Home audio shocker! Onkyo aims new compact systems at 'audiophiles'
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted July 23rd 2010 3:17PM
posted July 23rd 2010 3:17PM
Onkyo, known in these parts for everything from digiframes to a rather wild selection of PCs, has announced a set of compact audio systems aimed at the audiophile (though to be fair, Onkyo's definition of "audiophile" might be different than our own). For the well-heeled consumer, the CS-1045DAB (pictured after the break) sports 70W (x2) output, three analog and both optical and coaxial SPDIF inputs, a front-mounted USB port, VLSC Vector Linear Shaping Circuit tech, and a 24-bit Burr-Brown DAC. Score! Available at the end of August for £600 ($925) or bundled with a pair of D-145 speakers for £700 ($1,080). If your budget's a little tighter (and we can't blame you if it is) the CS-545UK (pictured above) is a cute little guy that features a digital amp, 2 x 50W output, MP3 compatible, tray-loaded CD player (remember those?), both an iPod dock and USB input, video out (presumably composite) and sub woofer out. Ships with a pair of D-045 2-way bass reflex speakers for £349 ($537) or without for £249. Look for it in September, kids!
iPods can support uncompressed (i.e. WAV) 24-bit audio, and it is docked to the system, meaning that the digital-to-analog conversion is done by the Onkyo unit. Therefore, in my estimation, it is possible that docking an iPod could result in higher-resolution audio than a 16-bit, 44.1k CD.
Want an iPod to go with that badass speaker system? Reply to this comment with your email and I'll send you a Lockerz invite. And if you don't like Lockerz, then downranking this comment with helpfully fulfill your hateful, rage-fueled high.
Why is no one making these with integrated wifi and a DLNA client? Make that for ~$500 with decent quality and I'll buy it.
Sigh. I remember when Onkyo was a very respectable hifi mfg. Sure they still make high-end stuff, but now you have to pay out the snot for it - if you can even find it amidst the droves of crap they slap their name on these days.
There are far better PMP's with better sound quality that ipods. apples products sound flat, and dont really have much in the sound dept.
I doubt that those can beat a good studio monitor like some dynaudios. But then, these are way cheaper, and you have to hear it first. Finally, it's still a shame that the iPod cannot support flac.