Onkyo TX-RZ30

[Power Pop 23]

Adorama in NYC has renewed their deal on the Onkyo TX-RZ30 AVR with a new coupon code, yielding a net price of $699.99

Onkyo TX-RZ30 170W 9.2-Channel 8K/4K Network AV Receiver - 2025-09-26

Update: This popular deal is available again with a new coupon code. Adorama has Onkyo TX-RZ30 170W 9.2-Channel 8K/4K Network AV Receiver (TX-RZ30BMDC) on sale for $1,249.99 - $550 with coupon code

slickdeals.net

 

[masterhw]

Adorama in NYC has renewed their deal on the Onkyo TX-RZ30 AVR with a new coupon code, yielding a net price of $699.99

Onkyo TX-RZ30 170W 9.2-Channel 8K/4K Network AV Receiver - 2025-09-26

Update: This popular deal is available again with a new coupon code. Adorama has Onkyo TX-RZ30 170W 9.2-Channel 8K/4K Network AV Receiver (TX-RZ30BMDC) on sale for $1,249.99 - $550 with coupon code

slickdeals.net

wow, competent 9.2 AVR w/ DLBC for $998. great value, obvious choice over the X3800H unless you need those last two channels.

 

[dlaloum]

wow, competent 9.2 AVR w/ DLBC for $998. great value, obvious choice over the X3800H unless you need those last two channels.

I'm holding tight, waiting to see which PAC AVR's end up with ART support...

Currently have the DRX3.4 - the number of channels suits me fine, but I would like a 2nd sub channel (want to move from 5.1.4 to 5.2.4+ART)

The entire range from NR7100 on up have the same processors, so in hardware terms all of them can support ART (ie: all the PAC AVR's with Dirac) - but it is already clear that they are making marketing led decisions on where to deploy some updates... ie: which AVR's have receiver DLBC support and which haven't!

There has been no formal commitment to bring ART to any of the current generation, and PAC have told us that they are "working on the next generation".

So although there are some great deals out there (and with ART becoming available on D&M gear, discounts on PAC gear without ART upgrade options, are PAC's only defence, so no surprise!).... I would be sitting tight unless one absolutely needs a new AVR.

ART is generating a storm out there... the other manufacturers (other than D&M) will need to respond - and discounts only get you so far!

 

[popej]

competent 9.2 AVR w/ DLBC for $998. great value

Great value:
Dirac Live - LX305
Dirac Live BC - RZ30
Dirac Live ART - x3800h

 

[dlaloum]

Great value:
Dirac Live - LX305
Dirac Live BC - RZ30
Dirac Live ART - x3800h

I live in hope that we will see Dirac ART come to the RZ30.... providing a fantastic solution for those of us targeting 5.2.4

 

[HTPC_Dude]

Just purchased and took delivery of an RZ30, got a great deal on it, looking forward to plugging it all in and running Dirac this weekend.

 

[frabor]

I Hope the RZ30 gets tested soon by any of the members.

The only thing I really dislike about the RZ50 is the average ampa. I can live with the limp mode, since all my speakers are 8R and up. I have been very interested in the rz30 as you get a newer electronic control unit with digital specs better than the RZ50. just hope the amps are cleaner than the 50.

And worse case scenario, it would made a very decent and nicely priced dirac corrected stereo DAC streamer with subs. The DAC, if it is similar to the rest of the Onkyo Rx line, is very good to excellent, for a receiver.

 

[dlaloum]

I Hope the RZ30 gets tested soon by any of the members.

The only thing I really dislike about the RZ50 is the average ampa. I can live with the limp mode, since all my speakers are 8R and up. I have been very interested in the rz30 as you get a newer electronic control unit with digital specs better than the RZ50. just hope the amps are cleaner than the 50.

And worse case scenario, it would made a very decent and nicely priced dirac corrected stereo DAC streamer with subs. The DAC, if it is similar to the rest of the Onkyo Rx line, is very good to excellent, for a receiver.

I'm fairly certain the RZ30 uses the same amp circuits as the NR7100 and DRX3.4 - the changes have been at the DSP level where an additional channel have been added - no reason to change the amps.

If you refer to the NR7100 or LX305 bench tests - those should be relevant to the RZ30

I would not expect substantive variation in the pre-outs, but given that is the main board that was changed - it would be great to get it tested!

In theory all of these could support Dirac ART too.... but I doubt PAC will extend that capability down to this segment of the range - I sincerely hope I am wrong.

 

[frabor]

I'm fairly certain the RZ30 uses the same amp circuits as the NR7100 and DRX3.4 - the changes have been at the DSP level where an additional channel have been added - no reason to change the amps.

If you refer to the NR7100 or LX305 bench tests - those should be relevant to the RZ30

I would not expect substantive variation in the pre-outs, but given that is the main board that was changed - it would be great to get it tested!

In theory all of these could support Dirac ART too.... but I doubt PAC will extend that capability down to this segment of the range - I sincerely hope I am wrong.

Kind of disappointed if it uses the same amp with no improvements. The 7100 amps not great. Regarding the digital part, if it is based on the rz70, it will be ok, and at least similar or better thab the rz50, and that good. The Onkyo pre out o. The Rx series are pretryy good.

And I hope you are wrong about ART.

