Onkyo TX-NR737 Review – For A True Home Theatre Experience
Note: The TX-NR737 is current out of production. We highly recommend the Onkyo TX-NR5100 as an improved alternative! Learn more about it by clicking here.
Are looking for a great A/V receiver for your home theatre system but one that doesn’t break the bank? Then stop right here. A/V receivers are aplenty on the market but to narrow down to the one that suits your needs and budget can be quite a daunting task.
Adding to the confusion are cheap A/V receivers that are nothing but tacky replicas of high-end models that are neither durable nor can perform to your expectations. But don’t let these things dampen your spirits as we bring to you one of the best A/V receivers that money can buy.
The Onkyo TX-NR737 is an affordable A/V receiver that comes packed with a number of features to give cheap A/V receivers a run for their money. Read on to find out more details as we look into features of this great A/V receiver in our review below.
Onkyo TX-NR737 Features and Specs
- THX Select 2 Plus certified for the best sound experience
- Dolby Atmos for immersive movie-like sounds
- In-built Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for wireless streaming of music
- Multiple HDMI ports for high-definition videos
- Future-ready with HDCP 2.2 support
- Backed by a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty
Is the Onkyo TX-NR737 the most affordable A/V receiver?
A home theatre system has become an important part of our lives as we like to experience the same amazing sound that we hear at the movies. But more often than not unless you invest in one of the top A/V receiver models, the sound isn’t that impressive.
But the TX-NR737 will break all your preconceptions about budget-friendly A/V receivers as it comes with the most advanced technologies in sound to give you an immersive sound experience. From Dolby Atmos surround sound to THX select 2 plus certification to inbuilt Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities, the TX-NR737 is packed with advanced features giving you more value for your money.
Below we tease each of the features of the TX-NR737 in great detail so that you can decide if it is the right one for your requirements.
THX Select 2 Plus
THX certification is not just about great sound but is a set of rigorous standards that the device needs to conform to in order to be certified. This certification ensures that you hear the sound just the way that it was intended to sound. So you will experience a true movie theatre sound experience right in the comfort of your own home. In order to receive the THX certification, the TX-NR737 has undergone more than 2000 tests to give you the best movie sound experience.
Dolby Atmos
The immersive audio that you hear at the movies is because of the Dolby Atmos surround sound technology. At the core of the A/V receiver are two 32-bit DSP engines that process the Dolby Atmos for the unbelievable sound that the TX-NR737 gives you.
You can even add two overhead speakers to convert your five channel system into a 5.1.2 set-up. As far as sub-woofers are concerned you can add up to two sub-woofers for a great sound experience.
But the best part about the Dolby Atmos feature is that you can even play your old content as it comes with a Dolby surround up mixer. What this essentially does is, it mixes the old content and assigns the sounds to each of the speakers to produce the Dolby Atmos effect. It doesn’t get more amazing than this!
Amplifiers
No matter what kind of file you are playing you will always only hear the best sound possible. This is because the TX-NR737 uses Three-Stage Inverted Darlington Circuitry amplifiers that can handle the sudden increase in sound levels without any distortion.
In addition to this, the internal components such as the audio and video processors, the amplifiers, the pre-amp, power supply, network components etc. are all separated to reduce the overall noise produced.
Design
As far as design is concerned, Onkyo has kept the familiar design of previous generation A/V receivers. It has a single large knob for the master volume and a row of buttons on the front each for a different input source. So as far as all the connections are in place, choosing a source is as simple as just a push of a button.
There is an HDMI port on the front that allows you to quickly connect any HDMI compatible device. You can also use this port for connecting your smartphone using MHL which will allow you to stream high-definition audio and video as well as charge your smartphone at the same time. In addition to the HDMI ports, there is a USB port and a jack each for the headphones and the calibration mic.
Connectivity
In addition to the few ports on the front for quick connectivity, there are a number of ports on the rear of the receiver. There are 6 HDMI input ports and 2 HDMI output ports giving you enough number of connectivity options.
