Onkyo TX-NR474

    81
    Image cannot be found

    Highlights

    • 5.1 Channels
    • 5.1 Channel Processing
    • 135 W (6 Ω, 1 kHz, 1 channel driven)
    • Dolby Atmos, DTS:X
    • HDR10, Dolby Vision
    • 4K/60Hz Passthrough
    • Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet
    Image cannot be found
    Image cannot be found

    Disclosure: We earn money from the affiliate links to products associated with content in this article.

    Overview

    Onkyo TX-NR474 was introduced in 2017. It is equipped with 5 channel amplifier with 135 W (6 Ω, 1 kHz, 1 channel driven) power per channel and is capable of 5.1 maximum channel processing. It supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, passes 4K/60Hz video signal.

    We evaluated the a/v receiver and gave 81 overall score out of 100. Our ranking system is based on the amplifier specifications, audio and video features, connectivity, multizone capabilities, radio and many other details.


    Here is a history of the series, where you can view and compare the main specifications of the receivers.

    Evolution of the series
    Model Year Chann. Power Dolby Atmos DTS:X HDR10 HDR10+ Dolby Vision Pass. Price
    TX-SR494 Image cannot be found 2019 7.2 80 W 4K
    TX-NR474 Image cannot be found 2017 5.1 135 W 4K
    TX-SR444 Image cannot be found 2015 7.1 65 W 4K
    TX-NR414 Image cannot be found 2012 5.1 80 W 1080p

    You can view their side-by-side comparison here: Onkyo TX-SR494 vs TX-NR474 vs TX-SR444 vs TX-NR414.

    Pros and Cons

    In this section we present pros and cons of Onkyo TX-NR474.

    PROs

    •   High Power Output - 135 W
    •   Dolby Atmos
    •   DTS:X
    •   DSD via HDMI
    •   Auto Speaker Calibration System with Mic.
    •   HDR10
    •   Dolby Vision
    •   New HDCP Version
    •   Analog To HDMI Upconversion
    •   Wi-Fi
    •   Bluetooth
    •   Chromecast Built-In
    •   USB Input
    •   Composite Video Inputs
    •   Ethernet
    •   Analog Tuner
    •   Spotify
    •   Tidal

    CONs

    •   Few Channels - 5.1
    •   No Front Wide Channel Support
    •   5.1 Channel Processing
    •   No Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization
    •   No IMAX Enhanced
    •   No Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixer
    •   No HDR10+
    •   No eARC
    •   No 8K Passthrough
    •   Does not Work with Amazon Alexa
    •   4 HDMI Inputs
    •   1 HDMI Outputs
    •   0 8K Input
    •   No Phono Input
    •   No RCA Pre-Outs
    •   No Zones
    •   No Digital Radio
    •   No Pandora

    And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

    AVERAGE

    •   RCA Line Inputs
    •   Bluetooth 4․1 + LE

    Onkyo 2017 Lineup

    In 2017 Onkyo released 9 new receivers. Here is the lineup:

    Onkyo 2017 Lineup
    ModelChannelsPowerMax. Ch. Proc.Pre OutsRoom Corr.Immersive AudioZones Price
    TX-RZ920 Image cannot be found 9.2135 W11.111.2 AccuEQ with AccuReflex™Dolby Atmos
    DTS:X
    3
    TX-RZ820 Image cannot be found 7.2130 W7.17.2 AccuEQ with AccuReflex™Dolby Atmos
    DTS:X
    3
    TX-RZ720 Image cannot be found 7.2110 W7.1 AccuEQ with AccuReflex™Dolby Atmos
    DTS:X
    2
    TX-RZ620 Image cannot be found 7.2100 W7.1 AccuEQ with AccuReflex™Dolby Atmos
    DTS:X
    2
    TX-NR777 Image cannot be found 7.2110 W7.1 AccuEQ with AccuReflex™Dolby Atmos
    DTS:X
    2
    TX-NR676E Image cannot be found 7.2100 W7.1 AccuEQ with AccuReflex™Dolby Atmos
    DTS:X
    2
    TX-NR575 Image cannot be found 7.280 W7.1 AccuEQ with AccuReflex™Dolby Atmos
    DTS:X
    2
    TX-NR474 Image cannot be found 5.1135 W5.1 AccuEQ with AccuReflex™Dolby Atmos
    DTS:X
    1
    TX-SR373 Image cannot be found 5.280 W5.1 AccuEQ1

