Yeah maybe product lifecycle has some impact on that "to be or not to be" roon ready. Lots of coding ready to go then off to Roon testing and validation for readiness. By the time you validate its time for next year's new model. I bought an Anthem AVM70 on the strength of my AV dealer saying "roon ready imminent" That never happened and the my dreams of having my AV proc as an endpoint died the death of a thousand cuts. I could chalk the year+ delay and final disapointment up to Covid isolation at Roon Studios if I felt like being kind. I guess the consolation prizes are 2 sucky "Roon" options are Airplay and Chromecast. Oh well thats what I get for loving Roon so much
Onkyo TX-NR7100 9.2-Channel A/V Receiver Review
AT A GLANCE
Plus
Onboard Dirac Live room/speaker correction
Nine amp channels for a full Atmos/DTS:X experience
Multiple HDMI 2.1 connections with 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz support
Minus
Small remote control a bit cramped
Somewhat light-duty casing and speaker outputs
THE VERDICT
This affordable Onkyo AVR renders powerful Dolby Atmos and DTS:X sound via its nine built-in amp channels, and it brings the considerable benefits of Dirac Live room EQ as well.
The arrival of yet another A/V receiver doesn't usually engender much excitement here at S&V's currently sub-arctic regional headquarters in New England. But Onkyo's new TX-NR7100 is not "just another" receiver. First, the TX-NR7100 features a true nine-channel-power layout, which makes possible a full 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos system without supplemental amplification within hollerin' distance of the magical ten-Benjamins line. Just as notably, it's among the first affordably priced AVRs to incorporate Dirac Live, the eponymous Swedish tech firm's widely praised room/speaker-correction software system, at no extra cost.
Otherwise, being a typical A/V receiver, the TX-NR7100 incorporates more features than Jimmy and Rosalynn have peanuts. Let's start with the most confusing one, HDMI connections. Onkyo states version 2.1 status for all the receiver's six main HDMI inputs but only the first three inputs (and two outputs) provide 40Gbps bandwidth, while the others max out at 24Gbps. Otherwise, the TX-NR7100's list of HDMI features include: VRR (Variable Refresh Rate, ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), QFT (Quick Frame Transport), DSC (Display Stream Compression), QMS (Quick Media Switching), and eARC (on the main HDMI output). As for high dynamic range pass-through, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG are supported. One of the TX-NR7100's HDMI output stands ready to serve a second, remote zone output, but in that instance video support tops out at 4K/60Hz.
Chromecast built-in and AirPlay2 wireless streaming are onboard, as is two-way Bluetooth including Bluetooth aptX HD on the transmit side. With nine amp channels, there are multiple zone 2/3 options, including a clever one that sends the main-zone stereo audio to a pair of "Zone B" line-out jacks, typically used to drive a transmitter for wireless headphones or speakers. There's lots more, of course, but for most of the rest you'll need to geek out on Onkyo's website.
Setup
Onkyo has not changed its physical receiver layout in forever, which means the TX-NR7100 hews to the classic, three-knob-plus-buttons formula. However, the company has killed the drop-down door and million tiny keys for secondary features, leaving these mostly to the onscreen menus and remote control, making the front panel a good deal more spacious.
Unboxing and wiring up the new Onkyo entailed no surprises, though I am bound to observe that the rather light-gauge (and somewhat boingy) top/side-cover sheetmetal did not thrill me. Nor did the palpably light-duty, for an over-$1,000 receiver, speaker connectors, the type that are not spaced for dual-bananas. This made setup (mine, anyway) a little fussier. Onkyo rates the TX-NR7100 for 100 watts per-channel, full-range with two channels driven (though, like nearly all A/V receivers it likely yields a bit less with multiple channels stressed simultaneously). Onkyo's spec sheet refers to "Select Dynamic Audio Amplification," which we were able to confirm with Onkyo is actually class-A/B).
Onkyo's onscreen initial-setup routine uses mostly just plain and readable text and is reliably clear, succinct, and un-confusing. Response times could have been sprightlier—switching from source to setup-menu and back took about 3 seconds either way.
I connected my 5.1.4-channel Atmos/DTS:X layout, a mongrel but very effective collection of loudspeakers including ceiling-bounce front and high-mounted rear heights and proceeded to the main event: room/speaker EQ. Unique in my experience, the TX-NR7100 offers two options: Dirac Live (which gets ordinal preference in the initial-setup routine), and Onkyo's own proprietary AccuEQ. Naturally, I chose Dirac for my first run.
Into the Dirac Dimension
Dirac is a Swedish firm that arose from an acoustical/DSP research group at Uppsala University in almost precisely the same way in which Audyssey, which effectively initiated the mass room/speaker-calibration movement in home audio, grew, a bit earlier, from a similar lab at USC. Unlike most competing acoustical calibration systems, Dirac Live is not wholly on board the host; you need an outboard device to run its software. In the Onkyo's case, this will be a tablet or phone running the firm's new Onkyo Controller iOS/Android app, which has the Dirac Live access baked in.
I used this to perform Dirac's "Detailed" setup, which averages 9 microphone positions; for a full 5.1.4-channel layout the whole routine took about 45 minutes. The "Quick" option uses just three mic positions. (Another note: the Onkyo implementation does not include the standalone Dirac Live Bass Control feature, which can integrate multiple subwoofers.) The results were in line with what I've come to expect from many runs of Audyssey, Dirac, and other-label robo-EQ routines. It correctly obtained my 9-speaker-plus-sub layout (it queries the receiver for this, which you will have previously established via the setup menu), set levels and distances (delays) correctly, and dialed in equalization "cuts" for my room's two most egregious modes, at about 85Hz and 135Hz. It also set EQ to correct the much smaller deviations elsewhere in each speaker's response and imposed an overall default "house curve" that's embedded in the Dirac Live software. This down-tilts by about 1.5 dB per octave from around 200 Hz on up and is consistent with currently accepted research and best practices that demonstrate that literally flat octave-to-octave reproduction will sound unnaturally bright.
