Onkyo Introduces Mid-Price Home Theatre Receiver With DolbyÆ Pro Logic II

26-Mar-01

Onkyo today introduced the TX-DS595, its first home theatre receiver with DolbyÆ Laboratoriesí new Pro Logic II surround sound processing, in addition to Dolby Digital and DTSÆ Digital Surroundô processing. Dolby Pro Logic II puts new life in the sound tracks of videotapes, satellite and cable TV, and even stereo recordings and MP3 files by making them sound more like modern digital 5.1 surround sound systems.The Dolby Pro Logic II decoding used in the Onkyo TX-DS595 works with software encoded for the older version of Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby Surround and even stereo sources to generate individual signals for each of the loudspeakers in a 5.1 system. Where the original Dolby Pro Logic used only a single, bandwidth-limited mono channel for both the left and right surrounds, Pro Logic II provides separate, full-range, stereo left and right surround channels.The Onkyo TX-DS595 has five internal power amplifiers with discrete output stages and low negative feedback. Each is rated to deliver 75 watts of continuous power into 8-ohm speakers. Rugged extruded aluminum heat sinks and oversized electrolytic capacitors enable the TX-DS595 to supply high current, low impedance (4-ohm) power to all five channels. With Onkyo's exclusive Wide Range Amplifier Technology (WRAT), which delivers extended frequency response to 100kHz, the TX-DS595 embraces the sonic potential offered by the new super wide-range multichannel audio formats like DVD-Audio and SACD. To take advantage of these formats (or others yet to come), the Onkyo TX-DS595 has separate 5.1-channel analog inputs for future compatibility.The Digital Signal Processing (DSP) capabilities of the TX-DS595 are impressive - besides 96kHz/24-bit DACs for all five channels, it has nine selectable DSP soundfields, each carefully engineered to avoid synthetic, phony-sounding, overly reverberant effects. A switchable Cinema Re-EQô circuit tames the aggressive treble sounds of some movie soundtracks, and, to maintain good relations with your family and neighbors, a Late Night listening mode is included to quell the crashes of blockbuster movies. Furthermore, the DS595's extensive bass management circuitry offers complete compatibility with speakers both large and small and separate subwoofers.Four digital inputs (two optical, two coaxial) are assignable to different sources, and a unique A-Form listening mode memory stores individual processing modes selected for each input, recalling those settings each time you select a source.Four audio/video inputs (each with S-Video jacks), three audio inputs, a phono input (for those old LPs you cherish or the new 7-inch vinyl discs), and complete cassette and VCR tape loops enable remarkable system connectivity. There are seven pairs of heavy-duty multi-way speaker binding posts that are dual banana-plug compatible.Shepherding and controlling all this versatility requires an easy-to-use remote control, and the TX-DS595's remote has large, direct access buttons that light up to let the user know which mode is in use. The remote control will operate other manufacturers' components in your audio system, either by entering a preprogrammed code for each component, or by teaching it to ""learn"" the commands of the other remote. A ""macro"" capability lets you send a stream of up to 16 individual commands (turn on TV, DVD player, etc.) with the push of a single button.For less frequently needed functions (setting FM/AM presets) a front-panel knob - the Smart Scan Navigator - lets you dial in parameters in response to prompts from the front panel display. The receiver's quiet FM/AM tuner has 40 random presets with selectable eight-character display input. Usable sensitivity and selectivity are exceptional, with stereo noise at -70dB and stereo distortion at only 0.3%.The Onkyo TX-DS595 audio-video receiver will be available in April with a suggested retail price of $529.95. For more information, visit www.onkyousa.com.

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