In the market for a new avr. I have it narrowed down to a few options right now. In particular I am looking at the Onkyo TX-NR 809 and the Yamaha Aventage A2000. I can get the 809 for around $1200 taxes in and the A2000 for $1300. I have read throughout different forums people picking up the 809 for $699 from Newegg but seeing as I am in Canada(Halifax Nova Scotia) I can not take advantage of that deal and am 5.5 hrs away to the border.

I previously had a Yamaha HTR 6190(same as RXV-1800). I like the idea of the network receiver and would like take advantage of some of features. I like the new look of the Onkyo's and the new Yamaha look is growing on me. I like the new OSD and GUI... the Onkyo wins there I think.

Anyway, just want to see what other people think on this. Not looking for answers like go listen to them to yourself and decide. The Yamaha is local but I have to order in the 809.

I have previously owned both Onkyo and Yamaha and had good results with both. My room is 19Lx11Wx8H. My speakers are Monitor Audio RX6, RXC and RXFX's with a Bic Acoustech PL-200 for a sub. I watch a fair amount of movies and listen to music as well(70/30 we'll say).

I have also seen a used UMC-1 for $400 shipped and can get a UPA-7 for around $700(plus shipping maybe).

Thanks in advance,

Chris

Funny you should ask that question. About a month ago I was comparing these same two models and since I have always had somewhat of a soft spot for the Yamaha sound fields, especially for movies along with the ability to incorporate an additional amp(which I already have) to add the presence channels for a 9.2 configuration, even though it was a little more, I chose the Yamaha over the Onkyo and haven't regretted it a bit. The video processor in it got a very high rating in reviews and you can make independent picture adjustments for up to 6 individual A/V inputs.

If price is the main issue, I would check the electronicsforless.ca website, an authorized re-seller in the Toronto area that has the 809 on sale for $999.00 this weekend only, check it out. For me personally, and given Onkyo's sketchy reputation for aftermarket support, I would still choose the Yamaha.

Any time I try to get on the electronicsforless.ca website it takes me to Amazon and I can never seem to navigate my way to find any receivers.... what am I missing? lol. On the canadapost comparison shopper I find the 809 for $999 like you said, I click on it and still takes me to Amazon.ca

Decent price on the 809. I can get the Yamaha locally $1299 taxes in.

Thanks for the plus 1 on the a2000.

I don't know why even Amazon.ca would come up since they don't even sell A/V equipment in Canada! It is probably eventually going to re-direct you to Amazon.com in the US which is useless since Onkyo won't allow US resellers to sell in to Canada anyway. Google their webpage(elecforless) first and it should show their website with multiple product listings then pick the one you want and the AVR page will come up directly/OR try again and make sure that if you want to bring up their page electronicsforless.ca is all one word with no spaces.

Even though I have it bookmarked, when I try it at the top of the page it comes up no problem.

Yeah it's very weird, I am trying to work around it but it takes me to Amazon.com, not .ca sorry. I have found the product listing on google and it still redirects me and has for the last week. I just assumed it was a fake website or something since I couldn't find it lol. Even on my iPhone it does it. Wouldn`t have anything to do with me in Nova Scotia would it? This is frustrating.

Hmm, very strange, however, we will now resort to Plan C. Try Googling, "Amplifiers & Receivers Canada" and see if their website comes up now(this should bring you directly to the AVR title page then click on it) and if it STILL doesn't happen and the 809 is more attractive to you over the Yamaha at that price, you can phone them directly at 1-866-696-3591(that number should be accessible from anywhere in the country). Obviously, there will be additional shipping charges, however, theirs is quite reasonable.

Monday is the last day for the sale after which on Tuesday it will go back up to $1299. Good Luck!

Chris, in their basic function as amplifiers those two can be viewed as essentially equal, so go with the features you want at the best price you can get. My view is that the Audyssey MultEQ XT auto calibration and room EQ gives it a definite edge, along with the rest of its feature set.

Canadian deals on audio equipment are even more of a mystery to me, of course, but that price on the 809 that you mention sounds like a good deal.

Yeah I've tried multiple ways to do this and no luck.

I've got here:

http://www.canadapost.ca/shopper/search?keywords=onkyo

3/4 way down the page it shows the Onkyo 809 for $999, I click on it and Amazon comes up.

Anyway back to the task at hand, what would you choose and why>

One thing I do not like about the Onkyo is power usage for the audio return channel and networking when in standby. Yamaha is quoted as being lower. Also scaling to 4k is a non-issue for me and I think it shouldn't even be marketed at this time to the masses since it won't even be used.

Also thanks John for your input.

Chris, when I click on that Canada Post site, and then click on the Electronics for Less Ca. deal on the 809 for $999 ending Monday, it comes right up.

