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Onkyo Tx-RZ70

This is interesting....

One would assume that the preamp mode requires actual physical hardware (a relay switch) rather than being mere software/firmware.

So this implies a hardware difference between the RZ70 & DRX8.4 (and possibly the LX805)... if the boards are different, then we will need to pay attention for/to future bench tests of the other siblings, as their performance may differ!
Its difficult to judge, but comparing several "subjective reviews" the Integra and the Onkyo are supposed to sound almost the same, whilst the Pioneer seems to sound somewhat different, but in a negative way...
Hard to judge subjectively...
 
This is interesting....

One would assume that the preamp mode requires actual physical hardware (a relay switch) rather than being mere software/firmware.

So this implies a hardware difference between the RZ70 & DRX8.4 (and possibly the LX805)... if the boards are different, then we will need to pay attention for/to future bench tests of the other siblings, as their performance may differ!
The PCBs are probably the same, but not everything is populated depending on the Onkyo families units...
 
The PCBs are probably the same, but not everything is populated depending on the Onkyo families units...
I would still like to see those service manuals... previous generations had service manuals that were shared between the Onkyo/Integra pairs, so you could easily see which components were the same, and which differed....

But 2 years after they came out, still no sign of service manuals in the wild....
 
One would assume that the preamp mode requires actual physical hardware (a relay switch) rather than being mere software/firmware.

So this implies a hardware difference between the RZ70 & DRX8.4 (and possibly the LX805)...
One jumper, I guess.
 
They probably service their products "inhouse", probably due to a low number of service returns (prior insolvence and few units sold). I don't expect any printed service manuals as long as they don't have several external service stations listed. The current major price reductions seem to signal, that sales figures are currently low and need some help to improve...
 
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Onkyo arrived couple of days ago.

So far so good. With my current speaker setup 7.1, I'm getting good volume for my room, so no need for dedicated amps. Except LG's native MAX app, don't know why the input signal is so low.

Web interface is great and the internal temp sensor showed max temp of 35C after 5 hours of working with 7 speakers (room temp 28C).

There are a couple of issues though. Maybe it's just my settings, but sometimes sound stops when changing apps on TV. Reciever gets stuck in a listening mode and outputs no sound. But only on TV apps or media box connected to TV. If I change input to PC (that is connected directly to AVR) sound works, but only for that input. This also happened sometimes with my soundbar. Sound comes back if I disconnect and reconnect the cable..:/

Also, I don't know why Onkyo doesn't let me upmix Dolby Atmos content to Auro? Other brands do that. Is it not upmixing because I don't have height channels?
 
Also, I don't know why Onkyo doesn't let me upmix Dolby Atmos content to Auro? Other brands do that. Is it not upmixing because I don't have height channels?
IIRC Dolby licensing does not permit upmixing Atmos content. What you could do is decode to PCM on something like an Apple TV and then upmix that with AURO3D.
 
IIRC Dolby licensing does not permit upmixing Atmos content. What you could do is decode to PCM on something like an Apple TV and then upmix that with AURO3D.
Oh, ok. I'm leaning towards auro height speaker placement, but I read it also works great with atmos content.
 
Oh, ok. I'm leaning towards auro height speaker placement, but I read it also works great with atmos content.
I have a 5.2.4 setup with 4 in-ceilings for the height speakers. These are defined as Top Front and Top Rear. Content destined for Top Middle gets panned between them. I went with this approach because quite a few Atmos mixes only put content into Top Middle, and in the case of a 6 height channel layout (TF/TM/TR), only the middle two speakers end up being active.

This setup works well for me, both with native Atmos content and upmixed content using AURO3D (my preferred upmixer).
 
IIRC Dolby licensing does not permit upmixing Atmos content. What you could do is decode to PCM on something like an Apple TV and then upmix that with AURO3D.
But then you would lose the Atmos layer, ending up with 5.1/7.1 PCM
 
Auditioning the RZ-70 today in my setup. I like it a lot but a couple of things give me pause - the internal fan is always on and audible during quiet scenes, and the preout mode being only for L/R or all channels is unfortunate as I am adding a 3 channel ncx500 soon :(
 
Auditioning the RZ-70 today in my setup. I like it a lot but a couple of things give me pause - the internal fan is always on and audible during quiet scenes, and the preout mode being only for L/R or all channels is unfortunate as I am adding a 3 channel ncx500 soon :(
There's actually 4 fans and only one of them should be on at low speed in normal operation. It's not audible on my Integra. Do you have adequate ventilation around the unit? What does the Web Interface say about fan speed and temperature?
 
There's actually 4 fans and only one of them should be on at low speed in normal operation. It's not audible on my Integra. Do you have adequate ventilation around the unit? What does the Web Interface say about fan speed and temperature?

Yeah, it's in an open rack, so plenty of airflow. Below is what it says in the web interface. It is a quiet fan for sure, but it isn't silent. I wish it would only turn on as needed instead of running all the time.

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What is over expensive is that to have a correct power output for 4 ohms speaker and to get the Auro 3D up mixer a RZ70 is the cheapest unit in the Onkyo products.
It is overkilling to do 5.1
I hope that one day Onkyo will upgrade the power amplification for a new RZ50 successor.
I agree with this. I tried the cheaper avrs becaue they had Dirac but I simply wasn't happy. The 3800 Denon shows the balances of tech and price. I think the 50 was close but I just loved the auromatic. The R70 will be a crazy value in a couple of years. I don't think I will be able to have a full theater in my other house I am moving into. If I did, I would wait till it gets to about 1500 and look for it open box of used.
 
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I'm running a Onkyo NR7100 in 5.2.4 configuration with Atlantic Technology THX certified speakers, including a pair of 300W RMS active sealed subs, calibrated with Dirac Live and it sounds fantastic. I've never run out of power or had any other issues, it just works, and it works great.
 
Class D amps just requite a power supply, some deliver it with transformer based old style power others with switching - it just needs V & A... just like a class AB!

Pioneer's AVR's had class D for a few generations... and it was priced competitively with Class AB AVR's

Pioneer chief designer has stated that he would like to further differentiate Pioneer from its Onkyo/Integra siblings... potentially bringing back Class D - but right now Voxx is in financial difficulty, so I doubt there will be funding for that effort... for now.

However it is clear that Class D can be used in AVR's and that cost is not necessarily an issue (given it has already been successfully done by several brands).

Onkyo/Integra have a reputation in amps based on Class AB ... and they may be trying to leverage that.

Personally I believe that one of the biggest steps forward in AVR's would be changing to switch mode power supplies... which can be done in less space, than transformers, and deliver more power - that alone would provide many AVR's with improved power sections without in any way altering the power amp circuits!
Yeah, I always wonder with these companies if they are going to last. Denon's buyer is in a lawsuit with Apple and I don't think the synergy the ceo thought he could bring is going to happen. These companies are actually very niche and people don't really understand how tentative avr business is. It's a tiny niche. I wonder what innovation looks like. Is it what Sony is doing? Where it is not hardware but more software focused like ART?
 
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