Time for an upgrade any advice would be appreciated!

[Chappy]

See my signature for my current setup. I'm looking for a new reciever that can actually push my speakers well. My current reciever does the job, but defenitely not well. My budget is $500-$700. I was thinking of going with the Onkyo 809 but willing to take all suggestions. My current reciever is rated at 110 per channel and I defenitely believe I need more power.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Why do you think your Onkyo is not driving your speakers well?

What is your settings on the speaker channel level? Are they @ 0.0 dB or below (like -2.0, -3.0, etc).

His big is your room?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Why do you think your Onkyo is not driving your speakers well?

What is your settings on the speaker channel level? Are they @ 0.0 dB or below (like -2.0, -3.0, etc).

His big is your room?

Betas have been measured and conservatively rated at 6 Ohm and 89db - this should be easy load for your onkyo receiver

and One more question: What's your uses of this system and how loud do you expect it go?

 

[Chappy]

I haven't looked at my settings in a while. I used the automatic setup with the provided mic from Onkyo a few years ago. The room is 18x25 with 3 walls and opening up into our kitchen which extends out another 30ft. The reason I don't believe my reciever will push these speakers is that I have to crank the volume levels to 30-40db just for a standard listening level. 45-50 when the wife is not home. The front towers are bi-wired as well. My main use of the system is to watch TV and Movies.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I haven't looked at my settings in a while. I used the automatic setup with the provided mic from Onkyo a few years ago. The room is 18x25 with 3 walls and opening up into our kitchen which extends out another 30ft. The reason I don't believe my reciever will push these speakers is that I have to crank the volume levels to 30-40db just for a standard listening level. 45-50 when the wife is not home. The front towers are bi-wired as well. My main use of the system is to watch TV and Movies.

volume in db is measured from -60 to 0 - 0 db is loudest.
with my main speakers - we watch tv at -30db with wife or watch movie with friends at -20/-18db
and I never got above -12db since it's getting painfully loud

 

[Chappy]

volume in db is measured from -60 to 0 - 0 db is loudest.
with my main speakers - we watch tv at -30db with wife or watch movie with friends at -20/-18db
and I never got above -12db since it's getting painfully loud

My reciever goes from 0-60 60 being the loudest.

 

[fuzz092888]

So I googled onkyo HT-SR800 and came up with this

If this is in fact what you have then the max volume shouldn't stop at 60 it should go up to MAX or 80. The volume goes 1-79 and then one notch up from that is MAX. My guess is that your auto cal limited the max volume for one reason or another. You can manually go in and change the speaker levels so that you are able to change the master volume level.

That receiver should go plenty loud and if that is your only problem I wouldn't get rid of it just yet.

If you click on the link then go to the downloads tab you will see the onkyo manual if you don't already have it. Either way go to page 59 under the title: Speaker Levels and it will tell you how to adjust everything in case the auto cal cut you off. Hope that helps.

 

[Chappy]

Thanks for the input will have to look into the levels. I do want to have the option to stream music and also use HDMI audio, which this reciever does not support. Main reason I bought the Panasonic BD-50 as it supported component cables. Truthfully I am just looking for a nice upgrade and haven't stayed on top of what is good and what is not for a few years. I am looking for advice from the people who keep up with the latest in audio equipment.

 

[fuzz092888]

I'd go to accessories for less and pick up either the 809 or the Marantz 6006, either will get you streaming and HDMI for either within or pretty close to the upper end of your budget and the 809 is a good receiver and the Marantz is an excellent receiver IMHO.

If it were me with that budget I'd go with the 6006, but a similar Denon would be just as good. From the sounds of it you aren't big on navigating through somewhat complex menus so I'd stay away from Pioneer receivers. Yamaha has a good reputation, but I've never personally used one so........go test one if you're interested.

I had a Marantz 5006 and thought it was terrific, so I have no doubt that the 6006 will be as well. Currently I have an onkyo 3009, and while ADTG may not like them I think once you get up to this level they're pretty darn good. Denon and Marantz are owned by the same company so expect similar quality, albeit with a few differences, some sonic some not, both great.

The latest and greatest from all the companies are pretty similar in terms of the features they offer, but, again, if it were my $700 I'd probably go with a Marantz.

 

[GranteedEV]

The reason I don't believe my reciever will push these speakers is that I have to crank the volume levels to 30-40db just for a standard listening level.

I don't think you understand the meaning of "watts"

A standard listening level, for the most part, only asks the amplifier to produce maybe one to ten watts. Really.

So whether you have a 1kW amp or a 100 watt amp or 30 watt amp, you will need to "crank the volume levels up" to get one to ten watts of average output.

Where the higher output levels are concerned, is the ability to handle macrodynamics - rises in level above the standard listening level such as crescendos full of percussion and brass instruments without distorting. Unless your system is distorting those, then more power won't get you anything you're not using. Much of the time your receiver isn't even using one watt!

Now it might be time to get a new receiver, simply because we are biased against onkyo, but that has nothing to do with the "power".

trust me - 100 watts into a 6 ohm, 89db speaker, is a decent amount. It's likely your speakers themselves hit their limits before the amplifier does. The only things that might ask more out of the speakers, are things like the absolute LOUDEST moments in movie action scenes, and that's only if your average listening level is already pretty damn loud.

The front towers are bi-wired as well.

Why?

 

[Chappy]

Bi-wired
Why?

The speakers support this function and I'm told that it helps with the separation of lows in highs. Not exactly sure if that is true, but the speakers had that type of connection so I used it.

 

[fuzz092888]

No no, that is definitely not correct.

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/883668-post4.html

 

[GranteedEV]

The speakers support this function and I'm told that it helps with the separation of lows in highs. Not exactly sure if that is true, but the speakers had that type of connection so I used it.

just fyi, it doesn`t actually do anything. Just a bunch of nonsense.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

The speakers support this function and I'm told that it helps with the separation of lows in highs. Not exactly sure if that is true, but the speakers had that type of connection so I used it.

Did you know my two RBH subwoofers have this bi-wire/ bi-amp feature? Cool, huh?

My six KEF 201/2 speakers have Tri-wire/ tri-amp feature. Even cooler.

I don't bi-amp or tri-amp them or anything. I just thought it's cool.

I do quad-amp my Orions, though, since they are designed for active quad-amping.

Take home message:

1) Active bi-amping is more beneficial than passive bi-amping.

2) Theoretically, passive bi-amping and even bi-wiring may have some slight engineering merits, but it's mainly academic and most likely no real-life benefits.

 

[Chappy]

Interesting article on bi-wiring from an engineer with specs Bi-wire, not only an advantage

 

[Chappy]

Thank you all for your responses. I decided to go with the Onkyo 809. Thanks for the advice on Accessories4less. I should be recieving it sometime today. I will let everyone know what my thoughts are after I have had time to get it setup.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I have an onkyo 3009, and while ADTG may not like them

I missed this one.

To be perfectly clear, I have nothing against the Onkyo 800 and up.

Just make sure you get a PC fan, like a 200mm fan & power adapter & speed control, to keep the Onkyo cool. And keep the Onkyo in a well ventilated area for air flow.

Spec - wise, they measure great in terms of SNR, crosstalk, THD, FR, & WPC.