Dealer Stamp

Due to a policy of continuous product improvement, Onkyo reserves the right to change specifications and appearance without notice. “THX Ultra” and “THX Surround EX” are trademarks of Lucasfilm. Surround EX is a trademark of Lucasfilm Ltd. and Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation.“Dolby”, “Pro Logic” and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. “DTS” is a trademark of Digital Theater Systems, Inc. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

ONKYO CORPORATIONSales & Product Planning Div.: 2-1, Nisshin-cho, Neyagawa-shi, OSAKA 572-8540, JAPANTel: 072-831-8111 Fax: 072-833-5222

ONKYO CHINA LIMITEDUnits 2102-2107, Metroplaza Tower I, 223 Hing Fong Road, Kwai Chung, N. T., HONG KONGTel: 852-2429-3118 Fax: 852-2428-9039

ONKYO INDIA PVT. LTD.,No.1, Sriram Nagar, South Street, Alwarpet, Chennai 600 018, INDIATel: 91-44-467-2152/2304 (Telefax)

ONKYO U.S.A. CORPORATION200 Williams Drive, Ramsey, N.J. 07446, U.S.A.Tel: 201-825-7950 Fax: 201-825-8150 e-mail: onkyo@onkyousa.com

ONKYO EUROPE ELECTRONICS GmbHIndustriestrasse 20, 82110 Germering, GERMANYTel: 089-849-320 Fax: 089-849-3226 Catalog No. 2KC07

Printed in Japan01-2K3-30.3K-DT

GBExport

A ll digital data is basically the same—

various combinations of “0”s and “1”s.

But not all digital products are created equal.

Some sound better than others—a fact more

than a few manufacturers would like to forget

as they race to build components designed to

meet even cheaper prices.

At Onkyo, we follow a different

approach: get the basics right, leave off the

frills, pay attention to details, use only the

best parts, and incorporate a forward-looking

design that’s easy to use.

But it doesn’t end there.

Our manufacturing facilities are ISO 9001

certified to ensure the highest standards

of quality. Every component we build is

subjected to a battery of tests to make sure

you get the same high level of performance as

the engineering prototypes. Even in our least

expensive components you’ll find high-quality,

low-tolerance, audiophile-grade parts.

It’s all part of a comprehensive formula

to make better products—products acclaimed

worldwide for over a half-century not just for

their sonic excellence, but for their superior

construction, high level of reliability and

ease of use.

We call the philosophy Premium

Digital. Dealers call it added value. You’ll

call it more bang for your buck.

We invite you to experience that ‘bang’

for yourself. Visit your Onkyo dealer today, and

hear firsthand what Onkyo Premium Digital

home entertainment is really all about—

clarity, power and precision, Onkyo style.

CONTENTS

Premium Digital 2

THX Surround EX 4

7.1 Amplifier Design 8

Premium Technology 16

Premium User Interface 20

Features / Specifications 23

54

WHAT THX SURROUND EX DOESFOR YOUThe cinema experience—spine-chilling,

completely entrancing, and for a couple

of hours, a different world. The story and

big screen draw you in, of course. But

there is something just as critical as the

story and just as important as the screen

size—the sound. Sound is 50% of the

experience. It’s the sound that makes

your hair stand on end, rivets

you to your seat and wholly

engulfs you in the story.

What if you could transform

that feeling into your home, but with

even more detail and explosiveness?

What if you could recreate the sound of

helicopters cutting 360° swoops around

you? Or the thunderous roaring of a

meteor ripping across the sky directly

over your head?

You can. With THX Surround EX.

It delivers the most accurate movie

soundtrack reproduction available

anywhere, and gives new meaning to

the expression of “being there.”

THE HISTORYFirst debuted in Star Wars: Episode 1—

The Phantom Menace, THX Surround

EX is the home theater version of Dolby

Digital Surround EX, a new cinema

format born from the joint collaboration

of Lucasfilm THX and Dolby Digital

Laboratories. Inspired by Gary

Rydstrom, Creative Operations Director

for Lucas Digital’s Skywalker Sound and

WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKETake a scene where a wayward

missile is launched by Dr. Evil. The

sound originates from the left speaker

tearing across the seemingly real sky

above your head, dashing wildly

towards the back of the room. You

hear it skid off the left wall, then the

right wall, missing its target and

vanishing into the distant horizon

with a slowly fading “sssshhhh.”

Dr. Evil curses and you pinch

yourself to make sure this isn’t real.

That’s THX Surround EX through

the identical seven channels

of the TX-DS989.

surround sound that pans fluidly from the

front to back speakers, and vice versa.

OTHER THX SURROUND EX FEATURESTHX Surround EX represents the

state-of-the-art in home theater sound

management. To ensure you get the

most earth-shaking bass performance

possible, THX Surround EX relocates

energy from the surround back

channels to the subwoofer. Remarkably

seamless surround sound

is generated through a

process of equalizing the

surround back channels to

timbre match the characteristics of the

front and L/R surround channels, while

synchronizing their position and time in

relation to the listener. All of which add

to a more diffuse and enveloping

sound. Even older monaural surround

channel films are preserved to retain

their original sound characteristics

through a process which automatically

shifts the signal to all surround

speakers, instead of just the surround

back speakers.

