Last year, Onkyo gave us the TXNR656 as their key offering to the entry-level Atmos market, and it performed well.
With new features to keep up with all the time and tweaks in build, the TXNR676 looks to be a heavyweight contender to the market this year too, but how does it fare?
The Onkyo TXNR676 is definitely more at home with a cinema (or even gaming) focused approach than some of their politer rivals such as the Denon AVRX2400. With Onkyo’s signature engineering of Vector Linear Shaped Circuitry and their proprietary High Current Power Supply, the power remains consistent throughout.
This means that no matter what, whether you’re engaging in combat in Battlefront or watching it in Saving Private Ryan, battling aliens in Mass Effect or observing our world in Oblivion, the action stays dynamic and engaging. Through design and practiced engineering, Onkyo have ensured that their signature muscular sound is retained regardless of what you throw at it.
A powerful AV receiver that’s also a comprehensive music streamer, the Onkyo TXNR676 does it all.
Feature-wise you’ll be totally future-ready with this amplifier as well. With 6 inputs and 2 outputs (in case of dual screen or projector/TV set ups) the amp should be more than ample for even more complex home setups. The amp is fully networked as well for a wealth of streaming options as well as contained Fireconnect technology to use with Blackfire’s multi-room system.
As previously mentioned, the 676 is capable of both Dolby Atmos and DTS: X playback in a 5.2.2 format to bring you into the world of three-dimensional sound. Bolted on here, to make it more worthwhile is the addition of DTS Neural: X, which allows for simpler DTS soundtracks to be up-mixed into a 3D format, making the value of the unit excellent when using upward-firing or ceiling speakers. If you’re not sold on the idea of height channels for cinema, you can also use the same terminals to bi-amp a set of bi-wireable speakers instead to improve the sound quality.
This would be a particular boon for audiophiles, particularly coupled with the AK4458 32 bit/384kHz DAC and phono stage contained with the unit. This will allow not only for a clear and transparent sound to whatever music you play through it but also for the playback of Hi-Res files. Onkyo have once again. Although not as musical as perhaps the brand new Denon AVRX3400 or the current Yamaha RXV870, Onkyo have included a variety of Listening Modes on the amp, to restrain and tailor the power that they’re renowned for in their AV amps.
The amp is of course, fully HDCP 2.2 compliant, and as such, is capable of 4K, HDR10 and Dolby Vision support for the vast majority of your 4K and HDR needs. One gripe, however, could be that unlike the Yamaha RXV/RXA series, it’s not ready for the Hybrid-Log Gamma support which the BBC will eventually broadcast in.
Visually the amp looks very similar to its predecessor. With a simple and easy to use interface on the front in case of misplaced remotes (although with Onkyo’s excellent remote app, this needn’t be a worry) and an attractive brushed metal fascia.
We set the amp up in a 5.1.2 using the Dali Zensor 7‘s and Zensor Centre as our front trio, the Zensor 1‘s as rears and Dali E60 as our in-ceiling options to keep the soundscape balanced, along with using the terrific REL T7I as our subwoofer (also the reason in the size of our demo room to not use stereo subs due to its power) The Dali Zensors are known for being easy to drive, meaning that it might seem odd to place an amp rated at 165×7 (at 6 Ohms) with them, however we wanted to see how well it could retain control of the sensitive speakers.
Opting for music first to get warmed up, the amp performed well in stereo with a variety of songs streamed through via Spotify Connect giving a crisp and even response and performing an ample job of replaying the tracks.
Setting it up for cinema, however, is where the amp makes itself known. The auto-calibration using AccuEQ makes the job easy and user-friendly, a blessing when it comes to AV units. Once cabling is sorted the auto-calibration takes around 10-15 minutes to complete and analyse. After that, it’s straight to the action.
We opted to use Avengers: Age Of Ultron to test it out in HD (as most collections will still be predominantly this format for now). The film roars straight into life and action and the amp is ready for it. The revs of Captain America’s motorbike and clear and distinct from Hulk’s roaring amidst the screams and gunfire of the rightly terrified Hydra troopers and the Onkyo keeps a tight leash on the chaos, allowing for everything to be clear and distinct whilst keeping us firmly glued to the screen. Later when the famous Hulkbuster scene kicks into gear we’re shown just how capable the 676 is of pinning us to the seat, when the two collide for the epic punch that sends out shockwaves, you wouldn’t know you weren’t in a full cinema with the bass rattling your chest.
Overall, the amp is about the most cinematic contender you could find at the price point and it will keep you right where the action is. To make your first foray into Atmos, come into Richer Sounds today.
Click to find out more about the Onkyo TXNR676.
Author: Steve, Southgate Store
