ONKYO - new HT preamp, 9-channel power amp and Blu-ray player (3.09.2010)
Onkyo is expanding its product line with upmarket, separate HT components. It has announced three new THX Certified units expected in shops later this month. The new products include Onkyo's first A/V preamplifier/processor that is both 3D-Ready and THX-Certified, a 150W nine-channel amplifier and a Blu-ray player.
PR-SC5508 is Onkyo's flagship THX-Ultra 2 Plus certified, network-capable, 9.2-channel audio-video preamplifier. It has a 3D-Ready HDMI-1.4a interface, HQV Reon-VX video processing, 1080p upscaling, ISF Video Calibration. The networking features offer DLNA 1.5 and Windows 7 compatible connection to PC audio and internet radio. The system is configured for Pandora, Rhapsody, Mediafly, Slacker, Napster, VTuner, and Sirius Internet Radio. The PR-SC5508 has 8 HDMI inputs, dual USB's, two balanced line-level XLR audio inputs, and nine XLR preamp outputs to drive the matching PA-MC5500 nine-channel power amplifier.
The Onkyo PA-MC5500 is a nine-channel THX-Ultra2 certified analog power amplifier that provides 150 watts per channel at 8 ohm loads, and up to 400W dynamic power into 3 ohms. It utilizes Onkyo's WRAT (Wide Range Amplifier Technology) design philosophy, which relies on low negative feedback, low distortion, extended frequency response, and a power supply with high instantaneous-current capability. To achieve all this, the PA-MC5500 uses large, custom output transistors in push-pull configuration and massive power supply consisting of a large toroidal power transformer and two 22,000 µF storage capacitors. PA-MC5500 has balanced line-level XLR inputs. The 51-lb PA-MC5500 has a rigid, anti-resonant chassis, gold-plated inputs and outputs, plus multi-zone and bi-amp capability to allow full utilization of all channels no matter what the system configuration.
The Onkyo BD-SP808 is a THX Certified and DLNA 1.5 Certified Blu-ray Disc Player. It supports Video On Demand, it features Marvel Qdeo video scaler, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio sound. Harmful vibrations are minimized thanks to the highly rigid chassis construction and a balanced, center-mounted drive mechanism. An Ethernet port enables interactive Profile 2.0 BD-Live features such as picture-in-picture and web-sourced firmware updates. An SD card slot allows playback of downloaded web content or stills and video from a digital camera. In HDMI Source Direct mode, the player can output the video signal in its native resolution for optional external processing.
The PR-SC5508 will have a suggested retail price of $2,199, the PA-MC5500 will be $1,699, and the BD-SP808 will have a suggest retail price of $599.
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