COMPLETE COMPATIBILITY WITHOTHER DIGITAL FORMATSTHX Surround EX is backward

compatible, ensuring its ability to play

conventional 5.1-channel sources such

as DTS or Dolby Digital. And for added

flexibility, the TX-DS989 lets you

choose between typical playback from

six speakers, or, using Onkyo-developed

DSP modes, all eight speakers, for a

more room-filling sound experience.

seven-time Academy Award-winner,

THX Surround EX was created so

designers like Gary Rydstrom would

have greater options and more flexibility

when mixing movie soundtracks. They

realized that present 5.1-channel config-

urations allowed for sound from the

sides, but provided nothing for behind

or above the listener. By supplying

additional surround back signals, THX

Surround EX spectacularly

solves this problem. It

enables sound designers to

create dramatic 360° surround

sound effects that fly over and around

you and your audience, pan from front

to back, and create a sense of realism

never achieved before in the home.

HOW IT WORKSOn specially encoded DVDs

(Surround EX and DTS ES discs,

for example), THX Surround

EX extracts a matrix-

encoded surround

back signal

from the

left and right

surround channels.

This signal is then passed

through the THX Surround EX

decoder, where it is processed

and divided into two separate,

fully adjustable surround back

channels. The end result is a surround

sound system capable of steering movie

sound anywhere in the room.

®

ADVANTAGES OVER 6.1-CHANNELSYSTEMSThe addition of two synchronized

surround back speakers instead of one,

as used in many non-THX certified 6.1

surround systems, ensures that your back

surround channels will not become

localizable point-sources. Another big

advantage is you can clearly tell when

sounds are coming from in front or

behind you, unlike conventional systems

that inhibit your ability to differentiate

between sounds originating from either

directly behind or in front of you.

THX Surround EX also ensures

you’ll enjoy

THX Surround EX gives you unprecedented 360° sound effects

A NEW DIMENSION IN HOME THEATER SURROUND SOUND

76

7.1 CHANNELS

Seven separate channels allow the TX-DS989’s THX-Surround EX to provide perfectly diffuse surroundsound. The addition of two synchronized surround backchannels facilitate fly-overs that pan seamlessly from frontto back, and also allow for unprecedented 360° soundeffects—in short, the ultimate “being there” experience.

6.1 CHANNELS

Building on the 5.1-channel setup, 6.1 systems add a singlerear channel. While in a home theater this alleviates someproblems associated with 5.1’s lack of rear surround sound,it also causes the single back channel to become a localizable point-source, and inhibits your ability to tellwhether sounds are coming from either the front or back.

5.1 CHANNELS

The most widely used multichannel digital surround format.Its five discrete channels, the left, center, and right in front,left and right surrounds, and the LFE channel (the “.1” of“5.1”), provide a substantial improvement over 4-channelsystems. However, the omission of surround back channelsprevents the sound direction from coming from above orbehind the listener.

THX ULTRA CERTIFICATIONTo earn the THX Ultra badge of

approval, the TX-DS989 underwent

a demanding series of quality and

performance tests to ensure you’ll have

all the essential elements needed for a

flawless transformation of the cinema

experience to your

home theater. For

example, to test the

receiver’s ability to

provide identical

power to each channel (a prerequisite

necessary for creating seamless

surround sound), all of the TX-DS989’s

seven channels were checked one by

one to ensure they could each deliver

equal power at a figure above 100

watts. Not an easy feat, but one the

TX-DS989’s 200 watts per channel

(into 6 ohms) passed flawlessly and

effortlessly. Other checks the

TX-DS989 passed with flying colors

were in the areas of frequency

response, distortion, and stability,

guaranteeing you of noise-free, full-

bandwidth, high current output in even

the largest home-entertainment rooms,

at nearly any volume level.

THX ULTRA ENHANCEMENTCIRCUITRYEver wonder why some movies that

sounded great in the cinema just don’t

sound right in your home? It’s because

movie soundtracks aren’t designed for

the smaller dimensions and acoustic

environment of the home. Movie sound-

tracks are mixed for big theaters that

have numerous speakers. Soundtracks

also incorporate a very high frequency

curve to cover the wide array of

distances between the speakers and

movie-goers. Transferred directly to

your home, these same soundtracks

may actually inhibit your system’s

ability to faithfully recreate the same

theater experience. To compensate for

these tonal and spatial differences, the

TX-DS989’s THX Ultra incorporates:

• Bass Management Electronic

Crossover™ to reproduce bass more

accurately. The circuit sends the

deepest and lowest bass signals

directly to a subwoofer, allowing you

to use smaller front speakers, and

enjoy greater dynamic range and

lower distortion.

• Re-Equalization™ to take the bright-

ness out of movie soundtracks and

restore their proper tonal balance.

• Timbre Matching™ to ensure the

tonal balance of all speakers matches,

so a Ferrari doesn’t sound like a

lawn mower when it hits the center

channel or a go-kart when it moves

to the surrounds.

• Adaptive Decorrelation™ to sense

monaural surround sounds and adjust

the time and phase between the

surround channels, so you’ll never

hear identical signals. You’ll also enjoy

a greater sense of spaciousness. (Not

applicable when THX Surround EX

is engaged.)

