To help us provide you with free impartial advice, we may earn a commission if you buy through links on our site. Learn more

Onkyo TX-NR515 review

Our Rating :
Price when reviewed : £430
inc VAT

Everything you could want from a mid-range amplifier, and more. The TX-NR515 is superb

Onkyo is known for packing its AV amplifiers full of features, and the TX-NR515 is no exception. It might be the company’s mid-range model for 2012, but it has a more impressive specification than many of last year’s top-end systems. With support for 7.2 surround sound, 4K video up-scaling and a multitude of in- and outputs, it should have something for almost any home cinema setup.

Onkyo TX-NR515

Connectivity can make or break an AV amplifier, but the TX-NR515 delivers in spades. There are a whopping seven HDMI inputs on the back of the unit, as well as two HDMI outputs that let you connect a TV and projector simultaneously, meaning there’s no need to swap cables when you want to watch a film on the big screen. Four composite video inputs, one composite output and component video in and out let you connect older equipment that doesn’t support HDMI.

There are also plenty of audio inputs. As well as seven binding post terminals for surround sound speakers, with up to 130W power per channel, there are two Zone 2 spring terminal inputs to power a second set of stereo speakers and pre-outs for two subwoofers. A further five sets of analogue RCA inputs, plus two digital coaxial and two digital optical inputs should be more than enough for even the most dedicated audiophiles to connect all their equipment at once.

Onkyo TX-NR515

Finally, AM and FM radio antennae, Ethernet and a single USB port complete the selection, although there are more USB ports on the front of the system to make it easier to connect a portable device. The single HDMI input supports Mobile High definition Link (MHL), meaning you can connect your smartphone or Android tablet to display 1080p video on your TV, as well as charge your device at the same time. There’s also a composite video input for older devices, and a USB port for local multimedia playback, plus a 3.5mm jack for the bundled calibration microphone and a 1/4in headphone jack.

Onkyo TX-NR515

The amplifier’s black brushed metal finish looks classy, and there’s a silver option if you want to match the amp to your existing equipment. The one-line display, oversized volume dial and machined input select buttons mean the amp doesn’t look too fussy, and most of the more advanced features are relegated to the comprehensive remote control. The amplifier also lets you use the iOS and Android Onyko Remote apps, which let you control the active input, adjust settings and wirelessly play audio stored on your Android smartphone or tablet through your home cinema setup.

Pages: 1 2

Details

Price£430
Rating*****
AwardBest Buy

Connections

HDMI inputs8
HDMI outputs2
Component inputs1
Component outputs1
Output resolutions480i, 480p, PAL (576i), 576p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
Total SCART sockets0
SCART socket typeN/A
S-Video input0
S-video output0
Composite inputs4
Composite outputs1
Stereo phono inputs5
Stereo phono outputs1
Coaxial S/PDIF inputs2
Coaxial S/PDIF outputs0
Optical S/PDIF inputs2
Optical S/PDIF outputs0
Multi-channel inputyes
Headphone output1/4in
Speaker configuration7.2
Main unit end speaker connection typespring terminals and binding posts
Speaker end speaker connection typeN/A
Other connectionsFM antenna, AM antenna, calibration mic input, zone 2 line out, 2 subwoofer outs
Wired network ports1x 10/100
Wireless networking supportNone

Playback

Surround sound formatsDolby Digital EX, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Surround Pro Logic IIx, DTS Decoder 2, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, DTS-HD Low Bit Rate, DTS ES, Neo:6, DTS 96/24, Dolby TrueHD
Optical driveno
Region freeN/A
Supported playback disc formatsN/A
Audio format supportMP3, AAC, AMR, WMA, MIDI, WAV, OGG
RadioFM

Speakers

Speaker configuration7.2
RMS power output910W
RMS power centre130W
RMS power front260W
RMS power surround520W
RMS power subwooferN/A
Wall mountableno
Centre speaker cable lengthN/A
Front speaker cable lengthN/A
Surround speaker cable lengthN/A

General

Extrasremote control, calibration mic, FM antenna, AM antenna
Size435x328x174mm
Subwoofer dimensionsN/A
Centre speaker dimensionsN/A
Front speaker dimensionsN/A
Surround speaker dimensionsN/A
Power consumption standby0W
Power consumption on411W

Buying Information

Price£430
Warrantyone year RTB
Supplierhttp://www.richersounds.com
Detailswww.uk.onkyo.com