Onkyo TX-NR737 AV-receiver

Home entertainment receivers can't really evolve so much unless TVs do. Merely take a look at the 3D age when all the enormous TV makers went all out with all kinds of affordable and superior 3D HDTVs which all boasted HDMI 1.4. Then the AV receiver manufacturers including Onkyo followed with HDMI 1.4 support too. HDMI 1.4 was also a specification that set the stage for forthcoming 4K technologies. However, the more affordable home entertainment receivers of Onkyo get the upgrade also along with other features that was previously allowed for higher-priced models. But the TX-NR737 has a couple of groundbreaking characteristics which make this home theater receiver more than merely an appealing midrange company for 4K screens.

Layout

Onkyo sticks to its guns as the Onkyo TX-NR737 has the same tried-and-tested design. Those that are accustomed to having 2 big knobs on their receiver have to settle using a row of buttons along the middle of the receiver and also just one knob for the master volume control. Each button leads to a specific source making it fairly simple to change input signals in the event you got the connections. The HDMI port that is leading stays present that may handily accept any device or component that uses HDMI but it is better that you work with a smartphone because of the support for MHL.

The layout of the back is a little bit different. Compared to its predecessor, there are in fact fewer HDMI interfaces although 2 HDMI outputs and 6 HDMI inputs ought to be satisfactory. The Zone 2 section of terminals is more separate in the other terminals to allow it to be a bit simpler to set up the Zone 2. The remaining interfaces would be the same as last year's version, save for the missing composite video input for media players. Modern media players are best used with HDMI anyhow.

Features

The HDMI interface that is 3rd has this compatibility too which makes sense as it is the designated port to get a DVR or set-top box.

Having Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built into a receiver is equally as essential as placing them so it's no surprise the Onkyo TX-NR737 has these attributes. It might be fine so iOS devices can easily wirelessly stream sound though if AirPlay support gets contained also. The Bluetooth 2.1 EDR is also a little bit old though the main objective of Bluetooth is to enable mobile devices without Wi Fi capabilities to wirelessly link to the receiver.

Support for additional services, Deezer, TuneIn and Spotify is not absent within the TX-NR737. There is a mobile program for Android and iOS apparatus called Onkyo Remote App 2. It is truly the same program used for the older home theater receivers of controlling Onkyo although you will need to upgrade to the most recent version so it may connect correctly to the receiver. Higher quality is also brought out by streaming music stored on the mobile device to the receiver applying this app when compared with Bluetooth. The app that is distant also plays a huge part in multi-zone sound configurations as it is simple to hook up another little system found in a different room in the Zone 2 speaker terminals. Once set up, you should use the "Whole House Mode" to play the exact same track in all zones or impute a particular source to each zone.

Performance

Feature-wise, the TX-NR737 is pretty much the same as the more affordable TX-NR636. What primarily makes the Onkyo TX-NR737 different is its THX certification. The elderly TX-NR727 has this certification but the newer model boasts a number of nifty developments to help it become more of a power station.

This new receiver comes with dual 32-bit processing engines enabling it to handle multi-channel studio-master soundtracks along with other forms of hi res audio tracks including 5.6 MHz DSD. This is really a feature that audiophiles will appreciate but those slightly below that amount will also appreciate the dynamic gains in music, particularly movie soundtracks thanks to the improved treatment of impedance changes.

Standard resolution DVDs can be made by it, if you have a linked 4K display and other lower resolution sources appear a whole lot better on the big screen. The upscaling processing is completed by Qdeo's 4K upscaling technology along with the results appear good.

Onkyo's choice to lose Audyssey for their calibration technologies in exchange for an in house one AccuEQ might raise several eyebrows. Fortunately, this new room calibration strategy works well and it is very easy to put in place. Let AccuEQ quantify the distances, output signal levels and crossovers to produce an optimal configuration and you only have to define the listening position utilizing the microphone. Even 2-channel audio set ups hold the potential of sounding better even without implementing DSP corrections.

Bottom Line

Determining whether the TX-NR737 is for you is fairly simple.

Onkyo TX-NR737 AV-receiver photo