smooth warm open sound

remote, musical DSP modes

Associated equipment:
Thiel 3.5 front speakers
NHT Super One surrounds
NHT Super Center
Velodyne CT100 sub
Modified (dual-mono) Adcom 555 power amp for Thiels.
Denon LD player, Toshiba 3107 DVD, Sony CD with Theta Pro Basic processor.
First, the good: the sound is as above, clean and detailed and utterly non-fatiguing, no mean feat for the Thiels, which treat most Japanese electronics with anything from skepticism to outright hostility. They say the DTR-7 is just a 777 with upgraded parts--don't believe it, the Thiels sounded like Altecs with the 777. I was highly dubious about exchanging my Adcom preamp for a Japanese receiver, but was forced by financial exigencies to take the mid-road. Haven't regretted it for a moment, soundwise.
I'm not so thrilled with the 7's DSP modes. Mono Movie is fine but the musical modes are useless--very metallic with a lot of slap-back (in Orchestral mode, Alberich's opening lines in the Solti "Rheingold" provoke an echo worthy of the Alps). As long as I stick with Stereo mode only, everything's cool.
And then there's the remote. Okay for the basics but you can't tune the FM with it, only select preprogrammed stations. And forget about using it for OSD functions, the thumb-joystick-thingy in the middle is so super-sensitive and flaky that it's all but useless--you try to tilt it juust far enough to change a parameter, and the display vanishes. Far easier just to use the front panel. Thank God Onkyo didn't follow the current style of doing everything exclusively via the remote! Still, once de buggah's set up the remote suffices.
Runs hot but doesn't seem a problem with 3" of clearance in my rack.

Similar Products Used:

NA

Strong Clean Amp, 5Channel Stereo, THX, Good Remote

Owners Manual

I also reviewed this unit in the 777 section, so check that one out too...

I've had this unit for a week, paired with Klipsch THX cinema speakers, and Panasonic A120 DVD player.

No HUMM (gotta git that in early)
Very slight hiss if you are about 2 inches from the speaker, and pause the input unit and then crank up the volume. The speaker hiss is not audible at my listening position with any of the sources I have hooked up.

Music: Great selection of sound modes: Direct mode bypasses all crossovers/highpass filters and puts the full sound signal to your main speakers. Stereo mode uses subwoofer and main speakers, 5 channel gets all your speakers working together.

In two channel mode this unit is every bit as powerful as the Pioneer Elite 29TX (I auditioned one at home with the same set of speakers). It provides a more detailed soundstage than the pioneer. The Marantz SR-18 is more powerful, but in my system it didn't seem as musically involving ??

For movies this unit is simply magnificent. Ample dynamic power for explosions, pinpoint placement of dialog and effects. I watched the opening to Tomorrow Never Dies at reference level, and was ducking when the missile flew past.

The marantz had noticably more power reserves for movies, but in my room, with my relatively efficient speakers, I'm not sure that I'd get to use that power very often, and in my location the marantz costs twice as much as this unit...

I'm not going to blow smoke by saying that this unit is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but it is certainly a very strong contender at it's price point and deserves an audition.

Minor Quirks: Still haven't figured out the Intellivolume feature(Ability to level match each of the input sources so that when you switch from watching a movie to listening to a cd you don't immediately have to raise or lower the volume.

The THX processing works well, and has breathed new life into my VHS material, and even helps the sound on DD/DTS movies. For DTS music like the Eagles Hell Freezes Over, just put it on plain DTS, and kick back. The width of the grin on your face should match the volume level... :) :)

I think this unit will be at my place for a while. Good Work Onkyo.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer Elite 29TX, Marantz SR-18

Integra name, 7.1 Channels, upgradeable through serial port for non-obsolesence. Nice appearance. 130 WPC X 6

Not yet tested!

ONKYO INTEGRA DTR-9.1

Since Audio Review does not yet have a review slot for the DTR-9.1, I thought I would briefly mention it here. Since the DTR-9.1 is so new, it is quite possible that many of you have not heard of it yet. Allow me to help you educate yourselves by enclosing the link for Onkyo's Integra website (still partially under construction) at the end of this partial review.

Let me begin by saying I am and have always been a fan of Integra products. I bought the TXDS-939 a couple of years ago and was, to say the least, very pleased with an awesome box filled with technology and innovation. Although it had a few short-comings, such as the lack of DTS, it had a lot of qualities that other AV receiver manufacturers only dreamed of matching.