• Bass Peak Level Manager™ to adjust

the amount of bass output to match the

capability of your subwoofer, protecting

it from damaging bass surges.

• Loudspeaker Position Time

Synchronization™ to allow you to

digitally adjust the position of each

speaker for greater speaker location

flexibility, for the most accurate

reproduction of movies and music.

Our engineers have spent the past five

decades developing some of the best

amplifier designs in the industry. The

TX-DS989 is no exception. It exhibits many

of the same design principles employed in

high-end audiophile amps, including high-

current, ultrawide bandwidth power that uses

uncommonly low levels of negative feedback.

Measured specifications can’t begin to

describe the TX-DS989’s performance poten-

tial. But for those interested in the numbers,

it packs 7.1 channels of amplification, each

conservatively rated (an Onkyo tradition) at a

blistering 200 watts minimum of continuous

RMS power into 6 ohms, 2 channel driven

1 kHz (EIAJ)—to give you sound quality—and

this is no idle boast—that surpasses what

you’ll hear in virtually any cinema.

Why 7.1 channels? For the most accurate

THX Surround EX reproduction possible,

that’s why. Unlike other THX Surround EX

receivers, which offer only 5.1 channels of

amplification, Onkyo’s TX-DS989 allows you

to simultaneously drive, without an external

amplifier, two side surround speakers and

two back surround speakers, as Lucasfilm

recommends to achieve optimum results.

So you get:

1) More diffuse, enveloping sound

2) A larger “sweet spot”

3) More diffuse ambience (which is just as important for pure music reproduction as it is for movies)

4) Front and surround channels that integrate better with spatial effects,like thunder rumbling around the room

5) Smoother front-to-back pans—in short, home theater heaven

The TX-DS989’s construction is

absolutely state of the art. Under its

heavy-duty anti-resonant cover you’ll find

numerous high-end features. Like an

enormous custom-made toroidal trans-

former that is completely encased in a

thick-gauge steel “hat” to eliminate hum

and noise. Two gargantuan, almost

soda-can-size, 22,000-microFarad power-

supply capacitors (nearly three times the

capacitance of most five-channel amps)

guarantee you a steady supply of clean

power. First-class discrete output devices for

all channels ensure no channel information

is compromised. High-end bus bars link the

power supply and the output devices,

enabling the amp to respond more quickly

to changing dynamic demands. Heavy

glass-epoxy printed circuit (PC) boards,

populated by high-tolerance resistors,

minimize the possibility of noise. A clever

cooling systems that uses a super-silent,

two-speed micro boxer fan, activates only

under extended, extreme output and/or

high-temperature conditions. The chassis

is stamped from a single 1.6-millimeter

solid-steel sheet, as are the top and rear

wraparound panels. And a brushed,

anodized-aluminum front panel isn’t just a

cosmetic consideration; it helps ensure the

lasting solidity of the body construction.

For movie and music lovers who

demand the very best, the TX-DS989 is,

quite simply, it.

8

IF YOU CAN’T CLEARLY HEAR THE ADVANTAGES THE WORLD’S FIRST 7.1-CHANNEL RECEIVER DELIVERS, BETTER GET YOUR EARS CHECKED.

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7.1-CHANNEL MULTICHANNEL INPUTSLets you connect an additional external 7.1-channel or 5.1-channel decoder, for DVD-Audioor other future formats

RS232 CONTROL PORTFor software upgrades and complete integrationwith home media control systems, like Panja®

(AMX®/Phast®), Crestron®, and others

PRE AMP IN JACKS WITH LOOP BACKAllows you to connect an equalizer and adjustthe frequency response, for the most satisfyingreproduction from any source, in any type of room

LINE-LEVEL OUTPUTSFOR ALL 7.1 CHANNELSIn the unlikely event you need more power, letsyou upgrade the power of all channels via external amplifiers

4 AUDIO INPUTSLets you connect CD and MiniDisc players, tapedecks, turntables, etc.

2 DEDICATED LINE-LEVELSUBWOOFER PRE OUTSNeed more bass? Connect two subwoofers foreven greater low-frequency impact

2 S-VIDEO/2 COMPOSITE MONITOROUTPUTSUse one output for the highest-quality OSD-freesignal transfer to a large screen, and the other todisplay the OSD on a small, unobtrusive monitor

ZONE 2 MULTIROOM/MULTISOURCECAPABILITYAllows you to set up an additional system in another room, and control it with such A/V distribution control systems as Xantech®, Niles®, Russound®, and Sonance®, to name but a few

COMPLETE A/V CONNECTIVITYHook up such sources as a DVD player, HiFi or Digital VCR, Digital Satellite System (DSS), and second VCR or laserdisc player, for example

6 S-VIDEO INPUTS/3 OUTPUTSGet better picture quality from such high-resolution video sources as DVD, S-VHS and satellite TV

9 DIGITAL INPUTS/2 DIGITAL OUTPUTSIt’s a digital world, and the TX-DS989 lets you do it right—connect any variety of digital sources into its powerful digital processor

IEEE-1394 UPGRADABLEWhen you’re ready for IEEE-1394’s convenient universal digital connection, and high-speed, single-cable interface, so is the TX-DS989

