Onkyo TX-RZ50 Review (Home Theater AVR)

[EWL5]

If you are still referring to the two sub outs being independent, I 100% hope you are right but that is just wishful thinking at the moment. If they did do that, the RZ30 may be the only real so called "9.2" on the market at the moment at the <$1,000 list price range. I may then try to sell my AVR-X1800H and buy the RZ30.

Unfortunately, list price for all this new goodness is $1199!

TX-RZ30 9.2 Channel AV Receiver | Onkyo

The Onkyo TX-RZ30 AV Receiver offers 100 Watts Per Channel, Dirac Live Out of Box, Works with Sonos Certified, THX Certified and More. Shop Now!

onkyo.com

 

[peng]

Unfortunately, list price for all this new goodness is $1199!

TX-RZ30 9.2 Channel AV Receiver | Onkyo

The Onkyo TX-RZ30 AV Receiver offers 100 Watts Per Channel, Dirac Live Out of Box, Works with Sonos Certified, THX Certified and More. Shop Now!

onkyo.com

Well it comes with the Dirac Live without bass control license that is worth $349. So, I am okay with $1199 and still consider it as a <$1000 AVR haha.

 

[ban25]

If you are still referring to the two sub outs being independent, I 100% hope you are right but that is just wishful thinking at the moment. If they did do that, the RZ30 may be the only real so called "9.2" on the market at the moment at the <$1,000 list price range. I may then try to sell my AVR-X1800H and buy the RZ30.

If we read the press release carefully:

With a Dirac Live Room Correction Full Bandwidth license included with the purchased, and an optional Dirac Live Bass Control upgrade available for Single/Multi, users are ensured perfectly calibrated audio from the get-go. Dirac Live Room Correction can calibrate the full frequency range (20 Hz to 20 kHz) of music and movie sound. The optional Dirac Live Bass Control ensures that the two independent subwoofer outputs that are calibrated with all other speakers to provide bass refinement and fine details, while enhancing mid and high frequencies.

New Onkyo TX-RZ30 9.2 Channel A/V Receiver is Technology Packed for the Immersive Home Theater of Your Dreams - The Absolute Sound

New Onkyo TX-RZ30 9.2 Channel A/V Receiver is Technology Packed for the Immersive Home Theater of Your Dreams - Onkyo® is pleased to announce the Onkyo TX-RZ30 Channel A/V Receiver, as it expands its premium RZ Series lineup.

www.theabsolutesound.com

The odds of both subwoofer outputs being independent on this model are very, very high. The confusion around the RZ50 is simply down to the fact that the RZ30 is a 2024 model and the RZ50 is a 2021 model. No different then comparing an X6700H with 2 sub outs to an X3800H with 4, when they were both on the market at the same time.

It's a shame it's only Roon Tested. Aside from that, it's an impressive feature set for the price.

 

[peng]

If we read the press release carefully:

New Onkyo TX-RZ30 9.2 Channel A/V Receiver is Technology Packed for the Immersive Home Theater of Your Dreams - The Absolute Sound

New Onkyo TX-RZ30 9.2 Channel A/V Receiver is Technology Packed for the Immersive Home Theater of Your Dreams - Onkyo® is pleased to announce the Onkyo TX-RZ30 Channel A/V Receiver, as it expands its premium RZ Series lineup.

www.theabsolutesound.com

The odds of both subwoofer outputs being independent on this model are very, very high. The confusion around the RZ50 is simply down to the fact that the RZ30 is a 2024 model and the RZ50 is a 2021 model. No different then comparing an X6700H with 2 sub outs to an X3800H with 4, when they were both on the market at the same time.

It's a shame it's only Roon Tested. Aside from that, it's an impressive feature set for the price.

I did read that part carefully as I am interested in that feature that I did not get on my Denon for the 2 channel system. My slight concern is that the narrative could have been referencing the bass control software capability, i.e. it "can do" if your hardware also has the capability. Too bad there isn't a clearly defined standard for the .1, .2, .4 notation.

Again, I am hopeful too, and agreed the odds is quite good, but I would suggest people who really need two independent sub outs not jump in right away just in case. Ommv.., obviously.

 

[EWL5]

I did read that part carefully as I am interested in that feature that I did not get on my Denon for the 2 channel system. My slight concern is that the narrative could have been referencing the bass control software capability, i.e. it "can do" if your hardware also has the capability. Too bad there isn't a clearly defined standard for the .1, .2, .4 notation.

Again, I am hopeful too, and agreed the odds is quite good, but I would suggest people who really need two independent sub outs not jump in right away just in case. Ommv.., obviously.

We already know multi-DLBC is capable of handling far more than 2 SW (4 at least)! What reason would they have to specifically limit the verbiage to "2" independent sub outs?

 

[dlaloum]

The point is, that Onkyo don't misname RZ30, it should be a lower model than RZ50 and missing some features rather than adding more like getting DLBC while RZ50 doesn't. As for missing, at first look I would say no radio and single USB port. And I doubt it has 2 independent subs, since it would be a major redesign - more connections to DSP, more DACs, more preamp channels.

Without dual independent subs, it would effectively be the same as an Integra DRX 3.4 - in which case, what's the point? - Those who don't need pre-outs can get the NR7100, those that do can get the Integra DRX 3.4!

On the other hand they may be starting a new generation - in which case the RZ30 would replace the NR7100... and presumably an updated AVR would replace the RZ50 - with dual independent subs....

No announcements for Pioneer or Integra - that raises questions?

 

[EWL5]

No announcements for Pioneer or Integra - that raises questions?

