Onkyo TX-DS494 - Manual

Unmatched Ease of Use
Compared to any other receiver in this class, the TX-DS494 is the most
straightforward, easy-to-use home-theater centerpiece available today. Take
speaker setup, for example. Well thought-out display graphics and menu prompts
make it so simple and intuitive, even first-time home-theater users are amazed
how easy it is. Another plus: unlike many receivers, there are direct-access
source-input buttons on both the front panel and remote—so you don’t have to
cycle through a menu maze just to play your DVDs, CDs, videotapes and other
sources. The remote, which is refreshingly straightforward, groups buttons of
different shapes, sizes, and colors to vividly differentiate between functions. It’s
also preprogrammed* to control other manufacturers’ gear (TV cable, satellite,
VCR, DVD)—so you don’t have to go through the annoying process of searching
for and entering a number. What’s more, the receiver has automatic digital/analog
signal detection and switching to take the guesswork out of what format to choose
or input to use—so you can just hit a button, sit back and enjoy the show.
Wide Range Amplifier Technology (WRAT)
While WRAT was originally developed for our high-end amplifiers to handle the
sonic demands of such high-resolution formats as DVD-Audio and Super-Audio
CD, it also provides an improved dynamic S/N ratio and better delivery of
momentary power peaks from all software, including regular CDs and DVDs.
How? By: 1) Using an innovative low negative-feedback design that virtually
eliminates the influence of counter-electromagnetic force from the speakers; 2)
Eliminating ground-potential fluctuations that could adversely affect the signal;
and 3) Delivering high instantaneous current—enough solid clean power to
effortlessly drive even “difficult” low-impedance loads—just what’s needed to
handle today’s home-theater speaker systems. The result is movie-theater
impact and sound purity that conventional receivers simply cannot match.
Dolby Pro Logic II
This new surround-sound decoding process delivers Dolby Digital-like, quasi-
5.1-channel sound from stereo music recordings, and from stereo- and Dolby
Surround-encoded movie soundtracks. It also provides significantly better
channel separation than standard Dolby Pro Logic, and offers
stereo surround
channels, which is a big improvement over plain Pro Logic’s single, mono
surround channel.
Optimum Gain Volume Circuitry
To produce volume at low levels, conventional volume-attenuation methods
must initially drop a signal close to the noise floor. This often taints the signal
with a small amount of noise, which becomes amplified when the signal is
amplified. Onkyo’s Optimum Gain Volume Circuitry solves this problem by
adjusting the gain so that less than half the typical amount of attenuation is
needed. This ensures that the signal never comes close to the noise floor,
and thereby eliminates the possibility of noise contamination that plagues
conventional volume-attenuation designs.
Designed to Handle Today’s and Tomorrow’s High-Resolution
Multichannel A/V Sources
To accommodate the wide dynamic range of sources like DVD-Audio and Super
Audio CD, the TX-DS494 delivers a stereo frequency response up to 100,000 Hz.
The unit also features a 5.1-channel input, meaning it’s ready for new multi-
channel formats down the road.
Offers the Ideal Balance of Sophistication, Functionality and Value
For movie fans who want a cost-efficient yet respectable home theater that’s exceptionally easy to use, the TX-DS494 is one of the very best
surround receivers you can buy. It not only offers maximum digital home-theater flexibility, but also sound and build quality that has no peer
in this class. What’s more, in addition to S-video switching and heavy-duty speaker binding-post for all channels (extremely rare in this price
range), the TX-DS494 features three assignable digital inputs, a 5.1-channel input to handle future needs, a frequency response out to 100
kHz to support DVD-Audio and Super-Audio CD playback, state-of-the-art 96 kHz/24-bit DACs for all channels, a powerful preprogrammed*
remote, and Dolby Digital and DTS decoding.
Shown: North American model (Black only) Europe: Black/Silver Asia: Black/Gold
TX-DS494
D
IGITAL
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URROUND
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OME
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HEATER
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ECEIVER
*North American models