3 COMPLETE SETS OF COMPONENTVIDEO INPUTS/1 OUTPUTGives you professional-grade, unaltered, wide-bandwidth video-signal transfer from a DVD player,DSS, HDTV set-top box, DTV decoder, or DigitalVCR, and out to an HDTV, or an additional monitor or projector

DUAL-BANANA-PLUG COMPATIBLETERMINALS FOR ALL 7 CHANNELSAllows you to use heavy-gauge speaker cable all around for more speaker options, and distortion-free signal transfer

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SEPARATE STANDBY ANDPOWER SWITCHESThe TX-DS989 is always ready to respond toremote control commands, or be turned off completely

THX SURROUND EX ™/ DTS ®/ DOLBY ®

DIGITAL / MPEG DECODERS BUILT INIncludes every decoder currently known to manfor the most advanced digital surround soundpossible

LUCASFILM THX ® ULTRA CERTIFIEDYour guarantee that this receiver is ready for themost accurate reproduction possible of movies in the home

REC OUT SELECTORLets you dub audio sources on video tapes (background music, for example), or record whilelistening to or watching different sources, or forsimulcast viewing/listening

ZONE 2 MULTIROOM/MULTISOURCESELECTORLets you play different sources simultaneously in other rooms

DSP SELECTORChoose between 50 DSP soundmodes and transform your home theater into practically any venue

BRUSHED ALUMINUM FRONT PANELThe thick aircraft-grade aluminum makes thisbeautiful, scratch-resistant panel practically bullet-proof, and increases overall chassis rigidity

LARGE, FLUORESCENT, 35-DOT-MATRIXDISPLAY WITH 4-MODE DIMMEREasy to read and use—dimmable so you canmatch the ambience of any room for maximumhome theater enjoyment

12 INPUT SELECTORSJust in case you want to turn your home into a major Hollywood studio

WRAT (WIDE RANGE AMPLIFIERTECHNOLOGY)For clean high-current power, a low amount ofNFB, and a flat response up to 100 kHz—neces-sary for accurate DVD-Audio and SACD playback

MENU AND PARAMETER SELECTORSHave an aversion to onscreen displays? Program and control all of the TX-DS989’snumerous parameters and settings directly from the front panel

SOLID ALUMINUM VOLUME KNOBQuality you can feel—ergonomically pleasing and convenient for those quick, in-the-dark level changes

MOTORIZED CONTROL DOORSlides down instead of opening out to accommodate cabinets and tight custom installations

POWERFUL BACKLIT LEARNINGREMOTE CONTROL WITH MACROFUNCTIONS AND LCDYou can program up to 16 operations into a single button—also “learns” the control codes of other remotes, and is simple to use and see, with an easy-to-read LCD and bright backlit keys

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7.1 CHANNEL DIGITAL HOME THEATER RECEIVER WITH THX SURROUND EX™

TX-DS989

16

PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY

When it came to designing the

TX-DS989, we didn’t leave anything

out. It represents our greatest effort ever to

create the most technologically advanced

home cinema centerpiece you can own.

Whether it’s movies or music, the TX-DS989

delivers performance that will say something

about you: you’re passionate about great

performance. This is the technological

expertise behind your ticket to the best seat

in the house.

WIDE RANGE AMPLIFIER TECHNOLOGY (WRAT)To enjoy the full sonic benefits from such

high-resolution formats as DVD Audio and

Super Audio CD (SACD), you need an

amplifier capable of a flat frequency response

that extends to 100 kHz. Others may achieve

this bandwidth, but few can maintain

excellent characteristics for other critical

performance criteria—particularly the

dynamic signal-to-noise ratio. Three Onkyo

circuit design refinements—collectively called

WRAT—set the TX-DS989 apart from others:

1. Low Negative Feedback DesignTypical amplifiers, to improve static frequency

response and distortion-ratio characteristics,

return part of the output signal to the ampli-

fier input via a negative feedback (NFB)

circuit that has a gain characteristic. When

these amplifiers drive speakers, a counter-

electromagnetic force is generated in the

speakers, which returns to the amplifier

input via the speaker cable, output terminal

and NFB circuit. If the amount of NFB is

large (i.e., if the NFB circuit has high gain),

the amount of counter-electromagnetic force

that reaches the amplifier from the speaker

will be great, and will disrupt the drive

mechanism of the amplifier, and adversely

influence its transient response.

Our engineers avoid this by improving

the open-loop frequency response (i.e., before

application of NFB) of the amplifier, and

problem with a component and PCB layout

that are carefully designed so that the earth

circuit branches form closed loops, and are

all connected to a common point. This

prevents spurious current flow between

different ground points, and effectively

eliminates fluctuations in ground potential.

3. High Instantaneous CurrentCapability (HICC)

Typical audio signals are not simple varying

voltages. They are extremely complex, and

consist of a wide range of frequencies and

amplitude levels. When an amplifier outputs

such a signal to a loudspeaker, the loud-

speaker’s diaphragm and crossover networks

accumulate energy. When this accumulated

energy’s flow direction is out of sync with

the energy-flow direction from the amplifier,

the amplifier must be able to supply large

amounts of instantaneous current to cancel

it out. Speaker impedance can also become

very low for brief periods, which requires the

amplifier to supply large amounts of current.