Not really. It's just giving Onkyo an opportunity to enjoy the spotlight by itself. I'm sure the Pioneer and Integra equivalents will follow soon enough!

 

[Pilliyarvenkatesan]

Bought 4800. Previously used pioneer lx57 . Not happy with 4800. How about rz70? (Not looking at rz50 caz of multi sub)

 

[dlaloum]

Bought 4800. Previously used pioneer lx57 . Not happy with 4800. How about rz70? (Not looking at rz50 caz of multi sub)

The RZ70 (and Pio/Integra sibs) is a high current design - the 4800 (and RZ50) isn't - you would have to go up to the X6800 to get decent current in the Denon family...

If the 4800 isn't doing it, chances are you have low impedance speakers (or high phase angles) - that require a high current amp design... cos it has plenty of power... but not so much current.

 

[Pilliyarvenkatesan]

The RZ70 (and Pio/Integra sibs) is a high current design - the 4800 (and RZ50) isn't - you would have to go up to the X6800 to get decent current in the Denon family...

If the 4800 isn't doing it, chances are you have low impedance speakers (or high phase angles) - that require a high current amp design... cos it has plenty of power... but not so much current.

Got anthem mca 325 hooked to polk 400 and crown 2502 to polk r700...not making 4800 sounding to my taste yet. Will rz70 help?

 

[EWL5]

The RZ70 (and Pio/Integra sibs) is a high current design - the 4800 (and RZ50) isn't - you would have to go up to the X6800 to get decent current in the Denon family...

If the 4800 isn't doing it, chances are you have low impedance speakers (or high phase angles) - that require a high current amp design... cos it has plenty of power... but not so much current.

Why do you say the 4800 isn't a high current design? According to Amir's review, it certainly had nowhere near the clipping found in the RZ50 for 4 ohms:

 

[popej]

Why do you say the 4800 isn't a high current design?

Because "high current design" is a marketing term used by Onkyo?

 

[EWL5]

Because "high current design" is a marketing term used by Onkyo?

Nope. We used the term all the time in training and we didn't even carry Onkyo nearly 20 years ago!

 

[popej]

We used the term all the time in training

Then is there a technical meaning to it?

 

[peng]

Why do you say the 4800 isn't a high current design? According to Amir's review, it certainly had nowhere near the clipping found in the RZ50 for 4 ohms:

There is no point asking him because I have tried, by explaining many times why the so called "high current" is a misnomer, sort of not well defined terms like the power consumption thing. It is also hard to define even if one tries, but it is possible to establish some sort of a standard, again a bit like power consumption. It is hard to define because we are talking about audio amplifiers that are usually designed to drive loud speakers that are not resistive loads and the impedance vs frequency is almost always not a straight line, not even close.. Our friend @dlaloum knows a lot about this topic but he is very fixated on the way he perceive what he seems to consider "high current design". Denon, Marantz, Onkyo, Yamaha and others clearly have different ways, and yes, in doing their won, they tend to lean on their marketing a lot, at least that's my impression, obviously. So yes, despite my disagreement with our friend, his ways, while could be misleading imo, is a lot more useful than the likes of D+M, Onkyo's marketing hype leaning ways.

Bottom line, it is a loosely defined term at best, and could be a subjective matter to some extents, in some cases.

 

[ban25]

Got anthem mca 325 hooked to polk 400 and crown 2502 to polk r700...not making 4800 sounding to my taste yet. Will rz70 help?

Try running Audyssey XT32 with the $20 mobile app on the 4800.

If you want the RZ70, take a look at the Pioneer LX805, which is essentially identical, but on sale for $1999 at Best Buy (was $1500 last week):

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/pioneer-elite-vsx-lx805-11-4-channel-av-receiver-black/6562899.p?skuId=6562899

 

[EWL5]

Then is there a technical meaning to it?

Although a common marketing term (I was a sales guy), the term "high current" also helped folks differentiate good AVRs (gas in the tank) from bad AVRs (running on empty). In the early days when the FTC amplifier mandate was either too new or not heavily enforced, there just wasn't a good way to adequately convey power reserves to the customer!

Bringing it back to 2024, this would be my take:

High Current Design
Denon 4800:
8 ohm load = 134W into 2CH @ 95dB SINAD
4 ohm load = 175W into 2CH @ 87dB SINAD

Not a High Current Design
Onkyo RZ50
8 ohm load = 136W into 2CH @ 75dB SINAD
4 ohm load = ~35W (before clipping) into 2CH @ 75dB SINAD

*All numbers from Amir's testbench

Throwing around the term "high current" should imply you have informed knowledge, as we do in this case from Amir's reviews!

The following article echoes a lot of what Peng says (I think).

The High Instantaneous Current Spec

We've all seen amplifier companies tout that their amps are "high current". This article explores that topic as well as the history of how the term became popularized by some manufacturers.

www.audioholics.com

 

[popej]

4 ohm load = ~35W (before clipping) into 2CH @ 75dB SINAD

Let's be clear: Amir measured 174W into 2Ch, before protection kicked in.

 

[EWL5]

Let's be clear: Amir measured 174W into 2Ch, before protection kicked in.

Are you talking about for the 8 ohm load? If so, I ignore any power numbers where the resulting SINAD is in the 30-60dB range!

If you're talking about for 4 ohm load, I didn't see this mentioned in the first post of the RZ50 or Pioneer 505 review.

 

[popej]

If you're talking about for 4 ohm load, I didn't see this mentioned in the first post of the RZ50 or Pioneer 505 review.

Here, marked all details: