Onkyo TX-RZ70 11.2 Premium AVR – Preview

All Image Credit: Onkyo

Onkyo is part of the Pioneer group of companies that also includes; Integra, Jamo, Magnat, and Heco. The TX-RZ70 is the latest Onkyo flagship 11.2 channel AV receiver to be announced by Onkyo that will be released May/June of 2023. The AV receiver has been developed from scratch in collaboration with Onkyo Japan and the Premium Audio Company, a Voxx International subsidiary that currently owns Pioneer home entertainment systems.

Its internal physical appearance, connectivity and technical features are very similar to the recently released Integra DRX-8.4 11.2 flagship AVR and Pioneer VSX-LX805 Elite AVR. I suppose this is not too surprising as Onkyo is wholly owned by Pioneer. At $2,799.00 it sells for less than both the Pioneer VSX-LX80 at $2,999.00 and Integra DRX-8.4 at $3,200.00. Accordingly it has a few less features/connectivity for the price.

Pioneer Internals

Integra Internals

Onkyo Internals

Onkyo TX-RZ70 Rear Panel

Pioneer VSX-LX805 Elite Rear Panel

Integra DRX-8.4 Rear Panel

The TX-RZ70 is THX Select certified and with its 11 channels of amplification rated to deliver 140 Watts per channel (8 ohms), 13.2 channel processing and two independent subwoofer outputs, the TX-RZ70 supports 7.2.4/5.2.4 channel speaker setups and includes 13 preamp outs. The RZ70 also includes two wired zone outputs, Zone 2 and Zone 3 (shared with Height 2), that support two-channel stereo setups.

For audiophiles the TX-RZ70 incorporates; a newly engineered chassis and audio signal path, anti-resonant aluminum heat sinks, audiophile-grade capacitors and uses two premium ESS 32-bit ES9026PRO Hyperstream® II 8-channel audiophile DAC’s supporting a wide dynamic range with low levels of distortion and noise.

Other features include; HDMI 2.1 connectivity with HDCP 2.3 to support advanced, next-generation formats such as 8KP60 and 4KP120, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X immersive audio capabilities. The AVR is gaming friendly having; variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM) technologies, easily interfaces to sound bars and TV’s with its auto return channel (ARC)/enhanced (eARC) and is compatible with HDR formats including; Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10 and hybrid log gamma (HLG).

Room EQ is provided with the included full bandwidth version of DIRAC Live that may be upgraded at the DIRAC shop to handle DIRAC Live Bass Control Single or Multi Sub ($349/$499). Dirac Live automatically calibrates the sound in your room using your smartphone and the included wired microphone, or works wirelessly with the Dirac Live DPC or MacOS* app and a third-party USB microphone (not included).* The device must be connected to the Internet and to the same network as the AVR.

Note: If you don’t want to use Dirac Live, the TX-RZ70 also includes Onkyo’s Accuroom EQ Calibration system which does not require a network internet connection. However, you can’t use Dirac Live and Accuroom at the same time.

For those owners of Klipsch’s Reference/Reference Premier loudspeakers, the TX-RZ70 offers a Klipsch Optimized Mode. Simply select the model of speaker for each channel, and the optimized crossover setting will be automatically applied.

Finally for custom installers, the RZ70 is a breeze to integrate into various control environments working with; Control4, Crestron, Savant, URC, Elan, and RTI control systems.