That is even more strange, when I click on the picture you did the Canada Post page comes up but within a few seconds it directs me right to the E4Less AVR page NOT Amazon. Must have something to do with your search engine, however, you have the tel: nbr. so you can call them directly if you wish.

If you want another option, there is another authorized Onkyo reseller in the GTA called "higher Definition"(hd.ca), located in Oakville just west of Toronto. They are pretty competitive, however, you have to call them directly for a price.

Thanks guys. I hope to have made a decision by Monday and will call if I have too depending which way I go. Any places out there with a better price on the a2000 under 1299. The local shop is selling for 1299 and includes hst. Seems power output is not as high as what rxv1800 achieved.

http://www.hometheater.com/content/yamaha-aventage-rx-a2000-av-receiver-ht-labs-measures

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/article/test-bench-yamaha-rx-v1800-av-receiver


Different magazines testing I know but it is food for thought.

The Yamaha's innards seem a organized and neatly placed away inside there as to the Onkyo has everything looking crammed in there any which way.

Thanks again

have you tried deleting your browser temp/cache files?

Yeah I've cleaned out all temporary and cache files. It's beyond me why it won't come up. Same as on my iPhone 4, my fiance's iPhone 4(it doesn't load the website for her).

I'll place a call if I need to or see if another retailer I deal with will price match.

The rest of the weekend I'll be deciding which way I want to go with this.

All suggestions are welcome.

Finally got through to electronicsforless.ca today. I was able to get another dealer I normally use to price match plus 5% so I am going to be a proud owner of the tx-nr809 hopefully before the end of the weekend.

I will be going from my previous Yamaha rxv1800 and looking forward to some of the new features that are available to us today and using the new OSD and GUI. Also looking forward to see how Audyssey works in my room.

In a month and 10 days I will be moving into a new house that is being completed right now. I am fortunate enough to get a dedicated media room. My side and rear surrounds have been prewired already as well as hook ups and conduit behind the drywall for cables to wallmount my plasma for a nice clean look. The room is rather narrow at 19L. 11W. 8H. I will just be using a 5.1 setup for now and eventually go 7.1 if I feel the need in that room. The receiver should be fine for a smaller/medium size room. It does not open out to any other rooms and I am able to shut the door.

Thanks for the suggestions and advIce. The Yamaha was just a little out of the price range I wanted to spend and feel I got a decent deal on the Onkyo. The 1009 model has even more features that I would not use like 9 channel amplification so I felt the 809 fit the bill. I feel the 1009 should have included multieqxt32 to separate itself from the 809 more.

One more question: on the Yamaha it indicates only 400 watts of consumption compared to 7.5 amps from the Onkyo. How do they come up with those numbers in a similar spec'd piece of equipment? I know there is more to sound quality than just watts but moreso the delivery of that watt. The new xx9 series seems to be a jump ahead of it's previous year offerings for the price and also running at cooler temperatures.

Who knows how they come up with any of these numbers, however, in the end, whatever choice you made, you couldn't lose in the deal. In the past, it had been reported that Onkyo's were inclined to run somewhat hotter than their competition, however, I don't know whether or not that is still the case with these current models. Incidentally, you wondered about the difference between the 809 and 1009 and coincidentally that came up in a recent review in Audioholics that asked that same question. The difference in price between the two could not be justified and said the 809 was simply a much better value.

In fact when I had a discussion with the rep from the other optional website I passed on to you (HD.CA)he indicated to me because of this the 809 and below will always be, by far, their best sellers. Overall, they will sell proportionately very few of the upper series (1009,3009,5009).

Chris, on power consumption figures there's no specific standard required by law for stating them. In contrast, for power output, FTC regulations set a required standard which we can rely on.

The first point is that the consumption number isn't at maximum power unless explicit language such as "maximum" or "full power" is used, which few do. Usually it's at some average power output, such as the 1/8th power which Underwriters Laboratory uses in testing for overheating since 1/8th is considered to be roughly the average usage in playing an entire disc. So, a number such as 400 watts for consumption in a 7x100 watt unit isn't inconsistent(and certainly not lying, as some of those lacking knowledge of the measurement basis claim)since it's typically measured using about 90 watts(1/8th)rather than 700 watts and class AB amplifier efficiency is on the order of 20% at 1/8th power(compared to around 50% at full power). Therefore 400 watts or so input is required for about 90 watts output.

The reason that when the consumption number is given in amperes rather than watts it seems to give a considerably different result is that although a watt is defined basically as a volt x an ampere, in actual audio amplifier circuitry the voltage and current aren't perfectly in phase with each other and the result of volts times amps is substantially fewer watts of power(typically around 70%). So the two units you mention would have about the same consumption when measured at the same output and both being stated in watts(or both in amperes).