Upper Saddle River, NJ–Onkyo has introduced the TX-SR503 A/V receiver, improving upon the company’s popular TX-SR502 with upgraded processing, improved connectivity, and a seventh amplifier channel. The model includes a wide array of features for home theater, including 7.1-channel processing, HDTV capable component video switching, and a newly designed preprogrammed remote control. This Onkyo TX-SR503 is currently available in both black and silver finishes at a suggested retail price of just $300.
The TX-SR503 boasts wide bandwidth component video switching with three inputs to switch up to three high definition and progressive-scan sources without degrading video quality. There are three A/V inputs with both composite and S-Video connections, plus a front panel A/V input for convenient connection of portable devices. The receiver has four assignable digital audio inputs with one coaxial and three optical connectors, RCA line-level connections for a CD player and audio recorder, and a subwoofer preamplifier output.
The TX-SR503 features a full suite of processing for home theater, including Dolby Digital EX, DTS-ES, and even DTS 96/24. With DTS Neo:6 and Dolby ProLogic IIx, the receiver is capable of automatically deriving full 7.1-channel audio from absolutely any stereo or multichannel source. The receiver features upgraded high quality linear PCM 192 kHz/24-bit D/A converters and a sophisticated 32-bit DSP engine for ideal reproduction of soundtracks and multichannel audio.
The Onkyo TX-SR503 includes seven internal power amplifier channels with high-current, low-impedance discrete output devices, to deliver a continuous power output of 75 Watts per channel into 8-Ohm loads. Onkyo’s WRAT (Wide Range Amplifier Technology) gives the power stage a linear frequency response from 10 Hz to 100 kHz to ensure it’s up to the challenge of the most demanding audio sources, such as SACD and DVD-Audio. There are dual banana-plug-compatible multi-way speaker binding posts for all main channels with color-coding for simplified wiring, as well as front channel “B” terminals to enable the receiver to drive a stereo pair in a second zone.
The dot-matrix fluorescent front panel display makes setup and operation of the receiver easy and fast, including variable speaker configuration and distance settings for simple optimization of any speaker arrangement. With the new adjustable crossover on the subwoofer pre-out channel, the LFE channel signal can be cutoff at 60, 80, 100, 120 or 150 Hz, for seamless integration of any satellite and subwoofer combination.
The receiver’s high quality AM/FM tuner section has 30 random presets, and FM automatic scan tuning. The included RI (Remote Interactive) compatible preprogrammed remote control has been redesigned for improved simplicity, making control of an entire entertainment system simple and convenient.
The TX-SR503 is currently available in either black or silver finishes at a suggested retail price of $300.
Onkyo has also introduced the 5.1-channel TX-SR303 A/V receiver, a 65 Watt per channel budget receiver with Dolby Digital, DTS, and ProLogic II processing. It features the same 192kHz/24-bit DACs found in the TX-SR503, and four A/V inputs with both composite and S-video capability. The TX-SR303 is available in silver finish at a suggested retail price of just $200.
