Review: Onkyo TX-NR696: Home Audio Receiver with Sonos Compatibility and Dolby Atmos
The Onkyo TX-NR696 Home Audio Smart Audio and Video Receiver is a future-ready home entertainment system that offers a harmonious mix of technology and tradition. With its THX Certified Select, this receiver adapts to any entertainment life and finds the emotion in every sound source, whether it’s a 3D film score or a vinyl record. With its revitalized DAA system, 4K/60p/HDR HDMI terminals, and many other extras, this product excels in every aspect.
One of the standout features of the Onkyo TX-NR696 is its Sonos compatibility. This receiver can seamlessly join your existing Sonos Home Sound System or start a new one by pairing with a Sonos Connect. With this feature, the AVR can easily integrate into the Sonos ecosystem, allowing you to wake it up, change inputs, and control the volume directly from the Sonos app.
The SMART AVR functionality of the Onkyo TX-NR696 is another impressive aspect of this home audio receiver. Serving as the heart of your entertainment system, it allows you to stream music from popular platforms like Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, TIDAL, Deezer, and TuneIn. Additionally, it works with Sonos, Chromecast built-in, AirPlay 2, DTS Play-Fi, and FlareConnect, making it incredibly versatile and compatible with various devices.
The inclusion of Google Chromecast further enhances the convenience and usability of this receiver. With Chromecast-enabled apps, you can easily cue, play, and control music playback using your voice through your Google Assistant smart speaker. Whether you’re using an iPhone, iPad, Android phone or tablet, Mac or Windows laptop, or Chromebook, you can have complete control over your music playback.
For an immersive listening experience, the Onkyo TX-NR696 supports Dolby Atmos Height Virtualizer, which creates a virtual surround and height effect. This feature, along with Dolby Atmos and DTS formats, provides advanced sound mapping, allowing effects to move seamlessly from speaker to speaker. With its 5.2.2-ch Dolby Atmos capabilities, this receiver delivers an impressive audio experience.
The THX Certified Select feature of the Onkyo TX-NR696 takes movie night to the next level. It guarantees the same reference volume level of a commercial theater in rooms where the viewing position is about 10–12 feet from the screen. With 210 W/Ch THX Certified Select, you can enjoy a theater-reference experience right in the comfort of your own home.
In conclusion, the Onkyo TX-NR696 Home Audio Receiver is a standout product that offers exceptional features and performance. Its Sonos compatibility, SMART AVR functionality, Google Chromecast integration, Dolby Atmos support, and THX Certified Select make it a top choice for anyone looking to enhance their home entertainment system. With its ability to adapt to various sound sources and deliver an immersive audio experience, this receiver truly stands out in its category.
Product Specifications
- Sonos Compatible
- Dolby Atmos Enabled
- SMART AV Receiver gathers Chromecast built-in
- New high-speed 802.11ac (2×2 MIMO) Wi-Fi specification
- THX Certified Select assuring a theater-reference experience
- Separate Zone 2 outputs with switching also enable 7-ch layouts in Main plus Zone 2 speakers
- Support for HDR (High Dynamic Range) video
- Supports 4K/60p and HDR (HDR10, hlg, Dolby vision, BT.2020)
- Refined HDMI grounds, separate SoC board, enhanced power amps
Other features include:
- The ability to join an existing Sonos Home Sound System or start a new one by pairing with a Sonos Connect
- Integration with various streaming services such as Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, TIDAL, Deezer, and TuneIn
- Compatibility with Sonos, Chromecast built-in, AirPlay 2, DTS Play-Fi, and FlareConnect
- Google Chromecast compatibility for voice-controlled music playback using a Google Assistant smart speaker
- Dolby Atmos Height Virtualizer for an immersive listening experience and advanced sound mapping with Dolby Atmos and DTS formats
- THX Certified Select for a theater-like experience with guaranteed reference volume levels
FAQs
1. Can the Onkyo TX-NR696 join an existing Sonos Home Sound System?
– Yes, this receiver can join your existing Sonos Home Sound System by pairing with a Sonos Connect. It can wake, change inputs, and play at the desired volume from the Sonos app.
