Onkyo Keeps Hi Fi Alive & Well With New Stereo Receiver...

[PearlcorderS701]

So, getting back on topic a bit (I realize I asked about the IntelliVolume thing, but now I'm talking about the 8050 itself), does anyone forsee this sitting in their racks for two channel use? What other feelings do you all have about this new stereo receiver and its companion CD player?

 

[MDS]

This is the typical reply via online "help" forums -- ask a question about something and get a response telling you to "do it yourself" by doing such-and-such; but no matter, I was hoping someone with experience with their stereo models would be able to answer it for me.

How do you think people get 'experience' with these models to be able to answer questions like yours? By using the equipment and observing how it works and over the years noticing that similar features from every manufacturer all work the same.

I have experience with Onkyo receivers because it's the only brand I've bought over the last 15 years or so. I answered the question for you and you should perform the experiment I described to prove to yourself that my answer is correct.

 

[PearlcorderS701]

That's not what I meant by my statement.

Interestingly enough, at the back of the latest issue of Home Theater mag, in Michael J. Nelson's "Curtain Call" column, he speaks of this very phenomenon in online territorial behaviors -- which it has unfortunately come down to -- and the editorial goes on to talk about people who frequent "help forums" who are met with replies which just send them back into a circular holding pattern without any assistance towards the original inquiry at all. The comment of me being able to "answer my own question" which was leveled originally seemed to remind me of that, simply put.

But regardless, I appreciate your effort to explain to me what it is I need to do in order to test the IntelliVolume application -- I'd like to get concrete feedback on this from perhaps another Onkyo stereo receiver owner (as I said, these models are far from popular, so I don't expect it, but was hoping) as Onkyo's replies are vague.

I know with the surround models, as you increase IntelliVolume and speaker calibration levels into the "+dB" range, the maximum volume value changes on the master control accordingly -- for example, putting IntelliVolume for a given source on "+10dB" would bring maximum volume down from, say, "99" to "89" and then as you add decibels to the individual channel trims, that value goes down according to how much gain is being applied to each channel...so, for the center to be at "+8dB" let's say, then eight more decibels gets knocked off the "89" value and so on...

 

[jeannot]

I agree completely. You're much more likely to get 4ohm stability out of a $250 stereo receiver than a $250 AVR and that's a valid consideration.

I would say this is true, EXCEPT when the 4-ohms output is limited by the power supply. If that is the case, then an AVR normally has a better power supply than a stereo amp, because it has to supply 5 or 7 amps instead of two. That is why AVRs have the best power supplies for stereo use. My 140Watts Denon receiver clips at 210.9 watts into 8 ohms and 277.3 watts into 4 ohms. I doubt a 140W stereo receiver would give 277 watts in 4-ohms.

 

[PearlcorderS701]

Look, people, all I was really trying to say about this was that I feel -- just personally -- when a room is being specifically preapred for and in anticipation for a two-channel, music-only setup with absolutely no intentions for home theater, to me it makes more sense to always use gear specifically made for stereo applications rather than a surround, multichannel AVR, regardless of arguing over price or "cheap/budget" monikers attached to some of this gear. I'll always direct people towards stereo pieces -- whether they be receivers, integrated amps with separate tuners or full blown separates -- when they ask about putting together a strictly music-only system.

I think Onkyo, getting back to the point of this thread and their new stereo receiver, realizes there is still some "magic" to be squeezed from this sliver of the market and also recognizes that there is still something to offer the person interested in a home music system who wants everything in one chassis, albeit with arguably "reduced" performance when compared to their higher end hi fi stuff (separates) they just released too. It is indeed refreshing to see companies like Onkyo and Yamaha and even Outlaw keeping the stereo receiver alive in this day and age -- sure, they don't have the cache and draw of the models of yesteryear with their blazing blue scopes for the tuning dials and VU meters to indicate signal strength and such, but it sure is nice to know they still exist, and that some models are getting "retro" touches with solid aluminum faceplates and classic turning knobs that are pleasing to the touch a la Yamaha and Onkyo. Further, it's even nicer to know that models from the likes of these three companies are undoubtedly made with a much more serious approach to audio and with better quality components than, say, the "stereo receivers" you see lined up in the home theater section of Best Buy or Radio Shack...you know, the $89 Sonys or Sherwoods with the knobs missing and wires hanging off them and such...

To me, that is the "extreme budget" or "cheap" approach to the stereo receiver subdivision -- not models from the companies I mentioned or perhaps Marantz or (at one time) NAD or Rotel.

 

[sholling]

I would say this is true, EXCEPT when the 4-ohms output is limited by the power supply. If that is the case, then an AVR normally has a better power supply than a stereo amp, because it has to supply 5 or 7 amps instead of two. That is why AVRs have the best power supplies for stereo use. My 140Watts Denon receiver clips at 210.9 watts into 8 ohms and 277.3 watts into 4 ohms. I doubt a 140W stereo receiver would give 277 watts in 4-ohms.

Agreed, I should have said more likely to find 4ohm certification from the factory. The power supply in a 7.1 channel AVR should be absolutely loafing when only driving two only channels.