How do I verify - or debunk - the claims of The Upgrade Company? - Page 2

Originally Posted by pepar

...

They go on to claim that "The Onkyo Profesisional 5508 prepro has been designed and built to "Pro" standards, not consumer like Marantz, Integra, Anthem, Classe, McIntosh & others that use less costly switching power supplies, often pseudo-balanced architecture."

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Originally Posted by craig john

AFAIK, there is no such thing as a "THX PRO" certification. Both the 5508 and the 80.2 are THX Ultra2 Plus certified.


Craig

Originally Posted by lefthandluke

the onkyo pic is flipped...

Originally Posted by pepar

The point is that TUC lauds the 5508 for its better construction and dumps on the 80.2 for it's inferior sound ... when the truth is that they are identical.

Jeff

Originally Posted by Bill Mac

Ahhh that explains it. I can't make out the lettering on the Onkyo transformer. Is it backwards? If the picture is in fact flipped then the two appear to be identical.

Bill

Originally Posted by pepar

Open PM to Dave Shulte:

Hi Dave,

I have started a thread on your comments regarding the Onkyo 5508 being better built than the Integra 80.2. As far as I and everyone else knows, they are identical (with the exception of cosmetics and Pure Audio). Here's the thread if you are interested.

Regards,
Jeff

Originally Posted by pepar


Jeff,

You are 100% correct in that the comparisons would be subjective. But TUC's claims of his modded 5508 having better SQ of prepros costing 3-4 times that of TUC's 5508 should not be hard to disprove IMO. Add that to the fact DS refuses to divulge what actual "Mods" are being done makes me even more skeptical of his claims.



I believe that forum member alanl715 might be of some help in that regard. If I recall Alan compared part numbers to a few specific internal components of both the 9.9 and 886. Again if I recall correctly (very poor memory here) Alan found that the part numbers were identical. I wish I could recall what thread these posts were in but I can't. I believe that if you can clearly show the 80.2 and the 5508 are in fact identical internally that will really show what TUC is all about. I'm sure DS will come up with some lame excuse and that copy will quickly disappear from TUC's site.

In fairness to Alan I hope I have the facts straight on this as it was quite awhile ago. Alan has been an excellent source of information for Integra and Onkyo owners in the past.

Bill

Originally Posted by Johnla

Seeing as how the Integra division of Onkyo has much more strict controls over their dealers and distribution than the Onkyo division does, I'm pretty sure no authorized Integra dealer wants to get caught selling him 80.2's to resell as modded units, it's not worth the risk of a Integra dealer to get caught selling to places like TUC and then lose their right to sell Integra branded products after getting caught. So I think the only reason he is making this better "claim" for the 5508 over the 80.2, is because he has someone that will supply him with 5508's at a great price, and then he can turn around and resell them modded with even a better profit.

Originally Posted by alanl715

You are correct and I am blushing.

Originally Posted by DMark1

Sorry, I flipped instead of rotated! These are the best pictures I could find online of the insides. Let me try again:

Originally Posted by mystic_sniper28

Bill I would say firmware will likely be different for a start, as for what else is different it would be hard to say, as I don't own both unit to compare them to each other though I suspect the integra will likely more user options given the target audience it is looking at..

Originally Posted by Bill Mac


ms,

No offense but if you do not own either or have any factual information why do you post that the Integra will have more user options? This is the second post where you allude to that but still have no idea if it is fact or fiction. What target audience is Integra after that Onkyo is not?

Bill

Originally Posted by pepar

Bill, I have seen a post or two from people with Integra's custom installer software and they commented that they could customize the user menus.

Originally Posted by preale

I have no experience with the Onkyo products mentioned here, but I have had a number of components modified by The Upgrade Company, including the EMM CDSD se and DAC 6e, a Bel Canto Pre2, and a Bryston 14B SST. I also beta tested Schulte's Time Portal power cords on my digital front end. Whatever he is doing, the results were spectacular. In the case of the EMM pair, I had a second, stock pair with which to compare, so it was easy to tell. TUC's power cords are a bargain for the money and beat all my upscale cords in the collection.

Originally Posted by pepar

PM'd him. Didn't call. I'd rather have him provide a public explanation of his claims.

Jeff

Originally Posted by Bill Mac

I saw many first time posters as the above raving about TUC in a long since locked earlier TUC thread. It makes one wonder why someone would all the sudden join AVS to post the above.

Bil

Originally Posted by pepar

Of course not. We are but a few people on one forum. If he even knows about this thread, his best bet is to ignore us. Trying to get people to question what their money is buying from places like this is like trying to talk to Moonies.

Jeff

Originally Posted by pepar

Wow, first post. Welcome to the AVS Forum. You know, don't you, that you have zero credibility?

Jeff

Originally Posted by penngray

In many of these sort of threads, its always a "New member" that seldom posts that will come out and declare great improvements. Its pretty funny actually, a member that has really done some proper testing, has many components never posts these highly subjective conclusions. I just amazing how they come out of the woodwork