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Onkyo TX-DS595
Pro Logic II AV surround sound receiver
Recommended retail price: $1299
(inc. GST)
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Reviewer: Richard Morgan
The Onkyo TX-DS989 has sat quietly in my home theatre room for some months now, toiling away tirelessly as the reference AV receiver for home theatre. It's a damn fine machine that's also reliable and versatile - and so we could reasonably expect, considering the dent it puts in your bank balance..
Now, along comes the new TX-DS595, a mid-market model which looks like it has been fed with trickle-down technology from the top-line 989 an then imbued with an exciting sense of style and an injection of cutting edge features. It behaves a lot like its bigger cousin brother and to these eyes is better looking. Moreover it proves that you don't have to be a millionaire be own a little bit of luxury
One of the new features in the TX-DS595 is onboard Dolby Pro Logic II processing. Dolby Pro Logic II is a new introduction (to Australian shores, that is) and you'll more than likely be hearing the term a great deal over the next few months as it becomes the next reason for you to enter the realms of home theatre or upgrade your existing AV receiver, then settles into the ever-increasing array of 'standard' features'.
As cynical as this sounds, Dolby Pro Logic II is truly an excellent reason to get a new AV receiver and while it's a sizeable 80 per cent of the hype surround it, the technology is much more desirable and relevant than, say, a DTS facility. The reason is simply because, with Pro Logic II, you don't need specially encoded movies to enjoy its performance benefits.
Believe, me benefits there are aplenty with Pro Logic II. Simply put, it will improve the amount of sonic detail and effects information you get from plain old Pro Logic encoded movies - and we all know how many of those there are out there. This means you'll not only find those movies watchable once again (digital systems have tended to spoil us somewhat), but you'll also enjoy them because the presence of the sound is better, the effects sounds steering, directional information and sound stage are all much better than its poor predecessor.
When this new Dolby initiative is incorporated into an Onkyo product like the TX-DS595 then so much the better, because the basic foundations of the receiver (materials, manufacturing and performance) are in place to let the processing do its job properly. A sensational combo. The unit also handles Dolby Digital processing and is compatible with DTS, just for good measure.
Power output is well specified at 140 watts per 5 channels rated into 6 ohms at 1kHz EIAJ standard. In RMS terms you'll likely get over 75 watts per 5 channels, which is equally healthy, while noise and distortion levels are also very well rated for the receiver.
There are binding posts for all speaker connections, inputs for five video and three audio products, S-Video backup on the video inputs, a subwoofer outlet, two coaxial and two optical inputs and analogue multi-channel (5.1) input - all the essentials, along with everything else you could want from a unit in this area of the market.
It's very easy to negotiate the front panel of the TX-DSS595 and get it to start singing: all major functions are an easy to read click away, radio tuning and programming is dead easy and surround sound control and optimisation (via the rotary knob and twin buttons) is very efficient once you get the hang of it.
Inside, the unit maintains the standards of excellence established by the external: robust power supply, discrete audio make up and good grade components throughout. It's part of a system that's thoroughly tried and tested by Onkyo And has been reliably successful for consumers and the company.
If you can program a name and phone number into your mobile phone's address book, then memory-dial that number, you can work the 595's remote handset. It has illuminated mode controls (when activated), but the remainder of controls don't have illumination. There are slight variations (arrangement of input selection buttons, for example) between this and previous AV remotes, but for the most part it's situation normal.
Sound from the 595 doesn't knock your block off. Rather it is refined, well behaved, full of the type of detail you need for good surround sound, and brimming with dynamic interplay and sonic nuance. The soundtrack during the ice asteroid segment of Titan AE comes across brilliantly (delicate when it needs to be, yet intensely forceful at times). There's excellent rendition and accuracy of background details in the Saving Grace soundtrack too. And, bung on any heavy movie with plenty of bass grunt and, if you have the subwoofer to handle it, you'll be in sonic rapture.
In Pro Logic II movies just seem to be better defined and have more life and meaning. It's still not a patch on Dolby Digital, but at last there's an alternative. Overall the TX-DS595 is great value too!
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