Onkyo unveils flagship 2011 AV receivers and network controller

Onkyo's been on something of a roll of late, with an ever-exanding range of budget and mid-price home cinema receivers, adding additional features such as Spotify and AUPEO! internet radio along the way.

Completing its 2011 line-up are the flagship TX-NR5009 (top, £2700) and TX-NR3009 9.2 (£2000) multichannel receivers, and the PR-SC5509 network AV controller (£2200).

All three are THX Ultra 2 and ISF (Image Science Foundation) certified, and are fully network enabled.

Audio is handled by 192kHz/32-bit TI Burr-Brown DACs on all channels, coupled to a 32-bit DSP chip. Video is handled by an HQV Vida VHD 1900 processor, while Marveo's Qdeo technology upscales 1080p video to a full 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution..

With 9.2 channels, the TX-NR5009 can be configured to power additional stereo sources in two other rooms. And the unit will handle FLAC, WMA Lossless, WAV, AAC, Ogg, MP3 and SACD audio.

DTS-Neo:X audio processing

MulltiEQ XT32 room correction and equalisation technology will adjust the sound to suit the acoustics of your listening room, while DTS-Neo:X audio processing technology allows users to add speakers in three diffrerent configurations to a basic 5.1 channel system.

The TX-NR5009 has eight HDMI inputs, two HDMI outputs, two USB ports and a universal port for Onkyo peripherals. Users can download free Onkyo apps to turn their Android or iPhone/iPod Touch into a full-function remote control.

Onkyo says the TX-NR3009 model (above) offers many of the same features as its more powerful sibling, but uses 24-bit TI Burr-Brown DACs rather than the 32-bit ones. It also forgoes the pricier model's gold-plated terminals and also uses a different transformer and capacitors.

Finally, the Onkyo PR-SC5509 network AV controller (below) is designed to partner a high-end multichannel power amp and incorporates all the processing and connectivity features of the TX-NR5009, minus the amplification.

All three models will be available in the UK from September, in silver and black.

Follow whathifi.com on Twitter

Join whathifi.com on Facebook

Andy Clough

Andy is Global Brand Director of What Hi-Fi? and has been a technology journalist for 30 years. During that time he has covered everything from VHS and Betamax, MiniDisc and DCC to CDi, Laserdisc and 3D TV, and any number of other formats that have come and gone. He loves nothing better than a good old format war. Andy edited several hi-fi and home cinema magazines before relaunching whathifi.com in 2008 and helping turn it into the global success it is today. When not listening to music or watching TV, he spends far too much of his time reading about cars he can't afford to buy.