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Is Onkyo the Jaguar of AV Receivers?

4073 Views 61 Replies 34 Participants Last post by dclark, Aug 6, 2011

Nightmare

Discussion Starter · Aug 3, 2011

I'm reading the Onkyo Owner threads and I keep seeing stuff like:

'My old Onkyo just died after 2 years, I'm getting the new 809'

'I just sent my AVR to the shop for repairs again'

'I'm getting the 4 year warranty because the last one died 1 month after the warranty expired'

etc.

Are we really to the point where a $600-$900 piece of electronics is disposable after 2-4 years?

1 - 20 of 62 Posts

schan1269

· #2 · Aug 3, 2011

Is Onkyo the Jaguar?

If so, then Denon is Land Rover...

In another thread(the guy trying to buy a "new modern HDMI AVR" for $100...) I searched on Ebay for receivers this morning. I think there are just as many "for parts" Denon as there are Onkyo.

And yes, the "life span" of an AVR(regardless of you spending $250 or $2500) is 5 years. I don't mean it is destined to break in 5 years, I am talking about the "next advancement".

HDMI 1.3 lasted 3 years. 3D(lesser extent ARC, which is a waste of time) comes along and prompts a change to 1.4. If, and I do mean if, 3D survives...it will probably be around 5 years(which is 3 more) before the next advancement happens.

Maybe rear height and height/width will become discrete channels(I doubt it, but who knows)...which would require a "new" HDMI spec.

Since Home Theater started (circa 1987???) I've had, easily, 30 AVR(counting integrated/pre-pro). Right now I have 4(1 not connected). Technically, I have 7 HT "AVR". Somewhere in the house(think my youngest sons room) my Technics SA-DA10N is being used. The "original" HT I had, the Technics SU-G90, is being used in a bi-amp in my wife's study(B&W 801 with some NAD receiver) and I know somewhere in the house is a Denon AVR788 waiting for another son to take off to college with it.

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FerretHunter

· #3 · Aug 3, 2011

Jaguars are expensive, no? Onkyo is not expensive, relatively speaking in terms of AVRs.

I'd say Onkyo is more like a Chrysler in the AVR world.

As for quick turnarounds, most of us here are enthusiasts. We buy, and then we buy some more when a newer receiver comes out with more features. We can't buy every year, but 2-4 years seems to be the timeframe in which we seem to be able to save the coin to get the newest toy.

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Nightmare

Discussion Starter · #4 · Aug 3, 2011

I think calling it a Chrysler is more of an insult than Jaguar.

The Jaguar joke is that you need 2, 1 to drive while the other one is in the shop. Everyone raves about all the 'features' on the Onkyo, so I picked Jag.

I'm happy with my Chevy, I want a truck and an AVR that just works. I don't need every gadget imaginable. I spent way too much time tweaking/fixing my 'cutting edge' PC. When it's time to watch a movie, I just want it to work.

WCunha

· #5 · Aug 3, 2011

I didn't know we were supposed to buy new every four years! I have been using a Marantz SR7000 for the last 11 or 12 years. Now I can tell my wife I have to make up for lost time and buy some new gear!

By the way never one problem with the Marantz in all this time and I use it everyday to watch tv and movies.

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schan1269

· #6 · Aug 3, 2011

I have had 30+ HT "AVR"...

Out of those 30+

Yamaha=4

Denon=6

Technics=3

Onkyo/Integra=7

Kenwood=2

NAD=2

B&K=1

Pioneer/Elite=1

Marantz(separate because mine were BEFORE D&M)=2

Sony(before s-video and Sony still "cared")=2

Arcam=1

Nakamichi=1

Aiwa=1 (almost didn't include this. Back when Aiwa made "cute" smash rack HT stereos. My daughter wanted it cause it was "cute" and had "hundreds of bright lights all over it". And yes, this stupid thing still works)

JVC(back when JVC still was relevant in TV and audio)=1

Out of all those, I still know where all but 10 are. Of the rest, only 1 has died(one of the Marantz).

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KidHorn

· #7 · Aug 3, 2011

Quote:
Originally Posted by WCunha /forum/post/20775421

I didn't know we were supposed to buy new every four years! I have been using a Marantz SR7000 for the last 11 or 12 years. Now I can tell my wife I have to make up for lost time and buy some new gear!

