low weight should save money on the cost of shipping if servicing is needed.

 

[EWL5]

I could hear Ballad Of A Thin Man somewhere in the background while reading through this. You wonder how many households have one of these or something similar without ever realizing what’s wrong with it. Yikes!

Not many people can tell the difference or would even care (the AVS thread I started only had a handful of people who could tell the difference). There will be no shortage of these AVRs sold and enthusiasts make up a tiny fraction of the total consumers. Folks will bemoan how expensive Denons are in comparison but I think Onkyo and Denon can co-exist peacefully in their own lanes.

It's ok if the average consumer thinks the RZ30/RZ50 is an apples to apples comparison to the 3800. The only thing that matters is that we know better...