Onkyo Introduces New HTiBs

By TWICE Staff -- TWICE, 5/10/2005

Upper Saddle River, N.J. — Onkyo announced three new home theater systems today which include a multichannel A/V receiver, subwoofer and two-way satellite speakers.

The HT-S580 is a 5.1-channel system featuring 100 watts per channel, including a sixth amplifier channel to power the external subwoofer. The receiver features 192 kHz/24-bit digital-to-analog converters for all channels, and a 32-bit DSP engine compatible with Dolby Digital and DTS multichannel audio.

The system can also process Dolby ProLogic II and DTS Neo:6 and offers both optical and coaxial digital audio inputs, and four A/V inputs.

Each of the HT-S580's front L/R and surround speakers features a two-way bass reflex design employing a 3- 1/8 inch woofer and 3/4-inch tweeter. The system's center-channel speaker uses a pair of 3-1/8 inch woofers flanking a single tweeter in a horizontal arrangement. Deep bass is handled by an 8-inch bass reflex subwoofer that is powered by one of the receiver's 100-watt amplifier channels.

The HT-S580 ships this month for a suggested retail price of $300.

The 6.1-channel HT-S680 6.1 delivers 100 watts per channel into each of the six satellite speakers. It builds off the S580 with compatibility with Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES expanded surround systems, accommodating the sixth rear surround speaker. The receiver is also compatible with SACED and DVD-Audio sources with 5.1 channel analog audio inputs.

The HT-S680 subwoofer features an 8-inch low mass cone in a bass reflex enclosure and is powered by an internal 150-watt amplifier. It is shipping now in silver or black for a suggested $400.

Finally, the HT-S780 7.1-channel features component video switching for progressive scan and HD video sources. It features a 7x110-watt receiver compatible with the major surround sound formats, including Dolby Digital EX, DTS-ES and DTS-96/24.

The unit uses Dolby ProLogic IIx processing to derive 7.1-channel sound from a stereo or multichannel source and offers three component video inputs and one output. There are also three A/V inputs and two outputs, including S-Video connections; three optical and one coaxial digital audio input; and color-coded 5.1-channel analog audio inputs for SACD/DVD-Audio compatibility.

The receiver also features a front panel A/V input for connecting portable devices.

The HT-S780 includes seven satellite speakers, and a 10-inch, 230-watt powered subwoofer for deep bass reproduction. The front L/R speakers each feature a pair of 5-1/4-inch OMF (Onkyo MicroFiber) cone woofers and a 1-inch balanced dome tweeter. The center channel speaker uses two 4-inch OMF woofers and the same tweeter.

The four surround speakers are two-way designs using 3-1/8 inch cone woofers and tweeters for a coherent and timbre matched surround field.

The HT-S780 includes a preprogrammed universal remote and ships this month in a black or silver finish for a suggested retail price of $500.