Denon vs Onkyo

[moodyda]

Getting a new receiver. Which to go with. Denon x4000 or Onkyo 929 Price is the same and probably will run a B&K av 5000 series ii as the main amp. Like the features in both just cannot decide.

 

[ImcLoud]

Denon if it were my money, on customer service alone, never mind the superior unit {IMO of course}.... Kind of a lot to spend on an avr if you are just going to bypass the amp section?

 

[sgtjim]

Bought the Denon, extremely satisfied.

 

[afterlife2]

Onkyo for me. I never had a problem with my Onkyo 707 when I had it. Make sure you buy a laptop fan($7 bucks) with which ever you chose to keep them cool.

 

[moodyda]

Denon if it were my money, on customer service alone, never mind the superior unit {IMO of course}.... Kind of a lot to spend on an avr if you are just going to bypass the amp section?

Well then what would you suggest? I cannot help the fact that I have an amp laying around!

 

[afterlife2]

My choices. Bought mine there with no prob also option for extended warranty: Onkyo TX-NR818 7.2-Ch THX Certified Network A/V Receiver | Accessories4less
or
Onkyo TX-NR809 7.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver | Accessories4less

 

[moodyda]

Denon if it were my money, on customer service alone, never mind the superior unit {IMO of course}.... Kind of a lot to spend on an avr if you are just going to bypass the amp section?

Yes but can you reccomend a pre-pro that would be better? I don't think so....... pre-pros are overrated

 

[rnatalli]

I like the EMO UMC-200 myself. Doesn't have all the network features of a receiver, but does have a full PEQ.

 

[eastside718]

I disagree! I went from a Denon AVR4810CI to a Marantz AV8801. Its simply an amazing sound stage! Both the Denon and the Marantz powered by an Emotiva XPR-5, Martin Logan Vistas, Source and Cinema. I will never go back to a receiver again. The Marantz does everything better, but the sound stage is immediate. When the phone rang while watching Breaking Bad, we actually thought it was ours.

 

[ImcLoud]

Yes but can you reccomend a pre-pro that would be better? I don't think so....... pre-pros are overrated

I didn't say you had to go with a pre pro. I am just stating that you can get a less expensive receiver with similar options for less money, that has preouts... Nothing to get excited about.. the 4000 is a $900 ro $1300 avr depending where you buy it, you can get a decen avr with air play and multi zone and preouts, ect for about half of that price, Im not sure what options you are looking for,....

 

[tp516]

I didn't say you had to go with a pre pro. I am just stating that you can get a less expensive receiver with similar options for less money, that has preouts... Nothing to get excited about.. the 4000 is a $900 ro $1300 avr depending where you buy it, you can get a decen avr with air play and multi zone and preouts, ect for about half of that price, Im not sure what options you are looking for,....

Anything specific you could recommend? Ive been looking around for a while now, and Im in a similar boat, I really like the x4000. I recently picked up some polk RTI A9s, center, and an Emotiva XPA-3. I am not at all an EQ wizard which is why I liked the idea of XT32, along with its network features, pre-outs, 4k pass-through, multi zone, etc. These features make it (seemingly) pretty future-proof for an amateur like me.

I had an Onkyo HTIB receiver that died right after warranty expired, so I refuse to give them another try with so many other brands. I think Sony or Yamaha might have a few options, but I haven’t seen much with pre-outs for below 1k. I’d most likely get the x4000 from A4L with the extended warranty for ~1k total.

Hopefully this isn’t really a threadjack, it seems OP and I have a pretty similar mindset for an AVR. Thanks!

*Edit for spelling

 

[moodyda]

I disagree! I went from a Denon AVR4810CI to a Marantz AV8801. Its simply an amazing sound stage! Both the Denon and the Marantz powered by an Emotiva XPR-5, Martin Logan Vistas, Source and Cinema. I will never go back to a receiver again. The Marantz does everything better, but the sound stage is immediate. When the phone rang while watching Breaking Bad, we actually thought it was ours.

You are talking about a $3500 pre-amp, I do not want to invest that much in an ever changing technology (lesson learned with the B&K reference20). I did look at the 7701 but it did not have Audyssey XT32. I need that level of room correction, I have a great room that opens up to the Kitchen with vaulted ceilings on lots of tile. I have an SVS pb12plus-2 sub that is massive and can be a little too much if not properly eq'd.

 

[panteragstk]

Onkyo is a decent brand, but I would go the Denon route if it were me. I like my onkyo just fine, but the quirks are annoying enough for me to not want another one.

 

[afterlife2]

What quirks Pant?

 

[panteragstk]

It takes WAY too long to lock onto the audio codec. If I'm watching TV and FF it takes ~2 seconds to start playing audio again. I've fixed the problem by changing my settings on the computer to process the audio and send it out via PCM for just TV. Movies are still decoded. Sometimes it likes to freak out and not display a picture (only twice ever). Sometimes it will have green horizontal likes on the picture until I power the unit off and on again (lots more than twice).

Don't get me wrong, it is a great unit for what I paid (40% of MSRP). Loads of features I'll never use (THX, DTS Neo 6, etc). Lots of power on tap, runs cool (shocking), pure direct for music is nice. Audyssey features are nice, but do odd things to music IMHO. OSD is nice. Ability to control with serial and HTTP commands is really great, but http is quirky.

 

[afterlife2]

Have you called Onkyo? I bet try can fix those issues for free.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

You are talking about a $3500 pre-amp, I do not want to invest that much in an ever changing technology (lesson learned with the B&K reference20). I did look at the 7701 but it did not have Audyssey XT32. I need that level of room correction, I have a great room that opens up to the Kitchen with vaulted ceilings on lots of tile. I have an SVS pb12plus-2 sub that is massive and can be a little too much if not properly eq'd.

I would call Onecall and offer $1200 shipped for a new Denon 4311 (listed as $1399). Tell them Electronic Expo sold them for $1225 shipped.

The 4311 has XT32, made in Japan.

 

[panteragstk]

Have you called Onkyo? I bet try can fix those issues for free.

I'm not too sure the unit is defective. I think it just has a few flaws. I may try to call them, but customer support usually ends with me wanting to stab someone.