This is my first review, any suggestion on how to make my future reviews better let me know.
Review of: Onkyo TX-SR805:
2/13/2008
Pro’s: UNDERPRICED (or priced right, which would make other receivers overpriced), Good Power, THX Certification, Easy set up, great packaging, and the build quality is AWESOME!
Con’s: Runs hot, taller and wider than most receivers in this price range, led display a little too small.
Indifferent: Remote
I wanted to give a review of the 7.1 channel 130x7 Onkyo TX-SR805 with Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master, and Thx ultra 2 certification.
First of all, the cons of this receiver are minor. Overall this is a GREAT receiver in my opinion. Let me begin by talking about the cons of this receiver. As most have said on here this machine runs hot and to me that is defined as too hot to touch after use. I can hold my hand about an inch from the top of this unit and feel the heat resonating from this machine. I have just ordered an AV cooler for this and I will see if this will help. I added running hot as a con due to the fact that this may affect long term use (both in one day and over the years).
My second con was that is is taller and wider than most receivers in its class and this could affect a person’s AV cabinet/stand. I put my Receiver on top of the AV stand so it is wide open with no confinement issues. But beware if you are replacing an old receiver and have height and width restrictions in your AV cabinet/stand.
The final con that I listed was that the LED screen is a tad too small. I have a hard time reading which speakers are being used on this machine. As opposed to the Denon AVR-3808 where they have icons for active speakers and speakers that are hooked into the system. On the Onkyo you have to get up and see which speakers are in use. Not a huge issue but could be annoying to some.
As for the issue that I am indifferent on is the remote. In my opinion the remote is a bit large but on the positive side the remote has backlit buttons. I have programmed all my components using this remote, which is also very nice. So as you can see some minor positives and negatives with the remote.
Now for the fun part the compliments of this system. First I want to say that I believe this unit is Priced just right, or underpriced. I believe with all the bells and whistles that this machine has you would be hard pressed to buy anything else that is 130 x 7, has the HD audio formats, and is THX ultra 2 certified. The only two differences my salesman had told me about between the Onkyo 805 and 875 is that the 875 is 140 x 7 and the HQV video processing. If there is more I apologize. But that is what my salesman shared with me. But for the $674 pricing that I got on this receiver I cannot complain, I can only be happy with this GREAT purchase.
I love the build quality of this beast. I think the volume knob and receiver buttons on the 805 are tight and not loose at all. It is a heavy machine and the salesman and several other posters on this site say they use quality internal products and no artificial weight is added to this machine. The door that hides some of the receiver button is also pretty heavy and consistent with the rest of the build quality on this machine. As far as the way this machine was packed, nothing will happen to this beast when shipped it is packed perfectly and tight in the box.
The sound quality on this machine is FANTASTIC. I believe in any movie mode, (HD Audio formats, THX, and normal ole Dolby Digital), the sound is clear and the bass is pushed pretty heavily on this beast. I really believe 6 of the 7 channels, in my opinion and how it sounds to my ear, are real even. I hooked up my speakers and used the Audessy set up and it sounds very even. The only channel I believe the Onkyo pushes a little bit more than the rest is the center channel. That is ok with me as I normally pump up the center channel anyway. I did not have to do that with this system. I checked the levels of all the speakers and they were all fairly even, (FL, FR, C, SL, SR, SBL, SBR) with the center actually set lower than the two fronts but it still appears to my ear that the Center is much louder than when I had it set up with Audessy on the Denon 3808. I thought the 3808 all 7 channels appeared to be even, after the Audessy speaker set up, and I of course upped the center channel volume on the 3808 but not with the 805.
The movies that I watched to test sound was Batman Begins HDDVD (Dolby TrueHD), Seabiscuit HDDVD (Dolby Digital +), and Pirates of the Carribean: At World’s End BluRay (Dolby TrueHD). In Batman, Dialogue was clear and concise and the action scenes were tight sounding and loud same with Pirates. The Pirates scene that I was extremely impressed with was the beginning fight scene when the british army invaded the pirate hangout in the swamp. In this you heard swords striking, guns being fired, clear dialogue, and bombs blasting. I felt like I was in the middle of the action. In Seabiscuit the sound was evenly matched and sounded great. You heard every hoof hitting the dirt, the wind hitting the riding shirts, and the dialogue was again very clear. With the 3808, I had to crank up the volume and adjust the center channel volume to hear the dialogue as clear as I did on the Onkyo 805.
As far as stereo music goes, the Denon 3808 took the cake on this one. The Onkyo performed very well but when comparing the two receivers the Onkyo was a little weaker with stereo performance. I did not hear as wide a sound stage on the Onkyo 805 as compared with the Denon 3808. When I listen to any CD on the Denon 3808 I really truly think that the center channel is on and working with FL and FR, but it is not, the sound is just that centered, clear, tight, and concise. But with the Onkyo that sound stage is not so center and wide. I truly do not think the center is being used when listening to CD’s on the 805. I will play with more options on this receiver to see if I can improve stereo sound. Trust me though it is still very good quality but when comparing I can tell the difference.
I listened to Kiss: Double Plantium, Guns N Roses: Use your Illusion II, Blue Man Group, Andrea Bocelli, Black Eyed Peas: Elephunk, and Charlie Daniels: Simple Man, all sounded good but not centered (not a true soundstage in my opinion). Blue man sounded the best with no singing but all instruments... these instruments were clear, loud, and tight. It just seems to me that vocals are not centered with the 805.
Listening to SACD’s and DVD-Audio, real good sound but again not as clear and concise as the Denon 3808. Both receivers are AWESOME at producing Deep Tight Bass and that is one reason I chose to go with these two receivers.
My opinion of the Onkyo TX-SR805 is in one word- - - AWESOME! I have it set up in my home theatre where I use it for 80% movies and this is where this receiver really excels- - - truly an amazing experience at home all for $674, I am impressed with the Onkyo quality and movie sound! I am happy with this purchase and would recommend this receiver to anyone! GREAT JOB ONKYO!
