Onkyo TX-NR1000 Card-Based Receiver

[Audioholics]

<font color='#000080'>In a time when home entertainment technology is often out of date as soon as it is introduced, Onkyo has now adapted the computer industry's architecture of replaceable modules, upgradeable software, and build-to-order marketing. These will make it possible for consumers to upgrade and even customize hardware and software to avoid short-term obsolescence. As new modules become available, customers will have choices, just as they do when purchasing a computer.

The first new modules are scheduled for the Fall of 2004 with anticipated upgrades for new radio technology and for video interface sections. The Onkyo TX-NR1000 will be available in April, with a suggested (base) retail price of $4000.

[Read the Press Release]</font>

 

[Guest]

<font color='#000000'>Don't other companies, such as B&amp;K, already offer hardware upgrades to their processors and receivers?

Or are these guys at Onkyo suggesting that users can perform their own hardware upgrades? &nbsp;

</font>

 

[hlesser]

<font color='#000000'>This idea would be smarter still if a consortium of manufacturers could agree on a standard and then make compatible cards -- analagous to the PC industry where boxes containing the primary components are upgraded by 3rd party add-on boards. &nbsp;While only one company is making the boards the attractions are somewhat less clear.</font>

 

[Khellandros66]

<font color='#000000'>Yeah, its organs are sweet, but the shell looks way too much like the 5800/5803.

Bout dang time this HDMI starts taken off. &nbsp;All we need is HD-DVD and we be in hog heaven.

~Bob</font>

 

[Audioholics]

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hlesser : <font color='#000000'>This idea would be smarter still if a consortium of manufacturers could agree on a standard and then make compatible cards</font>

<font color='#000080'>Would be better for us, but probably not better for the manufacturers - hence the lack of a unified solution - at least for now.</font>

 

[Guest]

<font color='#000000'>What does &quot;short-term obsolescence&quot; mean?

R</font>

 

[pam]

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hlesser : <font color='#000000'>This idea would be smarter still if a consortium of manufacturers could agree on a standard and then make compatible cards -- analagous to the PC industry where boxes containing the primary components are upgraded by 3rd party add-on boards.  While only one company is making the boards the attractions are somewhat less clear.</font>

<font color='#000000'>You are totally right but:

Margin in the computer industry is 5%-10%.

Margin in the AV industry is 25%-30%.

We will have to weait for an innovator before this happens. And when the motion will be irresistible then the big players will jump. It will not happen by anyone in the mainstream...</font>

 

[mustang_steve]

<font color='#000000'>short-term obsolescense means simply that the unit can be kept &quot;up-to date&quot; for a while through merely adding in boards, so you don't have to go and get a brand new reciever as often. &nbsp;Just get boards until they have to change metrics.</font>

 

[Guest]

<font color='#000000'>So &quot;short-term obsolescence&quot; is not as strong a term as, say, &quot;future-proof&quot;?

R</font>

 

[Krobar]

Well.... Its been over 3 years and we have seen nothing but new Radio modules. Anyone know what happened to the HDMI 1.1+ card???

 

[MDS]

All I'm going to say is be very leery of 'upgradeable' recievers and amps. It's nice in theory but you are at the mercy of the company producing the product and when you want to upgrade a few years later you often find that no upgrade cards were ever produced.

While I'm a fan of Onkyo receivers in general, I put the probability of them (or any company) supporting an upgradeable receiver 5 years after its introduction at about .1.

 

[zildjian]

While I'm a fan of Onkyo receivers in general, I put the probability of them (or any company) supporting an upgradeable receiver 5 years after its introduction at about .1.

The sad thing is, Onkyo never supported the unit with upgrades other than the one already mentioned satellite radio card... 1 card in 5 years is freaking ridiculous after how they advertised that model in all major A/V publications as the only future proof receiver.... blah blah...

 

[Krobar]

All I'm going to say is be very leery of 'upgradeable' recievers and amps. It's nice in theory but you are at the mercy of the company producing the product and when you want to upgrade a few years later you often find that no upgrade cards were ever produced.

While I'm a fan of Onkyo receivers in general, I put the probability of them (or any company) supporting an upgradeable receiver 5 years after its introduction at about .1.

Onkyo NEVER supported this receiver. If they had just released an HDMI 1.1 module then people would have left them alone but they deserve bad press for how they have treated their flagship owners.