Now Onkyo's new Integra DTR-9.1 is again on top of a short list of receivers in the category of sonic superiority. I would like to tell you more of what this receiver has to offer but I have not yet received and tested it. So all of my hype and hoopla is a bit premature. But I know it's gonna be great. Look for my full review in the mid to end of September 2000. The following is a list of my home theater components some of which will be upgraded in the near future:

AV Receiver: Onkyo Integra DTR-9.1 (Upgrade for the TX-DS989)
Display 1: Sony VPH-1252Q CRT Front Projector (soon to arrive)
Display 2: Toshiba TW56f80 56" Theater Wide Rear projection TV (soon to be retired to another room)
Screen: DA-Lite Tensioned Executive Electrol Motorized 150" Diagonal (soon to be hung)
DSS: Sony dual LNB (soon to be upgraded to dolby digital)
Laser Disc Player: Pioneer with AC3
CD Player: Soon to be purchased
DVD Player: Soon to be purchased
VCR: Toshiba 6 head
Remote: Lexicon 700T touchscreen

Speakers:
Front- Mirage OM-6
Surround L+R- Mirage 590i
Rear L+R for 7.1 EX- To be purchased
Center: BIC Ventura (to be upgraded)

Cheers!

See Onkyo's new Integra link below:

http://www.integrahometheater.com/dtr9_1.htm

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo TX-DS939

dd,dts,thx select, 5ch stereo. easy menu operation. strong+clear sound stage.105wx5!

remote. tuner, dsp's outside dd,dts and thx modes.

Sorry I had to let my 838 go. But opened the door to the dtr7. Got a great deal at a local high end dealer ( display mod) with a 3 year warr and an upgrade option if desired. Like any new or used electronic product,the first unit I demode home,i notice some background hiss,along with front stage compression. I returned it. picked up the same model (suspecting a degraded piece)hooked up the replacement and wow!the dtr 7 has plenty of punch with clarity.Dts and dd are clear with excellent sound seperation.I really enjoy the 5ch stereo for cd and tv playback.As mentioned, the rest of the dsp modes (in my opinion) are a waist of air.plenty of outputs.great reciever!

Similar Products Used:

onkyo/integra ds838

Remote, 5-channel stereo, clean power, general build quality

Some DSP modes are hokey

I have now had this unit for over two months and am thrilled with the sound I get from it. The 5-channel stereo is particularly nice, especially for listening to pop/rock music where the all-enveloping sound is breath taking. I also like the stereo and direct modes for listening to classical music. This is my particular taste since I prefer hearing an orchestra from directly in front of me. I have had time to experiment with many of the DSP modes. I have used the orchestra also for classical music and enjoy it on certain recordings. Some modes like TV-studio are very artificial sounding. Used with Dolby digital DVD's this system provides a very thrilling and realistic home theater experience. I have only listened to one DTS recording, the Eagles 'Hell Freezes Over' DVD but this recording is fabulous. I wish there was more available in DTS mode.

Now, I did audition the Denon AVR-3300, and I was truthfully impressed by this unit also. Both the 3300 and DTR-7 have similar features and both sound great. But, the DTR-7 far and away has the better remote unit. It is backlit and the keys/functions are logically laid out. The unit is comfortable in the hand. The AVR-3300 remote is wider and does not feel as comfortable in the hand. Also what is the deal with that flip up door on the 3300 remote? Anyway, I really like the ability to program macros into the DTR-7 remote. This saves many steps when firing the unit up for playing VHS tapes or DVD discs. I have also eliminated many of my other remotes by programming their functions into the DTR-7 remote. I will agree this is a tedious process, but it worked for every remote I tried (Sony DVD, JVC TV, GE VCR). The upfront time spent was well worth it for me.

I bought my unit for $800 from New Orleans Audio Video. This was an excellent prices from an authorized Onkyo Integra dealer so I will give this a very high value rating.

Similar Products Used:

Denon AVR-3300

Features

OSD Menu didn't work until I figured out a switch on the back was turned off. Flat bass response. Lack of liveliness.

