Time to downgrade Onkyo receivers to Junk status?

[tasdisr]

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

So far I am really enjoying the 809, audio seems to be much clearer and crisper sounding. Only thing I have to get used to is it seems the volume has to be up to around 40-50 for a decent volume level.

 

[DS-21]

Not true. A passive crossover wastes at least half of the amp power and often a lot more.

Do you have any data to support that assertion?

 

[sholling]

So far I am really enjoying the 809, audio seems to be much clearer and crisper sounding. Only thing I have to get used to is it seems the volume has to be up to around 40-50 for a decent volume level.

That may relate to the way Audyssey setup your receiver. Audyssey calibrates the volume reading in relation to film reference level. In other words "0" = reference level (see below).

Audyssey FAQ

What are the best Dynamic EQ settings for movies, music, and video games?

Movies are mixed in rooms calibrated for film reference. To achieve the same reference level in a home theater system each speaker level must be adjusted so that –30 dBFS band-limited (500 Hz – 2000 Hz) pink noise produces 75 dB sound pressure level at the listening position. A home theater system automatically calibrated by Audyssey MultEQ will play at reference level when the master volume control is set to the 0 dB position. At that level you can hear the mix at the same level the mixers heard it.

 

[runswithscisors]

At that level you can hear the mix at the same level the mixers heard it.

For my ears' sake I'm glad I don't mix movies for a living.

 

[PeteG]

I wish I could report good experience with Onkyo. My HDMI board has failed repeatedly. I put fans all over it and made sure
the unit did not get hot. Customer service is rude. This is a known problem and they really don't seem to care. The unit performed well
but there is some sort of solder joint problem that occurs. My 707 is going in the trash. Problems started few months out of warranty.
Life is too short to keep getting the HMDI board repaired.

 

[jay21112]

Just adding my experience into the pot:

Onkyo SR875, in an open back TV stand, with 3 inches space above it, and quiet CPU fan blowing over the top since day one.
Used on average 6 hours a week for maybe 5 years (?) now (ok there may have been a few 24-hour gaming marathons in year 1 and 2, but zero gaming as of late).

Front display dimmed last Friday, and was nonexistant by Saturday.
Rest of it still works, but I'd really like to know what listening setting it's in, and what volume it's on.
So, I'm going to pick up some soldering tools and resistors, and follow the instructions here: "The" Onkyo TX-SR805 Thread - Page 579

I'll let you know if (when) my HDMI board goes, but as of yet, the display is the only issue I have.

 

[jay21112]

I think I have the 805, not the 875, but anyways, I just replaced the resistors as in the thread I cited above, and my display works again.
I've always had an external fan blowing over the Onkyo, but while I had her opened up, I installed another quiet CPU fan just above the transformer, which is plugged into the 12V triggered outlet.
So, now whenever the Onkyo is on, the fan is on - and no mater where I move it, it will always go with it, since it's attached.
Some pics below.

 

[Balrog]

Jip, Onkyo receivers are utter junk. Had my R548 for about 2.5 years. One morning, it just doesn't want to switch on anymore. Does a 'click' after pressing the power button. The screen wants to come alive, but just goes dark again.

Was quoted $180 to fix. Told them to screw it. Will see if there are any resources on the net that can help. I will have to try fix it on my own. Needless to say, I will NEVER AGAIN buy anything made by Onkyo.

Has anybody maybe experienced this issue or know where I can look for help?

Thanks!

 

[TLS Guy]

Jip, Onkyo receivers are utter junk. Had my R548 for about 2.5 years. One morning, it just doesn't want to switch on anymore. Does a 'click' after pressing the power button. The screen wants to come alive, but just goes dark again.

Was quoted $180 to fix. Told them to screw it. Will see if there are any resources on the net that can help. I will have to try fix it on my own. Needless to say, I will NEVER AGAIN buy anything made by Onkyo.

Has anybody maybe experienced this issue or know where I can look for help?

Thanks!

Do you have experience with electronics service? Do you own test equipment and know how to use it? If not take your unit to the recycling center.

This could be a huge range of problems. First you need to isolate the power supply and see if it is outputting the correct voltage. To know what voltages you it should output, you need a service manual. The problem is that manufacturers do not make service manuals available except to authorized service centers. In my view that needs changing under law. In my view an owner of equipment ought to have access to service manuals for gear he owns.

