Onkyo first introduced Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio to the world in 2007. The first AV Receivers with THX entered the world in 1993. Onkyo has always been in the forefront when it comes to introducing new technologies in their products.
The Onkyo TX- NR709 sits in the middle of their ‘09’ series for 2011. It is a 7.2 channel AV Receiver with THX Select Plus2 Certification. There are new technologies to help you calibrate your sound no matter how what shape your room is. They all work together to render the most immersive audio and visual experience your money can buy.
Onkyo TX-NR709
Keeping You Connected
This AVR has plenty of connectivity at the back it may scare some of your girlfriends. It has a respectable 8 HDMI inputs, with one in the front. These support 3D and are version 1.4a. This set comes with a 2 HDMI Outputs. You also get 2 Component and 2 Composite video inputs. There are 2 Optical and 3 Coaxial Inputs for digital audio. It also has a PC Input and an Ethernet Port.
The back of the Onkyo TX-NR709 may look like a minefield of fruitloops. The front panel is much cleaner. It sports a very angular shape and has green backlighting. The TX-NR709 finishes with a solid black brushed aluminum look.
The Onkyo TX-NR709 has the capacity to control difference sources in 3 Zones. This means that you can watch Open Season 3D on blu-ray. Someone else can be listening to Michael Buble in another room. The TX-NR709 can control both at the same time.
The Onkyo TX-NR709 is iPod Ready and HD Radio Ready. You can also connect and listen to online radio stations. The TX-NR709 offers you a few in-built programs. You get the vTuner, Pandora, Sirius iRadio and Rhapsody. It is DLNA and Windows 7 Certified.
Below is the back panel layout. Click on image to enlarge for a clearer view.
Onkyo TX-NR709 Back Panel
Features
The Onkyo TX-NR709 is a 7.2 channels AV Receiver. This receiver is capable of doing 3D playback with its HDMI 1.4a technology. It offers analog and standard definition Upconversion to 4K Upscaling (3840 x 2160). This future-proof feature is uses the built-in Marvell QVEO Processing Chip.
This AVR delivers 110 Watts to each of its channels into 8 ohms. It does this through its 7 internal high-current Wide Range Amplifier Technology (WRAT) amplifiers. The TX-NR709 can bi-amp for the front speakers.
The Onkyo TX-NR709 has all the decoding features that can handle standard high-resolution. This receiver has a good range of multi-channel surround sound decoding. This gives better accuracy and less speaker distortion.
The Audyssey features are for your auto-setup and calibration. The Audyssey MultEQ uses a microphone for setup. It also uses a series of sound tests to set correct speaker levels. This will help but you may have to make minor adjustments.
The Audyssey Dynamic EQ will help to level out sound levels. Sounds like dialogue and loud explosions will not overwhelm each other. The THX Select2 Plus Certification is given to this set. This receiver is certified good enough for medium-sized rooms. Viewing distance from the screen should be about up to 12 feet.
Performance
The Onkyo TX-NR709 delivered impressive and stunning image quality. The Green Hornet 3D in blu-ray showed outstanding detail and texture. You could literally see each pore on Green Hornet’s skin and each stand of hair clearly defined.
Textures on fabric were very clear. Blacks were deep and luscious. Details on the Green Hornet’s dark outfit were deciphered very easily. Colors were vivid and dynamic as well. Whites were also very bright with superb contrast levels. The overall 3D experience was stunning and real.
In the audio department, the TX-NR709 handled depth and separation with very well. It handled all kinds of music genres with aplomb. It delivered depth and ambience with an expanded sound stage. Bass was deep and folks who love action movies would appreciate this.
The Green Hornet sounded very dynamic with clear details. Dialogue was crisp and clear in spite of the abundance of background noise in the mix. Surround sound effects were solid and punchy. Directionality was very good. You could hear sounds move from one end to the room to another.
The bass or low frequency effects were unrelenting and made your room rumble especially during the shootings and the kung-fu scenes. The TX-NR709 handled it perfectly.
Background effects like explosions and gunshots were punchy. The DTS-HD Master Audio decoded the soundtrack flawlessly. Dialogue and music or action tracks transitioned in a seamless fashion.
The U2 Live concert on blu-ray was astounding on the Onkyo TX-NR709. There was much to jump and shout about, as with any U2 concert. Audio spectrum spanned a full range and the separation on sound surround effects was natural and convincing of the live event. The TX-NR709 provided similar experience as if you were at the 360-stage concert.
Conclusion
The Onkyo TX-NR709’s raw power and strong features would impress you. Although it heated up relatively more, the internal fan worked well to alleviate this issue. It lacked Airplay but the easy setup and intuitive menu interface made up for it. It also offered a very strong set of connectivity. The Onkyo TX-NR709 has great sound and video processing over its competitors at this price point.