The 6 Best Onkyo Receivers
Updated by · How we research
Six current Onkyo receivers compared on channels, room tuning, HDMI and stereo use. The TX-RZ30 leads for its full Dirac room tuning and two subwoofer outputs. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Onkyo sold its home audio business in 2021, a year before the old company went bankrupt, and its receivers now come from a venture of Sharp and the owner of Klipsch. The lineup is small: a handful of surround receivers for movies and one stereo model for music. It suits brand loyalists and anyone replacing an aging Onkyo.
Editor's Notes
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
We put the Onkyo TX-RZ30 at the top because it brings Dirac's full-range room correction and two independent subwoofer outputs at a price well below the flagship, and those two things shape how a room sounds more than extra watts do. Every receiver on the old list was a 2014-2019 model that's no longer sold new, so all eight are gone. The TX-8470 takes over from the TX-8270 as the stereo choice, and the Onkyo TX-RZ70 replaces the old TX-RZ3100 at the top of the range.
The Onkyo TX-RZ50 appears as a renewed unit because we couldn't confirm a new one for sale; if you find one new, the longer warranty is worth paying for. We left out the TX-NR5100, which we also couldn't confirm for sale new. The evidence here is Onkyo's own spec pages and its guide to the NR and RZ lines, plus a handful of published reviews. Long-term reliability data on the receivers built since the 2021 sale is thin, and no recalls turned up.
Earlier notes
November 11, 2020, by Daniel Imperiale:
In updating our ranking, we wanted to double check that everything on offer here was still being manufactured by the company, and we found a few notable upgrades in that search that are worth mentioning. One of the nicest new models to come out relatively recently is the Onkyo TX-RZ1100, which, at 9.2 channels, doesn't have the same 11.2 channel array as the TX-RZ3100 THX-Certified, but boasts nearly identical features in almost every aspect. That includes particularly high-quality digital-to-analog conversion at 384 kHz and 32 bits.
Of course, there are simpler models than these for anyone looking to either spend less money in the first place or keep their setup confined to a single zone in the 5.1 tradition. Something like the TX-SR494 Hi-Res is ideal for this, though it does have fewer inputs than many other models, and neither HDMI nor USB located on the front panel.
We also updated the previous list's CD player to their newer CS-265 Home Audio. This does a good job recognizing rewritable CD formats while providing you with a simple audio solution for small spaces like bedroom or offices. Its speakers are mid-range at best, however, so don't expect to hook this up as your primary home theater setup.
August 14, 2019, by Daniel Goldstein:
If you're in the market for an Onkyo receiver, the company has most likely won your loyalty, whether through past experience or at the recommendation of a credible authority. Determining what kind of receiver is best for you depends upon what kind of audio/video setup you'll be using it for.
If you're only using your receiver to power a pair of bookshelf speakers, and you don't expect to expand into a home-entertainment system, then it's not necessary to consider A/V (audio/video) models. Most of these support five-, seven-, or nine-channel setups for surround-sound purposes. If you just want a receiver to reproduce audio — from a turntable or your laptop, for example — your needs will be met best by a stereo receiver. However, slowly, even stereo receivers are beginning to feature video capabilities, such as our #9 choice, the TX-8270, so it's good to know that the option to connect your stereo speakers to your television does exist with a model like this.
If you are looking to wire a multi-channel, surround-sound system, your options will vary in accordance with the number of speakers you want to set up. The units we've chosen on this update fall somewhere in between two and eleven channels, and the price changes accordingly. Our top pick, the TX-RZ3100 THX-Certified, can support eleven channels with a whopping 140 watts at 8 ohms per channel. This is totally unnecessary for most people, though, so for more standard needs, you'll want to look to the other options that'll get the job done while still fitting the budget.
If the options presented by Onkyo don't meet your needs, we have a list of the best receivers across the board, which includes an array of A/V and stereo receivers, just like this list. If you're sure you want a receiver to power a surround sound receiver, you can compare the options you've just seen with other companies' products, which we've compiled here.
Special Honors
Dirac Live Bass Control Dirac sells Bass Control as a paid upgrade for the Onkyo receivers that run Dirac Live, and Onkyo lists it as an option on its RZ models. It tunes two or more subwoofers together with the main speakers, which Dirac says smooths the bass across more seats than room correction alone. It's worth a look for a dedicated theater with more than one subwoofer. dirac.com
Stereo Or Surround, NR Or RZ
Onkyo's 100-watt and 120-watt figures follow the FTC method, with two channels driven into 8 ohms.
Start with your speakers. A stereo receiver like the TX-8470 runs two speakers and a subwoofer, adds a phono input for a turntable, and suits a music room. A surround (AV) receiver switches HDMI sources and decodes movie soundtracks. A 7.2 model can run a 5.1.2 layout with two height speakers, and a 9.2 model can run 5.1.4 or 7.1.2.