If the power supply is OK, then you need to disconnect the power amps, and see if one of them is sending the unit into shut down. If one is, it is most likely shorted power transistors. The fault can go back to the driver stage when this happens, so that need checking as well. If the amps are blameless, isolate the HDMI board. If that is defective, since it is ONKYO a recap of that board might work. If not then you need an new HDMI board which will be expensive. If is not the HDMI board, then it is probably the pre/amp processor board and then you need to junk it.

If this does not make sense to you, then take your unit to the recycling center and buy a new receiver.

One other word of advice: - That receiver was towards the lower end of the price scale. In my view the lower end receivers from all manufacturers you can expect to blow just after the warranty expires and often before. You now need to be at the mid price point of a range or a little above for longevity.

 

[lsiberian]

Unfortunately I'm not sure any mass produced brand really lasts anymore, but I can understand the frustration. Any chance you could get a pre-pro and amp setup?

 

[TLS Guy]

Unfortunately I'm not sure any mass produced brand really lasts anymore, but I can understand the frustration. Any chance you could get a pre-pro and amp setup?

I'm not sure either. The problem is it is serious. Europe is the largest consumer market due to population. They also have onerous taxes like VAT, which drives up the price of consumer goods, and encourages purchases at the low end of the market.

That produces a problem, as they are drowning in broken electronics as are we, but there problem is magnitudes worse. The dirty truth is that very little of a TV, receiver or mobile devices can be recycled. They are also full of toxins. These goods end up getting dumped in the third world, but its still our planet.

The EEC came up with a plan to add about a $700 dollar charge to things like TVs up front as a disposal charge. That was just before the recession hit and when it did this idea was dropped.

However there is now a lot of discussion about how to deal with it. The UK government in the usual ignorance of all such bodies has a fix it campaign. However they don't realize the cost of fixing versus new, the impossibility of fixing a lot of modern gear and obsolescence.

I do think the issue has to be addressed. Mobile devices present a difficult problem. However regulations to require modular construction of other gear such as receivers should in my view be considered. A good deal of the pollution potential is in the power supplies. So making all the stages modular by plug in replacement at the back would be a big step forward. It would not only help service, but solve excess replacement of whole units with the need for upgrade.

In the meantime I think it responsible for us on these forums to really push back against purchases at the bottom end. I for one am going to take a tougher line on it. It is frankly now irresponsible to buy electronics that has a significant chance of going to the recycling center after the warranty just runs out.

For the budget minded, buying better older equipment would be a more responsible route. So if we bought better gear, it would have value on the used market and not go to the recycling center, when we want and can afford newer codecs, HDMI and streaming etc.

Junk low end units need vigorous do not purchase recommendations here, and especially those low end subs.

 

[jotham]

Unfortunately I'm not sure any mass produced brand really lasts anymore, but I can understand the frustration. Any chance you could get a pre-pro and amp setup?

I'm one of those Onkyo 805 owners that hasn't had a problem. However, I had read a review that said they ran hot so I put two computer fans on the top from day 1. The biggest problem I've had is that the receiver is getting outdated so I ended up buying an OPPO 103 and sending just audio to the Onkyo. It's worked great so far. I lust after the new receivers (with better Audessey) but it's very hard to justify given what a powerhouse the 805 is.

Getting back to your question, in my purely anecdotal experience, the toughest receivers I've dealt with have been Yamahas. Even the low end stereo receivers seem to be built to take abuse. They are more expensive for the same features but all of the ones that I or my family have bought, have lasted for a long time.

I'm not a big fan of Sony receivers as it seems that all it takes is a bad wire connection to quickly fry them. My parents have had two different Sony receivers (low to mid end) and each one has died fairly quickly. Once we purchased Yamaha, I haven't seen an issue.

In summary, even though I desire Audessey in a future receiver, I will likely go with Yamaha or maybe Onkyo set up as Pre-Pro config.

Jotham

 

[TLS Guy]

I'm one of those Onkyo 805 owners that hasn't had a problem. However, I had read a review that said they ran hot so I put two computer fans on the top from day 1. The biggest problem I've had is that the receiver is getting outdated so I ended up buying an OPPO 103 and sending just audio to the Onkyo. It's worked great so far. I lust after the new receivers (with better Audessey) but it's very hard to justify given what a powerhouse the 805 is.

Getting back to your question, in my purely anecdotal experience, the toughest receivers I've dealt with have been Yamahas. Even the low end stereo receivers seem to be built to take abuse. They are more expensive for the same features but all of the ones that I or my family have bought, have lasted for a long time.

I'm not a big fan of Sony receivers as it seems that all it takes is a bad wire connection to quickly fry them. My parents have had two different Sony receivers (low to mid end) and each one has died fairly quickly. Once we purchased Yamaha, I haven't seen an issue.

