Home Theatre/TV: ONKYO TX-SR607 Home Theatre Receiver – Review – 77
Change for change’s sake is never a good thing. At least that’s what my mum has tried to drum into me over the years. Luckily for me (and hi-fi retailers I’ve bought from), I always seem to be running out the door whenever she utters those words.
With conventional two-channel audio undergoing a renaissance thanks to music streaming from a PC, downloads via the internet and the resurgent vinyl record, the culprit most guilty of undergoing change in home entertainment must surely be home theatre.
Yes, we’ve seen it all: Dolby Digital, THX, ES-Discrete, True-HD and 1080p – the list just seems to go on and on.
Now Dolby Labs has introduced Dolby Pro-Logic 11Z processing, and the first receiver to land with the new feature is Onkyo’s fab TX-SR607. Dolby Pro-Logic 11Z places a pair of effects speakers above the front left and right to create a larger soundstage during movie watching, and especially with anything that hovers in the air – helicopter scenes or flying superheroes, for instance.
The TX-SR607 has plenty more firepower under the hood that also caught my eye. For a start, no fewer than six HDMI 1.3 sources can be connected, including a front panel connection – ideal for those with hi-def cameras and portable devices.
Rated at 140wpc (6 Ohms), the fully featured 607 has onboard Faroudja video processing, 192k/24-bit DACs (all channels), Audyssey microphone setup calibration, and support for Dolby True-HD and DTS MA, to name but a few of the myriad technological candies on-board.
Also featured for the first time is a universal port for the connection of Onkyo’s own iPod docks and a rumoured HD radio tuner set to launch in the USA later this year.
The only thing missing from my wish list was a second HDMI output for those with two displays, but to be fair this feature seems to be found on receivers in the $4000-plus category.
Not to worry then, the neat-looking Onkyo duly replaced my trusty Pioneer, I set about working my way through my spaghetti cable nightmare and had the 607 up and running in no time at all (well, it seemed so).
Calibration using the Audyssey system was nice and quick, and when connected to the ravishingly expensive Leica Pradovit D-1200 DLP 1080p projector it was time to pop 
the corn.
First into the PS3 was the latest car chase flick from Jason Statham, Death Race. This blood splattering action movie actually had a lot riding on it considering the Roger Corman original, but I enjoyed the sights and sounds through the 607 – in fact it was hard to tell the difference between the Onkyo and my usual LX70.
Explosions and the collision of vehicles had real visceral impact, while subtleties in the excellent DTS-MA soundtrack (yes, there were one or two) were easy to discern amid the mayhem and graphic violence. Other Blu-ray movies viewed and heard via the 607 with similarly enjoyable results included Blade Runner and I am Legend.
If you’re looking for a reasonably priced but feature-packed quality HT receiver, check out Onkyo’s new TX-SR607 – it produces freakishly good theatre at a wallet-friendly price.
GARY PEARCE
Tech Specs
TX-SR607
Home Theatre Receiver
$1499
POWER: 140W x 7 (6 Ohms)
HDMI CONNECTIONS: Six in, one out
DAC: 192/24-bit
OTHER FEATURES:
- Dolby Pro-Logic 11Z
- DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD surround sound
- Audyssey microphone calibration
- Faroudja DCDi cinema technology
- Digital video converter (up to 1080i HDMI)
- Bi-amping capability
- Dual subwoofer pre-outs
- Onkyo universal port
- Powered zone 2/zone 2 pre-out
Pros
- Great performance for the price
- Feature laden
Cons
- Second HDMI output would have been nice, but you can’t have everything
Verdict
- Onkyo’s barnstorming new TX-SR607 is a strong contender in the ultra-competitive midrange HT receiver market
CONTACT
This Review is from Tone Issue #77.
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