Onkyo adds the HT-9300THX to the top of its HTIB line
We're not the biggest fans of home theaters that come in a single box, but out of all of them we recognize the value and versatility of the Onkyo offerings. The latest addition is at the top of the line adding to the HT-S7300 and HT-S6300 we told you about earlier this month. The HT-S9300THX is 3D ready and features four HDMI 1.4a inputs as well as the latest lossless HD decoders, Audyssey 2EQ room acoustics correction technology, and is the first THX I/S Plus Certified (newly created for HTIBs). The 7.1 system also happens to include a Faroudja DCDi Cinema video processor for upconverting those old standard def sources to 1080p. Certainly not what you think of when you think of a HTIB, but it will start shipping this week for $1099 if it's up your alley.
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Onkyo Debuts the World's First 3D-Ready & THX Certified Integrated Home Theater System
UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ, 7/22/10 -- Onkyo, a brand renowned worldwide for quality home entertainment technology, has introduced the world's first THX® I/S Plus™ Certified (Integrated System) and 3D-Ready packaged home theater system. This type of system, popularly known as a "home theater in a box" or HTiB, consists of seven theater loudspeakers, a subwoofer for deep-bass sound effects, and an audio-video receiver that is fully compatible with state-of-the-art HD video players and video displays, including all the latest 3D technologies. It is compatible with the mandatory formats for 3D video broadcast content of "Side-By-Side (Half)" and "Top-and-Bottom" formats.
The Onkyo HT-S9300THX receiver has four 3D-Ready HDMI 1.4a inputs for connection to modern audio/video source components, and it can upscale video from any input source to the maximum 1080p HDMI output resolution. The system receiver includes lossless Dolby & DTS high definition audio processing, Dolby ProLogic IIz height channel processing, and numerous other high performance sound processing features from THX, Audyssey, and Onkyo.
"With 3D and THX, this package offers remarkable value," said Paul Wasek, Onkyo's marketing manager. "As one of the most enthusiastic suppliers of THX Certified components, Onkyo has long recognized the importance ensuring that our customers experience movie sound effects exactly as the producer and sound engineer intended."
"Our collaboration with Onkyo has produced an affordable, all-in-one home theater system with a sonic punch that puts most HTiBs to shame," said Graham McKenna, Director of PR at THX. "Designed for movie fans and gamers who crave multichannel sound, the HT-S9300THX delivers every bass note, sound effect and dialogue like it was captured in the studio."
The Onkyo HT-S9300THX was awarded THX I/S Plus certification based on THX's independent testing of the combined audio performance of this system's receiver, speakers, and a powerful 12-inch subwoofer. The specially designed front loudspeakers use a THX-developed dual-woofer array that optimizes the sound field for a sonic presentation that is remarkably close to that found in the best THX movie theaters. The system includes THX Surround EX™; THX listening modes for Music, Movies and Games; and THX Loudness Plus™, a sophisticated volume-control technology which maintains surround impact at low listening levels.
The HT-S9300THX also provides for easy surround sound speaker set up with Audyssey 2EQ room acoustics correction technology, and provides improved sound enjoyment with Audyssey Dynamic EQ and Audyssey Dynamic Volume processing. It includes Onkyo's proprietary Music Optimizer, which improves the sound of compressed music files for playback with loudspeakers, and four DSP modes for various gaming scenarios.
All video inputs can be upscaled to 1080p video, regardless of native resolution, via Faroudja DCDi Cinema™ processor, which also removes the jaggies during the video signal deinterlacing process, resulting in smooth progressive-scan video images.
The receiver employs Onkyo's new overlaid graphical OSD (on screen display) for seamless adjustment of settings while still viewing the program in the background. A proprietary rear-panel Universal Port can be used to connect an optional Onkyo UP-A1 dock for iPod/iPhone and UP-HT1 HD Radio tuner module. The receiver also includes Onkyo's HDMI Thru feature, which provides automatic source-to-TV switching when the receiver is in the standby mode. This allows children to enjoy programs using a TV's built-in speakers without the need to use the receiver's controls.
The HT-S9300THX will be available at the end of July with a suggested retail price of $1,099.
