In Your Opinion, What is the Difference Between These?

[PearlcorderS701]

The TX-8555 I purchased for my 2-channel rig:

http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?m=TX-8555&class=Receiver&p=i

And the Integra lookalike I happened to note on their site:

http://integrahometheater.com/model.cfm?m=DTM-5.9&class=Receiver&p=i

 

[PENG]

I would say the amp sections are technically the same as far as I can see from the specs. The Integra's tuner has a better spec on paper.

 

[m_vanmeter]

kind of the Ford/Mercury approach to marketing. Same basic guts, different name and "look". Onkyo owns both brands, so you can bet there is a lot of similarity under the hood

 

[PearlcorderS701]

I would say the amp sections are technically the same as far as I can see from the specs. The Integra's tuner has a better spec on paper.

Thanks PENG -- they looked pretty similar when I looked at them, but I noted the Integra unit much later after I purchased the TX-8555...

As for the tuner, what "better specs" does it boast? Ability to pull in stations better or something along those lines?

I don't know if I really care for the Integra's silver volume knob and other silver touches, which I know Onkyo puts on to kind of visually differentiate these brands...

 

[PearlcorderS701]

kind of the Ford/Mercury approach to marketing. Same basic guts, different name and "look". Onkyo owns both brands, so you can bet there is a lot of similarity under the hood

Indeed; I knew Integra was to Onkyo what Lexus is to Toyota, but I was wondering if the Integra had some kind of improvement detail in this particular product over the TX-8555. Power ratings appear to be the same...why would one buy this over the TX-8555? Brand loyalty (to Integra)? Possible better build quality? Custom installation options that may be missing on the TX-8555?

 

[PENG]

As for the tuner, what "better specs" does it boast? Ability to pull in stations better or something along those lines?

I followed your links and noticed the following differences in their tuner specs:

Onkyo:
Usable Sensitivity -
FM Mono 15.2 dBf, (75 ohm IHF)
FM Stereo 22.2 dBf, (75 ohm IHF)
AM 300 uV
S/N Ratio (FM Mono/FM Stereo/AM) 73 dB (IHF-A)/67 dB (IHF-A)/40 dB
THD (FM Mono/FM Stereo/AM) 0.3 %/0.5 %/0.7 %

Integra:
Usable Sensitivity
FM Mono 11.2 dBf, 1.0 µV (75 W IHF)
FM Stereo 17.2 dBf, 2.0 µV (75 W IHF)
AM 30 µV
S/N Ratio (FM Mono/FM Stereo/AM) 76 dB (IHF-A)/70 dB (IHF-A)/40 dB
THD (FM Mono/FM Stereo/AM) 0.15 %/0.25 %/0.7 %

So the Integra seems slightly better in terms of tuner sensitivity (like you said, perhaps it would "pull in stations better"), noise, and distortion. Not that it matters but I was surpised to see the differences. Why would Onkyo make two different tuners? I suspect those might have been a bunch of typos...

I also prefer the look of the Onkyo, there is no way I would pay more to get that Integra.

 

[PearlcorderS701]

I followed your links and noticed the following differences in their tuner specs:

Onkyo:
Usable Sensitivity -
FM Mono 15.2 dBf, (75 ohm IHF)
FM Stereo 22.2 dBf, (75 ohm IHF)
AM 300 uV
S/N Ratio (FM Mono/FM Stereo/AM) 73 dB (IHF-A)/67 dB (IHF-A)/40 dB
THD (FM Mono/FM Stereo/AM) 0.3 %/0.5 %/0.7 %

Integra:
Usable Sensitivity
FM Mono 11.2 dBf, 1.0 µV (75 W IHF)
FM Stereo 17.2 dBf, 2.0 µV (75 W IHF)
AM 30 µV
S/N Ratio (FM Mono/FM Stereo/AM) 76 dB (IHF-A)/70 dB (IHF-A)/40 dB
THD (FM Mono/FM Stereo/AM) 0.15 %/0.25 %/0.7 %

So the Integra seems slightly better in terms of tuner sensitivity (like you said, perhaps it would "pull in stations better"), noise, and distortion. Not that it matters but I was surpised to see the differences. Why would Onkyo make two different tuners? I suspect those might have been a bunch of typos...

I also prefer the look of the Onkyo, there is no way I would pay more to get that Integra.

Indeed, PENG...agreed pretty much all the way around...

 

[PearlcorderS701]

I followed your links and noticed the following differences in their tuner specs:

Onkyo:
Usable Sensitivity -
FM Mono 15.2 dBf, (75 ohm IHF)
FM Stereo 22.2 dBf, (75 ohm IHF)
AM 300 uV
S/N Ratio (FM Mono/FM Stereo/AM) 73 dB (IHF-A)/67 dB (IHF-A)/40 dB
THD (FM Mono/FM Stereo/AM) 0.3 %/0.5 %/0.7 %

Integra:
Usable Sensitivity
FM Mono 11.2 dBf, 1.0 µV (75 W IHF)
FM Stereo 17.2 dBf, 2.0 µV (75 W IHF)
AM 30 µV
S/N Ratio (FM Mono/FM Stereo/AM) 76 dB (IHF-A)/70 dB (IHF-A)/40 dB
THD (FM Mono/FM Stereo/AM) 0.15 %/0.25 %/0.7 %

So the Integra seems slightly better in terms of tuner sensitivity (like you said, perhaps it would "pull in stations better"), noise, and distortion. Not that it matters but I was surpised to see the differences. Why would Onkyo make two different tuners? I suspect those might have been a bunch of typos...

You know something else I meant to ask you, PENG, with regard to these above tuner specs? Am I not understanding these right? It seems that the 8555 has higher usable sensitivity numbers than the Integra's -- wouldn't this mean that the tuner is more sensitive than the Integra's, or do I have this backwards?

Also, Total Harmonic Distortion ratings for these two also appear to be higher under the Integra's spec -- unless I'm not reading those right, either...