Integra DTR-60.5 HDBaseT Receiver and DHC-60.5 AV Processor Preview

Many Audioholics are aware that Integra Audio is the custom installer arm of Onkyo. Often that doesn't mean much. RS-232 connections, perhaps IR inputs and outputs. A few other things. For those that are seriously in to tweaking their system and even putting together whole home control systems on their own (God help you), custom install models have a lot of draw. For most, however, they fail to impress. It's hard to see why you should pay extra for a custom install product when the extra features aren't something you're likely to use.

Fair enough. But before you click to a new page, let's talk about HDBase-T.

We've discussed HDBaseT in the past and frankly, we were really excited about the prospects. In case you've forgotten (or you just don't want to click that link), HDBaseT came out with a lot of promise. It supports 4k, 100BaseT Ethernet, and various control signals not to mention 100 watts of power (that's right, POWER). And it can do all this up to 100 meters (not feet). Does it take some stupidly designed, overly complicated to cable to work? Nope. Just Cat5e/6. You know, just about the cheapest cable out there?

We'll say it again - 4k resolution and much more for 100 meters passively over Cat5e/6.

So, if you've think you might one day have a video run that is longer than 25 feet (which is when HDMI practically requires an active, and very expensive, cable), you'll want to think very hard about HDBaseT.

Integra is one of the first to offer HDBaseT in a receiver. And it isn't even a flagship model.

The DTR-60.5 is a mid-line receiver from Integra. It has THX Ultra2 Plus certification, 9.2 channels, and 135 watts per channel. It has discrete amplification sporting Integra's WRAT amplifier technology. For the ultimate in home theater, the DTR-60.5 supports DTS Neo:X up to 11.2 channels (with pre-outs) adding front wide channels to the normal seven channel speaker setup.

DTR 60.5 Receiver

Glancing at the back, you'll notice 11 pairs of speaker terminals for easy configuration switching on the fly. With nine channels of amplification, the DTR-60.5 can power a full five channel home theater while powering two different additional zones. There are nine HDMI inputs (one on the front) and a single output in addition to the HDBaseT output. While the HDMI output is limited to the main zone, the HDBaseT can be sent to the main zone or to zone 2. There is an Ethernet port for networking though the DTR-60.5 can connect wirelessly. There are a reasonable number of component video, digital audio, and other for connecting your legacy gear.

Audyssey MultEQ XT32 is on board as is DSX. The Integra DTR-60.5 can accept FLAC, DSD, ALAC, HD 24/96 and HD 24/192 formats from HD music download services. It is pre-configured for Spotify, Pandora, Slacker, Rhapsody, Tune In, SIRIUS XM Internet Radio, AUPEO!, and Last.fm. Pre-processing incorporates three 192kHz/24-bit TI Burr-Brown DACs (with one stereo DAC per front channel in Differential DAC mode). If you want to bi-amp your front speakers you'll find performance increases from the proprietary Digital Processing Crossover Network, which splits the audio signal very precisely into separate high- and low-frequency signals, feeding them to the appropriate speaker drivers. This all but eliminates frequency overlap at the crossover point for a more transparent stereo image. The DTR-60.5 is, of course, able to pass 3D signals and can upconvert your sources to 4k resolution with the Marvell Qdeo chipset long associated with the brand.

It almost goes without saying that Integra has released a processor that is the sister of the DTR-60.5 receiver. The DHC-60.5 AV Processor has nearly all the same features except that it lacks amps and gains XLR outputs and a stereo XLR input. The only other major difference is that the processor is only 7.2 though it does support front high/wide channels like the DTR-60.5. The DHC-60.5 will save you $300.

The new DHC-60.5 7.2 channel network A/V preamp processor is THX Ultra2 Plus Certified and Integra hopes you will mate it with the matching DTA-70.1 THX Ultra2 certified amplifier. The DHC-60.5 also includes built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and full support for the new 4K Ultra HD video displays using either the 4K pass-through feature or up-scaling for conventional SD and HD video sources via a Marvel QDEO processor. There are connections for nine HDMI inputs and one output, plus HDBaseT, along with 7.2 multichannel balanced XLR pre-outs (with front-channel bi-amp capability) and two-channel balanced XLR audio inputs.

DHC-60.5 A/V Preamp Processor 

Conclusion

If you even suspect you might need a long HD video run at some point, you should be considering HDBaseT. Right now, Integra is one of the only manufactures that is offering this solution that can send 4k video up to 100 meters (over 300 feet) without an active solution. Over Cat5e/6 no less! Add to that DTS Neo:X support (up to 11.2 channels in one room), nine internal amps, 4k upconversion, nine HDMI inputs, and much more, the Integra DTR-60.5 should just be on every installer's suggestion list.

For more information, please visit www.integrahometheater.com.

On Site Reactions

We were able to catch the DTR-60.5 and DHC-60.5 on display at CEDIA 2013 where Integra was showing off the HDBaseT capabilities of the units. They were running network cable up, over a walkway, and down into an HDBaseT to HDMI balun. The display hooked up didn't look too great, but that was just because it was on "torch" mode. The picture and sound never showed any signs of a dropped signal. Checkout the pictures below.

DHC 60.5 Processor                                          DTR-60.5 Receiver

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.