UPPER SADDLE RIVER, N.J. –
Onkyo is introducing
four new A/V receivers in the coming months.
These include the industry’s first three AVRs with
Silicon Image’s InstaPrevue technology, the industry’s
first two AVRs with Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL)
technology, and the industry’s first three models capable
of streaming music from the MP3tunes cloud-based
music-locker service.
The four new AVRs are the $699-suggested 7.2-channel
TX-NR616 with THX Select2 Plus certification, the
$599 7.2-channel TX-NR515, the $499 5.1-channel
TX-NR414, and the $299 5.1-channel TX-SR313. The
former ships in April, and the other three ship in March.
In the top three AVRs, Silicon Image’s InstaPrevue
technology delivers live picture-in-picture thumbnail
previews of video sources connected via HDMI inputs
and MHL-enabled HDMI inputs, including video from
Blu-ray Disc players, game consoles, set-top boxes, and
MHL-enabled tablets and smartphones. The technology
makes it unnecessary for consumers to remember
whether a particular source is labeled HDMI 1, HDMI
2, or HDMI 3.
In the $599 and $699 AVRs, MHL-enabled HDMI inputs
enable an MHL-compatible smartphone or tablet
to stream 1080p HD video and 7.1-channel surround
sound from the mobile device via cable to a home theater
system. The AVRs’ HDMI port also charges the
portable device, and consumers can use their TV or
AVR remote to control the playback of content streamed
from their MHL-enabled mobile device. MHL technology
is also planned for TVs.
In the three network-capable AVRs starting at $499,
Onkyo is adding streaming of a user’s personal library
from the MP3tunes music-locker service. Like before,
the networked models access other Internet music services,
stream PC-stored music, and feature DLNA certification
and Windows 7 compatibility.
In another change from last year, proprietary WRAT
amplifier technology starts at $299, down from $699.
WRAT (Wide Range Amplifier Technology) is a low
negative-feedback topology that reduces signal noise
and distortion and extends frequency response beyond
20kHz.
