Onkyo TX-RZ840: Classic 9.2-channel mid-range AV receiver

The Japanese company Onkyo presents the AV receiver TX-RZ840, the main differences from the previous model TX-RZ830 are: they eliminated one component input, reduced the number of optical inputs from […]

Onkyo TX-RZ840

The Japanese company Onkyo presents the AV receiver TX-RZ840, the main differences from the previous model TX-RZ830 are: they eliminated one component input, reduced the number of optical inputs from 2 to 1, removed two pairs of acoustic terminals and added new IMAX Enhanced technology. What is IMAX Enhanced?

IMAX and DTS have decided to launch their own certification program for home theater system components and content called “IMAX Enhanced.” They relied on THX, which developed its certification back in 1995. Thus, the IMAX Enhanced license will allow users to select devices and content that “provide a new level of immersive picture and sound quality” at home. The companies are developing a special IMAX Mode for system components that will allow you to enjoy content “as the director intended.” IMAX itself promises to provide documentaries and films from Hollywood studios in remasters. A special version of the DTS:X codec will be responsible for the sound – it, according to the developers, will allow you to get “signature IMAX sound” at home.

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The new product has reduced the number of optical inputs to one, and also removed 2 amplification channels for the second zone. In all other aspects, the Onkyo TX-RZ840 receiver repeats its predecessor. When purchasing an AV receiver, the buyer naturally plans to create a home theater system. With this 9.2-channel device, it can become very modern and advanced. We are primarily talking about support for object-oriented 3D audio formats – Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. For full playback of the soundtracks recorded in them, the Onkyo TX-RZ840 has built-in decoders, as well as a sufficient (or almost sufficient) number of sound reinforcement channels of 215 W each (the rest are without load).

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The Onkyo TX-RZ840 is a 9.2-channel mid-range AV receiver that supports THX Certified Select, which indicates reference-quality sound. The model’s power supply is equipped with a powerful high-current HCPS transformer and high-capacity capacitors. The design uses dynamic amplification technology (DAA) to provide high current and effective noise reduction. As a result, the model sounds as close as possible to the source, and also has transparency, detail, excellent dynamics and a wide frequency range, which is important for HD audio. The circuits use AK4458 DACs and VLSC technology, which eliminates impulse noise.

The speakers are calibrated by the AccuEQ Advance system, which eliminates standing waves in the listening area. AccuReflex technology is used, which phase-matches the speakers for Dolby Atmos with the rest of the speakers in the system. The AV receiver makes it possible to build a 5.2.2- or 7.4-channel system to work with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X formats, and when adding a stereo speaker, a 7.2.2 configuration becomes available. DTS Neural:X and Dolby Surround codecs are supported.

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Onboard the Onkyo TX-RZ840 there are Wi-Fi (2 bands) and Bluetooth modules. The receiver has a Chromacast built-in platform for streaming audio, which also provides voice control when using Google Assistant-enabled devices. AirPlay 2 is available, as is DTS Play-Fi technology for streaming high-quality music via the Onkyo Music Control app to wireless speakers and other devices. The receiver works with FlareConnect technology, which allows you to transmit high-quality audio “over the air” from any source to any room where the corresponding components are located, and you can control such multiroom through the Onkyo Controller application. With “Works with Sonos” certification, the model can easily be integrated into another Sonos wireless system.

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There is support for online services Spotify, TuneIn, TIDAL, Deezer and Amazon Music. Hi-Res formats are played over a local network and via USB – PCM up to 24 bit/192 kHz, DSD up to 5.6 MHz with conversion to PCM and DSD 11.2 MHz in native mode. The model received an aluminum front panel with a cover, under which there are control buttons, an HDMI input, a headphone jack and a microphone input. The rear of the Onkyo TX-RZ840 has 6 HDMI inputs (4K/60 Hz, HDCP 2.2, 4K HDR formats). There are HDMI outputs with return channel and for zone 2. There is an 11.2-channel Pre Out, an MM phono input, S/PDIF inputs and a LAN port. There are 9 pairs of screw terminals for the speakers.

