Onkyo A-9000R Stereo Integrated Amplifier

Onkyo A-9000R Integrated Stereo Amplifier

Elite Integrated Amp Brings Your Music to Life

Please click on product information PDF for full Specifications.

Built to exacting standards by—and for—genuine music lovers, the A-9000R offers a unique combination of performance and versatility. As one of Onkyo’s new Reference series hi-fi components, the A-9000R shares an advanced design DNA with its sibling models. Like the M-5000R power amp, it includes AWRAT, quad push-pull amplification, and three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry. And like the P-3000R pre-amp, it features Amphenol AES/EBU digital connectors and employs asynchronous signal transfer over USB to support pristine playback of HD audio. On top of this, the A-9000R also incorporates separate 192 kHz/24-bit Wolfson® DACs for L/R channels, a noise-reducing DIDRC sound module, and a low-vibration chassis to minimize interference and preserve signal quality. But what sets this unit apart is its ability to be configured in any of four different amplifier modes, depending on how you want to integrate it with your other hi-fi gear. It’s that kind of versatility, married to high-end build quality, that makes the A-9000R an extremely appealing choice for the audiophile.

Features

140 W/Ch at 4 Ω, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.05%, 2 Channels

Driven, IEC

AWRAT (Advanced Wide Range Amplifier

Technology)

DIDRC (Dynamic Intermodulation Distortion

Reduction Circuitry)

Quad Push-Pull Amplification Design with Three-

Stage Inverted Darlington Circuitry

192 kHz/24-Bit HD Audio Playback via USB

(Asynchronous Transfer)

Separate Anti-Vibration Aluminum Panels for Top,

Front, and Sides

New Circuit Board Construction with Internal

Struts to Reduce Vibration

Symmetrical Layout of L/R Channels

Separate Wolfson® 192 kHz/24-Bit DACs

(WM8742 x 2) for L/R Channels

Four Large 18,000 μF Capacitors

1.2 mm-Thick Copper Bus Plate for Perfect

Grounding

Four Amplifier Modes (Integrated Amp, Power Amp,

Pre-Amp, Split Pre-Amp/Power Amp)

4 Digital Audio Inputs (1 Amphenol AES/EBU,

1 Optical, and 2 Coaxial)

3 Analog Audio Inputs and 1 Output

Main-In Terminal

Audio L/R Pre-Out

Machined, Gold-Plated RCA and Phono Terminals

Customized, Gold-Plated, Banana Plug-Compatible

Speaker Posts

Independent Headphone Amplifier

Discrete Phono Equalizer (MM/MC)

Speaker A/B Drive

AWRAT (Advanced Wide Range Amplifier

Technology)

The A-9000R employs a host of proprietary Onkyo

technologies to ensure optimal audio performance.

1. DIDRC (Dynamic Intermodulation Distortion Reduction Circuitry)

Despite being beyond the normal range of human hearing,

frequencies above 100 kHz are susceptible to clock pulse and other

forms of distortion from digital devices. Such distortion in the super

high frequency range can generate “beat interference”, which in turn

affects the character or atmosphere of the original sound. By

improving linearity and reducing distortion in the super-high

frequency range, Onkyo’s new DIDRC technology effectively reduces

perceptible noise.

2. Low Negative-Feedback Design

Too much NFB makes a system susceptible to counter-electromotive

force from the speakers, resulting in a drop in perceived sound

quality. To avoid this, Onkyo focuses on improving the frequency

response and reducing distortion, without relying so much on NFB.

3. Closed Ground-Loop Circuits

The A-9000R employs a sophisticated closed-circuit design in which

each circuit has a separate link to the power supply. This helps to

cancel individual circuit noise and keep the ground potential free of

distortion.

4. HICC (High Instantaneous-Current Capability)

Handling current loads up to 140 amperes, HICC enables an

amplifier to immediately cancel the speakers’ reflex energy and

instantaneously send out the next signal. The same high current

required to achieve this also supports the amplifier’s ability to

handle speaker impedance fluctuations.

5. Symmetrical Twin-Monaural Construction

Power devices for the left and right channels of the A-9000R are

aligned symmetrically. Each channel has the same electrical and

structural design, and signal pathways are uniform in length. This

helps to minimize errors in stereophonic playback.

Quad Push-Pull Amplification Design with Three-

Stage Inverted Darlington Circuitry

Three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry brings greater

efficiency to the A-9000R power amp by employing a low-

NFB design to maintain voltage stability and enhance

transient response. Extremely sensitive to oscillations, this

circuitry requires very advanced control technology in

order to be incorporated into the amplifier. Breaking

further new ground, the A-9000R employs two extra

transistors for each channel in a “quad push-pull” design

that significantly enhances amplification power.

Four Amplifier Modes for the Ultimate in

Versatility

Boasting the combined capabilities of a pre-amp and a

power amp, the A-9000R is an amplifier with a difference.

At the turn of a knob, it can be configured to run in any

one of four distinct modes. Depending on how you want

to integrate it into your hi-fi system, you can use it as an

integrated amp, as a power amp, or as a pre-amp. On top

of that, you can also set up the A-9000R in split mode. This

enables the pre-amp and power amp to work separately, so

you can incorporate another device, such as an equalizer.

Asynchronous Transfer via USB for 192 kHz/24-

Bit HD Audio

On the rear panel of the A-9000R is a USB input that lets

you connect a PC and play back stunningly lifelike 192

kHz/24-bit HD audio formats*. The USB implementation

here utilizes asynchronous transfer to enhance the stability

and quality of the audio signal.

*Playback of PC audio requires dedicated software that can be downloaded from

an Onkyo website.

Separate Wolfson® 192 kHz/24-Bit DACs for L/R

Channels

High-quality Wolfson DACs work to optimize analog audio

performance on the A-9000R. The receiver features dual

24-bit WM8742 DACs, which support sampling rates of up

to 192 kHz. Although these DACs are specified to handle

two-channel audio on a single chip, Onkyo employs

separate chips for each stereo channel to ensure the most

accurate digital-to-analog conversion.

New Circuit Board Construction

Rather than being directly connected to the chassis base,

the circuit boards inside the A-9000R are cushioned by

internal struts and affixed to the front, side, and rear panels.

This method of construction prevents vibrations from the

chassis from adversely affecting the circuit boards.

Separate Panel Construction

The A-9000R features separate aluminum panels for the

top, sides, and front to reduce unwanted vibrations caused

by internal resonance. Compared to a one-piece chassis

design, this construction method offers greater rigidity and

improved noise reduction.

Audiophile-Quality Parts

To ensure optimal performance from the A-9000R, Onkyo’s

engineers incorporated a range of professional-grade parts.

Four 18,000-microfarad capacitors and an extremely lowimpedance

1.2 mm thick copper bus plate both contribute

to achieving a smooth and stable power supply. Machined

and gold-plated RCA and phono terminals ensure an

extremely clean connection, while Amphenol AES/EBU

digital inputs provide excellent resistance to signal

degradation and noise.