Onkyo TX-RZ810 7.2Ch A/V Receiver

Holy cow, this thing is a beast! Prior to finding this Onkyo on Amazon, I had an ill-fated attempt to swap our dead Denon receiver for a new Sony receiver that had received tons of positive reviews. However, the Sony didn’t cut it for us, and I went back to the drawing board. I’m so glad I found this Onkyo. The RZ810 really is an amazing receiver. First, you should know the RZ line of receivers by Onkyo is their top line for a/v devices. The company also produces a “regular” line of receivers sold under the NR nomenclature. The RZ810 was near the top of the premium line when it was released, but Onkyo has continued to push the line upward, and now there are several truly high-end models. The RZ810 was a very strong high mid-tier model. You can tell from the box that Onkyo meant for this receiver to be taken seriously. It is big and heavy compared to most other receivers. It dwarfed the Sony I mentioned above. Taking the RZ810 out of the box only enhances the view that this is a premium device. The entire front panel is aluminum, with no plastic to be found. That gives a solid feel even to the door that flips down revealing additional controls and ports. The legs have a premium look to them and were specifically designed for the RZ line. The high-end vibe also carries through to the internals. Onkyo starts with a premium 32-bit/384kHz digital-to-analog converter that faithfully renders music, TV, and movie soundtracks. The RZ810’s Dynamic Audio Amplification delivers plenty of power with very little distortion. Due in part to the Phase-matching Bass Enhancement, you will hear and feel a deep rumble when appropriate; our subwoofer has come alive like never before. On top of all that, Onkyo includes a strong 3-year warranty on the RZ line, demonstrating their believe in the quality of what they’ve built. Some specs from Onkyo: Power Section Power Output (All channels) 200 W/Ch (6 Ohms, 1 kHz, 0.9% THD, 1 Channel Driven, FTC) 130 W/Ch (8 Ohms, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.08% THD, 2 Channels Driven, FTC) Dynamic Power 300 W (3 Ohms, Front) 250 W (4 Ohms, Front) 150 W (8 Ohms, Front) THD+N (Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise) 0.08% (20 Hz–20 kHz, Half Power) Input Sensitivity and Impedance 200 mV/47 k-ohms (Line)3.5 mV/47 k-ohms (Phono MM) Rated RCA Output Level and Impedance 1.0 V/470 Ohms (Pre Out) 1.0 V/470 Ohms (Subwoofer Pre Out) 200 mV/2.3 k-ohms (Zone Out) 2.0 V/2.3 k-ohms (Zone Pre Out) Phono Overload 70 mV (MM, 1 kHz, 0.5%) Frequency Response 5 Hz–100 kHz/+1 dB, -3 dB (Direct/Pure Audio) Tone Control ±10 dB, 90 Hz (Bass) ±10 dB, 7.5 kHz (Treble) Signal-to-Noise Ratio 106 dB (Line, IHF-A) 80 dB (Phono, IHF-A) Speaker Impedance 6 ohms–16 ohms Video Section Video 1.0 Vp–p/75 Ohms (Component Y) 0.7 Vp–p/75 Ohms (Component PB/CB, PR/CR) 1.0 Vp–p/75 Ohms (Composite) Component Video Frequency Response 5 Hz–100 MHz/+0 dB, -3 dB Tuner Section Tuning Frequency Range FM 87.5 MHz–1070.9 MHz AM 530 kHz–1,710 kHz FM/AM Preset Memory 40 stations General Power Supply AC 120 V~, 60 Hz Power Consumption 650 W Standby Power Consumption 0.1 W Dimensions (W x H x D) 17 1/8″ x 7 15/16″ x 15 9/16″ (435 x 201.5 x 395 mm) Weight 30.9 lbs (14.0 kg) If you look at the pictures, you can see you have plenty of connectivity on the back of the receiver. Not only do you have 2 zones, you have 3 zones and a ton of HDMI connections. I should note, only the first three HDMI ports can handle HDR and Dolby Atmos. If you have more than three devices that output those formats, you may want to upgrade to the more recent Onkyo TX-RZ820, but that’s virtually the only difference between the two receivers – other than about $800 in current prices. The RZ810 connects quickly and easily to WiFi and Bluetooth. The Chromecast function works well, although it’s not quite as polished as the version found in the Sony. The remote is pretty standard but functional. Note, you can also use the Onkyo Controller App on your smartphone or tablet to control the receiver. Interestingly, many things (such as zone controls) are simply quicker and easier via the app. At the end of the day, the big question for a receiver is how well it processes signals and outputs them. In that regard, this is the best receiver I’ve ever used. Sound quality is extraordinary, and not just stuff like the THX Select2 certification for movies that gives you a great directional soundfield. Across the board, music and movies sound clear but rich and full. The bass booms and the subwoofer thumps like never before. The highs are pitch perfect. The mids are clear. The sound is superbly balanced between the speakers to fill the room. Even the video on the television seems brighter and richer. The RZ810 had an original MSRP of $1400, but since it was a 2016 model and the new RZ820 replaced it in 2018, the RZ810 can be found now at roughly a 60% discount, which makes it a terrific value. In case you can’t tell, I think the RZ810 a superb a/v receiver. If you need a receiver and can live with “only” three HDMI ports supporting HDR and Atmos, I highly recommend the Onkyo TX-RZ810.