03/10/10- The Onkyo TX-SR608 THX-Certified A/V Receiver one of several HDMI v1.4, 3D-Ready A/V Receivers and Home Theater Systems that will ship in March and April.

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ, (3/9/10) -- Onkyo USA has announced March deliveries of its first 3D-Ready home theater receivers and home theater in a box (HTiB) systems. The new models consist of three A/V receivers and three HTiB systems ranging in price from $299 to $599, and all of them support the new HDMI 1.4 connectivity standard for new 3D video displays and Audio Return Channel capabilities. All are exceptionally well equipped to provide a superior music, home theater sound and video experience, with high build-quality and offering excellent value.

For Onkyo, a name that translates roughly to 'sound harmony' in Japanese, sound quality is preeminent. All these new receivers and HTiBs now decode lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio bitstreams, and include new 192-kHz/24-bit Burr-Brown PCM1690 DAC's that are highly resistant to clock jitter and provide a remarkable 113-dB dynamic range. The lineup includes Onkyo's new easy-to-setup overlaid onscreen graphical display that lets the user watch the program in the background while using the function menus. Additionally, all 2010 HDMI v1.4 models include a new feature call HDMI Thru. HDMI Thru allows content to pass through to the TV when the receiver is in a standby state.

The new TX-SR608 7.2-channel THX-Select2 Plus certified receiver has new power amplifier section that uses three-stage inverted Darlington output topology, and a power boost from 90 to 100 watts. Audyssey DSX dimensional sound processing has been added to its predecessor's Dolby PLIIz capabilities. Additionally, all video sources, including those using the new PC input, and regardless of source resolution, can be upscaled to big and beautiful 1080p via HDMI and Faroudja DCDi Cinema™. The TX-SR608 will also include a front HDMI input, a feature first introduced by Onkyo in 2009. The TX-SR608 will be available in April at an MSRP of $599.

The 5.1-channel TX-SR308 and 7.1-channel TX-SR508 round out this initial announcement of A/V Receivers from Onkyo. The TX-SR308 will be available in March with an MSRP of $299, a followed by the TX-SR508 in April for $399.

The HTiB package systems, which each consist of a receiver, speakers and a subwoofer, are the 5.1-channel HT-S3300 and 7.1-channel HT-S5300; the latter also includes an iPod dock. Thanks to the HDMI interface and the use of advanced Dolby and DTS codecs, all of these receivers and systems are also capable of decoding lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. The HT-S3300 will ship in March with an MSRP of $379, followed by the HT-S5300 in April for $599.

A third packaged system departs from the traditional HTiB form factor and uses a combination subwoofer and 3D Ready A/V receiver plus two front speakers. It uses Onkyo’s own Theater-Dimensional processor to create an immersive and convincing surround effect through just 2.1 channels. The HTX-22HDX has three HDMI v1.4 inputs, handles HD audio formats from DTS and Dolby; offers four distinct audio modes for gaming; and outputs for additional speakers. The HTX-22HDX will ship in May with a $349 MSRP.

"Onkyo's 2010 entry-level product line represents a significant jump over last year's line," said Paul Wasek, Onkyo USA's marketing manager. "We are excited to deliver this first wave of 3D capable products. By upgrading to 1.4, even on the least expensive HTiB, we have eliminated all HDMI pass-through products and allowed HD audio formats to be used across the line. The fact that consumers can now buy a THX-Certified receiver with 1080p upscaling, Burr-Brown DACs, PC input and more for under $600 shows Onkyo's clear commitment to delivering performance and value to consumers."

All of Onkyo's receivers offer exceptional connectivity options with as many as six HDMI inputs, plus component and composite video, numerous stereo input jacks, optical/coaxial digital inputs, and the popular front-panel connections on many models. Two models include Sirius Radio connections, and all these receivers incorporate Onkyo's proprietary Universal Port (U-Port) connector which simplifies connections to optional HD Radio tuners and iPod Docks (included with the HT-S5300).

Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687.

Supposedly Samsung 3D Blu-ray players currently on sale at Best Buy don't work in regards to 3D content

Consumers ready to jump on the 3D bandwagon may want to wait... at least in regards to Samsung's new 3D Blu-ray players. Reports are beginning to surface that the company's 3D Blu-ray players currently up for sale at Best Buy aren't working. Samsung may be forced to recall the devices and offer a program or firmware to modify current 3D Blu-ray players residing in consumer homes.

Of course, it's hard to test the new technology thanks to a lack of 3D Blu-ray movies on the market. However testing is currently underway with 3D Blu-ray movies--those compliant with industry standards--that are now being prepared for mass distribution. While it seems that the movies play normally on the 3D Blu-ray players, the 3D aspect does not.

The problem is that Samsung's 3D Blu-ray players hit the market before the Blu-ray Disc Association issued its final certification specs. As Hollywood in HiDef reports, products released now by any company not "intimately" engaged in the day-to-day revisions and tweaks of the format will be guessing at the final approved standard. In this case, Samsung guessed incorrectly, leaving the 3D aspect useless.

A Samsung spokesperson told the site that the company is in the process "of finalizing full certification at the authorized testing center." The next step is for the BDA to provide manufacturers with test discs of the new and final 3D specification. Samsung will use these discs to confirm certification. “Samsung is confident that the new 3D Blu-ray player will pass certification once the process is complete," the spokesperson added. Samsung also said that current 3D Blu-ray players on the market should pass certification as well despite previous reports.

Samsung is expected to make a big 3D announcement today, so stay tuned.

Samsung's 3D Blu-ray player passed certification despite previous reports of incompatibility.

Yesterday Samsung sent over an email in response to our article about its current 3D Blu-ray players not working. The story centered on 3D Blu-ray movies functioning incorrectly on the players--movies that were ready for mass production and have not yet hit the market.

Supposedly the Blu-ray players were incompatible because they were shipped before the final certification specs were released by the Blu-ray Disc Association. The previous report also stated that the players were on sale at Best Buy, and that Samsung may need to recall the stock while providing a firmware upgrade plan for current customers.

However Thursday a Samsung representative clarified the picture. The Samsung BD-C6900 is the only device in question, and the rep assured us that the player has indeed passed all tests "based on the Blu-ray 3D test specification of the BDA issued to date." This means that the BD-C6900 has officially obtained Blu-ray 3D certification, and it may be that the Blu-ray movies used to unofficially test the player were incorrect.

"Samsung is fully committed to upholding all technology standards issued by the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), said Samsung in an official statement. "The Samsung Blu-ray player (BD-C6900) has passed all tests based on Blu-ray 3D test specification of BDA issued to date, and has officially obtained Blu-ray 3D certification at the authorized Testing Center. Samsung products that were shipped to the US prior to receiving final certification are 100% certified and do not require any modifications to play Blu-ray 3D discs."

Strangely enough, the Samsung BD-C6900 is nowhere to be found on Best Buy's website, however the new BD-C5500 and BD-C6500 are available to purchase... both without 3D capabilities but feature Internet and Wi-Fi connectivity.