    You can view their side-by-side comparison here: Onkyo TX-RZ920 vs TX-RZ820 vs TX-RZ720 vs TX-RZ620 vs TX-NR777 vs TX-NR676E.

    Audio Section

    5 channel Amplifier

    Onkyo TX-NR474 features 5 channel power amplifier. It is rated at 135 W (6 Ω, 1 kHz, 1 channel driven) and is able to drive 4 ohm speakers.

      AMPLIFIER
      Channels5.1
      Power Output135 W (6 Ω, 1 kHz, 1 channel driven)
      Front Wide Channel Support
      Non-Phase Shift Amplifier
      VLSC (Vector Linear Shaping Circuitry)
      Optimum Gain Volume Circuitry
      THX™ Certification
      Continuous 6 Ω Rated
      Certified 4 Ω Performance
      Discrete Output Stage Circuitry
      Independent Block Construction (Amp/Preprocessor)
      Bi-amp Capability
      BTL (Bridged Transless or Bridging)

      Speaker Configurations

      Onkyo TX-NR474's 5 channel amplifier can be assigned for different speaker configurations.

      • Dolby Atmos Configurations: The following speaker configurations are supported for Dolby Atmos:
      • 3.1.2 with internal amplifier.
      • DTS:X Configurations: The speaker configurations for DTS:X are the same as for Dolby Atmos:
      • 3.1.2 with internal amplifier.
      • Configurations without height channels: There are also other speaker configurations available which do not include height channels:
      • 5.1 with internal amplifier.
      Onkyo TX-NR474

      Dolby Atmos

      Onkyo TX-NR474 supports Dolby Atmos. It is a cinematic audio format in which sounds exist as individual entities, called audio objects. In Dolby Atmos, any sound can exist as an independent audio object, free of channel restrictions. They can be precisely placed and moved anywhere in your room, including overhead, to flow above and around you in three-dimensional space. Through the use of audio objects, overhead sound, and all the richness, clarity, and power of Dolby sound, Dolby Atmos turns your room into an amazing place for entertainment. The format supports up to 128 simultaneous independent audio objects in a mix for rich, realistic, and breathtaking sound. It recreates the director's original concept through descriptive metadata to provide customized playback for home theater and delivers sounds above you through overhead speakers, special upward-firing Dolby Atmos speakers, or a Dolby Atmos enabled sound bar.

      • Dolby Surround Upmixer: If the content is not mixed in Dolby Atmos then the Dolby surround upmixer will expand the audio to all channels including ceiling speakers. The upmixer has replaced the Dolby Pro Logic II family with improved upmixing algorithms.

      DTS:X

      Onkyo TX-NR474 supports DTS:X. A technique used in DTS:X is similar to the one used in Dolby Atmos. Instead of a fixed number of channels, DTS:X defines object locations from the listener in polar coordinates. An a/v receiver then dynamically renders sound according to the current speaker configuration. The speaker layout employed by DTS:X is the sum of Dolby Atmos and Auro-3D. It has standard 7.1 channel base layer, a 5 channel height layer above the base layer on the front and side walls, and 3 rows of speakers on the ceiling.

