News

Onkyo debuts its new ultra-compact 275 Series hi-fi separates line (11/4/2005)

Onkyo has renewed its commitment to the stereo separates market with the launch of a exciting new line of 275mm wide (hence the 275 Series moniker) two-channel stereo components, designed to deliver a high level of sound quality that'll give you new insight into your favourite music.

A-933 Amplifier

Heading up the newcomers is the A-933 integrated amplifier. Designed and built to the company's traditional battleship-like standards - with a 1.6mm thick high rigidity aluminium chassis - the A-933 is designed for absolute fidelity but without 'hairshirt' hi-fi compromises.

So it's remote-controlled (using a RI-compatible remote that'll also operate an iPod via the upcoming Onkyo dock), offers a full-range of gentle-acting tone controls (plus a Source Direct mode) plus A/B speaker outputs (via chunky banana-plug type terminals) and a full complement of connections.

As well as the expected CD, tuner, MD, Tape and Aux inputs, this amplifier also sports a moving magnet phono stage for those who cherish music on vinyl as well as a headphone output.

Thanks to Main In phono jacks the A-933 can also be used a power amplifier while a subwoofer output allows extra flexibility when it comes to considering loudspeaker options. Power output? More than adequate for this class of component at 80w per channel (8ohms, 1kHz, DIN).

You'll probably never have cause to look inside it but were you to do so you'd find that this is no ordinary mass-market amplifier. The power supply, for instance uses low impedance dual toroidal power transformers - one for each channel - plus a thick bus plate for high current delivery capability. Few, if indeed any, mass-market competitors take such care in this sector.

Onkyo has a long history of opting for all-discrete output stages wherever possible - for the best sound quality - so its no surprise to find that's the case here. Keeping the transistors separate at the output stage enhances cooling so that the amplifier remains relatively unstressed and unwanted audio interference is minimised.

Also unique at this level/sector is Onkyo's VL (Vector Linear) Digital technology, designed to reproduce a smoother output wave form.

C-733 CD player

Designed to reproduce music stored on CD-R/CD-RW/MP3 as well as standard CD, the C-733 provides a highly musical source for the A-933 to amplify.

Featuring vastly over-specified multi-bit sigma delta Wolfson 192kHz/24-bit DACs, this player offers a remarkably good sense of timing thanks to its inherently low clock jitter and digital servo control system.

Those bothered by noisy CD transports will the one employed here to be unusually soothing. Onkyo developed this precision loading mechanism specifically to reduce vibration levels to new lows, something that has an immediate benefit for disc stability, and consequently sound quality.

Two optical outputs are fitted as well as the expected analogue types and there's VLSC (Vector Linear Shaping Circuitry) in place to reduce damaging digital pulse noise.

T-433 FM/AM Tuner

Sharing the same family styling, high rigidity chassis and brushed aluminium fascia as the other components in this series, the T-433, available as an option, offers top quality listening on FM channels as well as AM broadcasts.

Tuning is fully automated - there are 30 presets - while a 5-mode timer allows the unit to come on at pre-determined times and function as a wake-up alarm.

Onkyo believes this is one of the finest sounding systems in its category. It's not the cheapest system of its kind but true quality always comes at a price.

Take a good look - and extended listen - to these new Onkyo components and you'll understand why they're anything but run-of-the-mill...

AVAILABILITY
Late April

PRICES
A-933 amplifier £499.95
C-733 CD player £399.95
T-433 tuner £299.95

www.onkyo.co.uk