Characteristics Onkyo TX-RZ840

Number of channels 9.2
Output power 215 W per channel (6 Ohm, 1 kHz, 1% THD, 1 channel active, IEC)
Dynamic power 250 W (3 Ohm, front), 220 W (4 Ohm, front) , 130 W (8 ohms, front)
Dynamic Audio Amplification (DAA) yes
Harmonic distortion 0.08% (20 Hz – 20 kHz, half power)
Input sensitivity/impedance 200 mV / 47 kOhm (line input), 3 .5 mV/47 kΩ (MM phono input)
Nominal output sensitivity/impedance 1 V/470 Ω (Pre Out), 1 V/470 Ω (Subwoofer Pre Out), 1 V/2.3 kΩ (Pre Outputs) Out for additional zones 2 and 3)
Frequency range 5 Hz – 100 kHz (+ 1 dB, – 3 dB, Direct mode)
Voices HF: ± 10 dB (20 kHz), LF: ± 10 dB (20 Hz)
Signal ratio /noise 106 dB (line input), 80 dB (MM phono stage input) Speaker
impedance 4–16 Ohm
Built-in MM phono stage with low noise level yes
AM/FM tuner yes
Number of AM/FM presets 40
Built-in decoders (main) Dolby Atmos (5.2.4/7.2.2 channel configuration without additional amplifier, 7.2.4 with additional network power amplifier), Dolby Surround, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital, DTS:X, DTS Neural:X, DTS -HD Master Audio, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, DTS 96/24, DTS-ES, DTS Express
THX Certified Select support for cinema reference sound in rooms up to 57 cubic meters. m
AccuEQ Advance speaker auto-calibration system with AccuReflex Phase Alignment technology
Additional quantity. zones 2
DAC AK4458 (32 bit/384 kHz)
PLL circuit (PLL) for jitter suppression on digital inputs S/PDIF yes
32-bit DSP processor yes
Improver for compressed music files Music Optimizer
Supported audio file formats (via LAN and USB) MP3, WMA, FLAC (24 bit/192 kHz), WAV (24 bit/192 kHz), AIFF (24 bit/192 kHz), AAC, Apple Lossless, DSD (up to 5.6 MHz, convertible to PCM), DSD 11.2 MHz in native mode, Dolby TrueHD
Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n, 2.4/5 GHz
Bluetooth version 4.1 + LE (A2DP v1.2, AVRCP v1.3)
AirPlay 2 support
Chromecast built-in support with Google Assistant yes
DTS Play-Fi support yes
FlareConnect wireless technology support for multi-room installation yes
Sonos wireless multi-room technology support yes
Onkyo app support for iPhone and Android yes
Pure Audio mode turns off the display and analogue video chains
Direct mode disables digital signal processing
Supported online services TuneIn, Spotify, Deezer, TIDAL, Amazon Music
Inputs 6 x HDMI (4K/60Hz/RGB/4:4:4/4:2:2/4:2:0, HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG, BT.2020, HDCP 2.2), 1 x HDMI on the front panel under the cover (4K/60Hz/RGB/4:2:0, HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG, BT.2020, HDCP 2.2) , 2 component, 2 composite, 6 line RCA, MM phono input (RCA), coaxial, 1 optical, USB for external storage, Ethernet port (LAN)
Outputs 2 x HDMI (HDMI (Main) with ARC support, HDMI ( Zone2/Sub) for zone 2), 11.2-channel Pre Out (RCA), 2 RCA outputs for zones 2 and 3 (pre/line out, adjustable/fixed, output for zone 3 combined with Pre Out for high-altitude channels) , 6.3 mm headphone jack
Other connections IR input, trigger output (12 V), mini-jack for calibration microphone, RS-232, AM/FM antenna jacks, 2 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth antenna jacks , ground terminal
Output terminals for speakers 9 pairs of screw terminals
Power supply high-current transformer HCPS (High Current Power Supply) with W-shaped core, custom high-capacity buffer capacitors
Power consumption 870 W, standby: 0.15 W
Dimensions (WxHxD) 435x202x398 mm
Weight 14 kg