As indicated above I am NOT an audiophile. Just an exacting listener who expects value for his dollar. My system was installed approximately 3 months ago, but was not tuned until last week. During that time I purchased a Yamaha HTR 5250 for my parents for Christmas. I installed thier system and I was amazed that the sound blew my system away. I pointed this out to the guy that sold me my Onkyo system and he said he'd come over and adjust my system. He then said that if I spent another $500 to $1,000 my system would sound better. I pointed out that I was using the exact same speakers and subwoofer as my dad and that the only variable was the receiver. He then offered to take the equipment back which I jumped on.

The Onkyo just didn't produce any punch in the bass. The storm scenes in 6 Days and 7 Nights (mediocre movie) were flat and dull. I don't know if the equipment was faulty since reading all of the reviews below or perhaps just not adjusted properly, but a friend with the same reciever has exactly the same deficiencies in his system. He was pleased with his system until he heard my complaints and then we went over to my dad's and listened to his system and his reaction was exactly the same as mine.

All that having been said please bear in mind that I am a neophyte in these matters and that this report is limited to my subjective impressions. I did notice that one of the most recent reviews did refer to the lack of punch in the bass though. This casual mention in an otherwise 5 star review was a dreadful shortcoming in my opinion. I don't like booming bass or muddied bass but I do like the LFE to be lifelike and dramatic, not dull and flat.

So, I'm sorry to say that I would rate this reciever as only a 3 start tops and as for value I would only give it a 1 star.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha

Clean power.

Tuner section is too weak. No tuner adjustments on remote (No am/fm switch, tune up down,store stations ). No enough DSP modes. No DTS adjustment before playing DTS movie. No compoents video. No video conversion ( VHS to S-video ). I need to buy convertor ($19) to convert.

Excellent clean power. Yet have a lot of room to improve. Should be more upgradable and more user friendly. Should make a good tuitoral manual or interactive DVD manual. Need front panel handle to haul this heavy box around like the pros. The price should be lower.

plenty of power,good features, digital output

no video switching

I purchased this reciever about 7 months ago to replace my old sony pro logic reciever. I was originaly looking for the 777 but after a few dealers told me they had the integra model I began asking questions. I finally decided to buy the integra model and took a chance. Never in all my listening have I regreted going with this piece. The sound is just amazing. Not very many recievers at this price range can produce high levels of clean sound. I have cranked this baby to extreme levels and the sound is still clean. A nice feature that this reciever has is that you can use the center and rear pream outputs without defeating the built in amp. I don't know if other recievers do this but it is a nice feature. The remote is also very nice. The little Jog dial only takes a little time to master. After about a month I had no problem going through the onscreen menus. If your looking for a mid-level reciever you should consider the DTR-7. Harman Kardon also makes some great recievers but for the price I would put the DTR-7 up against Harmans AVR-7000 any day. In my view they are about equal in performance.

Similar Products Used:

sony, harman kardon, yamaha

Just about every damn thing!

Some DSP are dumb. Intellivolume takes too long to set up. (but that might be my problem.)

I have reviewed just about all manufactures. In general Onkyo receivers are constructed much better, their capacitors are outstanding, and ease of use is incredible.

I picked up my DTR-7 from noav.com. If you can get this unit at or below $900, you would be stupid not to buy it. Anyway, THX, DD, DTS, and 5 Ch. Stereo are the only DSP you should be using.

EAGELS "hell freezes over" in DTS is damn near orgasmic. Just ask my girlfriend. She was one of those "Why do you need to buy a $800 receiver when you can get one much cheaper at Best Buy." people. That was until I received the DTR-7 from the UPS guy.

This is a serious receiver for a serious listener. Even some one who is a casual listener will appreciate the clarity, power, and cleanness the DTR-7 puts out! No hiss, No Hum. If you hear hiss or hum and have good speakers than it is your CD!

Get it. Get it right now. Don't just sit there and read these reviews. Get off your butt and go test it out! Your next click should be to onkyousa.com to find the Integra dealer nearest to you!

Do it! Get it done!

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo, Pioneer elite, Harman Kardon, Sony (junk), Denon, Nakamichi, Kenwood, Bose (major junk)

THX Certification, 5Ch Stereo, Intellivolume, Learning
Backlit Remote, Powerful Amplifier Section, Well built,
5 Channel Stereo
3 Year Warranty, Integra Name

Somewhat weak Tuner Section, Some Channel Bleed, Navigation
tablet on Remote difficult to operate, Speaker binding posts
not true 5 way.. Not widely available over the Internet,
Light on Remote could stay on a little longer... ok.. ok ..
.. i'm just nitpicking :-)

Well friends, It was exactly one year ago around Thanksgiving time that I started thinking about setting up a small Home Theater System. My mind was pretty set on the speakers I wanted so I spent the next three months doing in home demos of the receivers mentioned. I've already written reviews for these three receivers , I think i've used my DTR-7 for a sufficient length of time now to write it's review as well.