As you might expect from a leader in

amplifier design, the

instantaneous current

capability of Onkyo’s

WRAT amplifiers is

far better than that

of conventional

amplifiers with

comparable power

output, and also

offers better speaker

control capacity.

reducing the amount of NFB to a level at

which the influence of the counter electro-

magnetic force from the speakers on the

performance of the amplifier becomes

negligible. The result is an extremely broad

open-loop frequency, and extremely low

distortion across the entire frequency range.

2. Elimination of GroundPotential Fluctuations

The signal amplitude at any point in the

circuit is the difference in potential between

the signal level and its associated ground

level. If the ground potential fluctuates, even

minutely, due to the presence of electrical

noise, the amplifier will not have a stable

reference point, and will not be able to

reproduce the signal from the input source

accurately. This leads to audible noise, which

adversely affects dynamics, musicality, sound-

imaging accuracy, sound stage and depth.

Conventional amplifiers employ a vari-

ety of techniques to prevent external factors

from influencing the ground potential in the

amplifier. One common method is an open-

loop earth configuration, with the ground for

the circuit spread over a large area. But this

leaves many places where noise can be

superimposed onto the ground potential and

cause it to fluctuate. In addition, fluctuations

in the ground potential in one channel influ-

ence the ground potential of other channels.

At Onkyo, our engineers have gone

one step further by focusing on the fact that

when amplifiers operate with a transient

signal, they actually cause the ground

potential to fluctuate themselves. The

TX-DS989’s WRAT design solves this

1918

Our philosophy is simply not to mess

with the signal (or your music and sound-

tracks.) No shortcuts. The

TX-DS989 employs a non-

scaled circuit design that fully

converts all the signals to analog

before the LFE is added to the

front channels. This eliminates

the need for scaling altogether,

and preserves every bit of the original digital

data. Though this design is more expensive

and difficult to implement, we think it’s an

Onkyo design difference you’ll hear, and a

shortcut you’ll be glad we didn’t take.

HDTV READYUnlike competitors, which don’t go up to

even 30 MHz, the TX-DS989’s professional-

grade Maxim® video switching can transfer

component video signals at 40 MHz (-3 dB)—

so you’re ready for not only HDTV, but any

system capable of high-grade, wide-band-

width picture output.

192kHZ/24-BIT AKM DACs FORALL CHANNELSIf you want the best

performance possible

from DVD-Audio,

ALL-CHANNEL IDENTICAL AMPLIFIER DESIGNSeven independent, powerful, identically

designed amplifiers (so no channel information

is compromised) give you enough clean power

to effortlessly handle low-impedance loads

that would make lesser amps balk, and fill

even large entertainment rooms with high-

impact, top-class cinema

sound.

AUDIOPHILE-GRADE PARTSThe massive toroidal

power transformer,

with secondary

windings and

independent

ground connections

to isolate each channel

from crosstalk and AC-line interference, is

the kind you find

in high-end audio

equipment. Huge

custom-designed

Audio Tuned

Reference capacitors

give you greater

power delivery at

low frequencies, plus tremendous continuous

power reserves during the most dynamic

sound effects and

music demands. For

hi-fi purists, large

multi-emitter output

transistors provide

faster switching speed,

which translates into a

wider dynamic range.

OPTIMUM GAIN VOLUME CIRCUITRYYour amplifier volume control works some-

what like an engine throttle. Push the gas

pedal, and the throttle opens to let through

a flow of more gasoline. Likewise, turn up

the volume, and the attenuator “opens” to

let through a flow of more output.

While attenuation is a convenient way

to control volume, too much attenuation

can adversely affect sound quality—and

conventional amplifiers require large amounts

of attenuation to produce normal listening

levels. For example, to produce the IHF-A202

international standard (0.5 volts input yields a

1 watt speaker output), 30 dB of attenuation

is needed—an amount that drops the signal

dangerously close to the noise floor.

You don’t want your signal to go to the

noise floor. Because once there, it gets tainted

with a small quantity of distortion, which

becomes magnified through amplification.

The result, when measured under IHF

international standard test conditions, yields

an S/N ratio of between 80 and 85 dB. In

contrast, the TX-DS989’s Optimum Gain

Volume Circuitry achieves an S/N ratio in

excess of 100 dB. The secret? Intelligent

optimization of the gain balance.

It should be noted that S/N ratio values

quoted by other manufacturers are measured

under conditions that are nothing like typical

listening conditions. Their numbers actually

come from measurements taken at much

higher volume levels, where little attenuation

is needed—no where near the noise floor. The

TX-DS989’s Optimum Gain Volume Circuitry

gives you a significant improvement in S/N

ratio under realworld conditions—especially

at low volume levels where it really counts.

NON-SCALING CONFIGURATIONIf you already own a Dolby Digital receiver,

you can choose to send the Low Frequency

Effect signal (LFE) to the front left and

right speakers instead of to the subwoofer.

This flexibility is provided by all manufactur-

ers for the benefit of people who do not own

a subwoofer, and for users who own high-

performance front speakers and feel that

with certain music or soundtracks, their

front speakers can

reproduce the LFE

signal better than

their subwoofer can.

