Onkyo - TX-DS787 Solid state multi-channel receiver

The TX-DS787 is imposing and fairly heavy, which already suggests a certain power. It is available in gold or black, its front panel is brushed aluminum. In its center you’ll find a large display with a multitude of adjustment buttons that greatly facilitate handling. Faithful to THX from the start, the TX-DS787 also features (one thing does not preclude the other for Onkyo) about a dozen DSPs allowing listening in multichannel mode from stereo sources. These effects range from 3 stereo mode exploiting the front speakers to Enhanced 7 mode exploiting 7+1 channels. For Dolby Digital or DTS programs in 5.1 or 6.1, if you have 5 speakers you must choose the Dolby Digital, DTS or THX mode; if you have 6 or 7 speakers you can choose THX Surround EX. However, be aware that the TX-DS787 has only 6 power amplifiers, so it can drive only one rear center speaker.

On the use and adjustment side it’s a real treat; everything is really very easy to set up.

On the rear panel you immediately notice the richness of the connectors. For example, there is the possibility of a Multi-room extension (in stereo mode only) via two terminals intended to feed another pair of speakers in another room. In this case 2 of the 6 channels are used for the main room and 2 other channels for the second room.

Audio inputs/outputs:

3 analog inputs via Cinch jack and 1 analog output via Cinch jack
2 optical digital inputs and 1 optical digital output
2 coaxial digital inputs

Video inputs/outputs:

1 YUV input and 1 YUV output
5 analog composite inputs + S-Video and 2 analog composite outputs + S-Video
1 7+1 input via Cinch jack and 1 7+1 output via Cinch jack

To control everything you have a large translucent backlit remote control comfortable to use thanks to its built-in joystick and its small LCD display.

Technical presentation:
On the power stage the Onkyo TX-DS787 is impressive; it is capable of delivering 90 W per channel continuously across its six channels. A fan starts up when the muscles are unleashed to cool the beast. Of course, to fight all the interference, all digital circuits are enclosed under a shielded cover. It’s the Crystal-brand chip that handles the Dolby Digital and DTS decoding as well as the creation of the surround effects. There is also a six-channel converter operating at 24-bit 192 kHz and then a second stereo-mode converter operating at 24-bit 96 kHz.

Listening:
The Onkyo TX-DS787 impresses greatly during the various listening tests. This sense of power is omnipresent, its sound balance is impressive with a bass register slightly forward, giving a great sense of scale to the listening. In stereo mode, the sound image is spacious and three-dimensional. The balance between treble and midrange is nearly perfect with slightly forward bass but very dynamic. In Home Cinema mode, the precision of decoding is perfect, both in the accuracy of dialogue on the center channel and in the surround effects, but it is its bass power that is immediately noticeable to the point that you could do without a subwoofer if the speakers are capable of going very low in the spectrum. This substantial power reserve and its THX features allow the Onkyo TX-DS787 to draw the viewer into the heart of the action just like in large cinema rooms, thanks also to a remarkable channel separation.

Regarding the choice of speakers, you will need to give the Onkyo TX-DS787 models of substantial size with a soft and dynamic restitution that descends very low into the bass.

Technical specifications:
- bullet Amplifier Tuner RDS 6-channel amplification
- bullet Continuous power 2 channels at 8 Ohms: 2 x 125 W
- bullet Peak power 2 channels at 8 Ohms: 2 x 150 W
- bullet Continuous power 5 channels at 8 Ohms: 5 x 100 W
- bullet Peak power 5 channels at 8 Ohms: 5 x 130 W
- bullet Continuous power 6 channels at 8 Ohms: 6 x 90 W
- bullet Continuous power 6 channels at 8 Ohms: 6 x 115 W
- bullet Decoding: Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby Digital, DTS, THX Surround EX, Dolby Digital EX, DTS ES
- bullet Dimensions (L x W x D): 435 x 175 x 453 mm
- bullet Weight: 17 kg