My perfect entry level receiver would be the RZ30 with amps as clean as the rz70

 

[valerianf]

"Kind of disappointed if it uses the same amp with no improvements."
All I can testify is switching from a Yamaha RX A700 to the RZ30, the amplifier is far better at driving two large column speakers and a center speaker.
Each 3 ways column speaker has 2 x 8 inch drivers.
The RZ30 has no issue to drive them in bi-amp mode when the Yamaha was very limited and anemic.
The RZ30 dynamic for the movies is amazing.
For music, I am a little looking for some improvement for now.

 

[EngineerNate]

I Hope the RZ30 gets tested soon by any of the members.

The only thing I really dislike about the RZ50 is the average ampa. I can live with the limp mode, since all my speakers are 8R and up. I have been very interested in the rz30 as you get a newer electronic control unit with digital specs better than the RZ50. just hope the amps are cleaner than the 50.

And worse case scenario, it would made a very decent and nicely priced dirac corrected stereo DAC streamer with subs. The DAC, if it is similar to the rest of the Onkyo Rx line, is very good to excellent, for a receiver.

I’ve sent an RZ30 to Amir for testing.

 

[dlaloum]

Kind of disappointed if it uses the same amp with no improvements. The 7100 amps not great. Regarding the digital part, if it is based on the rz70, it will be ok, and at least similar or better thab the rz50, and that good. The Onkyo pre out o. The Rx series are pretryy good.

And I hope you are wrong about ART.

My perfect entry level receiver would be the RZ30 with amps as clean as the rz70

There is nothing wrong with the amps - driving a single speaker they do fine - driving multiple "difficult" (1.6ohm) speakers - they don't do well - this indicates that the amp itself is fine, but the power supply is lacking...

Take the NR7100 (or any of its brethren including the RZ30) and double the power supply size, and all would be fine!

They share DAC's and DSP chips all the way up to the RZ70 (and its brethren)

what the RZ70 brings to the table primarily, is a decently substantial power supply... the amp circuits are basically the same overall design - albeit beefed up and with much improved heatsinks.

I am still hanging on waiting to see what the PAC response to the release of ART will be.... if nothing is forthcoming by early next year... I will look elsewhere.

 

[EWL5]

There is nothing wrong with the amps - driving a single speaker they do fine - driving multiple "difficult" (1.6ohm) speakers - they don't do well - this indicates that the amp itself is fine, but the power supply is lacking...

Take the NR7100 (or any of its brethren including the RZ30) and double the power supply size, and all would be fine!

They share DAC's and DSP chips all the way up to the RZ70 (and its brethren)

what the RZ70 brings to the table primarily, is a decently substantial power supply... the amp circuits are basically the same overall design - albeit beefed up and with much improved heatsinks.

I am still hanging on waiting to see what the PAC response to the release of ART will be.... if nothing is forthcoming by early next year... I will look elsewhere.

The RZ70 also doesn't appear to have the "limp mode" characterized in the RZ50/505/DRX 5.4 and the 7100/305/DRX 3.4. As the current flagship, it has no choice but to be the most robust design for PAC!

 

[EngineerNate]

I believe the 70 swaps a Burr Brown dac for ESS as well.

 

[delta76]

I’ve sent an RZ30 to Amir for testing.

Thanks for your generosity

@amirm can you estimate when you can review this one? Just a ballpark. i need to buy an AVR soon and want to wait for this review so I have no regret choosing a Denon

 

[dlaloum]

The RZ70 also doesn't appear to have the "limp mode" characterized in the RZ50/505/DRX 5.4 and the 7100/305/DRX 3.4. As the current flagship, it has no choice but to be the most robust design for PAC!

It has a massive power supply... and substantial heatsinking - presumably the "nanny" mode ("limp mode"?) protection is set to a much higher level, reflecting the engineering of the RZ70...

Which means that in lab tests - the limits of the overly protective circuit, are never reached, whereas with the 7100/305/3.4 they were clearly reached on the lab bench test (although unheard of in actual use in the field!)

To find out whether it has the protective circuit we would have to bench test the RZ70 at a much much higher level, instead of 5W continuous, perhaps 30W continuous? (who knows.... you won't know till you reach the trigger point, or fry the receiver...)

Alternatively, if we could have the service manual with the circuit diagrams, people could investigate the actual design ... but I don't think there have been any service manuals put out since Onkyo was sold to PAC.

 

[J. Lohmann]

Can someone confirm for me whether the RZ30 allows the user to keep the surround mode in use illuminated full time on the front display?

 

[dlaloum]

Can someone confirm for me whether the RZ30 allows the user to keep the surround mode in use illuminated full time on the front display?

I believe it behaves like other members of this family, my Integra DRX3.4 leaves the source up full time, and not the surround mode...

 

[J. Lohmann]

I believe it behaves like other members of this family, my Integra DRX3.4 leaves the source up full time, and not the surround mode...

I ask because someone suggested to me recently that they made some changes, specifically to the 30 and 70 models (not to the 50, if I'm not mistaken), where the user can now keep just the surround mode up (but not together with the input/source name) -- but I wasn't sure if this was true. This is a big deal for me, so it's why I wanted confirmation before I purchase a new Onk to replace the Denon 2800 I'm using now (which I'm not really in love with).

 

[Timcognito]

Onkyo help number, so give them a call with these issues (800) 229-1687

They helped with some things for me