Given the ease

with which digital

signals can be handled, it is perhaps unsur-

prising that nearly all manufacturers of Dolby

Digital receivers opt for a shortcut here;

they add the 24-bit LFE to the front speak-

er signals before the LFE are converted to

analog. The price you pay for their conve-

nience is data scaling. To avoid the possibili-

ty of overflow (the result of the added digital

values exceeding 24 bits), this approach

requires that one bit of music or soundtrack

data be truncated off each data-word before

they are added.

Super Audio

CD (SACD) and

any other upcoming

high-resolution format,

you’ll want these ultra-precise

converters. Widely recognized as

the industry’s best, the sophisticated AKM

converters process more information faster,

deliver a 120 dB dynamic range, and are

virtually jitter-free.

EVERY MAINSTREAM FORMATKNOWN TO MANMaybe you thought the day would

never arrive, but it’s here—THX

Ultra, Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Pro

Logic, MPEG, even THX Surround

EX decoding—all in one unit. Better

still, with its powerful 4 MB

Flash Memory and software-

downloadable design,

you can upgrade

anytime—a crucial

feature in today’s fast-

changing digital world.

DIGITAL UPSAMPLING As the first receiver to incorporate

192kHz/24-bit DACs for all channels, the

TX-DS989 can

take a 48 kHz digital

signal and double its

sampling frequency to 96 kHz,

to glean nearly twice as much

signal information—which means

greater detail and clarity from all your regular

CDs and two-channel analog sources.

MULTIWAY BINDING-POST SPEAKER TERMINALSIf you’re investing in a receiver of this caliber,

you probably have high-performance

speakers to match. That’s why we included

heavy-duty, multiway speaker binding posts

for all channels. They give you loss-free

speaker connection, and can accommodate

heavy-gauge, high-quality

speaker cable. Unlike

many others, even the

center speaker posts are

dual-banana-plug

compatible for quick and

easy cable connection.

DETACHABLE HEAVY-GAUGE POWER CORDDesigned to minimize interference from

external sources, the thick, heavy-duty,

internationally approved IEC power cord has

low-resistance copper

strands to enhance

power-supply stability.

You can also unplug

it from the back of

TX-DS989 for installation ease.

20

Despite being one of the most

sophisticated receivers ever built, the

TX-DS989 is exceedingly easy to use. You

don’t even have to take it out of the box; it

unpacks itself. (Not really. We’re exaggerating

here.) Okay—you do have to tell it a few

things through the well-thought out onscreen

menus. Just as impressive as its operation ease

is its future-proof design. If you can imagine

it, the TX-DS989 can probably do it.

READY TO GROW WITH YOUWhy would someone lay down hard cash for

a product that may soon become obsolete?

Unlike any other receiver, your TX-DS989

is software upgradable via its bi-

directional RS232 port—so you can

easily and economically incorporate

decoding enhancements yet to come.

FOR CONTROL FREAKSThe RS232 port provides an even more pow-

erful controller option—easy interface with

touchscreen controllers from Panja® (AMX/

Phast), Crestron®, and other manufacturers to

integrate extensive home-automation control.

This might include lighting, security, HVAC

and more. Most touchscreens feature graphical

interfaces that are fully configurable by system

designers using a PC program. A new system’s

entire command structure can be developed

on the system-designer’s PC, then downloaded

to your custom installation from a laptop

computer. The whole-house media

possibilities are almost endless.

IEEE-1394 UPGRADABLEIt’s here, just in case you want a versatile,

digital high-speed, single-cable way to easily

connect multiple A/V devices from multiple

brands in multiple rooms.

MULTI-ZONE OPERATIONOthers may claim multiroom/multisource

capability. But very few indeed give you a

full set of line outs for audio,

composite video and S-Video.

So you can actually enjoy a film in your the-

ater while elsewhere in the house, someone

watches, say, a video, or listens to a CD. You

can also record while listening to or watching

different sources.

And with optional

accessories from

either Onkyo or other manufacturers

(Xantech®, Niles®, Russound®, Sonance®,

for instance), you can even operate from

another room your main room other-brand

components, such as a DVD player or VCR,

plus control the TX-DS989 while it’s hidden

inside a cabinet.

EASY EVERYDAY USEDirect-access input buttons on both the

remote and front panel mean you don’t have

to scroll through endless menus just to play

your DVDs, CDs, videotapes or other

sources. And to take the guesswork out of

what format to choose, or what input to use,

your TX-DS989 will automatically switch to

the proper coaxial/optical digital or analog

input, detect the audio or surround-sound

format on your DVD, CD or laserdisc, and

engage it for accurate playback. Best of all,

when you select a source, it remembers the

surround mode, speaker configuration and

output levels you entered during the configu-

ration process for that source—so you can

just hit a button, sit back and enjoy the show.

39 INPUTS AND 17 OUTPUTSOne look at the rear panel will tell you this

is no ordinary receiver. In addition to 7.1

multichannel inputs to connect DVD-Audio

and Super Audio CD players, you get nine

digital inputs, eight of which are assignable,

for connecting a digital TV (DTV), including

digital broadcast satellite (DBS) and other

digital set-top gear, a DVD, CD and/or LD

player, a digital VCR...the list goes on. Two

digital outputs allow you to make direct digital

dubs to digital devices like a DVD

recorder (yes, recorder), CD-R/

RW, MiniDisc and DAT decks.

