November 2003 Reviewed by Roger Kanno	Onkyo TX-SR800 Audio/Video Receiver

Description Model: Onkyo TX-SR800 Price: $1000 USD Dimensions: 17.1"W x 6.9"H x 18.3"D Weight: 35.9 pounds Warranty: Two years parts and labor Features THX Select Certified Wide Range Amplifier Technology (WRAT) Dolby Digital, THX Surround EX, DTS 96/24, DTS-ES (Discrete and Matrix), DTS Neo:6, THX Cinema, Dolby Pro Logic II, seven proprietary surround processing modes

Features (cont'd) Direct and Pure Audio modes 24-bit/192kHz DACs on all channels except rear surrounds Audio upsampling circuitry Two component-video inputs 7.1-channel inputs and outputs Three each coaxial and optical digital inputs Six video inputs (includes two videotape loops and front input with additional TosLink digital input) One audio-only input (CD) and one audio-only tape loop Phono input AM/FM tuner Fully independent second zone

Onkyo has been quietly offering a full range of high-quality receivers for many years now. Their receivers have typically combined state-of-the-art features, excellent sound, relatively high power output, and competitive prices. Their flagship 900-series receiver has gone through several incarnations over the years and has been widely praised as having some of the best performance and one of the most comprehensive feature sets available in a receiver.

Onkyo also offers several high-value surround receivers that start at only a few hundred dollars. I have recommended many of these receivers to friends and acquaintances in the past, and have heard some excellent-sounding systems based on those products, but it has been some time since I’ve had one in my own system. So it was with great anticipation that I set out to evaluate the TX-SR800 -- currently one of Onkyo’s more expensive receivers, but still reasonably priced at $1000.

A tall, dark stranger

The TX-SR800 is quite tall and deep, and relatively heavy. Its slightly concave front panel is nearly all black, with a green dot-matrix LED display that gives the unit a handsome, businesslike appearance. The outer casing and binding posts are not quite as sturdy as I would have liked; although the posts are quite large and serious-looking, they’re actually a bit wobbly. Those minor criticisms aside, the TX-SR800 appears to be built to a very high standard for such a reasonably priced and full-featured receiver.

And talk about features: The TX-SR800 has nearly every option you could ask for. Naturally, it has all the latest surround-processing formats, and, being certified THX Select, it has THX Surround EX and THX Cinema modes in addition to a fully independent second zone, AM/FM tuner, phono input, and backlit learning remote. There’s even an "upsampling" circuit that enhances the digital input signal, or those converted from an analog source. The Direct and Pure Audio modes bypass the digital signal processing (DSP) for clearer sound from two-channel sources.

Other nice touches include the ability to rename inputs and reassign video and digital sources -- there’s even an optical digital input on the front panel and an optical digital output around back. Two component-video inputs are provided, and the video circuitry will convert back and forth between composite and S-video signals (but not component), so that you can mix these two types of inputs in your system. Most receivers won’t convert different types of video signals, forcing you to use only one type of input, or separate inputs on your video monitor for each type of signal. I found that the video-conversion process caused some degradation of the signal, but I saw nothing too objectionable on my 27" and 32" direct-view monitors. It was nice to have this option, but I would bypass this conversion process for critical video signals, or even bypass the receiver entirely and run the signal directly from the source to the video display device.

Quick on the draw

Even with the TX-SR800’s many options, the intuitive menu system made setup a snap. The remote was easy to use, except for the one large button that acts as the arrow keys and the Select/Enter key. The button didn’t seem to have a precise, specific position for each direction; the cursor would sometimes move in an unintended direction, or select the incorrect menu item. One thing I really appreciated was that the LED display and the controls on the TX-SR800 provide all of the information and selections required to perform the setup routine, without having to use a video monitor or the remote.

Delays were set by measuring the distance from the listening position in increments of 0.5’ or 0.15m, up to a maximum of 30’ or 9m, and could be set individually for each of the up to four surround speakers. The crossover frequency could be set from 40Hz to 120Hz, in increments of 20Hz, but only for all speakers at once. I would have liked the option of setting a different crossover frequency for each speaker, but this is not unexpected in a midpriced receiver.

There were myriad other options to choose from, such as A/V Sync, which compensates for a possible delay in your video signal if it is passed through a scaling or processing device; settings for the DPL II and DTS Neo:6 Music modes; and choices for EX, ES, THX processing modes, to name just a few. The power rating of 100Wpc for each of the seven channels should be sufficient for all but the most power-hungry speaker systems.

Even though the TX-SR800 has many options and features, it was easy to use, and everything worked in a consistent and logical manner. Although I had a few minor criticisms, when I considered its comprehensive feature set, extreme flexibility, and overall build quality, I would have guessed that the Onkyo cost much more than $1000.

The sound of gunfire

I spent a lot of time listening to movies through the TX-SR800. In addition to standard Dolby Digital and DTS, I experimented with the THX Cinema mode, Pro Logic II, and DTS Neo:6. For a short time, I even set up two rear surround speakers to listen to EX and ES processing. With whatever mode I tried, the sound was always powerful and dynamic, exhibiting a surprising amount of refinement.

The supercharged soundtrack of Daredevil is one of the most creative and expansive that I have heard to date, and it sounded sensational through the TX-SR800. When the young Daredevil first awakes in a hospital room after going blind, the cacophony of sounds that swirls around him was dizzying. The "explosions" of an intravenous drip washed over the room, and effects such as a ticking clock and footsteps tracked precisely around the perimeter. Later, when Daredevil takes on a gang of thugs in a barroom brawl, the mix shifts from a complete and realistic presentation of the scene to specific isolated components such as music or selected sound effects. During this scene, the sound of shell casings ejected from automatic weapons, breaking glass, and labored breathing were placed in the soundstage with pinpoint precision and impressive realism.

