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.