By the way never one problem with the Marantz in all this time and I use it everyday to watch tv and movies.

I got a SR8000 in 1999 and it's still going strong. No HDMI and only 5.1, but it sounds much better than a 7.1 Onkyo with HDMI(When the HDMI actually worked) I got a couple of years back. Receivers nowadays are more focused on shoddy features than sounding good.

WCunha

· #8 · Aug 3, 2011

Quote:
Originally Posted by KidHorn /forum/post/20775583

I got a SR8000 in 1999 and it's still going strong. No HDMI and only 5.1, but it sounds much better than a 7.1 Onkyo with HDMI(When the HDMI actually worked) I got a couple of years back. Receivers nowadays are more focused on shoddy features than sounding good.

I have always been leery of upgrading just because of what you said. My Marantz sounds great and it has not given me one problem in the 11 to 12 years I've owned it.

I know it doesn't have HDMI so I just run everything to the TV via HDMI and use the digital out for sound. I'm still contemplating replacing it with an Onkyo TX-NR609 or something in that price range.

mrjktcvs

· #9 · Aug 3, 2011

Quote:
Originally Posted by schan1269 /forum/post/20774854

Is Onkyo the Jaguar?

If so, then Denon is Land Rover...

In another thread(the guy trying to buy a "new modern HDMI AVR" for $100...) I searched on Ebay for receivers this morning. I think there are just as many "for parts" Denon as there are Onkyo.

And yes, the "life span" of an AVR(regardless of you spending $250 or $2500) is 5 years. I don't mean it is destined to break in 5 years, I am talking about the "next advancement".

HDMI 1.3 lasted 3 years. 3D(lesser extent ARC, which is a waste of time) comes along and prompts a change to 1.4. If, and I do mean if, 3D survives...it will probably be around 5 years(which is 3 more) before the next advancement happens.

Maybe rear height and height/width will become discrete channels(I doubt it, but who knows)...which would require a "new" HDMI spec.

Since Home Theater started (circa 1987???) I've had, easily, 30 AVR(counting integrated/pre-pro). Right now I have 4(1 not connected). Technically, I have 7 HT "AVR". Somewhere in the house(think my youngest sons room) my Technics SA-DA10N is being used. The "original" HT I had, the Technics SU-G90, is being used in a bi-amp in my wife's study(B&W 801 with some NAD receiver) and I know somewhere in the house is a Denon AVR788 waiting for another son to take off to college with it.

There doesn't seem to be an exit strategy for ARC. The internet apps inside of display panels will guarantee its survival for quite sometime, even if 3D doesn't.

mgkdragn

· #10 · Aug 3, 2011

In my 40 years with this hobby, I've owed every brand made .. none are perfect, no unit has an absolutely perfect no breakdown record and you tend to hear much more from the folks that did have a defect than from those whose gear worked flawlessly ..

And if it were not for tech advance / upgrade .. we'd have far less manufacturers than we do ..

rnatalli

· #11 · Aug 4, 2011

Just FYI, Jaguar was rated third in reliability behind Lincoln and Lexus. The old Jags are another story.

gene c353

· #12 · Aug 4, 2011

I'm the exception that proves the rule. I've had an H/K 520 for about 8 years (bought new as an open box) and a 7200 for about three (off craigslist). Neither has been any trouble at all. I've also had a 2001 Jag XJ8 for about 3 1/2 years, again, no problems. Wonderfull car. And yes, my fingers are crossed.

But I agree with the others. Receivers are not designed to last forever anymore. Things are changing too fast. If you can live without all the latest gee-whiz features then get a good used avr with multi-channel inputs. Video straight to the display.

Audiodork

· #13 · Aug 4, 2011

Hello,

These days Jaguar has made huge strides since Ford Owned them and now Tata. I do think the massive popularity of Onkyo comes into play as well. I am not positive about their Market Share here, but in the UK and Germany, they are the top selling Brand.

While some AVR's have failed, I sold both a TX-SR805 and 875 to close friends who live in the same city as me and both are going strong. There is also a great deal of animosity towards Onkyo here that feeds into the perception of Onkyo.