HDMI
The TX-NR737 also supports high-definition video playback as it comes with HDMI 2.0 inputs. These can play 4k videos at a frame rate of 50/60 fps for true movie-like videos. Adding to this is the aspect ratio of 21:9 which gives you the same movie-like experience on your home screen. The TX-NR737 is also HDCP 2.2 ready which avoids copy protection and so you’re A/V receiver is also future ready.
Bluetooth
No more do you see music being played from discs as smartphone and smart devices have started ruling the world. That is why it is not enough if you’re A/V receiver has only the regular input options.
Not only can you connect the TX-NR737 to your home theatre system but you can also connect devices through its Bluetooth feature. Forget annoying cables and enjoy the wireless convenience by simply pairing your smart device with the TX-NR737 to stream all your favorite music in a jiffy.
The Bluetooth feature is not just limited to your playlist but you can stream any audio that is being played on your smart device such as mp3s and even music from videos. Don’t worry about the sound quality from Bluetooth devices not being on par with other input sources.
To improve the sound of music played via Bluetooth, the TX-NR737 comes with an advanced music optimizer. So even if you play compressed files, the TX-NR737 will process it to give you a fuller and high-quality sound.
Wi-Fi
The TX-NR737 comes with an inbuilt Wi-Fi feature to play music from your smartphone, computer or storage device over Wi-Fi. This feature also allows you to stream music from internet radio services like Spotify, SiriusXM, Pandora and more so that you can always listen to your favorite music with high-quality sound.
Zone 2 and 3
Why should the great sound experience from the TX-NR737 be limited to your home theatre system? That is exactly why it comes with a Zone 2 feature that allows you to add speakers in an adjoining room or even your porch.
So when kids are watching their animation movie on the home theatre system you can sip on your coffee listening to your favorite music in your living room or even the porch.
But that is not all. You can even introduce a third zone if you have your old receiver still lying around. This is possible because the TX-NR737 comes with line-level Zone 3 outputs that can send separate audio signals to a receiver. It’s almost like you have three A/V receivers in your home when you actually paid for only one.
Mobile app
As if playing music through your Bluetooth and Wi-Fi wasn’t good enough, the TX-NR737 can be controlled by your smart devices using a mobile app. All you need to do is simply download the Onkyo Remote App 2 on your smartphone and then you will be able to use your phone just like a regular remote to control your A/V receiver.
What’s even better is that instead of using Bluetooth, you can play your music from your smartphone using the mobile app for an even better sound quality.
Calibration
The first step to a great sounding home theatre system is to buy one with a great sound output. But the most important next step is to calibrate it so that it produces the sound according to the ambiance.
This is why the TX-NR737 comes with the AccuEQ feature that allows you to calibrate the A/V receiver as per your room conditions. The A/V receiver comes with a calibration microphone in the box. Simply connect it to the jack in the front and playback to complete the calibration process.
Pros
- Superior sound quality with the best audio technologies
- Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for wireless connectivity
- Three-zone feature lets you play different music in each room
- A sturdy and durable construction
Cons
- If you are completely new to A/V receivers then you might find the set-up to be difficult
Conclusion
If you want to enjoy a true movie-like sound and video experience from your home theatre system, you definitely need a good A/V receiver. But don’t worry about buying a top model that you cannot afford when you can buy the Onkyo TX-NR737 at a fraction of its price.
The TX-NR737 comes with a number of great features for its price point and is a high-quality A/V receiver that has positive customer reviews. Watching movies and listening to music will never be the same again with the TX-NR737 as it gives you the most immersive and distortion-free audio and videos. You will never go wrong when you buy the Onkyo TX-NR737. Go ahead and gift yourself a rich movie experience.
Resources
- https://www.onkyousa.com/Products/model.php?m=TX-NR737&class=Receiver
- https://www.lifewire.com/what-does-thx-certified-mean-for-speakers-2640436
- https://www.crutchfield.com/S-KsSngDCL8eU/learn/what-you-need-to-know-about-hdcp-2-2.html
- https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/home-theater4.htm
- https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-use-your-av-receivers-speaker-calibration/