Time to downgrade Onkyo receivers to Junk status?

[tasdisr]

I have had an Onkyo TX-SR805 that has been flawless for the last 4 years and I am considering replacing it with an 809 soon.

 

[ahblaza]

I have had an Onkyo TX-SR805 that has been flawless for the last 4 years and I am considering replacing it with an 809 soon.

Tas, I highly reccommend the 809, you do realize you will be purchasing the end run of these X09 models and possibly a defective serial number. I would encourage you to buy from OneCall, they have removed all stock with the bad SN's, the 809 is $689 from them right now, with an email to them asking for their best price may get you an even lower price, they respond quickly to all best price offers. They also have a good thirty day return policy if you are not satified, Newegg has them priced right also but they have a replacement only policy, OneCall has refund and replacement options. I took me a long time to get a unit that was not defective but it was worth it in the end.
Cheers Jeff

 

[LAB3]

Tas, I highly reccommend the 809, you do realize you will be purchasing the end run of these X09 models and possibly a defective serial number. I would encourage you to buy from OneCall, they have removed all stock with the bad SN's, the 809 is $689 from them right now, with an email to them asking for their best price may get you an even lower price, they respond quickly to all best price offers. They also have a good thirty day return policy if you are not satified, Newegg has them priced right also but they have a replacement only policy, OneCall has refund and replacement options. I took me a long time to get a unit that was not defective but it was worth it in the end.
Cheers Jeff

Good to know. Did you have to pay for freight every time until you finally got a good unit? It's not the 30 days but the 20 to 30 months of daily 10 to 14 hour days I would worry about. I will never buy another AVR online unless the seller pays freight if there is a problem a year ot two later and you can purchase a extra 2 year service policy like Best Buy has. If my Yamaha goes bad after 30 months and can't be repaired Best Buys gives me full price I paid in store credit. Pick out a New different AVR and drive home with it. no freight, no Factory Customer Service calls....... hope you never have to go thru that. I loved my 805 and for the money the 809 is a killer deal...if you get one that works. I wanted a Emotive UMC-1 and 5X200 mmatching amp but the Pre/Pro UMC-1 had a bad failure rate......... so went back to another Yamaha AVR as my old 2003 Yamaha AVR still works..(no HDMI or HD audio)
I have fans on all my equipment and never stacked on my AVR or amps. Good luck with 809 they do have nice sounding amps for a AVR.

 

[tasdisr]

Tas, I highly reccommend the 809, you do realize you will be purchasing the end run of these X09 models and possibly a defective serial number. I would encourage you to buy from OneCall, they have removed all stock with the bad SN's, the 809 is $689 from them right now, with an email to them asking for their best price may get you an even lower price, they respond quickly to all best price offers. They also have a good thirty day return policy if you are not satified, Newegg has them priced right also but they have a replacement only policy, OneCall has refund and replacement options. I took me a long time to get a unit that was not defective but it was worth it in the end.
Cheers Jeff

Hi Jeff, I know the 809 is end of life that is why it is so tempting to pick one up at these prices. That is good to know about OneCall having removed all of the bad stock.

I love my 805. It has been troublefree, but the added features of the 809 look awfully nice!

 

[ahblaza]

Good to know. Did you have to pay for freight every time until you finally got a good unit? It's not the 30 days but the 20 to 30 months of daily 10 to 14 hour days I would worry about. I will never buy another AVR online unless the seller pays freight if there is a problem a year ot two later and you can purchase a extra 2 year service policy like Best Buy has. If my Yamaha goes bad after 30 months and can't be repaired Best Buys gives me full price I paid in store credit. Pick out a New different AVR and drive home with it. no freight, no Factory Customer Service calls....... hope you never have to go thru that. I loved my 805 and for the money the 809 is a killer deal...if you get one that works. I wanted a Emotive UMC-1 and 5X200 mmatching amp but the Pre/Pro UMC-1 had a bad failure rate......... so went back to another Yamaha AVR as my old 2003 Yamaha AVR still works..(no HDMI or HD audio)
I have fans on all my equipment and never stacked on my AVR or amps. Good luck with 809 they do have nice sounding amps for a AVR.

