Onkyo is expanding its product line with the announcement of a THX-certified Blu-ray Disc Player, model
BD-SP808 (SRP $599), as well as the brand's first A/V preamplifier/processor that is both 3D-Ready and THX-Certified, model
PR-SC5508 (SRP $2,199), and matching 150-watt nine-channel amplifier, model
PA-MC5500 (SRP $1,699). All will begin shipping in September.
BD-SP808
The Onkyo BD-SP808 is BD-Live and BonusView compatible, THX Certified and DLNA 1.5 Certified. It supports Video on Demand. An SD card slot allows playback of downloaded web content or stills and video from a digital camera.
On the AV performance side, it boasts "superior build quality" and a highly rigid chassis construction and a balanced, center-mounted drive mechanism to minimize "harmful vibrations." Video processing is handled by a premium Marvel Qdeo video scaler. In HDMI Source Direct mode, the player can output the video signal in its native resolution for optional external processing.
Note, however, that it does not feature 3D Blu-ray support.
PR-SC5508
Onkyo's flagship PR-SC5508 is a THX-Ultra 2 Plus certified, network-capable, 9.2-channel audio-video controller. It has a 3D-Ready HDMI-1.4a interface, HQV Reon-VX video processing, and individual ISF Video Calibration for all video sources
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.
Connectivity options include 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.
PA-MC5500
The 51-lb PA-MC5500 is a powerful nine-channel THX-Ultra2 Plus certified analog power amplifier that is 8-ohm rated at 150 Watts per channel, and up to 400 Watts dynamic power into 3 ohms.
It utilizes Onkyo's exclusive WRAT (Wide Range Amplifier Technology) design philosophy, which proscribes 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.
It uses a three-stage inverted Darlington circuit to remove distortion, and professional balanced line-level XLR inputs for the connection with the Onkyo PR-SC5508.
The PA-MC5500 has a rigid, anti-resonant chassis, gold-plated inputs and outputs, plus multi-zone and bi-amp capability.