If you want to shake up large

audiences in large rooms,

connect two subwoofers. And

in the highly unlikely event you

need even more power, there are main-in jacks

for each channel to plug in external amplifiers.

3 COMPONENT VIDEO INPUTSDVD looks wonderful through an S-Video

connection. But to videophiles, component

video simply looks stunning. This is one of the

few A/V receivers that can switch component-

video signals, the

highest-quality

picture signal you can get from DVD players

and set-top DTV decoder boxes. With a rated

40-MHz bandwidth, these component-video

connections can also carry HDTV signals

that are in analog component format, and

handle progressive-scan DVD.

ENTERTAIN IN THE DARK?You won’t press the wrong button. Bright and

smart, the TX-DS989’s “learning” remote is a

compact, easy-to-use component in its

own right, packed with very advanced

technology. You can “teach” it to

control virtually any brand of

component in your A/V system,

and program it with custom

macro routines to execute

sequences of up to 16 commands

with a single keystroke. All of which makes

it very simple to operate in broad daylight.

MOTORIZED DOORThe motorized door

slides down, rather

than out, making the

TX-DS989 a perfect fit

for cabinets and in tight

custom installations.

PREMIUM USER INTERFACE

RS232 Port

2322

DSP DONE RIGHTSome manufacturers produce different

digital signal processing (DSP) modes by

changing the reverberation sound, adding

many variations just to increase the total

number of modes. Many of these modes

have a profusion of echoes coming from the

surround speakers, creating an unnatural

soundstage. What you end up with is a glut

of superfluous, seldom-used, gimmicky DSP

modes, put on the spec sheet in an attempt

to be more competitive on the sales floor.

Enter Onkyo DSP. Our engineers,

many of whom are trained musicians, stayed

dedicated to one audio objective: psycho-

acoustically accurate, natural effects that

match the music source. Based on solid

research into the physical properties of

venue acoustics and the way humans

perceive sound, the TX-DS989’s proprietary

algorithms are far from marketing gimmicks.

They provide you with extraordinary

tweaking flexibility—no less than 50 digital

signal processing options—so you can

enhance the way individual recordings

sound on your particular system, and have

more control over factors exclusive to the

acoustic fingerprint of your home theater.

SIMPLE ONSCREEN MENUSHome theater receivers are loaded with

features. But getting to the ones you want

and adjusting them can be quite a chore.

That’s why we designed our NTSC/PAL

compatible onscreen displays to be as

uncomplicated as possible. A choice of

menus in seven colors make navigating

through functions a breeze. A superimpose

mode lets you easily see the onscreen

display over your TV picture. You can even

move the display to different positions on

your TV screen. Or remove it completely,

by routing the OSD signal to a small

monitor through the Monitor 2 output. That

way you can make adjustments without

distracting your audience.

Amplifier SectionPower Output

at 6 ohms 200 W/ch (1 kHz, EIAJ)Dynamic Power(Calculated on basis of IHF dynamic headroom)

3 Ω (front) 2 x 300 W/ch4 Ω (front) 2 x 230 W/ch8 Ω (front) 2 x 150 W/ch

Total Harmonic Distortion 0.05 % at rated power 0.05 % at 1 W output

Frequency Response (CD in, Direct mode) 20 Hz-30 kHz: ± 1dB5 Hz-100 kHz: + 1dB, - 3 dB

RIAA Deviation 20 Hz-20.000 Hz: ± 0.8dBSignal-to-Noise Ratio

Phono 80 dB (IHF-A, 5 mV input)CD/TAPE 100 dB (IHF-A, 0.5 V input)

Phono Overload (1 kHz, 0.5 % THD) 110 mV RMS.IM Distortion 0.08 % at rated power

0.08 % at 1 W output Damping Factor 60 at 8 ΩInput Sensitivity and Impedance

PHONO 2.5 mV, 50 kΩLINE (CD, TAPE-1, 2, DVD, VIDEO-1, 2, 3, 4, 5) 200 mV, 50 kΩMULTI CH INPUT (Via DB-25)FRONT L/C/R, SURROUND L/R, SURROUND Back L/R 200 mV, 50 kΩSUBWOOFER 36 mV, 50 kΩAMP IN (FRONT L/C/R) 1 V, 50 kΩCOAXIAL-1, 2, 3, 4, 5 0.5 Vp-p, 75 ΩDVD, VIDEO-1, 2, 3, 4, 5 1 Vp-p, 75 Ω

(Y) 1 Vp-p, 75 Ω(C) 0.28 Vp-p, 75 Ω

COMPONENT VIDEO IN-1, 2, 3 (Y) 1 Vp-p, 75 Ω(Cb, Cr) 0.7 Vp-p, 75 Ω

Output Level and ImpedanceRec out (TAPE-1, 2, VIDEO-1, 2) 200 mV, 2.2 kΩPre out 1 V, 470 ΩZONE 2 OUT 100 mV, 470 ΩVIDEO (VIDEO-1, 2, MONI-1, 2, ZONE 2) 1 Vp-p, 75 Ω