The routine loads the same results in triplicate into all three of the TX-NR7100's EQ memories. Working within the app, you can subsequently modify one (or more) of these to your own preferences by pulling little on-screen "handles" up or down (boost/cut) or laterally (frequency; "Q") along a frequency graph. This is powerful stuff that will enable a knowledgeable user to fine-tune the corrections—or a reckless one to cause untold sonic mayhem, which is why I believe Audyssey, at least initially, did not provide similar capabilities.
I subsequently ran Onkyo's own AccuEQ routine, which produced results that were generally similar, by ear, though not identical. As far as I could tell, at least, since there's no way to view AccuEQ's results graphically. Also, A-B listening comparisons between Dirac and AccuEQ were wholly impracticable since you can't store both a Dirac and an AccuEQ "run" in the receiver's memories simultaneously. What's more, a re-test-and-load of either boots whatever previous EQs were stored out in the ether, though the Onkyo Controller app does store either your latest Dirac or AccuEQ "run," enabling the manual tweaking and re-loading of EQ data from the app into the receiver.
In addition to the iOS/Android app, you can calibrate the TX-NR7100 using the standalone Dirac Live application running on a Mac or PC plus a suitable calibrated measurement mic, which likely delivers more detail and more memory/storage options. Regrettably, the current release requires a newer version of the MacOS than my somewhat aged iMac can run.
Performance
I performed a few runs of both Dirac and AccuEQ as I found my way around, as I imagine most users will do. Dirac in particular is rather fussy about levels and, annoyingly, restarts the entire measurement routine when it finds a channel above or below optimal volume, so make a fresh pot of coffee before you begin.
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From where can one stream Dunkirk in Atmos? On the disc it was DTS-HD MA 5.1.
I was interested in this AVR because of the price, performance and the inclusion of Dirac room correction. However, this all came to a halt after I confirmed that this unit, like many other Onkyo AVRs, do not include audio outputs that would allow the use of separate stereo amp for the 2 front channel, taking the load off the units power supply. This is especially important when you have moderate to low efficient speakers.
I am running the nearly identical Integra DRX 3.4 - the main difference being that the 3.4 has pre-outs where the NR7100 doesn't.
Running the 3.4 into my Gallo Reference 3.2 speakers (Reference AV centre) - I definitely heard some congestion / confusion in the sound, which was not present in my previous Integra DTR 70.4 (much more powerful @ 140W-8ohm, and higher current).
I replaced the internal amps with power amps via the Pre-outs, the congestion went away. Seems to me the internal amps are just not designed to cope with speakers having substantial impedance dips, reactive drivers, requiring substantial current to drive them.
With the external power amps, the sound returned to what it was with my previous DTR 70.4 (and even older Onkyo TX-SR876... also 140W high current).
One I had the sound quality square off without RoomEQ/DSP - I ran Dirac - with the Wide 17 point measurement (to cover our sofa).
This is an immediate and noticeable step up on Audissey XT32 which I was using previously on the 70.4 - There is now a clarity which has never been present before - voices/dialog "pop"... - I started with the default Dirac -and later adjusted to a Harman +4db Target curve, with a bit of a tilt after 2k, and a slight rolloff at the high end.
Dirac is a definite game changer... (or it might be the fact that it removes the default mid-range dip from Audissey!)
The one caveat I would put on the NR7100 is the one based on my experience with the power amp/ speaker matching - It won't match well with speakers that require higher current - low impedance dips, and capacitive tweeters / reactive drivers, are likely to make this AVR sound "congested" - Give it fairly standard 8ohm to 4ohm speakers and it will be fine.
The TX-NR-7100 and TX-NR6100 are similar except that the 7100 is 9.2 channel and the 6100 7.2 channel.
I bought the TX-NR6100 as an A/V Receiver and also to be able to stream to multiple zones. DTS Play-Fi, Amazon Alexa and Google Chromecast are not available on Zone 2, so I'm unable to stream from them to multiple zones at the same time.
The Onkyo Spec sheet even states "DTS Play-Fi multi-room audio via Onkyo Music Control App". In my opinion, these are bugs that need to be worked out by the Onkyo engineers. Onkyo support is unsure if or when a firmware update will be coming.
Zone 2 should not be selective in what you can play, you should be able to play the same thing as on the Main Zone.
This is a great sounding A/V Receiver though.
Congestion disappeared once I switched out the internal amps for power amps connected to the pre-outs photo booth rental near me. It seems to me that the inbuilt amplifiers are simply not made to handle speakers with significant impedance dips, reactive drivers, and high current requirements.
The Onkyo TX-NR7100 seems to be a very powerful A/V receiver! Its genuine nine-channel power arrangement enables a 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos system to be fully used without the need for further amplification, all at a reasonably modest cost. To further enhance this receiver's value is the addition of Dirac Live, a highly respected room/speaker-correction software solution from Sweden bitlife. It appears to be a significant advancement in the field of audio/video gear!
The Onkyo TX-NR7100 9.2-Channel A/V Receiver is a powerhouse for your home entertainment system. With its impressive array of features and top-notch audio quality, it delivers an immersive viewing and listening experience. From its high-resolution audio support to its comprehensive connectivity options, this receiver stands out among its competitors. The user-friendly interface and intuitive setup make it accessible for both novice nealfun users and audio enthusiasts alike. If you're looking to elevate your home theater setup, the Onkyo TX-NR7100 is definitely worth considering.
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