It won't be a long review, because most of the qualities I observed in the Onkyo TX-DS777 have been faithfully maintained in this receiver as well.. if at all some things have been improved.

The Integra unit offers:

1. A Detachable Better Quality Power Cord
2. Gold Plated Jacks All around
3. Multi Room Multi Source Outs
4. 3 Year Warranty
5. Hand Matched Parts (an Integra feature)

My nearest Integra dealer was some 50 miles away and was unwilling to budge from a price in the $900's with very stupid and unreasonable demo and return policies. I bought my unit over the phone from NOAV in New Orleans. They are authorized Integra dealers and it was when Kent used to work there. Onkyo wasn't cracking down that hard back then so they were able to sell it to me in NJ. I had a prefectly smooth transaction.

Even the UPS guy knew by then that I was deciding on a receiver (it was the fourth unit he delivered *LOL*). The weight remains the same.. and the climb upstairs was as difficult as with the TX-DS777. Unpacking was easy (me being a veteran by now!) and setup was easier still.

This receiver REALLY looks well built. I thought the TX-DS777 was built like a tank till I laid eyes on the DTR-7. It's got the same front panel as the TX-DS777. but the back panel is a beauty with all those jacks now gold plated, and Multi Room Multi Source outs added.

I hooked up the AM and FM antennas and flipped open the manual just to see if there were any changes. The units have the same manual with some sections labelled "DTR7 Only" for Integra specific features. Reiterating, I personally have no problems with this manual.. if you have common sense, it will guide you to what you want to do.

Speaker connectors are refined.. but still lack that hole. I used my bare wires and secured all speakers. The remote is exactly the same.. the only comment I can add is that it's really easy on batteries.. I'm still using my original set!! and it's been almost a year now. And the unit is used daily without fail and i'm a major channel surfer / fine tuner too!! *L*

The programming was by heart this time.. it's so easy.. you don't have to consult the manual once you know it.. and once again, all my remotes were eaten up alive by this monster. Set to use, I played around hoping there was some improvement with that small round 'mouse' on the remote.. but alas it remains the same.. tedious as ever to navigate. Also one very trivial gripe .. the light could stay on a little longer.. but hey maybe it's my batteris.. I better change them :-)

Well the Tuner is almost the same.. the little improvement I heard could be attributed to my eagerness to hear a difference or reception changes due to the weather. I think Onkyo can work on this and produce a stronger tuner. For the benefit of those who haven't read my earlier reviews of the
TX-DS777, the autotune feature is still missing.

The OSD is useful.. Speaker levels and distances set, I ventured into Intellivolume and discovered it's quite useful. Most of the time DVD volumes are higher and when you switch back to TV you hvae to raise the volume, or by any chance if you switch to the Tuner you have to drastically cut down the volume. Intellivolume lets you augment or cut down the levels so no matter how you switch between sources the sound remains at one level.. neat little feature.

The receiver set, it's time for a little testing.

First off Dolby ProLogic. Still the most frequently used mode of mine due to all that Television viewing. I didn't test a VHS movie this time, hoping hard that the TV transmission would be proof enough of Onkyo's supremacy over similar units. And it was.. Dolby ProLogic is probably the best on Onkyo. I've compared it with Denon which is really dismal in it's Dolby Prologic separation. I really don't like to watch Regis Philbin in his Millionnaire show, but the DTR-7 does such a cool ProLogic decoding of that low frequency thumping music that I have to listen to it just to get my kicks during channel surfing.

Note however that the channel bleed remains. At hight volumes DD 2.0 DVD's 'leak' some sound to rears.

Next stop, Dolby Digital 5.1 By now me and possibly my neighbours have grown tired of the Matrix Lobby Shooting Spree chapter. I decided to use Godzilla instead. Amazing sound mix. This receiver is ALL power.. raw, absolute, dynamic.. I sit and wonder sometimes why ANYONE would buy a SONY or a Denon or a Yamaha with this baby on the market!! They HAVE to give it an audition in all fairness.. really it's your loss if you don't!

