Bad problems- ONKYO (Integra) TX-DS 898/ 7.1 ch . receiver

[Bikram]

This is out of sheer frustration & dissatisfaction because of major quality problem of ONKYO or it's service.

I would like to share in detail the problems i've been facing with my ONKYO (Integra) TX-DS 898/ 7.1 ch . receiver, for more than an year & half.

Just to inform that this set was purchased in the year 2004-05 from Kolkata -India & the problems started from August 2007. Earlier in September 2007 i had sent the set to your service Centre (M/s.Promises-Kolkata) for the problem of microswitches not working properly, the Tuner not working properly & occasional crackling/hissing noise in main right channel & surr. rear right channel. To this your service centre had thoroughly serviced (with charges-Rs.2750/-) the set & returned to me.

Subsequently within one month the same problems occurred & took the set to your Service centre. This time after checking the set for more than a month, they replaced approx. 15-20 micro switches present on top facia/console of the receiver. (For this they charged me Rs. 3500/- )

The same problems recurred again, as radio tuner was getting detuned and occasional crackling/hissing noise in main right channel & surr. rear right channel was heard , so i referred this to your service centre in the month of December 2008. Since it occurred occasionally your service centre insisted me to use the set until further problem surfaces out.

From last month i found the crackling/hissing noise in main right channel becoming very pronounced & the level of noise became very high at even zero reference/volume. Even the main/standby switch is creating problem while operating (toggling in audio DSP modes)

I once again had to send the set to your service centre on 6th June for servicing. This time your service centre replied that the main right channel o/p amplifier has become faulty also the tuner is faulty, both needs to be replaced.

Last week i got a reply from them that the total spares required for o/p amp. section repair shall be Rs. 4900/- plus the service charges of Rs. 2750/- !!!

I am completely dissatisfied by ONKYO & it's quality of service. Within a short span of 1-1.5 years this is the third time i carried the set for servicing, for some problem or the other.

Even after spending more than sufficient time for checking and expenses for repair, I am finding that this has become a white elephant for me . I'm completely frustrated with ONKYO receiver and i have no mind to own this anymore.

I shall be grateful if ONKYO help me out in providing free of cost repair & servicing as a goodwill gesture for the problems I faced for so long.

Else i shall be forced to consider ONKYO has no concern for their customer.

 

[Lordoftherings]

My sympathies.

Hi Bikram, and Welcome to Audioholics where we listen and talk.

I'm sorry to hear this, I can certainly sympathize with you. It is indeed very unfortunate that something like that can even happen to a nice guy like you, but if it can help, you're not alone, it did also happens to me in the past.
It did put a sour taste in my heart and brains.

But now, I'm over with it, and I choose different avenues, or brand should I say.
It is bad for a company to do this to it's customers, as they loose valuable allies (look at what happens to Bernie Madoff! ).

I wish that your next experience will be a very positive one.

Regards,

Bob

 

[Lordoftherings]

This is out of sheer frustration & dissatisfaction because of major

He already said that.

 

[PeterWhite]

I've never been to India. But I've heard it's extremely hot and humid. I wonder if you've had experiences with other electronics in this environment? Are you using the receiver in an air-conditioned environment?

 

[bandphan]

This isnt the first time this has come up with one post wonders Please post this in the steam vent, and provide documents to help eveyone understand what is happening

 

[MDS]

I've owned nothing but Onkyo receivers for the last 15 years and have never had one single problem with any of them. The SV-525 I bought around 1995 is still going strong in my brother-in-law's garage.

However, all manufacturers have issues from time to time. It sounds like this receiver was faulty from the beginning and it was difficult to determine the problem. Everyone would like problems solved immediately and at no cost but sadly it just doesn't work that way. Receivers generally have only a 1 year warranty.

The experience may turn you off to the brand but it can happen with any of them. Receivers are disposable (one reason I never buy $1K receivers). I would have told them to keep it after the first diagnostic indicated a high price to fix and just got a new one (cheaper, better in most cases).

 

[Lordoftherings]

It's just a question of picking the right brands.

Well, one thing is for sure, I'll never buy another receiver from Aiwa, Toshiba,
Mitsubishi, Nagaoka, Technics, Kraco, Hitachi, Koss, Westinghouse, Fujitsu, Philips, Meggasound, Autotek, Sanyo, Sinko, Sankai, Sanko or Seiko in my left over life time.

I learn the hard way from my mistakes.

Instead, I'll aim for McIntosh, Krell, Meridian, Lexicon, Magnum Dynalab, Integra Research and Onkyo receivers.

Bob

 

[PeterWhite]

Just one thing I want to know.

Did you really have to buy the Westinghouse to learn it was junk? ;-)

 

[mtrycrafts]

Well, one thing is for sure, I'll never buy another receiver from Aiwa, Toshiba,
Mitsubishi, Nagaoka, Technics, Kraco, Hitachi, Koss, Westinghouse, Fujitsu, Philips, Meggasound, Autotek, Sanyo, Sinko, Sankai, Sanko or Seiko in my left over life time.

