Onkyo TX-NR906 - Conclusion

CONCLUSION

The TX-NR906 is diligently engineered and well honed sonically. OK, £1,400 is expensive as AV receivers go, but inexpensive in real hi-fi terms and it satisfies every need. Offering a massive audio visual experience with no blemishes, as well as complete internet connection and 10,000 internet radio stations in the package, the TX-NR906 does it all - and well. This is a fantastic AV receiver. and in the AV field at least, something of an audiophile delight.

Easy going yet powerful sound plus a vast feature count and decent build make this winning value for money.

ONKYO TX-NR906     £1400

Onkyo UK

+44(0) 1494 681515

www.onkyo.co.uk

FOR

- good with SACD

- decodes all audio formats

- many facilities

AGAINST

- complicated

- unlovely appearance

- fiddly to use

MEASURED PERFORMANCE

If the headline output of 153 Watts doesn’t sound enough, excellent power supply regulation allows power to nearly double into 4 Ohms, hitting a measured 290 Watts per channel. As most loudspeakers nowadays use 4 Ohm bass units this accurately represents the power deliverable and, over seven channels, it amounts to 2kW, no less.

With low distortion even at high frequencies, around 0.02% at 10kHz 1 Watt and the same near to full output of 290 Watts, the Onkyo stays clean. Damping factor was a good 37, suggesting plenty of loudspeaker control. All in all then, the TX-NR906 has got masses of clean power available. If you want to use external sources then 300mV input sensitivity is sufficient for most.

In DSD Direct mode, via the internal digital convertors SACD frequency response reached up to 100kHz (-6dB), unusually good extension for the medium, better than most SACD players; outside this mode bandwidth stopped hard at 20kHz.

PCM audio at 24/192 managed  the same bandwidth and both DSD and PCM at -60dB measured a low 0.15% distortion, very good if not quite up to the best. CD (i.e. 16/44.1) at -60dB returned 0.38% distortion, on the high side, limiting EIAJ dynamic range to 106dB. Frequency response was flat to 20.2kHz with the slightest roll down above 10kHz; there was no peaking. So the Onkyo gives fine results, consistent with a smooth sound, if not quite the low linearity of the best hi-fi separates.

The VHF tuner measured flat to 12kHz before upper treble was rolled down by a pilot tone filter at 19kHz. Distortion was low at 0.1% (50% mod.) and hiss well suppressed at -69dB. Sensitivity was fair at 60uV, and minimum hiss (full quieting) was reached at a low 850uV. Expect a smooth, clear sound.

The Phono stage was accurately equalised, but it had a small amount  of plateau lift (+0.4dB) above 800Hz, so will be a tad on the brighter side of things. Sensitivity was high at 3.3mV, overload very high at 100mV and hiss low at -77dB, so another fine set of results.

The TX-NR906 turns in impressive results all round. CD dynamic range should have been greater, but high resolution digital including DSD was processed very well. With a good VHF tuner and Phono stage the big Onkyo has been carefully engineered. NK

Power 153 Watts

CD/tuner/aux.

Frequency response 1Hz-83kHz

Separation 81dB

Noise -99dB

Distortion 0.02%

Sensitivity 300mV

Damping factor 37

Disc (LP)

Frequency response 8Hz-25kHz

Separation 68dB

Noise -77dB

Distortion 0.02%

Sensitivity 3.3mV

Overload 100mV

VHF TUNER

Frequency response 10Hz-12kHz

Stereo separation 34dB

Distortion (50% mod.) 0.1%

Hiss (CCIR) -69dB

Signal for minimum hiss 850uV

Sensitivity (stereo) 60µV

FREQUENCY RESPONSE SACD

DISTORTION, 10kHz,1W