Sections
- Page 1 Onkyo TX-NR626 Review
- Page 2 Features and Interface Review
- Page 3 Performance and Verdict Review
Verdict
Pros
- Extensive feature list
- Powerful, exciting sound quality
- Slick attractive operating system
Cons
- No AirPlay support
- Slightly bright sound
Key Specifications
- Review Price: £499.99
- 7.2-channel AV receiver with 160W per channel
- Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- DLNA music streaming
- Spotify, AUPEO!, Last.fm, Simfy and TuneIn radio
- Six HDMI inputs with support for 4K, 3D, MHL and ARC
What is the Onkyo TX-NR626?
The Onkyo TX-NR626 is a midrange 7.2-channel AV receiver from Onkyo’s 2013 line-up, designed to offer a winning balance of value and performance. As per usual Onkyo has crammed it full of features – including a couple of intriguing firsts for an Onkyo amp – but with a price tag of around £500 it’s still within the grasp of mere mortals.
Onkyo TX-NR626 – Design
The Onkyo TX-NR626’s appearance sticks steadfastly to last year’s blueprint, offering the same tasteful brushed black finish (also available in silver) and relatively compact bodywork.
AV receivers aren’t really designed to catch the eye (unless they’re made by Marantz) so the most you can ask is that they blend in discreetly – and the TX-NR626 does just that. All the electronics are housed within a rigid and robust aluminium casing.
Wisely, much of the front-panel clutter is hidden away within the grooves and ridges, so when you look from a distance you can hardly see the buttons, giving it a tidy, minimal look. What you can see, however, is the wide LED display, offering lots of helpful info about inputs, volume and processing modes, alongside a fat volume dial.
Onkyo TX-NR626 – Connections
At the bottom of its front you’ll find composite and analogue stereo inputs and a USB port, which allows you to play music from USB memory devices but sadly not iPods, iPhones or iPads.
On the back is a veritable feast of connections, headed up by six HDMI inputs that allow you to pass 3D and 4K signals through to your TV, and even upscale any source to 4K resolution, courtesy of Marvell’s QDEO technology.
One of the inputs also supports Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL), which allows you to view HD video from smartphones. Two outputs allow connection of two displays at once and they also support Audio Return Channel for easy audio hook-up of a compatible TV.
They’re joined by three digital audio inputs (two coaxial and just one optical), five analogue stereo inputs and one phono in, component video input and output, four composite video inputs and one output, and two parallel subwoofer pre-outs.
Speaker and line-level outputs allow you to feed sound to a second room, while seven pairs of banana plug-compatible binding posts, Ethernet, Onkyo’s Remote Interactive port and FM/AM aerial ports complete the line-up.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