2. What streaming services can be used with the Onkyo TX-NR696?
– The Smart AVR feature allows streaming from Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, TIDAL, Deezer, and TuneIn. It also works with Sonos, Chromecast built-in, AirPlay 2, DTS Play-Fi, and FlareConnect.
3. Can music playback be controlled by voice?
– Yes, with Google Chromecast, you can cue, play, and control music playback by voice using your Google Assistant smart speaker. You can also control playback with Chromecast-enabled apps from various devices.
4. What is Dolby Atmos Height Virtualizer?
– Dolby Atmos Height Virtualizer provides an immersive listening experience by creating a virtual surround and height effect. It uses advanced sound mapping to make effects move from speaker to speaker. The Onkyo TX-NR696 supports 5.2.2-ch Dolby Atmos.
5. What is THX Certified Select?
– THX Certified Select ensures a theater-reference experience by guaranteeing the same reference volume level of a commercial theater in rooms where the viewing position is about 10–12 feet from the screen. The Onkyo TX-NR696 is THX Certified Select with 210 W/Ch.
How To Use Onkyo TX-NR696: Home Audio Receiver with Sonos Compatibility and Dolby Atmos
To make the most of your Onkyo TX-NR696 Home Audio Receiver with Sonos Compatibility and Dolby Atmos, follow these steps:
1. SONOS COMPATIBLE: Start by joining your existing Sonos Home Sound System or creating a new one. Pair your Onkyo receiver with a Sonos Connect. This connection allows the AVR to integrate into the Sonos ecosystem, enabling you to wake, change inputs, and control the volume from the Sonos app.
2. SMART AVR: This receiver is the heart of your entertainment system. Stream music from popular platforms like Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, TIDAL, Deezer, and TuneIn. You can also share sound as part of a multi-room system using Sonos, Chromecast built-in, AirPlay 2, DTS Play-Fi, and FlareConnect.
3. GOOGLE CHROMECAST: Take advantage of the Google Chromecast feature to cue, play, and control music playback using voice commands with your Google Assistant smart speaker. You can also control playback using Chromecast-enabled apps on your iPhone, iPad, Android device, Mac, Windows laptop, or Chromebook.
4. DTS ATMOS: Experience an immersive listening experience with Dolby Atmos Height Virtualizer. This feature creates a virtual surround and height effect, enhancing your audio experience. Dolby Atmos and DTS formats provide advanced sound mapping, ensuring that effects move seamlessly from speaker to speaker. Enjoy the 5.2.2-ch Dolby Atmos setup.
5. THX CERTIFIED SELECT: Elevate your movie night experience with THX Certified Select. This certification guarantees the same reference volume level as a commercial theater when your viewing position is approximately 10-12 feet from the screen. The Onkyo TX-NR696 offers 210 W/Ch THX Certified Select power.
By following these instructions, you can maximize the features and capabilities of your Onkyo TX-NR696 Home Audio Receiver, enhancing your home entertainment experience.
Final Thoughts:
The Onkyo TX-NR696 Home Audio Receiver is a versatile and future-ready device that delivers exceptional audio quality and compatibility with various streaming platforms. With its Sonos compatibility, users can easily integrate it into their existing Sonos Home Sound System or create a new one. The receiver also offers a range of smart features, including support for Chromecast built-in, AirPlay 2, and DTS Play-Fi, allowing for seamless streaming from popular music services. Additionally, the Dolby Atmos capability provides an immersive listening experience, while the THX Certified Select ensures a theater-like audio performance. Overall, the Onkyo TX-NR696 is a reliable and high-performing home audio receiver that caters to the needs of both tech enthusiasts and traditional audio enthusiasts.