I tried Twister for the DTS testing. Absolutely, wonderfully enthralling. I'm soooooo glad I bought this receiver. A nit picky person like me sits smiling at what I hear.., despite my modest speaker setup, I hardly ever think of 'improving' or upgrading my setup once this baby starts singing.

The small quirk of displaying the Surround mode remains. It will Show Dolby ProLogic and switch automatically when you pop in the relevant source material. I have over these months done critical listenings of other DTS releases too.. T2 fell short of my expectations, but MIB was ok. I was pleasantly surprised at two Dolby Digital mixes. Fight Club and Toy Story 1& 2. Really GREAT mixes.. I guess THX does something afterall.. the sound is really 'surround' and the DTR-7 flexes it's muscles and never caves in.

As before, play time over, and out come some Jazz Diva's ready to flirt with the DTR-7. The big guys with their double basses get ready to throw the lowest of riffs at my new receiver and i sit back.. anxious to see how it measures up to the real test....

DTS CD to ensure the source is not an issue and clear clean recordings without any background noise.....All the chestiness and breathing in the vocals remains.. I can hear them turning pages on quiet passages.. even the small subtle nuances of their lips parting before they deliver the verses.. all so clear.. close your eyes and the divas are in your room.....

BRAVO!! DTR-7.. BRAVO!!! pin drop silence, and sudden punchy dynamic peaks.. what a performance.. I remember now.. I wrote off the minor worries of having paid freight on the three units I had bought earlier.. it was ALL worth it.. three months of hunting, several in store and at home demos later.. I had a receiver that gave me everything I wanted without leaving me broke.

I threw in a normal CD.. Bryan Adams 18 till I die.. one of my very favourite.. possibly the ONLY CD where I don't skip tracks.. each one of them is a gem on it's own.. and it's exquisitely recorded.. close your eyes and you can feel the tambourines in three dimensions.. at times some percussions sound off BEHIND you!! a thoroughly enjoyable ridel, made more enjoyable by the DTR-7.

I know what most readers who've read my TX-DS777 review are thinking about now.. what about the bass?? WHAT ABOUT THE BASS???

Well friends, it's the same! take it as a low point, or if you are like me, take is as it is (I love deep slow natural bass as it's consistent with my listening) As before, it's live bass for you.. not into it.. need hip hop or thumpy punchy bass.. think twice.. go buy a Denon which will definitely give you that punchy bass but rip your female vocals off any depth or chestiness and compress the overall sound.. take your pick.. mine was the DTR-7 :-)

The DSP's as usual remain untouched.. I use the 5 Channel Stereo sparing.. when some dudes want to know why I bought 5 speakers to listen to Stereo CD's *LOL* or mostly listening to FM when i'm in another room.. (doesn't hurt to lose the imaging cuz i'm not in front of the system anyway).

Otherwise it's Stereo, I wish I had full range fronts .. I just LOVE the Direct sound.. as pure an audiophile like as it can get.. sadly my speakers start losing the bass on their own.. and need the Sub to assist.

The crossover remains fixed at 80Hz for this unit too. Need something different.. use speaker level connections to u'r powered sub if it supports a built in X-over.

Well this is the end of my search.. I've been using this receiver ever since.. and I have moved apartments, shifted to another state now.. my stuff was moved using Ground Transportation from NJ to Texas..this unit just opened up, and started from where I'd packed it in NJ.

I've read with interest the release of new models by all manufacturers. I see improvements and additions in the processor sections.. for what??? how many 6.1 DTS-ES DVD's do we have out there.. how many DTS-discreet, or for that matter how many EX?? not even a handful.. so my friends.. IMO this receiver still rules the sub $1000 category cuz the amp section specs it boasts are still unsurpassed.

If and when I see something better.. I'll let you all know :-)

Happy Listening

River
========================================================
Equipment I used..

Pioneer DV-525 DVD Player
Fronts and Rears: Paradigm Titans V2 on Premier Stands
Center Speaker: Paradigm CC-170
Powered Subwoofer: Velodyne Acoustics CT-100
Radio Shack Gold Interconnects
Home Depot 12 Guage Speaker Cable all around
========================================================

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo TX-DS575, Onkyo TX-DS777, Denon AVR-3300