NEWS: New budget multichannel receivers arrive from Onkyo

You'll have read about the new Onkyo TX-SR606 multichannel receiver below, so here are details of the two new budget models in the range, the £300 TX-SR576 and £250 TX-SR506 (pictured), which replaces the Award-winning TX-SR505.

Both models include 7.1-channel surround processing for Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro-Logic IIx, DTS-ES, DTS 96/24 and DTS Neo:6.

As for video connectivity, the TX-SR576 has three 1080p-compatible HDMI 1.2 inputs, as well as additional onboard decoding for Dolby Digital Plus audio.

You'll also find three 1080p-compatible HDMI inputs on the TX-SR506, but it uses pass-through connections, so you'll need to connect an additional optical or coaxial cable to hear multichannel audio from your Sky box or DVD/Blu-ray player.

Each model has Onkyo's dual-source powered zone 2 capability, which allows the receiver's surround amplifier channels to power stereo speakers in a second room while still listening to 5.1-channel sound in the main zone.

Setting up the receivers should be simple too. The Audyssey 2EQ automatic calibration system uses a supplied microphone to analyse the system's acoustic output and correctly calibrate the output for the speakers and environment.

The TX-SR576 and TX-SR506 will be available in silver and black. Full technical specifications are as follows:

SPECIFICATIONS - Onkyo TX-SR576

Advanced features

* HDTV-Capable HDMI Video Switching (1080p; 3 Inputs and 1 Output)

* Dolby Digital Plus Decoding

* RIHD (Remote Interactive over HDMI) for System Control

* Audyssey 2EQ to Correct Room Acoustic Problems and to Calibrate Speakers

* Audyssey Dynamic EQ for Loudness Correction

* Powered Zone 2 and Zone 2 Line-Out for Playback in Another Room (Separate Source)

* Biamping Capability for Music and Movie Sound Effects

Audio and video features

* 130 W/Ch Minimum into 6 ohms, 1 kHz, IEC (1 Channel Driven, IEC)

* DTS-ES Discrete/Matrix, DTS Neo:6, DTS 96/24, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro Logic IIx

* H.C.P.S. (High Current Power Supply) Massive High Power Transformer

* 192 kHz/24-Bit DACs for All Channels

* HDTV-Capable (720p/1080i) Component Video Switching (2 Inputs and 1 Output)

* WRAT (Wide Range Amplifier Technology)

* Advanced 32-Bit Processing DSP Chip

* 4 Digital Inputs (2 Optical, 2 Coaxial)

* 3 S-Video Inputs and 2 Outputs

* Subwoofer Pre Out

* CinemaFILTER(tm)

* Pure Audio Mode

* Form Listening Mode Memory

* Optimum Gain Volume Circuitry

* Music Optimizer for Compressed Music Files

* Double Bass Function

* Color-Coded 7.1-Multichannel Inputs (Receive 7.1 Surround Sound from Compatible Blu-ray Disc Players)

* Dual Banana Plug-Compatible Speaker Posts (Except Zone 2)

* Crossover Adjustment at 40/50/60

/80/100/120/150/200 Hz for Bass Management

* A/V Synchronization Function (Up to 100 ms in 20 ms Steps)

* Compatible with RI (Remote Interactive) Dock for the iPod

* Front Panel Auxiliary Input (for Camcorders, Game Consoles, etc.)

* Newly Designed Preprogrammed RI (Remote Interactive) Remote Control with Mode-Key LEDs

Other features

* 40 FM/AM Radio Presets

* RDS (PS/RT/PTY/TP)

* Non-Scaling Configuration

* Tone Control (Bass/Treble) for Front L/R Channels

* 4 Composite Video Inputs and 2 Outputs

* 4 A/V Inputs and 1 Output

* 2 Audio Inputs and 1 Output

* Digital Upsampling

* Display Dimmer (Normal/Dim/Dimmer)

* Headphone Jack

* Sleep Timer (via Remote)

* Battery-Free Memory Backup

SPECIFICATIONS - Onkyo TX-SR506

Advanced features

* HDMI Pass-Thru (1080p Compatible; 3 Inputs and 1 Output)*

* HDTV-Capable HDMI Video Switching

* Audyssey 2EQ to Correct Room Acoustic Problems and to Calibrate Speakers

* Audyssey Dynamic EQ for Loudness Correction

* Powered Zone 2 and Zone 2 Line-Out for Playback in Another Room (Separate Source)

* Bi-Amping Capability for Music and Movie Sound Effects

* A separate audio connection is necessary to process multichannel audio.

Audio and video features

* 130 W/Ch Minimum into 6 ohms, 1 Channel Driven, IEC

* DTS-ES Discrete/Matrix, DTS Neo:6, DTS 96/24, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro Logic IIx

* H.C.P.S. (High Current Power Supply) Massive High Power Transformer

* 192 kHz/24-Bit DACs for All Channels

* HDTV-Capable (720p/1080i) Component Video Switching (2 Inputs and 1 Output)

* WRAT (Wide Range Amplifier Technology)

* Advanced 32-Bit Processing DSP Chip

* 4 Digital Inputs (2 Optical, 2 Coaxial)

* 3 S-Video Inputs and 2 Outputs

* Subwoofer Pre Out

* CinemaFILTER(tm)

* Pure Audio Mode

* A-Form Listening Mode Memory

* Optimum Gain Volume Circuitry

* Music Optimizer for Compressed Music Files

* Theater Dimensional Virtual Surround Function

* Double Bass Function

* Color-Coded 7.1-Multichannel Inputs (Receive 7.1 Surround Sound from Compatible Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD Players)

* Dual Banana Plug-Compatible Speaker Posts (Except Zone 2)

* Crossover Adjustment at 40/50/60/80/100/120/150/200 Hz for Bass Management

* A/V Synchronization Function (Up to 100 ms in 20 ms Steps)

* 40 FM/AM Radio Presets

* Compatible with RI (Remote Interactive) Dock for the iPod

* Front Panel Auxiliary Input (for Camcorders, Game Consoles, etc.)

* Newly Designed Preprogrammed RI (Remote Interactive) Remote Control with Mode-Key LEDs

Other features

* Non-Scaling Configuration

* Tone Control (Bass/Treble) for Front L/R Channels

* 4 Composite Video Inputs and 2 Outputs

* 4 A/V Inputs and 1 Output

* 2 Audio Inputs and 1 Output

* Digital Upsampling

* Display Dimmer (Normal/Dim/Dimmer)

* RDS (PS/RT/PTY/PT)

* Headphone Jack

* Sleep Timer (via Remote)

* Battery-Free Memory Backup

Technorati Tags: 1080p, Audyssey 2EQ, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby TrueHD, DTS Neo:6, DTS-ES, HDMI 1.3a, multichannel receivers, Onkyo TX-506SR, Onkyo TX-SR576

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.