Onkyo Readies Its First Multichannel Audio Separates

By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 8/30/2010

Upper Saddle River, N.J. - Onkyo plans September shipments of a trio of Onkyo-brand THX-certified audio components that include the brand's first multichannel preamp-processor, first multichannel component amplifier and a next-generation THX-certified Blu-ray player.

Onkyo's new nine-channel amp, 9.2-channel preamp process and Blu-ray player, all THX-certified

The nine-channel amp and 9.2-channel pre-pro are the brand's first multichannel component-audio separates, a spokesman said. The brand has offered stereo separates before.

The pre-pro and amp, displayed in early form at January's International CES, are the THX Ultra2 Plus-certified PR-SC5508 A/V preamp/processor at a suggested $2,199 and the Ultra 2 Plus-certified A-MC5500 none-channel amp at $1,699. The new THX-certified BD-SP808 Blu-ray player at suggested $599 will replace a THX-certified model already available.

The 3D-ready preamp/processor features 3D-capable HDMI 1.4a inputs and outputs, HQV Reon-VX video processing, 1080p up-scaling, ISF Video Calibration, DLNA 1.5-certified networking, Windows 7 compatibility, and Internet radio capabilities that include VTuner-aggregated stations as well as streaming of Pandora, Rhapsody, Mediafly, Slacker, Napster and Sirius Internet Radio. The component also features Audyssey's new MultEQ XT 32 room-correction technology and Audyssey's Dynamic Surround Expansion (DSX) post-processing technology, which adds front-height speakers and a pair of image-widening left-right speakers to traditional 5.1-speaker setups.

 Other features include eight HDMI inputs, dual USBs, two balanced line-level XLR audio inputs, and nine XLR preamp outputs to drive the matching PA-MC5500 nine-channel power amplifier.

The nine-channel PA-MC5500 amp is 8-ohm rated at 150 watts per channel and up to 400 watts dynamic power into 3 ohms. It features Onkyo's Wide Range Amplifier Technology (WRAT) design philosophy.

 The Onkyo BD-SP808 Profile 2.0 Blu-ray player has DLNA 1.5-certified networking, access to video-on-demand services, Marvel Qdeo video scaler, and Profile 2.0 BD-Live features such as picture-in-picture and web-sourced firmware updates. An SD card slot allows playback of downloaded web content or stills and video from a digital camera. HDMI Source Direct mode enables the player to output video in native resolution for optional external processing. It's not 3D-capable.