Pioneer vs Onkyo

[davehall83]

Ok so I am stuck between onkyo and pioneer. If I am running RTI A7's, FXI A4's (4) and CSI A6 speakers which I will also have a emotiva XPA 5 amp in the mix, What would be the better bet for features/good processing? I like both receivers but reliability and having the latest stuff is important as well to me. I looked at the elite series, not sure which one I would get but probably at least a 7.1 channel amp and onkyo around 809. Let me know what receiver should be my best bet for home theater, i dont listen to music a whole lot

[hertz9753]

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/show...-Pioneer-CS-55

I would go with the Onkyo 709 and a seperate amp, just my opinion though. Good luck with your search.

[polkfarmboy]

Why bother with a receiver if your going to using an amplifier ?

[tonyb]

Why bother with a receiver if your going to using an amplifier ?

Cheaper than a HT pre/pro, and if the amp ever goes out, or one channel goes south, your not stuck.

[davehall83]

Yea, unless you guy's know of a cheaper way but a pre-amp starts around $1,500 for a cheap one and around 3K for a good one so buying a receiver and using the unbalanced out's is a cheaper way to amp without breaking the piggy bank but really what I want to know is anyone's experience with pioneer vs onkyo. Which are the better unit's and what will I get the best features/bang for the buck

[jon s]

Dont't go with Onkyo... They have been having all kinds of problems with their AVRs for the past five years. HDMI boards failing from overheating, defective DTS decoders and recently bad IDE connectors and cables from shorts. To replace the HDMI board costs up to $1000. See the AVS Forum and search Onkyo in the Amps thread...

I have two Onkyos and they have had the HDMI boards failure and DTS issues.

To compound matters, Onkyo's support is the pits. They don't return calls and it takes forever to get through to service on their toll free lines, and their support personnel are clueless. Onkyo has posted some fixes for some issues on their website and the support don't even know what's there...

[EndersShadow]

@ Jon S: I dont think the issue with Onkyo's is as big as you make it. It tended to be the TX-SRXX6 models (which were made 2-3 years ago) that had that issue. In my case my Integra (DRT 5.9) was made the same year and had the same problem. I had no issues with Integra (a offshoot of Onkyo) in getting the issue resolved quickly and with little to no fuss.

Many forum members here are running Onkyo's and yet you dont see many posts about the HDMI board issue, or any of the others you mentioned. Any manufacture will have defective units and the folks with those units tend to cry the loudest. I personally am looking at getting a Onkyo 709 myself in the near future and am not too concerned about it breaking.

[Nerd]

It tended to be the TX-SRXX6 models (which were made 2-3 years ago) that had that issue.

Ops !

Mine is Ok till now, I bought it second hand, i have a fan on it blowing to keep it cool

Should I be worried and look for a replacement/back up, or there are units which are wroking fine too.

[kuntasensei]

@ Jon S: I dont think the issue with Onkyo's is as big as you make it. It tended to be the TX-SRXX6 models (which were made 2-3 years ago) that had that issue. In my case my Integra (DRT 5.9) was made the same year and had the same problem. I had no issues with Integra (a offshoot of Onkyo) in getting the issue resolved quickly and with little to no fuss.

Many forum members here are running Onkyo's and yet you dont see many posts about the HDMI board issue, or any of the others you mentioned. Any manufacture will have defective units and the folks with those units tend to cry the loudest. I personally am looking at getting a Onkyo 709 myself in the near future and am not too concerned about it breaking.

+1. There are supposedly issues with the x07 series, but my TX-NR1007 is used A LOT and is still running like a champ. Also, I don't know how they are today, but when I had issues with my old TX-SR705, Onkyo was very easy to work with.

[cnh]

I have an Onkyo TX-SR 805 that's been running for 4-5 years. But I am careful with it. I don't see ALL the bugs and problems some are talking about--never had a problem with any soundtrack, "any" I've played. No particular glitches in HDMI switching or pass-through. Does the board get hot, yes!

Since I bought mine refurbed directly from Onkyo, I'm wondering if there were not upgrades/replacements of components on that HDMI board?

Also, in the last few years. Onkyo has been producing its product in a state of the art facility that it invested very heavily in?

As far as Onkyo CS. Yeah, that's the "pits". Don't go there, they'll never get back to you. Too big, they don't care!

But the product itself does offer the "most" bang for your buck in terms of "features" and processing. More than just about any other major AVR manufacturer, including Pioneer.

And frankly, it isn't until you get to the ICE amp Pioneers that I would consider Pioneer over an Onkyo. Because those Elites do have a more pleasing sound for "music".

If you get the Onkyo, just make SURE you have a GOOD warranty--just in case.

The other thing to consider is listening to both receivers. Onkyos can be a little "bright" and forward with some speaker sets.

Either way, though, they are both top receiver choices!

cnh

[EndersShadow]

Ops !

Mine is Ok till now, I bought it second hand, i have a fan on it blowing to keep it cool

Should I be worried and look for a replacement/back up, or there are units which are wroking fine too.

Shouldnt have to worry. Its just those models had a high rate of failure. If it hasnt gone yet it probably wont, and using a fan helps negate the culprit (capacitors drying and failing out due to heat).

[ibewbrother]

My Onk 807 just died on me... I don't know if it was the HDMI board or what. It lost output stages on all of the pre-outs anyway.

