Onkyo Adds 3D-Ready Pre-Pro, Blu-ray Player with Blockbuster VOD

Onkyo will ship three new THX-certified components in September 2010, including its first multichannel preamp-processor that is also 3D-ready, a 150-watt nine-channel amplifier, and a next-generation Blu-ray player.

The flagship PR-SC5508 ($2,199) is a THX-Ultra 2 Plus certified, network-capable, 9.2-channel audio-video controller that is 3D-ready with an HDMI 1.4 interface. The PR-SC5508 also features:

• HQV Reon-VX video processing and 1080p upscaling
• ISF Video Calibration
• DLNA 1.5 and Windows 7 compatible connection to PC audio and internet radio
• Pandora, Rhapsody, Mediafly, Slacker, Napster, VTuner, and Sirius Internet Radio

Connectivity on the PR-SC5508 includes 8 HDMI inputs, dual USBs, two balanced line-level XLR audio inputs, and nine XLR preamp outputs.

The matching PA-MC5500 ($1,699) nine-channel power amplifier is THX-Ultra2 Plus certified and is 8-ohm rated at 150 Watts per channel, and up to 400 Watts dynamic power into 3 ohms. It features Onkyo's WRAT (Wide Range Amplifier Technology) design for "low negative feedback, low distortion, extended frequency response, and a power supply with high instantaneous-current capability."

Other features of the PA-MC5500:

• A three-stage inverted Darlington circuit to remove distortion
• Balanced line-level XLR inputs
• Anti-resonant chassis and gold-plated inputs and outputs
• Multi-zone and bi-amp capability

The Onkyo BD-SP808 ($599) is a THX- and DLNA 1.5-certified Blu-ray player that offers Blockbuster On Demand, Marvel Qdeo video scaler and Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio sound.

The Profile 2.0 BD-SP808 has an Ethernet port for BD-Live features, including picture-in-picture and web-based firmware updates. There's an SD card slot for playback of downloaded web content, and HDMI Source Direct mode outputs video signals in their native resolution.