RDC-7 Upgrade Information...

[ton1313]

I spoke with Customer Support at Onkyo/Integra, and they said that information on the upgrade will be posted in April. They would not elaborate on price or what is involved, just that it will be published in April


Cheers.

[gladelson]

Sorry to be so dense, but what upgrade are we talking about here?

[Burke Strickland]

Welcome to both of you to Club Integra and the HT Guide! Good info (thanks for sharing) and good question (thanks for asking)...

Although the specifics won't be known for sure until the official announcement, this next upgrade could involve the IEEE 1394 (aka Firewire) ports for digital connection with DVD-Audio, and software updates including possible upgrade to THX Ultra 2, HDCD decoding and (I hope) more flexible bass management options than just the original THX-standard 80 hz crossover point. It may require return of the unit to the factory or an "authorized service center" (aka local authorized dealer where you bought it) for some hardware mods as well as the software updates. Again, all of that is speculation (based on preliminary discussions with knowledgable insiders over the past few months before anything was "cast in concrete"), but it is probably going to be SOMETHING like that... looks like we'll all know sometime in April.

Burke

[Steve Goff]

Elsewhere I've read that this will not be the firewire upgrade, but THX Ultra 2, 24/96 DTS, and some other unspecified surround mode, perhaps the Cirrus seven channel mode first to be introduced in the Outlaw 950.




Steve Goff

[Clive]

Does anyone know if a production run of the RDC-7 with the upgrades will happen anytime soon?




CLIVE




HEY!! Why buy movie tickets when you can own a Theater?

[Burke Strickland]

Last time, (for the Dolby Prologic II, discrete DTS-ES, et al, upgrade introduced July 2001), the production units began to include the upgraded features at the same time the upgrade kits were made available (starting to be delivered) to owners of previous units. So I'd be willing to bet that new units will NOT have the upcoming upgrade features at least until April. :>) I would also presume that these new upgrade features will be standard features in new units from that point on...

Burke

[FMRBMW]

First Time on this forum - Looks great so far. I just ordered my new RDC - 7 and it should arrive in two weeks. I was told by the dealer that nothing new was coming out yet. So i'am very interested in hearing about these new upgrades. The good thing is that it can be upgraded - big reason i spent the extra money - the fact that it sounded good helped. Some questions:
!. What balanced amps have been tryed out there?

2. Which cables (Digtal) and power cord replacements work good.

3. Looking to getting a good dvd player in the 1k - 1.5k range any suggestions.

I'am sure once i get the unit i'll have more.

FMRBMW

[Steve Goff]

Actually, the RDC-7 power cord is a very good OFC unit.




Steve Goff

[FMRBMW]

Thanks Steve - its one less thing i have to buy.

[ton1313]

The message below is from Pilot20 @ AVSforum.com

Following is an email response that I received from Onkyo regarding a pending hardware upgrade for the RDC-7.


"We are working on THX Ultra 2 and DTS 96/24. This will be a hardware change that will require the unit to be sent to 1 of the 4 locations that we choose to do the upgrade. The price will be in the $500 range with an introductory offer that will be less. There will also be a few added features like an adjustable sub output 80 ,100 ,120hz.
That is all I have on the upgrade so far. We should know more within the
month."

This should be good news for those who wanted more bass management flexibility

[Razvan]

$500 for the upgrade is insane. I wonder if the MSRP for an upgraded RDC-7 will continue to be $4000. If that's the case then Onkyo is basically screwing the early RDC-7 buyers.

The MSRP of the upgraded Anthem AVM 20 will be $500 more than its original price so at least Anthem is playing it fair.

Razvan

[jakermc]

This should be good news for those who wanted more bass management flexibility

I hope thats not the improvement for bass management that is really planned since this helps very few people. Most people want greater flexibility below 80hz, not above it. Who buys a $4000 pre-amp and mates it with speakers that require a cross-over above 80hz? Personally, I would rather have the ability to cross my main L+R over at 40hz and the center and rears at 80hz - simultaneously.

[Burke Strickland]

1) Overall upgrade: Given what we know so far, $500 does seem like a lot of money for the upgrade, especially since the first one was an order of magnitude less expensive. When you consider that a very nice receiver can be had for that amount, it seems even more out of whack -- but the receiver would NOT be THX Ultra2 certified and wouldn't have the exhalted performance we have learned to love with our RDC-7s.

Whether that price tag is truly "insane", or whether it is actually reasonable (or by a stretch, even a bargain) depends entirely on what is actually offered in the upgrade and what hardware modifications are involved. Somehow, to justify that price, and with the inconvenience of having to ship the unit someplace as yet unspecified, it seems to me that as a minimum:

a) the upgrade had damned well better include the IEEE 1394 ports. I just can’t fathom sending the unit in twice for hardware mods that are “in the pipe”, at least in terms of our awareness of stated "future plans". (Seems the ports could be added even if the driving software has to be configured later);

b) the modifications for THX Ultra2 must include additional processing chips (the unit currently has two) and,

c) DACs must be upgraded to super-extreme-high-quality levels ala the Theta top-level DACs all around (for all channels not just the front main channels).

2) It also seems that given the nature of the items being added, that they could split the upgrade into a hardware upgrade for those wanting the very highest level of performance, and a LOW-COST software upgrade that would add features already within the latent processing capacity of the existing units (such as expanded bass management options).

3) Bass management -- actually to be of greatest service to all its owners, the revised bass management scheme should allow independently selectable (front main, center, rear surround, side surround) crossover points above and below 80 hz. For example, my Magnepan center (not a low-budget "cheapie" by any means) sounds wonderful, but does not go down to 80 hz, so an x-over ABOVE 80 hz is needed for it. But my Magnepan mains go well below 80 hz and an x-over down to 40 hz would suit them just fine. I'd rather be able to do all the bass management within the RDC-7 than to have to buy an Outlaw ICBM, for example, to handle the job.

4) Since all the "news" so far regarding this pending upgrade has been speculation (even when reportedly from sources within Onkyo/Integra/Integra Research itself) I hope no one gets TOO worked up about this until we have the official details in hand! (And even then, I hope no one does anything they'd regret later.) :>)

Burke

PS – Personally, I couldn’t care less about 24/96 DTS, especially after playing around with DTS Neo, nor "other unspecified surround modes" (not even if it is Lexicon's Logic 7). If THAT is what is driving an expensive hardware retro-fit, then the plan really needs to be thought through again – or the rationale in terms of what is actually gained in real performance and in setting the stage for future functionality needs to be very well explained and cost justified… actually that needs to be spelled out anyway when the official announcement is made.

[Burke Strickland]

Keep an eye out for the "announcment" soon -- the Integra Research site (as well as the Onkyo USA site and the Integra Home Theater site) is "down" -- which is what happened just before the last upgrade announcement was posted.

OTOH, it may just mean the sites are all on the same server and it crashed. :>)

Burke

[Burke Strickland]

Well the server is back up and the site has no new info -- so the waiting game for info continues... :<(

Burke

[ton1313]

I spoke with them today, they said late May/early June. Also no info available, only that it requires a hardware upgrade.

[Burke Strickland]

I received this word in an e-mail this morning from Lincoln Palmer, Product Manger for Onkyo/Integra:

We should have the announcements up on the websites this week, you will see
the info and pricing there.

Burke

[Steve Goff]

Thanks, Burke, I'll be looking for the announcement.

Steve




Steve Goff

[Burke Strickland]

Sitting here at 4:30 PM (Central Daylight Time) on Friday, having just checked the sites for Onkyo USA, Integra Home Theater and Integra Research, I'm skeptical that we are going to see an announcment this week...

Burke