Performance
Build Quality
Ergonomics
Value

PRICE $999

AT A GLANCE
Pros:
Wide soundstage with clear separation
Onscreen Menus
Endless Source Options from streaming music (onboard) to Sonos Connect
Cons:
Dirac Live setup is extremely finicky—could require customer support.
Minimal Equalizer in app—must go to onscreen menu
Some menus outdated—not intuitive—looks like old computer command line font

THE VERDICT
The Onkyo TX-RZ30 is a high-performing AV receiver with the power and precision to deliver clean dialogue, detailed sound effects, convincing instrument reproduction, and an immersive Dolby Atmos experience. With features typically reserved for more expensive models, it stands out as an excellent choice for home theater and music enthusiasts alike.

The TX-RZ30 marks Onkyo's entry-level model in its premium RZ-series AV receivers. While it isn't as powerful as the TX-RZ50 or the flagship TX-RZ70, it shares much of their DNA. Notably, it includes a full-bandwidth Dirac Live license at no extra cost—a feature that was originally an optional add-on for the RZ50.

Even more impressive, the TX-RZ30 offers two independent subwoofer outputs, whereas the RZ50's dual sub jacks are mirrored. At this price point, few competitors offer this level of flexibility.

Most similarly priced receivers from Denon or Yamaha top out at 7.2 channels. To get 9.2 channels from Denon, for example, you'd need to step up to models like the AVR-X3700H or X3800H, which typically cost several hundred dollars more. That extra channel capacity allows the TX-RZ30 to run full 5.2.4 or 7.2.2 Atmos configurations without requiring external amplification.

Dirac is more advanced in time-domain correction than Denon's Audyssey or Yamaha's YPAO. As it works both with frequency and time phase based on placement of furniture in the room rather than preset room setups.

Features
Most of the RZ30's features are focused around better sound quality and an improved surround experience. The Onkyo connect app assists in setup and as a quick remote. There's also an abundance of sources that play on the RZ30 from a phono to its tuner to several built-in streaming apps and 6 HDMI inputs.

9.2-channel Class A/B amplifier—With enough power to drive 9.2 channels, you can choose your speaker configuration to include height speakers, rear speakers, and one or two subwoofers.

8K upscaling/passthrough—All six inputs are capable of not only 4K passthrough but can upscale to 8K/60. The inclusion of 8K future-proofs the receiver for longevity.

Dirac Live Full Bandwidth is included—While most devices charge for the full band Dirac Live license, it's included on the TX-RZ30. Dirac Live Bass Control expansion is available as an optional add-on (see Dirac website for current pricing). Dirac Live is an audio correction system, similar to others like Audyssey. Where Audyssey and others change frequency EQ and level adjustments, Dirac Live optimizes time alignment and frequency response. It works by using a microphone, which you place in 9 different spots around your sweet spot to measure and correct sound issues such as echoes or imbalances caused by room shape, furniture, or other objects that are noticeable in the mid and low frequencies.

THX Certified and IMAX Enhanced—THX Certified ensures a standardized level of sound quality for movies and TV, and the IMAX Enhanced creates a big theater experience in movies for that cinematic experience.

Dolby Atmos Height Virtualizer—If you don't have physical height speakers, this creates the perception of having real heights which could otherwise be missing when setting up an AVR with separate speakers.

Dual independent subwoofer outputs allows you to change settings to each subwoofer rather than simply mirroring the same settings as is the case with the mirrored subwoofer ports found on the RZ50.

Streaming from AirPlay 2, Chromecast Built-in, Bluetooth 5.1, WiFi, and Spotify Connect

Includes built-in apps for TIDAL, Amazon Music/Amazon Music HD, and TuneIn internet radio. And a Music Server for DLNA/Windows Media sharing—play from a NAS drive or PC on the same home network. By having these apps built into the receiver, high resolution music can use the unit's DAC and play at full resolution.

The RZ30 is designed for very low noise and wide frequency response (5 Hz to 100 kHz) that supports high-res audio beyond what most DACs strictly need.

40 Preset Radio Stations—The tuner supports up to forty radio station presets spread across both AM and FM.

Setup
If you've ever setup an AV receiver before, the Onkyo still has the same onscreen menu system as models from about 10 years ago. If you plan to manually set the volume and frequency levels of each channel, it's pretty straightforward.

But, if you want the advantages of Dirac's room and placement measurements to customize the receiver to your exact room, be prepared for a finicky setup. I had to repeat the setup both on my own and with customer support. It took hours.

Along the way, I learned that I needed to turn up the volume to about 80. Even though the room was dead silent, I would get a message that there was too much noise. Next, the process included starting with Auto Calibration of the speakers. I learned that it was important to use a test tone to check each channel. When the tone played from the channel, it had to land on the green section of the bar measurement.

The first time I set up Dirac, this solved the issues and the process that takes 20 minutes, was complete. After adding height front speakers, I wanted to set it up again. The second time I stopped before it was successful, and manually altered the channel levels.

Once I connected an antenna for the FM stations, the tuner found most of the local channels and it was easy to set them in memory by pressing the memory button on the remote twice.

While the remote is crowded with buttons, I appreciated the direct access to change levels of treble, vocals, and bass. If a show or song needed a boost or to reduce a level, I could customize it with a quick raise or lower +/- 10 dB. It was so easy to make changes, I found myself adjusting each song as I moved from hip hop to ballads.

Performance
At first, I tested the TX-RZ30 with a 5.1 speakers setup that included Definitive Technology's bipolar front towers and surround speakers. While it sounded good, and the surround was immersive, the Onkyo receiver really shined when I added bookshelf SRS speakers as front heights.

In the battle scene at the beginning of Saving Private Ryan, I could hear nuances and sound details that I didn't hear before with 5 speakers nor with the Klipsch Flexus Core 300. Along with effects being more directional, there was the sound of bubbles and the movement of water as soldiers fell into the water, the thud of the bullets hitting bodies, and they clink as they hit metal.

In the Chinese classic, House of Flying Daggers, not only was I surrounded by the bowl of beans flung onto the circle of drums, I could hear different tones as beans would hit each drum and variances as a bean would ricochet and hit another drum. As the dancer shot out the long fabric in her sleeves, there was a subtle "whoosh" from the wind it would create. When she unsheathed a sword, there was that bright slide of metal.

Apple TV's dialogue enhancer muffled the sound effects when listening to F1 with 5 speakers. It helped to raise the level of vocals. When I added the height speakers, voices were clearer and didn't require the dialogue enhancement, bringing out sound effects like gravel rolling as a car skid out, the cracking of the car body breaking away, and the squeak of tires as they bounced off each other.

The clarity of vocals in music was even more noticeable in music. I listened to my high resolution 24-bit/192kHz music playlist on Apple TV and the Onkyo delivered emotion and musicality beyond what I've usually heard from those speakers. Joni Mitchell's voice had more texture, and I could hear the breath behind every note as if she were in the room with me.

Likewise, I'd never heard the tonality of Prince's voice as I did in When Doves Cry and Purple Rain that typically squashes the vocals and the instruments together.

As I went from ballads to Just Keep Watching from the F1 movie, I wanted to boost the bass for more energy and pump and could easily raise the decibels of the bass on the remote.

Another highlight was the remix for the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here in Spatial Audio. It begins quietly with static and voices on a radio from the left surround, then comes the guitar diagonally across the room from the right front speaker and slowly the music expands to all speakers and I'm happily surrounded by music and sound.

Conclusion
The Onkyo TX-R...

Sound & Vision

Message History

Delivery option(s)