Music plays an important role in the sound design of Daredevil, with an expansive soundstage, good imaging, and a neutral sound of surprising fidelity. When the character of Kingpin first appears, the synthesizer music solidly filled the space between my front speakers, and the bass was tight and punchy. In the next scene we are introduced to Bullseye, as Irish rap plays in the background. Although recorded at a much lower level and far less prominent in the mix than the music in the previous scene, this music was just as clear and as lucid.

The opening credits of Die Another Day feature a well-recorded multichannel mix of the title song. The surrounds are used sparingly, but the wide front soundstage presented sharp images that included Madonna’s cool but artificial-sounding vocals, and bass that was fast and articulate. In the inevitable car chase between Bond’s Aston Martin and the bad guy’s Jaguar, the Onkyo never ran out of steam, and was able to play louder than I could bear to listen. The sound became a little harsh at these high volume levels even with the THX Re-EQ circuit engaged, but a few clicks of the volume control down to a sane listening level and everything was right again.

Sweet serenade

The downfall of many surround receivers is that they sound very good with multichannel movie soundtracks, but are not as accomplished with stereo music sources. When I first listened to CDs on the TX-SR800, the sound was somehow lacking. There was good imaging and a bit of a recessed quality, but not much depth, and a slight veiling of the midrange -- decent-sounding, but nothing spectacular. That was when I discovered the Direct audio mode, which bypasses the DSP for two-channel sources; and Pure Audio, which goes one step further by turning off the video circuits and LED display to minimize interference.

When I engaged Pure Audio, the sound of stereo CDs was transformed into something I was not expecting -- the sound immediately became cleaner and more defined, as if I was now listening to a different receiver. Vocals that had previously been recessed were now exactly where they should have been -- in the same plane as the speakers, and firmly in the center of the soundstage. Instruments that had floated vaguely in the background now snapped into focus and became more prominent.

Eva Cassidy’s vocals on Live at Blues Alley [Blix Street G2-10046] had clearly defined outlines and an airy quality that was thrilling. Her soulful rendition of "People Get Ready" was especially moving, and even when her voice reached its incredible peak, the sound was powerful and controlled, with no sign of strain. Holly Cole sounded striking on her latest album, Shade [Alert 6152810392], and her lithe yet brawny voice flowed with a sense of ease. The opening verse of "Almost Like Being In Love" was delicate and full of nuance, while "It Never Entered My Mind" was solid and powerful throughout. While vocals sounded excellent, the bass and piano on such cuts as "Heatwave" and "Too Darn Hot" also had plenty of body that gave the music a solid underpinning.

Although the TX-SR800 had a crisp and uncluttered sound with stereo CDs, some might consider it a bit lean. Also, a disadvantage of the Pure Audio and Direct modes is that the subwoofer is no longer active because the DSP is bypassed. This was not so much of a problem with the floorstanding Mirage Omni 260, or even the Axiom M3ti speaker, which has remarkable bass for such a compact bookshelf speaker, but I’m sure that many people will be bothered by the lack of output from their subwoofer. Even with these caveats, I enjoyed the TX-SR800’s clean, detailed sound with stereo CDs. I much preferred it to the undistinguished sound of many other receivers at or near this price.

Last man standing

My longtime real-world reference receiver is still the Arcam AVR100 (replaced by the AVR200, $1199), a great-sounding but basic 5.1-channel receiver. With nearly every feature you could ask for, the Onkyo is the Arcam’s polar opposite. I thought Onkyo might have cut some corners in the TX-SR800’s audio performance to meet this price point while including all of the model’s bells and whistles. However, the TX-SR800 turned out to be much closer in performance to the Arcam than I had expected.

Madonna’s "Die Another Day," from the Bond movie, lost a little sparkle and smoothness in the high frequencies through the Onkyo, but the Arcam’s bass was slightly less defined and not as punchy. The Arcam couldn’t quite match the output levels of the Onkyo during the car chase, but it revealed more detail and was a little smoother in the same scene. That Arcam’s greater inner detail was also apparent in the complicated barroom brawl scene from Daredevil, in which the isolated sound effects were more easily localizable in the mix.

Even though the Onkyo’s Pure Audio mode made listening to CDs a joy, it still could not match the Arcam with two-channel music. The Onkyo’s fast, detailed sound was leaner in the upper bass; the Arcam sounded fuller without obscuring detail. Although the Onkyo was very dynamic, it sometimes seemed to lack some drive with drums or the lower registers of piano, for example, but these minor deficiencies were apparent only in direct comparisons with the overachieving Arcam. But I can’t stress enough how wonderful vocals sounded in the Onkyo’s Pure Audio mode. The TX-SR800 also has a plethora of features not found on the Arcam, and costs $200 less. All of this makes it an outstanding value.

Denouement

Although you can spend a lot more money on a surround-sound receiver, most people would consider $1000 to be a lot in itself. However, at that price, the Onkyo TX-SR800 provides dynamic multichannel sound from DVDs, remarkably clean CD sound, and tons of useful features. If you’re serious about home-theater and music reproduction, the TX-SR800 offers an excellent combination of performance and flexibility that will make you think twice before settling for less or spending more. There are similarly equipped receivers at this price from other companies that I also admire, but the TX-SR800 is worthy of being compared to the very best in this price range, and reaffirms Onkyo as one of my favorite makers of surround receivers.

Manufacturer contact information:

Onkyo U.S.A. Corporation
18 Park Way
Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
Phone: (201) 785-2600
Fax: (201) 785-2650

E-mail: onkyo@onkyousa.com
Website: www.onkyousa.com

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