Lab, never paid freight either way, Onkyo USA took the matter on, I never had to deal with Amazon again, plus they gave me a 30% discount for all the returns and defective units. The 809 is a killer deal especially now that I got a functioning unit, I do run my components like you sometimes all day, and I expect some longevity even at these levels. I bought my video displays at Best Buy and agree that they are easy to work with with no compromise returns. I heard rumors that they are going bankrupt? Take care my friend.
Jeff

 

[ahblaza]

Hi Jeff, I know the 809 is end of life that is why it is so tempting to pick one up at these prices. That is good to know about OneCall having removed all of the bad stock.

I love my 805. It has been troublefree, but the added features of the 809 look awfully nice!

Tas, it really is a featured laiden receiver with a real nice amp section, I don't think the 2012 models offer anything more to justify the new model prices., I would suggest you get a 809 while they are still available if you feel the need to do so. The 805 is a nice unit also, and as you say it has been trouble free. I have dealt with OneCall many times and they have excellent customer service and are open to price negotiation, all you have to do is ask...
Cheers Jeff

 

[tasdisr]

Tas, it really is a featured laiden receiver with a real nice amp section, I don't think the 2012 models offer anything more to justify the new model prices., I would suggest you get a 809 while they are still available if you feel the need to do so. The 805 is a nice unit also, and as you say it has been trouble free. I have dealt with OneCall many times and they have excellent customer service and are open to price negotiation, all you have to do is ask...
Cheers Jeff

Ahblaza, I placed an order with Onecall last night and should have my 809 early next week. I was not able to get a better price from Onecall, but still feel I got a bargain.
Since I had some Amazon points to use I placed the order with Onecall through Amazon's site, which saved me a few more dollars.

 

[LAB3]

Lab, never paid freight either way, Onkyo USA took the matter on, I never had to deal with Amazon again, plus they gave me a 30% discount for all the returns and defective units. The 809 is a killer deal especially now that I got a functioning unit, I do run my components like you sometimes all day, and I expect some longevity even at these levels. I bought my video displays at Best Buy and agree that they are easy to work with with no compromise returns. I heard rumors that they are going bankrupt? Take care my friend.
Jeff

Hey Jeff
Glad you were able to get Onkyo to pay freight. Back in 2008/09 when my 805 first starting to fail I finally got a Customer Service manager on the phone(many wasted emails and phone calls later) and he said he would call or email me back.. never heard a word. A recall on the early 805 should have been issued(what the manager was looing into) as the later units seem to have been good working AVR. Looks like they have addressed some off their issues. I loved my 805. it had more WPC then the Yamaha I have. It seems to me a AVR that does NOT go online will have less issues then one's that do... see my RX-V1900(does Not) vs the 3800 it's the almost the same but a few more options(goes online) I don't use.The 3800 has firmware updates.... the 1900 does not. I just looked on Yamaha Factory sire looking for updates. I have looked at the 809 specs...Nice and great Deal you got. Can get the Square Deal extended warranty?? If so something to think about. Enjoy if it sounds as good as the 805 you will love it.
Louis

 

[fuzz092888]

Ahblaza, I placed an order with Onecall last night and should have my 809 early next week. I was not able to get a better price from Onecall, but still feel I got a bargain.
Since I had some Amazon points to use I placed the order with Onecall through Amazon's site, which saved me a few more dollars.

I can understand why you wouldn't have gotten a better deal, since one call already has it on sale. Usually one call only negotiates if they have the "name your price" link on the items page. It's a good price too, Vanns has it listed on amazon for ten cents less, but that's hardly a reason to go nuts

 

[tasdisr]

I can understand why you wouldn't have gotten a better deal, since one call already has it on sale. Usually one call only negotiates if they have the "name your price" link on the items page. It's a good price too, Vanns has it listed on amazon for ten cents less, but that's hardly a reason to go nuts

I did not know that about the "name your price" link as this is the first time I have purchased anything from OneCall. That is good to know for future purposes. All in all the prices are great for a receiver this feature rich.

Although I was thinking of waiting for the 818, I could not pass up the 809 at this price point!!

 

[ahblaza]

Ahblaza, I placed an order with Onecall last night and should have my 809 early next week. I was not able to get a better price from Onecall, but still feel I got a bargain.
Since I had some Amazon points to use I placed the order with Onecall through Amazon's site, which saved me a few more dollars.

