33lb rule

[Buckeyefan 1]

Well, I may have to revamp my 33lb rule for receivers with this next batch of units. The new Onkyo's - starting with the 703, and including the 803, are both around 29lbs. They both meet THX Select 2 certification. The weight drops, but the price jumps. I wonder if THX dropped it's certification specs to make room for more entry/mid level units (also make more $$)?

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4055257

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4055244

 

[j_garcia]

They may have lightened up the chassis. I know Marantz made the mistake of going to a smaller, cheaper chassis with the 8400, something they corrected with the x500 line. I would not use the total weight of the unit alone to determine any kind of qualty.

Not sure what to think about THX cert these days. The 1014/1015 are select/select2, but I know from experience with the 1014 that it doesn't really live up to it's rated power. Kenwood also had a rather low priced model that was THX Select cert too.

 

[jcPanny]

Sounds like they shaved a few pounds off the power supply to pay for that THX certification. Think of all the money they will shave in shipping too!

 

[j_garcia]

Sounds like they shaved a few pounds off the power supply to pay for that THX certification. Think of all the money they will shave in shipping too!

THX cert doesn't cost any more than a non-THX cert receiver for most big-name maufacturers. There is no charge for the certification, only for them to redesign stuff if it doesn't meet cert. The power supply is one place you wouldn't want to shave a few lbs off.... They may have switched to a different power supply design.

 

[Francious70]

Or they could have made a more efficient heat-sink and took a few pounds off there.