Introduction:

Onkyo TX-NR6100 review: Combining significant noise reduction improvements in THX Certified Select high current amplification, the TX-NR6100 sets the reference audio standard while bringing 8K/60p and HDR10+ video to your compatible display via HDMI. Enjoy Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks through your height-enabled surround sound system, or use DTS and Dolby mixing and virtualization solutions to create a 3D sound field from any design.

Manage and control music in your home with Ok Google or Alexa voice assistants and connect a second display via HDMI Sub/Zone 2 output. Works with Chromecast built-in, Airplay 2, DTS Play-Fi, and Osnos covers all multi-room cases. If you connect passive speakers, you can switch between 7.2/5.2.2-ch and 5.2-ch + Zone 2 at the touch of a button via the Zone 2 speaker terminals. In addition, features such as a quality MM phono equalizer and two versatile Bluetooth wireless technology make this value proposition even more attractive.

Onkyo TX-NR6100 review:

The Onkyo TX-NR6100 offers all the features and performance you want in a sub-$1000 receiver and is particularly well suited for Android users.

Soundbars may be the most popular home theater option, but ask any enthusiast, and they’ll tell you that an AV receiver is the key to enjoying great movies (and music) at home. These big black boxes look the same as ever from the outside, but the insides continue to evolve and acquire capabilities with each generation. The Onkyo TX-NR6100 is a prime example today, with a complete feature set, great sound, and the ability to meet changing user needs shortly.

After releasing the excellent TX-NR696 in 2019, Onkyo got the permit in 2020. Considering how difficult it was to roll out 8K receivers during the pandemic era, most of them couldn’t pass 4K/120Hz video from home consoles, for example, the latest generation games. The company benefited from not participating in that terrible year. Yes, the new TX-NR6100 supports 8K video and Xbox Series X output (I tried), but it can offer much more than just switching video sources.

Features by the boatload

The TX-NR696 is a 7 x 100 watts per channel receiver that supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X atmospheric audio formats and the latest video standards, namely 8K and 4K/120Hz. While some competitors – Denon, Marantz, and Yamaha – also offer 8K receivers, they were plagued with compatibility issues until very recently. (Denon and Marantz have updated models on the market since April and Yamaha since summer.)

The Onkyo houses six HDMI inputs on the rear, three of which can transmit 8K video, while the remaining three ports include HDR10 and Dolby Vision support. There is also a District 2 HDMI output. Other connections include five analog audio inputs, two digital audio inputs (optical and coaxial), and two USB ports. Vinyl is still amidst a renaissance, and the NR6100 lets users take advantage of that, thanks to a dedicated phono input for turntables without a built-in phono preamp.

How does it sound?

I tested the Onkyo TX-NR6100 with premium Bowers and Wilkins 685 speakers, the new SVS Pro 1000 subwoofer, and an Elac UC51 hub. I compared it to the Yamaha RX-V6A with its mix of music, overall TV viewing, and movies. Calibrate models using a decibel meter rather than the receivers’ corresponding calibration routines.

The Yamaha RX-V6A and the Onkyo TX-NR6100 were excellent performers, and sometimes there was little to set them apart.

Blu-ray discs may be old-fashioned these days, but they’re still the best way to watch your favorite movies. At the same time, not a great film, 1917 on 4K Blu-ray is a tour de force in modern image making. Starting after the hour mark, the sequence, a beautiful tracking shot through a devastated city lit by torches, sounded intense and vibrant when powered by Yamaha. Then, at 1:09:51, a flash started in the right front speaker and bounced back over my head.

When played on Onkyo, the stage became a giant sound bubble where all the jingles and random drops were amplified, but the 6100 couldn’t follow where the flames were going as quickly as the Yamaha.

Onkyo Tx Nr6100 Review Should you buy it?

The receivers are as competitive as ever, but the Onkyo came out on top with the TX-NR6100. Onkyo provides the power and performance you need at the heart of serious home theater. In addition, the company offers more flexibility over competitors like Yamaha, primarily if you use Google Assistant, and it has 8K support out of the box.

The Yamaha RX-V6a may not have as many features as the Onkyo, but it offers better dynamics and a much better price, allowing us to choose between the two. However, if the cost of the Yamaha RX-V6A changes due to supply chain issues, the gap will be closed. The only other competitor at this level (other than Denon) is Sony, but the STR-DN1080 has been out of print recently and may be discontinued. Between the two, the TX-NR6100 adds significant upgrades for this veteran and should be the go-to.

Best AV Receiver for 2022

CNET compares the best AV headphones from Onkyo, Denon, Marantz and Yamaha. So which one should you buy?

Modern AV receivers are the brains behindhand some of the best home theater setups that offer various features including 8K video, Dolby Atmos, and Wi-Fi music streaming. Buyers tend to work better with movies than music, though some models can do both just fine.

So how do you know which AV receiver is best for you? To help you find the best AV headsets for 2022, I tested the most popular models for $500 to $2,000. Remember that some of these products may be available for pre-order, so check back periodically.

What is the difference between a audio receiver and an AV receiver?

Two-channel audio-only amplifier with a stereo receiver, source switching, and an AM/FM tuner; If it does not have a tuner, it is called an integrated amplifier. An AV receiver is usually a surround sound amplifier that allows HDMI pass-through and audio and video playback. Most also include built-in tuners. However, if you want, you can custom an AV headset only as a stereo amplifier or add as many speakers as you have; they are pretty flexible.

Onkyo Tx Nr6100 Review Should I get an 8K receiver?

Onkyo Tx Nr6100 Review Standards change all the time, but currently, the bare minimum is HDR and Dolby Vision support and at least HDMI version 2.0 or higher. In addition, these models support not only 4K and HDR video and 8K compatibility, even if 8K content is hard to find.

Note that all 2020 8K-capable buyers are prone to a bug that prevents them from viewing variable refresh rate videos, especially the Xbox Series X. While Denon, Marantz, and Yamaha have announced fixes for existing models, compatible Yamaha RX-V6A models began shipping in Summer 2021. Denon and Marantz’s receivers sold after April 2021 must support 4K/120Hz. Yamaha users can check 4K support here, while Denon and Marantz users should check with their dealers.

The $800 TX-NR6100 is the first receiver I’ve tried, and I found it beats 4K/120Hz. And I’d recommend it to new buyers as well.

conclusion

The Onkyo – TX – NR6100 7.2 Channel THX Certified Network A/V Receiver is a more than capable A/V receiver. It works great with ATMOS / DTS-X speaker set Onkyo’s AV receiver range is very impressive, complete with amazing functionality and product for nearly every home listening environment imaginable. Checking out their product line, it should be relatively easy to see why Onkyo is a part of this list of the best AV receiver brands.