Tas, that's great news, I know OneCall's price was already low, I know you got it at a good price, it will be money well spent, enjoy my friend, let us know what you think when you get it.
Cheers Jeff

 

[ahblaza]

I can understand why you wouldn't have gotten a better deal, since one call already has it on sale. Usually one call only negotiates if they have the "name your price" link on the items page. It's a good price too, Vanns has it listed on amazon for ten cents less, but that's hardly a reason to go nuts

They have negotiated with me on several occasions on various audio products without the name your price link. You will be surprised at some of the deals I've received at OneCall.
Jeff

 

[tasdisr]

Ahblaza

Looking forward to getting and setting it up. I was originally thinking of getting the 818 when it is released, but did not feel it was worth the price difference.

I think the 809 was a great choice of a feature rich receiver at bargain price.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I think the Onkyo from 800 series on up are pretty solid.

And the higher end like 3000 series should be very solid.

The ones I've heard with reliability issues are usually the lower end models.

 

[ahblaza]

Hey Jeff
Glad you were able to get Onkyo to pay freight. Back in 2008/09 when my 805 first starting to fail I finally got a Customer Service manager on the phone(many wasted emails and phone calls later) and he said he would call or email me back.. never heard a word. A recall on the early 805 should have been issued(what the manager was looing into) as the later units seem to have been good working AVR. Looks like they have addressed some off their issues. I loved my 805. it had more WPC then the Yamaha I have. It seems to me a AVR that does NOT go online will have less issues then one's that do... see my RX-V1900(does Not) vs the 3800 it's the almost the same but a few more options(goes online) I don't use.The 3800 has firmware updates.... the 1900 does not. I just looked on Yamaha Factory sire looking for updates. I have looked at the 809 specs...Nice and great Deal you got. Can get the Square Deal extended warranty?? If so something to think about. Enjoy if it sounds as good as the 805 you will love it.
Louis

Hey Louis, like I said I had to go through the script readers, parts department and finally to the top of the pecking order, it took a lot of phone calls and emails, in the end I was fortunate to have found and corresponded with someone who had the authority to resolve this issue of three defective products. Needless to say I was compensated for my inconviences both monatarily and with a working unit, longevity is another concern, I will purchase extended warranty from either Onkyo or a reputable company that I can easily access in my area. I have some homework to do, take care my friend.
Jeff

 

[ahblaza]

I think the Onkyo from 800 series on up are pretty solid.

And the higher end like 3000 series should be very solid.

The ones I've heard with reliability issues are usually the lower end models.

ADTG, most of the units that are affected were manufactured during Oct. through Dec. 2011 and Jan. 2012. they included all X09 models. I would have thought any apparent failures would be in the early production models but it surprised me that these recalls were at the end of production. I am trying to focus on the positive at this point, I believe my situation is not unique but Onkyo has done the right thing for me.
Jeff

 

[tasdisr]

Tas, that's great news, I know OneCall's price was already low, I know you got it at a good price, it will be money well spent, enjoy my friend, let us know what you think when you get it.
Cheers Jeff

I got my 809 Wednesday and got it hooked up Friday. After I hooked everything up, i set up the UWF-1 wireless adapter, connected to the network and downloaded the new firmware. I then ran Audyssey to finish the setup. So far I am very impressed with the 809. My wife even made a comment on how much better it sounds to her.


Hope to play around with it this weekend and try everything out.

 

[ahblaza]

I got my 809 Wednesday and got it hooked up Friday. After I hooked everything up, i set up the UWF-1 wireless adapter, connected to the network and downloaded the new firmware. I then ran Audyssey to finish the setup. So far I am very impressed with the 809. My wife even made a comment on how much better it sounds to her.


Hope to play around with it this weekend and try everything out.

Tas, glad to hear the good news, I'm still learning to use all the different functions the 809 has to offer. I'm really impressed with the amp section, I used it as a prepro with outboard amps, and also the 809 amps only and must say I was very impressed both ways. Take care brother.
Jeff

 

[Solid-State]

Great thread TLS Guy.

I have a friend who owns a shop that upstairs has at least a couple hundred FAILED UNITS.

People need to know about the high failure rates.

 

[Solid-State]

I think the Onkyo from 800 series on up are pretty solid.

And the higher end like 3000 series should be very solid.

The ones I've heard with reliability issues are usually the lower end models.

Yeah and don't underestimate the amount of people purchasing those AVRs that are trying to salvage a Bose HTIAB thus damaging the amp section hooking it up to those horrible speakers.

You know what's even CRAZIER there are special version of the Bose speakers for sale with Onkyo in the Japanese market in a HTIAB format.

Crazy world.

PS I've never seen them but I'd bet money the speakers are entirely different transducers and design with only the badge/stencil and formfactor being the same.