Onkyo splits its surround receivers into two lines (Onkyo buying guide). The NR models (TX-NR5100, NR6100 and NR7100) are the mid-range, and Onkyo suggests the NR5100 or NR6100 for rooms under about 300 square feet. The RZ models (TX-RZ30, RZ50 and RZ70) add heavier power supplies and Dirac Live Full Bandwidth room correction, and Onkyo points them at bigger rooms and setups of nine or more speakers.
Read watt ratings with care. Onkyo's 100-watt and 120-watt figures follow the FTC method, with two channels driven into 8 ohms. With every channel playing at once, each one gets less. A 20-watt gap is under 1 decibel in practice; room correction and speaker sensitivity matter more.
Room Correction, HDMI And Streaming
Each Onkyo surround receiver comes with a setup microphone. The NR5100 and NR6100 use Onkyo's own AccuEQ, which runs from the receiver's menu. The TX-NR7100 and the RZ models include Dirac Live, which you run from a phone or computer app. It corrects timing as well as tone and can help a lot in an echoey room, but it takes time: Sound & Vision found the TX-RZ30's Dirac setup fiddly. Dirac Live Bass Control, which tunes several subwoofers together, is a paid add-on (Onkyo TX-RZ50 page).
For gaming, check which HDMI inputs carry 4K at 120 Hz and 8K at 60 Hz. On the TX-NR6100, only inputs 1 to 3 do, and inputs 4 to 6 top out at 4K at 60 Hz. The TX-NR7100 and TX-RZ50 handle it on all six rear inputs. The surround models support eARC, so a TV's own apps can send full surround sound back to the receiver.
Streaming is built into the surround models: Chromecast, AirPlay 2, Spotify, Tidal, DTS Play-Fi and Bluetooth. They're also Sonos certified, which lets the receiver join a Sonos system through a Sonos Port sold separately.
Who Makes Onkyo Now, And Setup Tips
Onkyo Corporation sold its home AV business in 2021 to a joint venture of Premium Audio Company, the Voxx unit that also owns Klipsch, and Sharp. The original company's home-entertainment arm filed for bankruptcy in 2022 (Wikipedia), and Gentex bought Voxx in 2025. Onkyo has previewed a PR-RZ91 15-channel processor and a refreshed RZ receiver for 2027 (Audio Science Review forum), so the RZ line may change.
We found no Onkyo receiver recalls in the CPSC database as of October 2026. Long-term reliability data on the post-2021 models is thin, so keep the receipt and register the warranty.
Give the receiver air: leave at least 4 inches open above it, don't stack other gear on top, and don't shut it in a closed cabinet. Use speakers rated 4 to 16 ohms, twist speaker-wire strands tight so no stray strand touches the next terminal, and update the firmware over the network after setup.
How we researched this
We compared 13 Onkyo receivers, current and past, read Onkyo's spec pages and its NR-versus-RZ buying guide for the 6 finalists, weighed published reviews from Wirecutter, Sound & Vision, CNET and Audioholics along with reported owner complaints, and checked Onkyo against the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall database.
Sources (15)
- Onkyo: AV receiver buying guide, NR vs RZ series
- Onkyo: TX-RZ30
- Onkyo: TX-NR7100
- Onkyo: TX-NR6100
- Onkyo: TX-RZ50
- Onkyo: TX-8470
- Onkyo: TX-RZ70
- Wirecutter: The best AV receiver
- Sound & Vision: Onkyo TX-RZ30 review
- CNET: Best AV receiver
- Audioholics: Onkyo TX-RZ50 review
- theTechHolics: Best Onkyo receivers
- Wikipedia: Onkyo
- Audio Science Review forum: Onkyo lineup preview
- CPSC recalls
Frequently asked questions
Who makes Onkyo receivers now?
Onkyo's home AV business has been owned since 2021 by a venture of Premium Audio Company, the Voxx unit that owns Klipsch, and Sharp. Gentex bought Voxx in 2025. The original Onkyo company's home-entertainment arm went bankrupt in 2022.
Are Onkyo receivers reliable?
There are no CPSC recalls on Onkyo receivers. Long-term data on the models built since 2021 is thin, so register the warranty and give the receiver open air above it, since heat is the usual enemy of any receiver.
Should I get a stereo or an AV receiver?
Get a stereo receiver such as the Onkyo TX-8470 for two speakers, a turntable and streaming music. Get an AV receiver if you want surround sound for movies or need to switch several HDMI sources.
Do I need Dirac Live?
Not always. Onkyo's AccuEQ is quicker and fine for a typical living room. Dirac Live, on the TX-NR7100 and the RZ models, does more for rooms with echo or uneven bass, but setup takes time and a computer or phone.
What does 100 watts per channel mean?
Onkyo rates power with two channels driven into 8 ohms, the FTC method. With all channels playing at once, each gets less. Small differences in watts matter far less than room correction and speaker choice.
Which Onkyo receivers handle 4K at 120 Hz for gaming?
All current surround models do on some inputs. The TX-NR7100 and TX-RZ50 handle it on all six rear HDMI inputs; the TX-NR6100 only on inputs 1 to 3.
