A lot has changed in the past few years for AV receivers. A few years ago all you needed was a simple unit with HDMI input and output, and a good ability to project sound. Nowadays there’s a lot more to consider, with 4K and “object-based surround sound” being more prevalent than ever. When you add to this a need for wireless music compatibility, finding a unit can become pretty tricky. Luckily Onkyo have the TXNR747. But can it do everything without compromise?…
To start off it comes with 8 HDMI inputs and 2 HDMI outputs, all of which are HDMI 2.0a, with inputs 1, 2 and 3 also allowing HDCP 2.2. This means that any 4K content you want to watch via an Ultra HD Blu-Ray player or a streaming device that allows 4K streaming can be run through the first 3 HDMI inputs and give you a perfect definition picture at 60Hz. Of course it still comes with a whole gamut of other connections for any older equipment you may have with 3 component and 3 composite inputs. It also has 3 digital inputs (2 optical & 1 coax) and 8 analogue inputs, one of which is a phono stage so you can also connect a turntable without the need for a pre-amp. On top of that it has a USB port, so you can attach a HDD or USB stick containing music.
The Onkyo TXNR747 is fully equipped with the latest surround sound codecs.
The TXNR747 has the ability to utilise both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, meaning it’s able to produce multidimensional sound. Not only do these functionalities make it compatible with all modern movie soundtracks, but when this combines with the units’ fantastic overall sound quality it means that you get the most out of any film you want. Take for example the recent San Andreas, which sounds phenomenal though the ’747. It takes the varying sounds of destruction the film has to offer and projects them accurately to the part of the room they need to be in. This is especially thrilling when a helicopter comes into scene, as the ’747 really does a great job of placing the object-based surround with ceiling speakers… is really a work of art!
To keep the unit up to date with streaming it features both Apple’ s AirPlay and Bluetooth. It can also be connected to the internet, so you can use one of the many compatible streaming services (Spotify, Deezer, Tunein) and also stream any media you may have on a computer or NAS drive via DLNA. You can stream files up to DSD 5.6 MHz and FLAC 192 kHz/24-bit over a wired network, as the unit is Hi-Res Audio, with its 384 kHz/32-bit Hi-Grade DAC.
Not just content with having the ability to play Hi-Res Audio and multidimensional surround, the TXNR747 has also earned its THX Select2 Plus badge. This is the result of vigorous testing to ensure it could meet extremely high standards in regards to performance and power.
All in all, the Onkyo TNXR747 is a multi-faceted unit that not only sounds great, but will also allow you to delve into the world of multi-dimensional theatre, while you watch 4K films from the comfort of your own home. To find out what this amplifier is capable of delivering, give your local Richer Sounds store a call to book a free demonstration today.
To find out more about the Onkyo TXNR747 AV receiver. click here.
Author – Hal, Plymouth store
