In a break with the consumer electronics industry’s long-standing infatuation with multichannel audio, Onkyo has introduced a high-end two-channel digital integrated amplifier and a CD player.
The integrated amplifier showcases Onkyo’s new VL Digital power amplifier technology, and marks the beginning of a steady transition to digital amplifiers across the company’s many product lines. The other product is an audiophile-grade compact disc player with a precision, adjustable clock circuit. These elegant, high quality audio components recall the style, simplicity, and elegance of classic stereo music systems.
“Nearly a decade ago, Onkyo introduced the acclaimed WRAT (Wide Range Amplifier Technology) that has become the root technology of nearly all of our amplifiers,” said Paul Wasek, Onkyo’s national marketing manager. “Since Onkyo earned its reputation for high value, extremely musical audio components thanks to its acclaimed two-channel audio designs, we see no better arena to introduce our exclusive VL Digital amplifier technology, the next generation of Onkyo amplification. Over the coming years, VL Digital amplifiers will find their way through the rest of our home theater and audio amplifier lines.”
Onkyo A-9555 Integrated Amplifier
The A-9555 is a stereo integrated amplifier that features Onkyo’s 4th generation VL Digital amplifier technology, a unique implementation of hybrid class ‘D’ amplification. Because of the extremely high efficiency of this design, the amplifier effortlessly delivers a continuous 100 watts per channel into 8 ohms, and 200 watts into 4 ohms with remarkably little heat production or distortion. It features inputs for up to seven stereo source components, including two tape/MD record loops and a high quality phono preamplifier circuit with discrete RIAA equalization.
Onkyo DX-7555 CD player
The Onkyo DX-7555 is a dedicated two-channel CD player designed to deliver superior audio performance to audiophiles and stereo music enthusiasts. The player is compatible with CD, CD-R/RW, and MP3-encoded discs, and features a super-precision clock circuit which has a tolerance of just +/- 1.5 ppm (typical tolerance values are about 50 ppm,) for remarkably low jitter and high-fidelity performance. Additionally, users can manually adjust the clock frequency for a degree of sonic imaging control that is unheard of at this price. The player also features a Wolfson Microelectronics DAC circuit with user-selectable profiles for either “sharp” (flat up to 20 kHz) or “slow” (gradual) high frequency rolloff, to suit differing source material and user preferences.
Onkyo’s A-9555 integrated amplifier and DX-7555 compact disc player will ship in August at suggested retail prices of $699.99 and $599.99, respectively.
Onkyo, which takes its name from the Japanese “On” meaning ‘sound’ and “Kyo” meaning ‘harmony,’ has been producing precision audio components for over a half-century. 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.