Help req for receiver selection (Onkyo, Pioneer, Sony)

U

Unregistered

Guest
Hello,

I am setting up my first home theater and I would like some suggestions to help me select amongst the following:

1) Onkyo TXSR502
2) Pioneer VSXD514
3) Sony STRDE597

I am looking at < $300 receiver to power Pioneer SH153BK book shelf speakers and Pioneer SCR400K center + surround. No sub yet, but plan to add one later on.

Thank you,
RL
 
U

Unregistered

Guest
Correction

Please read the 2) above as Pioneer VSXD814K
 
U

Unregistered

Guest
I have the Onkyo 502 and I would recommend it. Can't say anything good or bad against the others, other than I would choose the pioneer over the sony sight unseen (had 1 prior Sony when I first got out of college and Sony does not compare to others in the low end price range for receivers).

The 502 is 75wch, supports all the latest formats including pliix and dts 24/96, adjustable crossover between 60-150hz, adjustable speaker distances for all speakers, an easy to use menu system for setup accessible from the front panel or remote (no Onscreen Display), 3 optical in, 1 coax digital in.

The only thing it lacks is pre-outs and video upconversion. I don't think you'll find those features in any receiver around $300.

I've had it for a few months now and it has performed flawlessly.
 
U

Unregistered

Guest
Thanks.

Would you say Onkyo's 75 rms would be comparable to Pioneer's 100 rms? Even Sony is rated at 100 rms. For 6 channels, that makes a 150 rms difference between Onkyo and the other two.
 
U

Unregistered

Guest
The difference in SPL (decibels) between two different power measurements is 10Log(p2/p1) so the difference between 75 and 100 watts is ~1.25 dB. One decibel is defined as the lowest perceptible change in loudness that humans can detect, but in principle with music it really takes 3dB (double the power) to make the change barely discernable. In other words, don't sweat the minor change in power.

I'm sure others will chime in with the notion that Onkyo, Pioneer, Sony etc don't meet their stated power outputs when ALL channels are driven, but they don't rate their receivers with all channels driven - they rate them with two channels driven. Real music and movies will never drive all channels simultaneously so I wouldn't worry about it.

For what it's worth mine is calibrated to 85dB SPL at a setting of 50, on the volume dial (it goes to 79). 85dB is right at the OSHA recommended limit for 8 hours a day exposure and extremely LOUD. You won't have any lack of power with the 502 unless you have extremely inefficient speakers AND a very large room.
 
P

Polkfan

Audioholic
I have to chime in for Onkyo. I own a TX-SR600 and have been quite pleased with it. It replaced an older Pioneer receiver (pro-logic). It sounds much better most probably due to the fiber-optic inputs/outputs . I had been used to analogue connections with the Pioneer, but when I actually used the optical connections on the Onk it was like a whole new receiver. The Onkyo is rated at 80 wpc, while the Pioneer was rated at 100, but the Onkyo sounded considerably better to me, and seemed to be more powerful. I run it flat with no equalization, and use my sub to alter the bass. It is a very good value.
 
Last edited:
U

Unregistered

Guest
Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I went ahead and got a Onkyo 502. Need one more piece of help - this receiver is rated at 110V and I will be using it (with a step down) on 230V. What power capacity should I look for in the adaptor?

How much power does the 502 consume? I am unable to find this info in the Onkyo site:
http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?m=TX-SR502&p=s&class=Receiver
 
U

Unregistered

Guest
The back of the receiver says 5.1A. I think its also listed on the specs page in the manual (last page).

Whether that's average power consumption or max is anybody's guess. I would think you'd want an adaptor that can handle at least 5.1 amps, but i'm no expert on that subject.
 
U

Unregistered

Guest
Checked the manual. It says 370W. So I guess I should be ok with a 0.5kW step down.
 
P

Polkfan

Audioholic
Sure would like to hear what you think of it. :) I think you made a good choice for the price.
 
U

Unregistered

Guest
I will put in my comments once I have the system up. For that it will take a couple of weeks more since I have to take the system back to my home country before trying it out.
 
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