I recently upgraded from a Yamaha RX-A3080 to the Onkyo TX-RZ70, primarily for its extensive HDMI 2.1 support. My journey to this unit wasn’t straightforward—I initially tried the Sony AZ5000ES, which came highly recommended for its 360SSM feature. While the sound field was impressive, the Sony had too many quality issues. The unit kept making noises when switching inputs and bizarrely struggled with eARC on my Sony TV. After returning it, I decided to give the Onkyo TX-RZ70 a shot, and I couldn’t be happier with my decision.
First off, this unit is a beast—nearly 50lb of pure, sturdy craftsmanship. Lifting it into place was a workout in itself, but once installed, its weight became a testament to its build quality. The TX-RZ70 is built like a tank—no vibrations, just pristine audio. It feels solid and well-engineered, making it clear that Onkyo put serious thought into the design and construction.
In terms of performance, the Onkyo TX-RZ70 is unmatched. The HDMI 2.1 connections are abundant and work flawlessly, making it perfect for the modern home theater setup. The HDMI eARC handshake with my Sony A95L was seamless, which was a relief after my experience with the Sony AZ5000ES. The included Dirac Live room correction is exceptional—much better than the YPAO I was accustomed to with Yamaha. I used the Mac app for setup, which I highly recommend, and the results were astounding. My PS5 and Xbox games have never looked better, with buttery smooth 120fps, and movies sound more immersive than ever. The audio is spacious, detailed, and gives a sense of presence that makes you feel like you’re right in the middle of the action.
However, it’s not all perfect. The design of the TX-RZ70 is quite plain—there’s nothing visually impressive about it, so it’s best kept inside a cabinet. The menus are also a pain to navigate; they are not user-friendly at all, and many controls are disabled in certain modes. For example, tone controls are unavailable when Dirac is engaged, which can be frustrating if you’re trying to tweak vocal clarity or bass levels. Setup is also quite complex and might be overwhelming for those not familiar with advanced AV systems.
Despite these minor drawbacks, the TX-RZ70 delivers sound quality that is nothing short of nirvana. Auro 3D is mind-blowing, and having Dirac at this price point is simply unbeatable. The Class AB amplification sounds phenomenal—so much so that I had to lower the volume considerably to maintain NAF (Neighbor Acceptance Factor). Initially, I struggled with vocal clarity due to the limitations on tone controls, but after some adjustments—turning up the center channel and lowering others—I achieved the clarity I was looking for.
The value of the Onkyo TX-RZ70 is simply unmatched. It’s THX certified, comes with Dirac Live, Auro 3D, and supports IMAX Enhanced, Dolby Vision/Atmos, DTS:X, and more! I strongly recommend using the Mac app for Dirac (it’s free) and investing in a UMIK calibration microphone to truly optimize your setup. The sound quality, feature set, and performance you get at this price point make it an easy recommendation for anyone serious about their home theater experience.
Verdict: If you’re looking for a receiver that delivers top-tier audio and future-proof HDMI capabilities, the Onkyo TX-RZ70 is a fantastic choice. It might require some patience during setup, but the payoff is absolutely worth it.

Sound quality is amazing out of the box with a 7.2.4 system, even without DIRAC calibration (at least for now). Video output to tv is at the full 120hz for both xbox series x and ps5, and EARC actually works with no issues (at least not at this point.) Build quality is phenomenal ans setup is a breeze with the receiver’s OSD. I originally upgraded from the RZ50 because there was no need for a secondary amp to drive the additional speakers, but i found the sound quality to be even better. I am absolutely thrilled with this receiver.