ONKYO 989 vs 876 (old vs new)

[jochie00]

I still have the Onkyo TX-DS989 THX Integra upg. 2 which was state of the art 8 years ago.

I can't find any straight comparison on internet versus an Onkyo 876 I'm wondering if a 876 would be a step forward in sound quality.

Has anybody on this forum experiences between the two?

I'm less interested in the video processing part, just the sound reproduction.

 

[Seth=L]

I really can't find much in terms of actual benchtesting for the Onkyo TX-DS989. I do know that the TX-DS989 uses a non conventional means of convection (heat reduction). I had the TX-DS787 which used the same principle heat dissipation design. I personally had a big problem with it because either the servo control for the fan failed or perhaps it's supposed to get that hot before it will turn on. Any attempts to cool the unit externally where rather ineffective because it used a tunnel heatsink method, which to me is really stupid considering if the fan will not turn on the receiver may cook itself. The TX-SR876 also runs fairly hot, but it uses traditional convection heat sinking. If I want to put a fan on it to keep it and the Reon processor cool, I can do it very easily. The power benchtests of the TX-SR876 are incredible.

The performance with standard Dolby Digital/DTS/PCM/analog stereo should be matched and possibly then some if you upgrade to the TX-SR876. Add the new audio codecs supported, DTS-HD, Dolby Digital Plus and TrueHD along with 7.1 LPCM, and you will get even better sound.

 

[Lordoftherings]

New is better all the way.

The Onkyo TX-DS989 was indeed a top notch receiver in 2000.
It was retailing for for $3,200 and weighted 48.5 pounds.
One channel driven (1 khz) into 8-ohm load at 0.3% THD is 161 watts.
Five channels driven (1 khz) into 8-ohm loads at 0.3% THD is 126 watts.
Two channels stereo (same thing than above) is 152 watts.
Two channels stereo ( into 4-ohm loads) is 335 watts.
All the rest of the figures (S/N, Linearity, etc.) are all top notch performance results. Review in Sound & Vision, September 2000 issue.

Prior to this there was the Onkyo Integra TX-DS939, also excellent from 1998.
List price was $2,800 and weighted 46.3 pounds.
And the tests from the bench were also excellent.
Review in Stereophile Guide to home Theater, issue 16, from July/August 1998.

Now, the Onkyo TX-SR876 is much more up to date, duh.
It retails for only $1,799 (but you can find it for $900 or so), and weights 53.1 pounds. It has all the latest and much more.
It delivers (same specs as the 989 just above) 201 watts in one channel (8-ohms).
One channel into 4-ohms is 322 watts.
Five channels into 8-ohms is 141 watts.
Seven channels into 8-ohms is 128 watts.
Two channels stereo (8-ohms) is 185 watts.
Two channels stereo (4-ohms) is 320 watts.
All the other figures are also excellent.
Review of the almost same TX-SR875 is in Sound & vision Magazine, Otober 2007 issue.
Another review of the Onkyo TX-SR876 can be found at Playback Magazine, Issue 16.

From these results and the 10 years lapse of time, it is evident that the Onkyo TX-SR876 will provide you with a very nice upgrade.
Put the street price into the equation, and the answer is a no-brainer.
Plus the HQV Reon video processor.
Plus Audyssey MultEQ XT with Audyssey Dynamic EQ & Dynamic Volume.
Plus THX Ultra2 Plus with THX Loudness Plus.
Plus TI PCM-1796A Dacs for all channels.
Plus VLSC (Victor Linear Shaping Circuitry) for all channels.
Plus ISF (Image Science Foundation) certification.
Plus separate video adjustments for each HDMI inputs.
Plus 4 HDMI inputs and 2 HDMI outputs.
Plus 4-omm loads capable.
Plus so much more, I give up...

Sound quality wise, probably the same, but with Audyssey, a total new adventure begins...
Please, ladies and gentltemans, place your bets...

Bob

Note: You can also find a review on the Integra DTR-9.1 (same as the Onkyo TX-DS989) in the Stereophile Guide to home theater, issue 41, from January 2001.

Also, there is a review of the Onkyo TX-DS989, in the Widescreen Review, issue #45, from January/February 2001 (Volume 10, Number 1). In that review, the reviewer (Shane Buettner) notice one problem; the Onkyo TX-DS989 will shut down when playing back aggressive, bass-heavy material at volumes louder than 3db below reference level, even with the bass from all speakers crossed over at 80hz.

 

[Seth=L]

It appears that LOTR has done what I was too inept to do with my head pounding.