Onkyo Adds Two More 3D HTiBs

By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 7/19/2010

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, N.J. — Onkyo filled out its selection of 3D-ready component-based home-theater-in-abox (HTiB) systems with two new higher- end systems that feature HDMI 1.4 connections, overlaid onscreen display, 1080p up-scaling and HDMI Thru.

Like three lower-priced systems announced earlier this year, the $749-suggested HT-S6300 and $899-suggested HT-S7300 feature HDMI 1.4a inputs and outputs that repeat the side-by-side (half) and top-and-bottom 3D broadcast formats as well as the Blu-ray and video game 3D formats. All five systems also feature HDMI Thru, which simplifies home-theater connections by letting video content pass through to a connected TV while the receivers and HTiBs are in standby mode. All five also feature HDMI’s audio return channel and decoding of all authorized Blu-ray surround formats.

The two new systems are shipping, joining the three lower-priced systems announced earlier at $379 to $599, including one 2.1-speaker HTiB with proprietary virtual surround processing.

All five SKUs are the brand’s first HTiBs with HDMI 1.4a, HDMI Thru, HDMI audio return channel and overlaid OSD. The two new models are also the brand’s first with 1080p up-scaling, 1080i up-scaling having been available in two models in the previous lineup.

Like last year, none of this year’s HTiBs come with Blu-ray player.

Like the models they replace at the same price points, the latest two A/V receiver/speaker packages feature Dolby Pro Logic IIz front-height-channel processing as well as Audyssey Dynamic Volume.

Compared to the three previously announced systems, the two new systems add HD up-scaling and Audyssey 2EQ room acoustics correction technology. Dolby Pro Logic IIz is available only in one of the other three systems, and Audyssey Dynamic Volume and Dynamic EQ are available in only two of those three.