Integra announces new flagship AVR that’s “designed for integrators”

American audio brand Integra has unveiled its latest flagship AV receiver in the form of the Integra DRX-8.4. Launching later this spring, it offers 11 channels of amplification at 150 watts and a packed feature set at a premium price. This includes balanced XLR ports, two independent sub-out ports, smart assistant integration, and support for a wide variety of audio formats, including THX Select, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and IMAX Enhanced, with Auro 3D Audio support extending to expected to be added in a June firmware update.

The DRX-8.4 is touted by Integra as the “integrator-approved solution for the world’s best home theaters” as it has worked closely with home theater installers to create this new AVR to meet the high expectations of professionals and their customers alike. customers . Integra states that with the DRX-8.4 it ushers in a new era of audiophile-grade AVRs, claiming that it offers “more power, more symmetry and an unprecedented number of reference-ready features” than its competition.

This includes the powerful ESS Saber DACs and reference class AB amplifier design that Integra says will “maximize audio performance while powering up and sending sound to your speakers”. The brand also emphasizes the receiver’s passive subwoofer allocation through two dedicated subwoofer channels.

With its seven HDMI 2.1 inputs and three outputs (including HDMI eArc), the DRX-8.4 provides 4K/120Hz gaming support with its full HDMI bandwidth, enabling faster refreshes and minimal latency. The receiver also supports 8K pass-through via HDMI 2.1, which is a nice touch, even if 8K content and hardware are still somewhat limited. We do know that this new AVR will support Dolby Vision, but it’s not entirely clear if it will support HDR10+ and HLG, although we’d be surprised if these were omitted from the receiver.