Onkyo TX-SR806: BE afraid!

[binary fly]

The Onkyo TX-SR806 runs very hot. We knew this when we made our purchase 13 months ago, by reports from numerous reviewers. We thought we would be safe, because knowing this in advance, we gave it a lot of
breathing room. We were wrong!

After 13 months of use, it made a loud, explosive pop and flames shot out the top of the receiver. When quickly unplugged, it died down, but we are left to wonder if we had not witnessed the event, and acted promptly, if the burn-out would have been self-limiting, or if a fire would have started.

We purchased from Amazon. When Onkyo was notified, they validated there was a 2 year warranty, but claimed it was Amazon's responsibility. Amazon said NO, it was Onkyo's responsibility. So, basically we're receiving no help with this situation and have been refered to Amazon's legal department.

If you check out reviews on Amazon, and elsewhere, it is clear that this is a serious, potentially dangerous, defect, because the same thing has happened to others. A word of caution to all considering this product: BUYER beware!

 

[TLS Guy]

The Onkyo TX-SR806 runs very hot. We knew this when we made our purchase 13 months ago, by reports from numerous reviewers. We thought we would be safe, because knowing this in advance, we gave it a lot of
breathing room. We were wrong!

After 13 months of use, it made a loud, explosive pop and flames shot out the top of the receiver. When quickly unplugged, it died down, but we are left to wonder if we had not witnessed the event, and acted promptly, if the burn-out would have been self-limiting, or if a fire would have started.

We purchased from Amazon. When Onkyo was notified, they validated there was a 2 year warranty, but claimed it was Amazon's responsibility. Amazon said NO, it was Onkyo's responsibility. So, basically we're receiving no help with this situation and have been refered to Amazon's legal department.

If you check out reviews on Amazon, and elsewhere, it is clear that this is a serious, potentially dangerous, defect, because the same thing has happened to others. A word of caution to all considering this product: BUYER beware!

That gives new meaning to the slogan for that unit on the Onkyo site! "This is what explosive sounds like!" I would never let an add man put a slogan like that above any electronics product. Now they are really in for a dig and serve them right.

I have been warning about these current receivers. There is just too much packed into the case. Anyhow even with cheap Far Eastern labor I defy any one to make a product that is any good with those facilities for that money.

What happened to you is what I would expect to happen and would never consider purchasing such a product for a second.

 

[smooth2222]

I have the 807, did they fix this issue in the new model? you got me kinda scared there.

hopefully the 807 runs a little cooler?

 

[MidnightSensi]

Bummer! Sorry about that experience.

Everything runs so hot now. My Onkyo Pre-Amp is the hottest piece of equipment in my rack, hotter than AppleTV...hotter than 2,000watt amplifiers..... They need to start adding some (quiet) fans to these things, it's ridiculous.

 

[sholling]

Just as an FYI I have a 906 and a 606 and I would say that in an open rack 5" is minimum clearance above. FWIW I wouldn't even consider putting my 906 in a closed space that didn't leave lots of free space above it and at least 100cfm of exhaust fans just for the receiver and a thermostatic control to run the fans until the receiver cooled after shutdown. I just run fans for both and avoid problems. Space was limited in the family room rack and a cooling fan was a must. The 906 has a switched outlet and I use that to power a fan.

The 606 sits in a closed cabinet in my master bedroom. I drilled several 1" holes under the receiver where it can pull air from the front, and left 4" air gap above. The 12v fan is thermostatically controlled and sucks the warm air out of that air gap at about 30cfm. The investment including the controller was around $50.

 

[Adam]

Yikes! Sorry to hear about that, and thanks for the heads up.

Everything runs so hot now.

My 2005 Pioneer VSX-1015 ran kinda hot, but my 2009 Pioneer Elite VSX-23 runs nice and cool (and it doesn't use the ICE amps). I've been very happy with it.

 

[tcarcio]

I don't understand how any company can sell electronic equipment that runs as hot as Onkyo's recievers do. It is pretty irresponsible and just asking for trouble. But I guess if they are not going to cover it they don't care.

 

[bandphan]

Yikes! Sorry to hear about that, and thanks for the heads up.



My 2005 Pioneer VSX-1015 ran kinda hot, but my 2009 Pioneer Elite VSX-23 runs nice and cool (and it doesn't use the ICE amps). I've been very happy with it.

Pioneer does a great job with case design

 

[jinjuku]

We purchased from Amazon. When Onkyo was notified, they validated there was a 2 year warranty, but claimed it was Amazon's responsibility. Amazon said NO, it was Onkyo's responsibility. So, basically we're receiving no help with this situation and have been refered to Amazon's legal department.

