Onkyo TX-NR515 review

Once connected to your local network using an Ethernet cable, or the optional Wi-Fi dongle (UWF-1, £55 from www.play.com), you can use the amplifier’s built-in Last.FM, Spotify and internet radio streaming services or access audio from a PC or NAS device using DLNA.

During our testing, both video and audio looked superb. Without a 4K TV to test the player’s upscaling features, we could only comment on 1080p footage, but our test Blu-ray videos still looked fantastic, with no signs of increased noise or artefacts. We especially liked the new InstaPrevue mode, which lets you preview a second video input via picture-in-picture before changing it on the main screen.

As you would expect from a surround sound amplifier, the TX-NR515 supports all the major audio formats, including DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby True HD, although only from an HDMI source. When hooked up to our reference speakers, the amplifier produced warm-sounding audio that showed no sign of distortion or crackle. With the ability to set bass crossover, you can fine-tune your subwoofer quickly and easily to find the right balance between rumble and mid-range.

If you’re looking to upgrade your home cinema, and want something with enough flexibility to handle all your equipment, we can find very few faults with the TX-NR515. It’s a worthy replacement to last year’s TX-NR609, adding welcome extra features such as 4K up-scaling and MHL support. Also, at £430 it’s considerably cheaper than last year’s model. The only downside is that 4K pass-through isn’t supported, although as we’re still a long way off from having 4K video in the home this won’t be a major concern for most. It’s a Best Buy.