I learn the hard way from my mistakes.

Instead, I'll aim for McIntosh, Krell, Meridian, Lexicon, Magnum Dynalab, Integra Research and Onkyo receivers.

Bob

So, that is why there are so many companies so we can choose wisely
or by trial and tribulations

 

[Lordoftherings]

This isnt the first time this has come up with one post wonders Please post this in the steam vent, and provide documents to help eveyone understand what is happening.

By now, I know this. And it makes for some good humor in the threads.
* Always happened very early in the morning, when I'm fresh and ready for anything.

Just one thing I want to know.

Did you really have to buy the Westinghouse to learn it was junk? ;-)

Nope. Just my gut feeling.

So, that is why there are so many companies so we can choose wisely, or by trial and tribulations

True, it's good for us the customers that we have a vast choice of junk that we have to discard first.

* Though, I bet some people owned some of these brands in the "deep" past. And maybe, just maybe, they still owned them. And I'm cool with that , if you're using them in your garage or packed in the attic.

 

[Bikram]

Thanks for your posting , Bob !!!
I've jst been assured by ONKYO that this problem will be resolved by waiving off the service charges, while the cost of components will be charged.
For the time its the gentlemen's agreement we've come to....

 

[Lordoftherings]

Well, one thing is for sure, I'll never buy another receiver from Aiwa, Toshiba,
Mitsubishi, Nagaoka, Technics, Kraco, Hitachi, Koss, Westinghouse, Fujitsu, Philips, Meggasound, Autotek, Sanyo, Sinko, Sankai, Sanko or Seiko in my left over life time.

Bob

How could I forgot, Fisher.

Thanks for your posting , Bob !!!
I've jst been assured by ONKYO that this problem will be resolved by waiving off the service charges, while the cost of components will be charged.
For the time its the gentlemen's agreement we've come to....

No sweat man, it's nice to see that there are still some gentlemen out there.

You take good care & good luck,

Bob

 

[sandeep2082in]

Onkyo doesn't care

I fully agree with anyone's view that ONKYO does not care for any of their loyal customers. I have been facing similar problems with their receiver TX-DS575. And their service centre in Mumbai has dismissed the repair request simply by saying that the spare parts (the audio card) is not made available by the manufacturer anymore. All effort to contact their main office in Japan also have yielded no fruits as they didn't bother to reply to my complaint at all. I am really frustrated at ONKYO's suggestion of discarding this receiver that I have maintained in such good conditions for years and have myself decided never to buy or recommend to others any ONKYO product henceforth. There are dozens of cheaper brands out there that serve better.

 

[sandeep2082in]

Onkyo doesn't care

I fully agree with anyone's view that ONKYO does not care for any of their loyal customers. I have been facing similar problems with their receiver TX-DS575. And their service centre in Mumbai has dismissed the repair request simply by saying that the spare parts (the audio card) is not made available by the manufacturer anymore. All effort to contact their main office in Japan also have yielded no fruits as they didn't bother to reply to my complaint at all. I am really frustrated at ONKYO's suggestion of discarding this receiver that I have maintained in such good conditions for years and have myself decided never to buy or recommend to others any ONKYO product henceforth. I find ONKYO's policy of withdrawing all spares from market for a particular model after 7 years totally illogical as we all know that the problems start occuring only after that time. There are dozens of cheaper brands out there that serve better.

 

[sandeep2082in]

I've owned nothing but Onkyo receivers for the last 15 years and have never had one single problem with any of them. The SV-525 I bought around 1995 is still going strong in my brother-in-law's garage.

However, all manufacturers have issues from time to time. It sounds like this receiver was faulty from the beginning and it was difficult to determine the problem. Everyone would like problems solved immediately and at no cost but sadly it just doesn't work that way. Receivers generally have only a 1 year warranty.

The experience may turn you off to the brand but it can happen with any of them. Receivers are disposable (one reason I never buy $1K receivers). I would have told them to keep it after the first diagnostic indicated a high price to fix and just got a new one (cheaper, better in most cases).

Hey MDS,

Developing problems with any brands isn't uncommon. What the put-off factor however is that the way ONKYO shruggs off their responsibility simply by saying that supply of spares for this particular model (in my case TX-DS575) is stopped after 7 years as a company policy. Does ONKYO wish to tell it's customers that the problems with their products are expected to develop much before 7 years? or the company wishes to imply that their product are worth being dumped after that much time? It really beats me.

 

[Davemcc]

I have to agree that if something should go wrong with your Onkyo/Integra product, the last thing they are concerned about is your satisfaction as an owner. I can't remember how many weeks/months my new Integra was gone before they finally replaced it. I don't want to look up the thread to find out either because it will just infuriate me all over again.

BTW, Happy Anniversary to this thread.