Is it me or wasn't there another thread were Onkyo was shirking their warranty obligations...?

 

[TLS Guy]

Is it me or wasn't there another thread were Onkyo was shirking their warranty obligations...?

You are correct.

 

[rnatalli]

What disturbs me isn't the receiver catching fire as pretty much every brand has had a receiver do that, rather that Onkyo is running away from its responsibilities to honor the warranty.

 

[PENG]

Please don't think that only Onkyo runs hot. I am not sure about the 3808 but my 4308 also runs noticeably hotter thann my 3805. The 4308 has wifi and a more powerful video processor in it. WIFI was the main reason why I preferred the 4308 at the time. Thinking back, things like wifi, Reon, Faroudja are just waste of time and money. All they do is to help heating your room. WIFI is too slow for streaming anything other than digital photos and may be MP3 kind of music if you have a fast connection. Video processing in a receiver is a myth that does nothing to improve your analog signals. VHS still looks VHS and any BD player nowaday can do a good up upscaling. Many BD players and/or HDTV do a good enough job nowadays on their own.

Like TLSGuy said, they are packing way too many things in one box. My next receiver would have everything my 4308 has including the power, but no wifi and only HDMI pass through. Will Denon, Onkyo, Yamaha, Pioneer, HK, etc. listen? Until then, I strong suggest anyone who has a 2008 or later mid range receiver install a little computer fan just in case. At the very least, a $20 fan installed will help improve the reliability and longevity of your investment.

 

[tcarcio]

Please don't think that only Onkyo runs hot. I am not sure about the 3808 but my 4308 also runs noticeably hotter thann my 3805. The 4308 has wifi and a more powerful video processor in it. WIFI was the main reason why I preferred the 4308 at the time. Thinking back, things like wifi, Reon, Faroudja are just waste of time and money. All they do is to help heating your room. WIFI is too slow for streaming anything other than digital photos and may be MP3 kind of music if you have a fast connection. Video processing in a receiver is a myth that does nothing to improve your analog signals. VHS still looks VHS and any BD player nowaday can do a good up upscaling. Many BD players and/or HDTV do a good enough job nowadays on their own.

Like TLSGuy said, they are packing way too many things in one box. My next receiver would have everything my 4308 has including the power, but no wifi and only HDMI pass through. Will Denon, Onkyo, Yamaha, Pioneer, HK, etc. listen? Until then, I strong suggest anyone who has a 2008 or later mid range receiver install a little computer fan just in case. At the very least, a $20 fan installed will help improve the reliability and longevity of your investment.

I agree with your statement to a point. It is one thing to run warm but so far as I know the Onkyo brand has more threads and posts from owners complaining about it being "HOT" and not just warm. Onkyo has known about this from the start and did nothing except put the product out there and hope for the best. I have had many different brands of reciever, Pioneer, HK, Sherwood Newcastle,Sony,Yamaha, and yes even Onkyo a few years back but none of them had the problems that these new onkyo models seem to have. Heat and electronics don't mix and they know it so to put out a product that has excessive heat is irresponsible. IMO.

 

[Alex2507]

... flames shot out the top of the receiver.

That's how you get that 'warm' sound.

 

[tcarcio]

That's how you get that 'warm' sound.

Also they get the "HOT" new product award............

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I hope my TX-SR805 won't have same future... I does run very hot, but in out in the open sit on the bottom shelf, there air "should" be colder

 

[Adam]

I hope my TX-SR805 won't have same future... I does run very hot, but in out in the open sit on the bottom shelf, there air "should" be colder

Plus, you could use a small fan on it if you're worried about it.

 

[Shock]

The warranty is 100% Onkyo's responsibility. Amazon can choose to get involved if they want to, but they would just do what you have to do. That is contact Onkyo and tell them to get their *** in gear.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

If I own an ONKYO, I would immediately UNPLUG it from the outlet every time I leave the room!!!

This is a SERIOUS matter that cannot be taken lightly.

I think I'm getting kind of sick of all the ONKYO problems. They are giving Receivers a really bad name.

I don't seem to have issues with my Denon 5308 (no heat issues), but the next time I upgrade, I'm going back to amps and pre-pro.

 

[smooth2222]

After 13 months of use, it made a loud, explosive pop and flames shot out the top of the receiver. When quickly unplugged, it died down, but we are left to wonder if we had not witnessed the event, and acted promptly, if the burn-out would have been self-limiting, or if a fire would have started.

!

was this while it was on playing sound? or on standby? when the fire happened?