I have a nice Elite SC-57 sitting on the shelf waiting to go. Personally....having paid $800 for the 807, it crapping out after only around 2 years of relatively light use (it only drove my heights), left me with a bit of a bad taste in my mouth for Onkyo. It might be fixed, but unless that fix stopped it from running so hot, another problem rght down the road.


I haven't hooked up the 57 yet.... but everything I have read or seen says it's the bomb. I only took it out of the box last night and put it on my stand to look at it.... it's NICE

[davehall83]

I am looking at the elite series, can someone tell me pioneer elite 52, 53 55 or 57? If i am going to usa XPA-5 would it make sense to use the pioneer 57?

[ibewbrother]

I looked at the SC-55 vs the 57 for a while, and the only differences I could sot on the spec sheets were that the 57 has a few more multi-zone configurations (11 vs 7), and a few more processor settings (22 vs 17?). Point being...I didn't see much difference between the 2. I got my 57 at a price I could justify buying it just to be able to say "It's the Flagship Model".....lol

[F1nut]

Why don't you get the 55 or 57 and try it out before buying an amp because I think you'll find you will not need one.

[deronb1]

Why don't you get the 55 or 57 and try it out before buying an amp because I think you'll find you will not need one.

+1 on that. From what I hear, the 140wpc Ice amps are more than enough for most 8 ohm speakers. But if you are dead set on external amps, I would look for an older Elite VSX-21/23. The pre is nice (unless you want networking capabilities). No sense in dropping a ton on an AVR that you wont power anything with.

[B Run]

My Onkyo 3008 barely lasted a month, I went Pioneer and never looked back. I'm sure i'll eventually run an amp again, but I don't feel it's necessary or that i'm lacking anything. If fact I like my setup now better than my Onkyo3008 and my Adcom gfa7000. I know it's not the end all be all of amps, but I went back and forth several times and I thought the ICE amps sounded better.

[Toolfan66]

Pioneer!!!

Nuff said!!

[David R]

I have the onk 809 with A7s works fine. I also tried 609 with Rti8, A7 and csi3 sounded fine.

[jbooker82]

I have an Onkyo TX-NR808 and would buy another Onkyo again.

[polkfarmboy]

I like the sound of onkyo

[mantis]

Why don't you get the 55 or 57 and try it out before buying an amp because I think you'll find you will not need one.

Ditto , for your speaker package you do not need a external amp. Iv'e done medium to large theater rooms with the SC models and never ran out of gas. Never even needed to run at reference volumes to get a pleasurable experience.
I also think you will find that the RTIA and SC mate extremely well together.

[michael1947]

+2 for Onkyo, I have 805 and 708 without issues. They do however keep the house toasty in the winter.

[davehall83]

How about this, If i get the SC-57 pioneer, to get around this amp problem for the RTI A9's, What If I BI-AMP the front left right and center channel using the additional connectors? Or maybe I can only bi-amp the front left/right but not the center with this amp. What do you think of this idea? I would be set on the SC-57 and trash an external amp idea at this point. Is that pioneer 140 watts per channel RMS at 8 ohms or what? The only different with the onkyo and the pioneer is the marvell q 4k video upscaling, does the pioneer do that, how is their video switcher?

Ditto , for your speaker package you do not need a external amp. Iv'e done medium to large theater rooms with the SC models and never ran out of gas. Never even needed to run at reference volumes to get a pleasurable experience.
I also think you will find that the RTIA and SC mate extremely well together.

[zane77]

I have a 709 in the bedroom and PR-SC5508 for home theater and both have performed flawlessly. I did read some threads about the heating issues and installed acouple of USB speed control Thermaltake fans on the Pre/Pro just as a safety precaution because it is in a pretty tight shelf. I think they sound great.

[jbooker82]

How about this, If i get the SC-57 pioneer, to get around this amp problem for the RTI A9's, What If I BI-AMP the front left right and center channel using the additional connectors? Or maybe I can only bi-amp the front left/right but not the center with this amp. What do you think of this idea??

If you Bi Amp your 9's then your sending 140w to the tweeter, and mids, and 140w to the woofers, Not 280w to the whole speaker. Your powering two seperate circutis when you remove those metal jumper straps.

[jbooker82]

The only different with the onkyo and the pioneer is the marvell q 4k video upscaling, does the pioneer do that, how is their video switcher?

Onkyo allows you to set crossover points for the Fronts, Center, Surrounds, Rear Surrounds, and High / Wides independly from each other. With pioneer you will have to have the same frequence set for the entire system. Pioneer guys say this isnt a big deal but I run my towers lower than my center channel, and surrounds. If you only have 1 setting for the whole system then your speakers will only play as low as the least capable speaker in your system. Any thing below that will get dumped to the sub.

[Geoff4rfc]

I've been real fortunate with my 807. It took a dump in the first year I had it while doing an audessy set up. Warranty took care of it, got it back and haven't had any troubles with it.

I keep a fan on it and use it all the time for both movies and music. This fan is cool http://www.buyextras.com/evavcoblfanf.html

I've looked at Pio's and almost got one, but can't remember the feature it didn't have over my onk that kept me from getting it.

If I were to get another AVR, I'd go Onk or Integra.

[polkfarmboy]

My onkyo 607 sounded better than my pioneer elite vsx01thx

[chumlie]

I'm in the Pioneer camp. Good luck with your decision.