$400 Onkyo TX-SR383 Is an Affordable 4K HDR A/V Receiver

Providing consumers with a reasonably priced A/V receiver with secondary zone options, the Onkyo TX-SR383 features 4K compatibility and surround sound decoding.

Published: April 4, 2018Robert Archer

With home theater once again a popular means of entertainment, a new generation of A/V receivers are needed. The reasonably priced Onkyo TX-SR383 7.2-channel A/V receiver provides homeowners with a budget-friendly solution that offers a lot of flexibility.

Onkyo says that integrators can configure the TX-SR383 A/V receiver as a 7.2 solution within a single-room media system or as a 5.2 system with a secondary zone.

The receiver, through its high dynamic range (HDR) and 4K UltraHD compatibility, can accept multiple HD sources. It also accepts 4K sources, enabling integrators to connect streaming devices, cable, and satellite set-top boxes to a home theater setup.

The TX-SR383 features four HDMI inputs, one of which works with 4K at 60Hz, along with a 4:4:4 color space, BT.2020 color standard, HDR10, Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) HDR formats, and HDCP 2.2 copyright protection.

The receiver also includes a CEC-compliant HDMI output that also offers an Audio Return Channel (ARC) to enable amplification of TV broadcasts from ARC-ready displays.

Onkyo TX-SR383 Doesn't Skimp on Audio

In addition to the Onkyo TX-SR383's 4K video capabilities, the receiver offers a variety of audio options.

The receiver is rated to deliver 155 watts per channel into a 6-ohm load, one channel driven, and it incorporates a choice of surround sound formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio.

Configuration options include surround back to front height speakers, and are designed to deliver a more immersive listening experience to users.

Helping the receiver to produce the best possible listening experience, the TX-SR383 also incorporates Onkyo's AccuEQ Room Acoustic Calibration software. This option sets speaker parameters such as distance, output level, and crossover settings, as well as equalization (EQ) to “present a cohesive audio image optimized for unique room sizes and speaker positions.”

According to Onkyo, all integrators need to do is plug in the included microphone after the physical setup of the receiver is complete, and follow the receiver's on-screen prompts to execute the calibration program.

Additionally, the TX-SR383 provides Bluetooth 3.0 with Qualcomm aptX audio compliance to wirelessly stream high-quality audio from phones, tablets, and computers.

The $400 Onkyo TX-SR383 also employs the company's Music Optimizer DSP algorithm. Onkyo explains that Music Optimizer employs DSP (digital signal processing) to fill in lost bit information in digital music to help improve sound quality.