Before the x05 Series, Onkyo was really an afterthought for most. However, the x05's brought HDMI 1.3 and Audyssey into the Market far before other Brands. More 1.3 than Audyssey as Denon had already been offering it.

However, the combination of Reon HQV, Audyssey MultEQ, THX Ultra2 and excellent Amplifier Stages in the 805, 875, and 905 made them groundbreaking. I still think the TX-SR805 is the greatest value in the HDMI Era of AVR's. For 1000 Dollars, you got a true 100 Watts+ into 5/7 Channels, THX Ultra2, Audyssey MultEQ XT, and was Made in Japan. Sadly, 800 Series since have not offered as compelling of a package. Especially in respect to the Amplifier Stage. Add in the DTC-9.8 and PR-SC885 which redefined what was possible for 2000 Dollars in an SSP and the Brand simply got tremendously popular.

It is unfortunate that Onkyo moved all Manufacturing to Malaysia whereas the upper tier Onkyo/Integra's were Built in Japan. It does seem that since then, QC has not been as good. However, when reading the Owners Threads of the latest Models, the vast majority are not experiencing issues.

The x08 Failure Thread was definitely a Black Eye for the Brand. However, they did step up and will fix all AVR/SSP's affected regardless of where it was Purchased, when it was Purchased, etc... Moreover, it was not a huge number of AVR's that fell under Serial Cable issue.

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matrixj3

· #14 · Aug 4, 2011

Anyone here remember the Sony STR-DB930 with the Japanese guts about 13 years ago?

I use it EVERY day..still running perfectly and still hitting hard and is built like a tank, 30 lbs!

I will FINALY upgrade and get my Denon 2112ci this Thursday.

I think by having a good power supply and plenty of cool air helps the guts out in the long run.

This Denon should last a while too!

Nanook01

· #15 · Aug 4, 2011

My Yamaha 2095 still works like a charm and has been a great receiver. I am hoping the Pioneer SC-37 will sound as good as this one does. Not sure what it is about the Yamaha I have, but it is great for music. If I wasn't wanting HDMI outputs, I would have been happy to kept it another 12 years.

I am planning on using it for speakers in my fish room and two outside.

MichaelJHuman

· #16 · Aug 4, 2011

IMO, Onkyo is to receivers like Keno is to Vegas. You might win, but you are more likely to lose

Actually, I have no idea what their actual fail rate is. Based only on this forum, on purely anecdotal evidence, I have concluded too high (and this is just my own opinion, feel free to ignore it.)

Understand though, they are one of the best values in receivers, with compelling features, and are probably pretty competently designed, if you don't get a lemon. So understandably, it's a shame to count them out as an option.

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datranz

· #17 · Aug 4, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by rnatalli
Just FYI, Jaguar was rated third in reliability behind Lincoln and Lexus. The old Jags are another story.

And landrover rank 4th,

, not

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lucyjoin652

· #18 · Aug 4, 2011

4

I think calling it a Chrysler is more of an insult than Jaguar.

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ozbrit

· #19 · Aug 4, 2011

I've had the Onkyo TX-NR609 for eight weeks and it's the best - so far, of all the AVR's I've owned.

In 1999 I bought a Yamaha with dolby pro-logic and composite (RCA) connectors, I still have that one in another room, it's too old to trade.

In 2003 I bought a Marantz with DD 5.1 and S-video as well as composite connectors and optical audio, the sound quality was a quantum leap from the 1999 Yammie.

In 2007 In came a Yamaha RX-V657 this gave me Component video and again it sounded considerably better than the Marantz.

My latest and first Onkyo has for me lived up to the high reputation this manufacturer has downunder, all the latest stuff like Internet connectivity and bi-amping which has made my Kef speakers really express themselves for Movies. The direct two channel audio is probably only on a par with the previous Yammie.

So each successive generation of AVR has been good news for me, the buzz of having a new piece of electronics has normally subsided after a month or so, but the Onkyo still amazes. I suppose if it was faulty I wouldn't be nearly as enamoured by it.

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Theresa

· #20 · Aug 4, 2011

Back in the '70s it was said that a Jaguar needed to be tuned up weekly.

1 - 20 of 62 Posts

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