CS-515DAB micro system |
TX-SR674E receiver
Onkyo is hoping to lure your wallet towards its new DAB equipped micro system and two HDMI enabled AV receivers.
Having already dipped its toes into micro system waters with the CR-505DAB, Onkyo has waded in again and pulled out the new improved CS-515DAB. Priced at a respectable £300 for the complete system with matching D-N9BX speakers (or £230 for the CD/DAB receiver only) the CS-515DAB comes with all the mod-con trimmings including an a CD-R, CD-RW and MP3-capable CD player and a high-grade Wolfson 1-bit 192kHz/24-bit DAC. It's literally dripping with connections too, including four audio inputs, a subwoofer output, a digital input plus two analogue audio outputs.
For full on HD compatibility and surround sound loveliness, the TX-SR674E AV receiver (£500) comes armed with 7 x 150 watts of power, a pair of HDMI inputs (compatible with 720p/1080i/1080p signals) plus one output. Older video sources/displays are also catered for with three component video inputs (leading to a single component video output) plus S-video and composite video inputs. Usefully these older video signals can also be upconverted to glorious Hi-Def via the HDMI output. To top things off an auto room EQ set-up lets you just place the supplied mic in your room and it'll work out the best settings for your speakers.
For tighter budgets the Onkyo TX-SR604E 7.1-receiver will set you back around £400. It's pretty similar to the TX-SR674E, featuring HDMI switching and the same auto set-up system, although some functionality is reduced. For instance you can still upconvert composite video/S-video signals, but only via the component video outputs as opposed to HDMI. Output power levels are a shade lower too at 7 x 140W.
More information: Onkyo
