Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Onkyo 800 series receivers - are they "high end"

While waiting to take delivery of my new Epic HT set I am researching AV receivers. My short list has included Pioneer Elite (VSX 92 or 94) and Denon models (2808 or 3808) but I've also read some very good things about Onkyo, such as the 805 and 875.

I'm far from up-to-date on what's hot/not, but Onkyo has never struck me as a player in higher end systems where the competitors would include Pioneer, Denon, HK.

Am I out of touch and out of date? Are Onkyo's higher end models the real deal? Or have they loaded up with lots of so-called features, but the sound (and video) quality is still in the low to mid range.

Which Epic HT did you order (60 or 80)?

There are a number of happy Onkyo owners on these boards, several people who don't own them, but recommend against them (largely for historical reasons concerning their support of 4 ohm speakers), and one guy who's got to be a stockholder or something.

Which Epic package did you get?

Epic 60 - 500

You won't have any problems. Just get a receiver that has the features you want.

I don't know if I'd classify Onkyo as "high end," but, IMHO, they are in the same league as the aforementioned Pioneer, Denon, and HK. If one considers those brands to be "high end," then one should consider Onkyo to be "high end" as well.

DISCLAIMER: This is from a happy Onkyo TX-SR703 owner who uses it to drive two 8 ohm mains, a 4 ohm center, two 6 ohm side surrounds, and two 6 ohm rear surrounds, all of which are generally less efficient (i.e. they need more power) than their Axiom counterparts.

Forgot to mention that I drove M60s, VP150, and QS8s with an older Onkyo TX-DS797 with absolutely no problem.

I agree with Mojo, the Onkyo won't give you any grief with the M60's.

Onkyo owns a sub company call Integra wich is considered more high end. I tend to think of Onkyo as the same as Denon, HK, Pioneer, maybe Yamaha. Sony, Kenwood, Panasonic would be a step below. Rotel, NAD, Adcom, Arcam are a step up. Moving into separates you start to get real Hi End, companies like Anthem, Integra, Krell, Bryston, Outlaw, Classe. The ones you don't hear about as much when viewing the Best Buy flyers.

This is just a gereral guidline, granted each company has their star pieces that may move up a level or two along with price.

Paul

Onkyo does have a high end brand: Integra. Several of the Integra units are virtually identical to the Onkyo units. Take what you will from that...

Zap, when it comes to amplifiers, including those in receivers, the term "high end" is pretty meaningless unless it's used to refer to price rather than sound quality. All competently designed amplifiers, certainly including the Pioneer, Denon and Onkyo models you mention, amplify transparently within their designed power limits and don't add any audible coloration to the sound. Neither the Onkyo nor the others had sound quality in the "low to mid range" and there's been no change in that. Choose based on features and price.

I've always liked Onkyo receivers and upgraded to the 804 from the 777. The 805 and 875 are a step up but there are some reported problems such as audio delay sync over HDMI and heat issues with some failing. I would like an 805 but I'm going to pass on this years line and see if they can fix the problems that are occurring, and pic up next years. Regardless of what I mentioned above both of those receivers seem to being selling well and have good reviews for sound quality.

Bill3508