In summary, even though I desire Audessey in a future receiver, I will likely go with Yamaha or maybe Onkyo set up as Pre-Pro config.

Jotham

Either way you are taking steps to extend equipment life, and that has to be a major consideration from here on out. Consumers need to make their voices known that longevity is a big issue and selling factor for them.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Just going to voice another happy 805 owner. Yes, they do run hot. I don't use fan, but instead opting running it essentially open air and clearing dust from top vents periodically.

As for outdated... I guess It doesn't do 3d, which I don't care about, but does support HD audio codecs... and only 3 hdmi inputs
But 805 was never meant to bottom of the pack, on the opposite quite safely in middle-high end at $1100 msrp is not exactly a bargain, thou I think I got mine much cheaper at $700.

jotham is right, amps in 805 are extremely capable and it would be shame to replace to anything less powerful.

I do know one thing for sure, next one will Denon.

 

[walter duque]

My first real AVR was a Onkyo (model# I don't remember) I purchased it in the late 90's (100 watts X 5 High current, retail was around $1200.00, paid $625.00 the week it first came out. Passed it on to my cousin years ago and it is still in daily use, and it's in an enclosed cabinet. No issues at all.

 

[Pyrrho]

My first real AVR was a Onkyo (model# I don't remember) I purchased it in the late 90's (100 watts X 5 High current, retail was around $1200.00, paid $625.00 the week it first came out. Passed it on to my cousin years ago and it is still in daily use, and it's in an enclosed cabinet. No issues at all.

That is too old to be relevant to what they are making now. I have an Integra (upscale Onkyo) CD player that I like very much. It is old and has had so much use that if it died today, I would not complain about it. Onkyo made good gear, but they don't seem to make good gear. Verb tense is important.

 

[shadyJ]

Supposedly the Onkyo *05 series were a pretty solid line.

My Onkyo 707 kicked the bucket last week. At a bad time too, seldom visiting family was over to watch Frozen on my screen (loathsome movie, btw), and everyone had just sat down, I fire the system up, and no sound, no matter what I did. From what I have read, this is typical when the HDMI daughter board goes south. Looks like it will be nearly $300 to fix, but since the problem looks to be recurrent for that model, I will just get a new AVR. This a bad timing too, I have to buy a new sumpump among other expenses. I can't really spare more than $600 for an AVR, and I am looking at the Yamaha RX-V775WA. Is there anything better out there for 600?

I bought the Onkyo 707 around 2009 or 10? It was used in a well ventilated area, and not too much humidity. It always ran hot though, no matter what. My 1990 Kenwood is still kicking, my Pioneer Elite from 2001 is still kicking. I think I will be steering clear of Onkyo.

 

[3db]

Supposedly the Onkyo *05 series were a pretty solid line.

My Onkyo 707 kicked the bucket last week. At a bad time too, seldom visiting family was over to watch Frozen on my screen (loathsome movie, btw), and everyone had just sat down, I fire the system up, and no sound, no matter what I did. From what I have read, this is typical when the HDMI daughter board goes south. Looks like it will be nearly $300 to fix, but since the problem looks to be recurrent for that model, I will just get a new AVR. This a bad timing too, I have to buy a new sumpump among other expenses. I can't really spare more than $600 for an AVR, and I am looking at the Yamaha RX-V775WA. Is there anything better out there for 600?

I bought the Onkyo 707 around 2009 or 10? It was used in a well ventilated area, and not too much humidity. It always ran hot though, no matter what. My 1990 Kenwood is still kicking, my Pioneer Elite from 2001 is still kicking. I think I will be steering clear of Onkyo.

I'm sorry to hear that but I'm also not surprised either. With a dismal customer service and QA that falls far below even NAD, I don't know how this company is staying afloat. If your not hung up on Audessy, then the Yamaha would be your best choice in terms of reliability, QA, and customer service.

 

[ematthews]

I can cook a hamburger on my Onkyo 805 it gets so hot.. It's been this way for 5 years. Always scared it will light up one day.

 

[walter duque]

That is too old to be relevant to what they are making now. I have an Integra (upscale Onkyo) CD player that I like very much. It is old and has had so much use that if it died today, I would not complain about it. Onkyo made good gear, but they don't seem to make good gear. Verb tense is important.

Onkyo only makes their top end models, which are made in Japan. Everything else is farmed out to East Tech. Who ever comes in the cheapest gets the contract. If it's not made in Japan it's garbarge.