Why did you hate Onkyo and give up on Denon and Yamaha? I don't hate Onkyo but my impression of Onkyo in hi fi is like Hyundai in cars. I remember years ago they were the low end Japanese products, below Sansui, Sony, JVC, let alone Yamaha and Denon but now they are considered top notch. I am a little biased against them only because I still remember how they were years ago. When I make my decision on my last receiver upgrade I actually considered the 905 but ended up with another Denon because a) in Canada the 905 was selling at the same price range as the Denon, b) I was able to get a good deal on the Denon, c) I just couldn't find a single good reason to pay for the Reon chip that also comes with more heat, d) I could not resist the wi fi feature, e) the 905 is slightly (in dB terms) more powerful but I use external amp (fronts only) anyway, and f) the Yamaha RX-Z7 was not out yet.
As much as I like the wifi, had I waited longer, I could have ended up with the Yamaha. Anyway, I am just curious to know your rationale on choosing Onkyo you used to hate and gave up on Yamaha and Denon you used to like. Thanks in advance.
Hey PENG,
Onkyo used to build all their receivers like battle ships, they were the best in the 80s, 90s too. Remember the Onkyo TX-DS989 (THX Ultra 7.1) in 2000?
Do you remember their flagship models from the late 80s to late 90s?
They were the best build, the best looking and the most powerful too.
So I guess that we have different informations then... But one thing for sure, is that I got at home all my magazines dating back from the mid 70s. I actually have a room full of it, it is my audio library room. Mags from all over, USA, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, etc.
When Onkyo came back to the scene in 2007 with the 605, 705, 805, 875 and 905, it was a huge come back with the first receivers that could decode the new high resolution audio codecs, including Audyssey room EQ and THX certification, plus HQV Reon video processor. That was the new revolution and it keep going into 2009 with the first receivers to include Dolby Pro Logic IIz, the 607. Look at the 876 and 906 for an example of DYNAMITE included inside a receiver!
Yep, I had to give up with my Denon AVR-3805, and I find the 805 a better fit for my own system than the newer Denon AVR-3808ci, which by the way was costing me $1,400 cdn as compared to the Onkyo 805 only $800 cdn. (The 3808ci retails for $1,850 cdn, and the 805 retails for $1,500 cdn.)
Denon 3808ci at 36 lbs compared to the 805 at 51 lbs. PCM-1796 in the 805 as compared to the 3808ci PCM-1791. Also the 805 is THX Ultra2 certified...
Can you see now my reasonning.
Same for Yamaha, they give you more features, but the build quality suffer.
My old 2092 was 44 lbs, now the similar ones are more money and about 6 pounds lighter. I was looking at the 2700, then the 3800, but still find the 805 a better receiver for less money, plus more power. The dacs are also PCM-1791.
I am from Canada, so my decisions are Canadian ones of course because of price differences.
If you read some of my posts in other threads, you'll get a better idea of where I'm coming from. And if you read me at AVS too.
I first build my own back surround speaker for a show on TV (black & white), Pink Floyd "Live in Pompeii" in 1970, if my memory still intact.
I bought my first audio system back in 1967, and upgrade the next year in 1968. And I never stop since then to always upgrade within my financial resources.
Now, my main room consist of a 13.2-channel configuration!
But of course they are not playing all together for now just yet, but that will come, at least 11.2-channel for sure.
It took me over two years of research and readings to finally make my move, do you realise what I just said, "OVER TWO YEARS" of intense research. That's when I purchased the 805 for $800 cdn on clearance.
The 875 was way too much money, and I did not need the Reon, because I already had it in my Sammy 5000.
And the 905 was just the same as the 875 for way more money.
For the last 20 years or so, my receivers are always listed at close to $2,000.
So they are always the 2nd from the top models.
And now that I only spend $800 for the 805, I decided to buy the 876 to compensate for the balance and use the 805 in my 2nd system.
I got over 10 receivers at home, do you think I need 2nd Zone and 3rd Zone for features?
Because I love so much my hobby, I became attached to all my component purchases and you can say that I am an automatic Receiver's collector and Disc players too and DVD players too and even HD DVD and Blu-Ray players, got 4 already!
I am a true Audioholic, pure and simple. I go to meetings to try attenuating my addiction!
That's the way I am, now that I'm older and wiser, plus extremely patient.
So my rationale is very simple and very calculated with intelligence and experience.
Example: In 1988, the first Dolby Pro Logic receiver was the Pioneer VSX-9300s, which was retailling for $1,200 cdn and that's what I paid, full price then.
In 1997, the first Yamaha Dolby Digital was the RX-V2092, retail was $2,100 cdn. I bought it for a bit less.
In 2004, one of the very best receiver for performance and value was the Denon AVR-3805, $1,920 cdn retail. I bought it the year after for 1/2 that price, without the mic. I bought the mic later.
At the end of the year 2006, I start at looking at new trends. I want in.
Year 2007, Onkyo is doing a huge come back. It is early spring 2007, and I'm researching for a new receiver with all the new audio codecs and want to upgrade my 3805 for sound quality and don't want to give up power for that.
Very balancing act indeed, without spending much more money either.
Waited, readed, researched, waited, more reading, more research, more waiting, price still too high, I am after a year of research, conviced that the Onkyo 805 or 875 is the one destined to be my next. Waited more, more readind, more research, I am more convinced than ever, my convictions begin to be more affirmative, more patience for the price that I set to myself.
More reading, more research, I read all the forums, reviews, all the receivers by all the manufacturers at prices between $799 usa MSRP to $5,500 usa MSRP.
I bought my 805 in the fall of 2008 at clearance price, happy as a cucumber.
End of February this year, I acquire the 876, double dip.
Do you really think that I regret not to buy the Denon AVR-3808ci or even the AVR-4308ci? Same for Marantz SR7002 and the SR8002 or Yamaha RX-V3800, RX-V3900 or even the RX-Z7. And same too for the Pioneer Elite SC-05 and SC-07.
No sir, the Onkyos were the new champs on the block, in particular the 805, 876 and 906 (well you can also include the 875, 905 and even the 705 with THX Select2 and Audyssey MultEQ XT).
I did my home work for such a long time and I've be patient to the extreme, that now I'm ready for the next one, the Onkyo TX-NR907.
I want Dolby Pro Logic IIz, Audyssey MultEQ XT Pro version 1.5 with also Audyssey DSX (Dynamic Surround Expansion). That's an 11.2 system, with two Front Height channels (discrete stereo), and two additional Front Wide Left & Right channels.
And I'm also looking very seriously at TacT TCS HD mkIII with HDMI version 1.4b
And my next TV will be 4k high resolution.
I'm also very interested in Holographic technology, multi-dimensional picture.
Anyway, I hope that it was enlightening for you to comprehend my rationale.
Best regards,
Bob