      • DTS Neural:X: DTS Neural:X is an advanced upmixer that can take non DTS:X content and upmix it to the DTS:X speaker layout. It has replaced the DTS Neo family with improved flexibility.
      • DTS Dialog Control: This function adjusts the dialog levels during playback of the DTS:X stream. It allows you to separately increase the dialog levels in contrast with the background sound and hear dialog easily even under noisy circumstances.
      DECODING
      Dolby Atmos
      Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization
      Dolby Atmos Music
      Dolby TrueHD
      Dolby Digital Plus
      Dolby Surround Upmixer
      Dolby Pro Logic
      Dolby Digital EX
      THX Listening Modes
      DTS:X
      DTS Neural:X
      DTS Virtual:X
      DTS Neo
      DTS-HD Master Audio
      DTS-HD High Resolution Audio
      DTS 96/24
      DTS Express
      DTS-ES
      IMAX Enhanced
      Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixer

      Sound Processing

      • Advanced Music Optimizer: Compressed music enhancement in Onkyo TX-NR474 is done by Onkyo’s Advanced Music Optimizer. While MP3 or AAC files may sound fine through the headphones of your portable digital player, the limitations of these files can be exposed when played back through a quality home entertainment system. This is because a significant amount of high-frequency bit information is lost during the file-compression process. To counter this, Onkyo has designed the Advanced Music Optimizer to compensate for lost bit information and improve the quality of compressed audio signals. This results in a clearer and more expansive sound. Also included in this technology is a loudness correction feature that further improves the audio character of compressed files.

      Room Calibration

      Onkyo TX-NR474 comes with AccuEQ with AccuReflex™ room correction system and includes the calibration microphone.

      • AccuEQ: First, AccuEQ detects the presence of speakers and evaluates the impedance of each. Next, it pinpoints their distance relative to the main listening position using the mic and sets suitable sound-pressure levels. Then it selects the optimal crossover frequency so that deeper bass rolls smoothly off to the subwoofer. Finally, AccuEQ performs frequency response equalization based on room-acoustic and speaker data collected via microphone. The sound-field is now tailored around the listening position, resulting in a more immersive and realistic in-film experience.

      Video Section

      HDMI

      Onkyo TX-NR474 features 4 HDMI inputs. It has 1 output.

      • 4K/60Hz Passthrough: All inputs pass up to 4K/60p (RGB/YCbCr4:4:4) video signal.
      • Analog To HDMI Upconversion: The a/v receiver supports video upconversion, so you can connect your analog Composite video sources and Onkyo TX-NR474 will output them via HDMI. This means that you will need only one HDMI cable to connect to your TV.
      • BT.2020 Color Space: BT.2020 or Rec. 2020 is a color standard which delivers a wider color gamut compared to Rec. 709. It covers approximately 75% of the total visual spectrum while the Rec. 709 covers only 35%.
      • HDCP 2.2 Copy Protection: All inputs and outputs are HDCP 2.2 compliant which is a requirement for 4K/HDR copy-protected content transmission.
      • 3D Ready: Onkyo TX-NR474 is able to pass 3D video through HDMI.

      HDR (High Dynamic Range)

      Onkyo TX-NR474 supports HDR (high dynamic range) video formats such as HDR10 and Dolby Vision. High dynamic range video has greater dynamic range than standard dynamic range (SDR) video with brighter whites and deeper blacks. The result is greater contrast and more details in dark and bright areas, better color and depth.

      • HDR10: HDR10 uses the wide-gamut Rec. 2020 color space. It sends static metadata via video stream to the TV which calibrates its screen brightness and color according to that. HDR10 supports 10-bit color which corresponds to 1024 shades of the primary RGB colors. It is technically limited to a maximum of 10,000 nits peak brightness, however common HDR10 contents are mastered with peak brightness from 1,000 to 4,000 nits.
      • Dolby Vision: Dolby Vision is a set of technologies developed by Dolby Laboratories for high dynamic range (HDR) video. It covers content creation, distribution, and playback. Like HDR10+, it includes dynamic metadata that are used to adjust and optimize each frame of the HDR video to the consumer display's capabilities in a way specified by the content creator. Dolby Vision allows for a maximum resolution of 8K up to 12-bit color depth, maximum peak brightness of 10,000 nits and a color gamut up to Rec. 2020. It uses Dolby's proprietary dynamic metadata defined in SMPTE ST 2094-10.
      Onkyo TX-NR474
      VIDEO FEATURES
      HDR10
      HDR10+
      Dynamic HDR
      BT.2020 color space
      Dolby Vision
      HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma)
      HDBaseT Compatible
      Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC)
      HDCP Version2.2
      QMS (Quick Media Switching)
      ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode)
      VRR (Variable Refresh Rate)
      QFT (Quick Frame transport)
      3-D Ready
      Video Signal Passthroughup to 4K/60p (RGB/YCbCr4:4:4)
      Video Signal Upscaling

      Check out the receivers which are frequently compared to Onkyo TX-NR474.

