Jordan O'BrienOnkyo is not choosing sides in the war between Dolby and DTS, with the company announcing two home cinema amplifiers supporting both DTS:X and Dolby Atmos.
While both the TX-NR646 and TX-NR747 will support both formats, at launch Dolby Atmos will be the only one supported, with DTS:X set to be added in a future firmware update scheduled for later this year.
Both amplifiers support 7.2 channels, with eight 4K/60 Hz-ready HDMI 2.0a inputs and two multi-zone outputs, including HDCP 2.2-compliant terminals to support 4K streaming and even 4K Blu-ray discs.
There’s also support for WiFi, AirPlay, Bluetooth, integration with Spotify Connect, HDR colour and 21:9 cinema-aspect ratio.
Onkyo’s Remote App 3 will be able to stream digital music stored on your smartphone or tablet directly to the company’s latest amps, the app also supports internet radio and other streaming services.
While Jay-Z’s high-quality streaming service Tidal isn’t available, both the TX-NR646 and TX-NR747 will still be able to play high-resolution audio file formats like FLAC and DSD over DLNA.
Vinyl fans will also find something for them with a phono input for plugging in a turntable.
The TX-NR747 is slightly more expensive than the TX-NR646, with the two amps costing £849 and £549, respectively.
The reason for the difference in price is down to the TX-NR747’s 175W of power per channel and THX Select 2 Plus certification, while the TX-NR646 isn’t certified and claims 160W.
Both receivers still have many of the same features though, with Dual 32-bit DSP Engines and a new 384 kHz/32-bit AK458 DAC fitted to both.
Onkyo isn’t the first company to promise support for DTS:X, with Denon and Marantz already promising an update to its existing line-up of Dolby Atmos speakers later this year.
Unlike Onkyo however, Denon and Marantz will require a €199 hardware upgrade, rather than a free software update.
The TX-NR646 will go on sale at the end of May in black or silver, while the TX-NR747 will be available in mid/end of June in the same colour scheme.