Onkyo Vs Pioneer
Good Morning Everyone,
Quick note on the Onkyo 603. The unit does not have pre-outs so you would be unable to add an amp later on. Need to move up to the 703 if you want to add an amp later.
I have both the Pioneer 815 and the Onkyo 603. The Onkyo is now in my main system for a couple of reasons.
Sound quality (to me) sounds better with the Onkyo.
The Onkyo has 90 (real world watts) per channel through the whole audio spectrum. The Pioneer has 100 Watts but at 1K. You will get much less when driving 5.1 or 7.1 speakers.
If you have alot of video equipment the Onkyo can upconvert any signal to component. The Pioneer can not do this (815)
The Onkyo has an on screen display (Believe me this helps) The Pioneer 815 does not.
For you IPOD lovers, the Onkyo has a dock which allows you to control your IPOD with the Onkyo remote control.
The Pioneer advantage (And I do like Pioneer) is that the 815 and above units have pre-outs for adding an amp.
The Pioneer does get loud, even though the Onkyo sounds loud and clear. I had a Pioneer Elite 24tx, which died after 5 years that also had 90 watts per channel and was THX select. The Onkyo actually sounded better (To me).
I've had some bad luck with Pioneer top of the line equipment so I am unable to predict how their low end will perform day to day. When you spend almost $1000.00 on a receiver and almost $ 600 fro a Elite DVD changer and they both give up the ghost in 5 years, something is really wrong. This is why I went shopping and brought the 815 first thinking I was going to fix the Pioneer Elite but that proved to be too costly. I then went out and brought the Onkyo after hearing the comparable sound.
I was so surprise at the Onkyo that I ended up buying the 6 disc DVD changer Onkyo CP702 and have really enjoy the picture and sound.