(Y) 1 Vp-p, 75 Ω(C) 0.28 Vp-p, 75 Ω

COMPONENT VIDEO OUT (Y) 1 Vp-p, 75 Ω(Cb, Cr) 0.7 Vp-p, 75 Ω

Tone ControlBASS ± 10 dB at 100 HzTREBLE ± 10 dB at 10 kHz

Muting - 50dB

Tuner SectionTuning Range FM 87.50 to 108.00 MHz (50 kHz steps)

AM 531 to 1602 kHz (9 kHz steps)Usable Sensitivity

FM Mono 11.2 dBf, 1.0 µV (75 Ω IHF)0.9 µV (75 Ω DIN)

FM Stereo 17.2 dBf, 2.0 µV (75 Ω IHF)23 µV (75 Ω DIN)

AM 30 µV 50 dB Quieting Sensitivity

FM Mono 17.2 dBf, 2.0 µV (75 Ω )FM Stereo 37.2 dBf, 20.0 µV (75 Ω )

FM Capture Ratio 2.0 dB Image Rejection Ratio

FM 85 dBAM 40 dB

IF Rejection RatioFM 90 dBAM 40 dB

Signal-to-Noise RatioFM Mono 76 dB, IHFFM Stereo 70 dB, IHFAM 40 dB

FM Mono Altemate Channel Attenuation 55 dB, IHFFM Selectivity 50 dB, DIN AM Suppression Ratio (FM) 50 dBHarmonic Distortion

FM Mono 0.2 %FM Stereo 0.3 %AM 0.7 %

FM Frequency Response 30 to 15.000 Hz (± 1.0 dB)FM Stereo Separation 45 dB at 1 kHz

30 dB at 100 Hz-10 kHzFM Stereo Threshold 17.2 dBf, 2.0 µV (75 Ω )Antennas FM 75 Ω unbalanced

AM Included loop antenna and external terminal

GeneralDimensions (W x H x D) 435 x 196 x 451 mm

17-1/8˝ x 7-11/16˝ x 17-3/4˝Weight 22 kg /48.5 lbs.

HomeTheaterFeatures

Inputs

Outputs

TunerFeatures

OtherFeatures

Construction

Control

SpecialFlexibilityFeatures

AmplifierDesign

Backlit Learning Remote with Macros & LCD

7.1-Channel Amplifier

192kHz/24-Bit DACs for All Channels

Wide Range Amplifier Technology (WRAT)

Optimum Gain Volume Circuitry

Extended Frequency Response 5Hz-100kHzFull-Bandwidth Power to All 7 Channels

High-Current Low-Impedance 6-Ohm Drive

Oversized Custom-Built ATR Capacitors

“Fine Gold” Electrolytic Coupling Capacitors

Fully Discrete Output Stages

Dual-Banana-Plug Compatible Terminals

High-Quality Aluminum-Extruded Heat Sinks

Massive Toroidal Power Transformer

Extremely Thick Bus Bars and Ground Plate

Separate Standby and Power Switches

Super-Silent Auto-Switched Cooling Fan 2-Speed Auto-Protect Circuitry

Future-Proof Interface Architecture

RS232 Control Port

Zone 2 Multiroom/Multisource Capability

IEEE-1394 Upgradable

Listening Mode Input Memory

THX Surround EX™ Built In

Lucasfilm THX® Ultra Certified

DTS® Decoder

Dolby® Digital Decoder

Dolby® Pro Logic™ Decoder

MPEG Decoder

Digital Upsampling Mode

A/V Sync Delay

Non-Scaling Configuration

DSP Soundmodes 50Theater-Dimensional™ Virtual Surround

Mono Movie Mode

Academy Filter

All-Channel Stereo

Surround Speaker Selection Mode

Front Effect Function

Late Night Mode

Onscreen Displays

Extensive Bass Management Circuitry

Adjustable Reflect, Reverb Level & Room Size

Automatic Signal Detection

Multichannel Inputs 7.1Selectable Character-Display Input

Amp-In Jacks with Loop Back 3Digital Inputs 9Professional-Grade Video Switching Amp (Maxim®) Component-Video Inputs 3S-Video Inputs 6A/V Inputs 6Audio Inputs 3Phono Input 1

Pre Out 8Pre-Main Couplers for Front L/R/C 3Digital Outputs 2Component-Video Output 1S-Video Outputs (2 Monitor Out) 5Dedicated Line-Level Subwoofer Pre Outs 2

Outstanding Selectivity and Sensitivity

FM/AM Random Presets 40FM Auto Tuning

FM/Cable TV Simulcast Recording/Playback

75-Ohm Antenna Input

Supplied AM and FM Antennas

HDTV Ready

Full Tape and VCR Input/Output Loops

Parameter Selector and Lock

Rec Out Selector

IntelliVolume

Precision Digital Speed-Sensitive VolumeControl

Absolute/Relative Switchable Volume Display

Separate PC (Printed Circuit) Boards

Headphone Jack

Bright Fluorescent 35-DotMatrix Display

Display Dimmer 4-ModeAudio Mute

Sleep Timer

Battery-Free Memory Backup

Detachable Heavy-Duty Power Cord

Switched AC Convenience Outlets 2Large Non-Resonant Feet

Anti-Resonant Reinforced-Steel Chassis

Vibration-Resistant Cover

Motorized Control Door

Brushed Aluminum Front Panel

TX-DS989 FEATURESSPECIFICATIONS