Premium Audio Company (PAC) has released a firmware update for its flagship audio video receivers (AVRs) to improve audio playback, functionality and room correction experience. The company says firmware updates will allow users to optimize performance on the Integra DRX-8.4, Onkyo TX-RZ70, Elite VSX-LX805 and Pioneer VSX-LX805 models launched in Spring 2023.

PAC says Auro-3D is an audio technology and format that creates a more realistic audio experience by layering sound via lower, height and top channels. The company says audio that has been mastered in Auro-3D format and played through one of PAC’s flagship AVRs will “immerse the listener in a dynamic soundstage compatible with both home and commercial cinema environments.” Auro-Matic transforms existing content such as mono, stereo and surround sound into a “natural 3D experience.”

In a major upgrade for audiophiles with Roon subscriptions, PAC says this firmware update certifies flagship AVRs are Roon Ready, proving via compatibility testing that the AVRs met the standards set by Roon Labs to ensure a smooth and optimized user experience. Roon is a music player that combines locally saved files with streams from TIDAL and Qobuz to create a vast, interconnected digital library of high-resolution files and metadata.

Upgrades: 

PAC says Pre-amp mode turns off the Power Amp output and changes the products to Preamp-only mode. By turning off the Power Amp output, the Signal/Noise level is slightly improved and the sound quality is also improved. It also reduces power consumption. Pre-amp mode will expand the range of use of the AVRs, which is why we decided to include it in these products.

Source-Based Tone Mapping (SBTM) allows a portion of the HDR mapping to be performed by the source device, rather than the display device, automatically producing an optimized HDR signal to maximize processing and display capability without manual user configuration.

Dolby Atmos Music Playback Capability for Amazon Music HD

Dolby Atmos Music uses  Dolby Atmos technology to”elevate audio experiences beyond the realm of movies and TV,” allowing music creators to produce and mix music with spatial audio elements for a more immersive experience. With this new firmware update, PAC’s flagship AVRs are some of the world’s first audio video receivers to play Dolby Atmos content via Amazon Music HD.

PAC says improved Dirac Live room correction delay times will allow users more flexible speaker placement as automatic sound field correction technology, such as that employed by Dirac Live, can correct for varying speaker distances. This firmware update will increase compensation from 20ms up to 50ms, which translates to correction delays for speakers from a further distance away.