      >

      Inputs and Outputs

      Audio

      • Analog Line Inputs: There are 4 line inputs for analog audio connection.
      • Digital Inputs: 2 optical inputs and 1 coaxial input are available for digital audio connection.
      • Headphone Output: There is a 6.3 mm (1/4") headphone output jack on the front panel.

      Video

      • HDMI:
      • Inputs: 4   Outputs: 1
        8K Inputs: 0
      • Composite Video: Connect you VCR, Laserdisc player and other old video equipment with composite video cables.
      • Inputs: 2   Outputs: 0

      Front A/V Inputs

      • Mini-Jack
      Image cannot be found
      Image cannot be found
      TERMINALS
      HDMI Inputs4
      HDMI Outputs1
      8K Inputs
      USB Input1 (Rear)
      USB DC Out Port
      Optical Inputs2
      Optical Outputs
      Coaxial Inputs1
      RCA Line Inputs4 (1 Front)
      RCA Line Outputs
      XLR Line Inputs
      Phono Input
      Multi-Channel Input
      RCA Pre-Outs0.1
      XLR Pre-outs
      Composite Video Inputs2
      Composite Video Outputs
      S-Video Inputs
      S-Video Outputs
      Component Video Inputs
      Component Video Outputs

      Onkyo TX-NR474 Evaluation

      We evaluate Onkyo TX-NR474 and give score of 81 out of 100. We also give separate scores for 6 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new receiver is added to the database.


      OVERALL
      81

      Amplifier

      GOOD
      81

      We give Onkyo TX-NR474 a score of 81 for Amplifier features.

      •   Few Channels - 5.1
      •   High Power Output - 135 W

      Audio Features

      EXCELLENT
      85

      We give Onkyo TX-NR474 a score of 85 for Audio Features features.

      •   Few Channels - 5.1
      •   No Front Wide Channel Support
      •   5.1 Channel Processing
      •   Dolby Atmos
      •   No Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization
      •   DTS:X
      •   No IMAX Enhanced
      •   No Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixer
      •   DSD via HDMI

      Video Features

      EXCELLENT
      90

      We give Onkyo TX-NR474 a score of 90 for Video Features features.

      •   HDR10
      •   No HDR10+
      •   Dolby Vision
      •   No 8K Passthrough
      •   Analog To HDMI Upconversion

      Connectivity

      GOOD
      78

      We give Onkyo TX-NR474 a score of 78 for Connectivity features.

      •   No eARC
      •   New HDCP Version
      •   Wi-Fi
      •   Bluetooth
      •   Does not Work with Amazon Alexa
      •   Chromecast Built-In
      •   4 HDMI Inputs
      •   1 HDMI Outputs
      •   0 8K Input
      •   USB Input
      •   RCA Line Inputs
      •   No Phono Input
      •   No RCA Pre-Outs
      •   Composite Video Inputs
      •   Ethernet
      •   Bluetooth 4․1 + LE

      Zones

      AVERAGE
      55

      We give Onkyo TX-NR474 a score of 55 for Zones features.

      •   No Zones

      Radio

      EXCELLENT
      90

      We give Onkyo TX-NR474 a score of 90 for Radio features.

      •   Analog Tuner
      •   No Pandora
      •   Spotify
      •   Tidal


      For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

      Amazon Affiliate Disclosure

      ZKelectronics is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon (.com, .co.uk, .ca, etc) and any other websites that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program.