Onkyo TX-SR800 vs. H/K AVR-325: Any help would be appreciated

I have listened to both products side-by-side at home


I couldn't really tell much difference in quality between the two.

I might give h/k the musicality edge and Onkyo the H/T edge


The H/k has 3 sets of crossover frequencies so you can set you front, side and rear speakers at a different crossover. I think the options were 40,60,80,100,120 for each set.


The onkyo only has one set with the same options. Aside from this the onkyo is insanely configurable. Download the manual from onkyousa.com and take a look.


I did notice what I think is a bug in the decoding of the H/K. If you configure your receiver for 7.1 speakers and pop a 5.1 DTS disc in your dvd player, the recevier by default is supposed to use the DTS Matrix decoding to derive a 6th channel for your rear(s). Hoever the display showed DTS:Neo6 which is a decoding scheme for an analog/pcm/2 channel signal. I can't say for sure, but I think I was getting sound out of the rear but I dont know if it was actually decoding Matrix but displaying Neo6 or Decoding and displaying Neo6. Iim thinking it was the formar but either way, in my opinion its doing something incorrectly.


This happened as well on the 525, I havent checked the 520.


I was on the phone with Harman Kardon and they reproduced the problem so it was not isolated to only my unit. They were very dodgy as to admitting it was a problem.


Either receiver should have no problem driving those speakers.


THX is a nice to have, I wouldn't base your decision on it. If a receiver w/o thx sounded better than one that did, I'd take the one that sounds better.


If remotes are a concern, the onkyo's is 500 million times better...kay a little exageration. The h/k remote is horrid, especially close to the bottom where there is a 4x6 array of small, identically shaped buttons with osd in the middle. Oh, and the h/k remote is not backlit. Have fun in the dark with this one. The onkyo remote is backlit.


One last thing is the h/k uses a variable speed fan for cooling. I never heard it and the h/k stayed pretty cool. The onkyo on the other hand does not use a fan, but ran pretty hot (something I'm not used to)


I'm considering the Onkyo 800 myself, unless the new nad t762 comes out soon. I have also listened to the Nad T752 and is is a definte step up in audio but had a couple of issues.

Quote:
LOL! I'll take that as a vote for the Onkyo.


I need to be careful that this doesn't turn into a group deal or I'll be thrown in the dog house by the moderator... D'OH!


Peter - Thanks for the thoughtful feedback.


Cheers!


- Ed.

I really don't think these two receivers are in the same league. Not that the HK isn't good - it is. But, the 800 would be more comparable to the 525.


I would definitely vote for the Onkyo between the 2 IMHO.


The Onkyo remote is very nice and the HK 520 remote I had was crap.



Good Luck:


Mike

Mike,


Thanks for the response.


Ok, that makes it two for the Onkyo (3 if I count S4Golfer's "proxy" ), none for the H/K. I suppose I should have made this a poll, eh?


Voting booth is still open (and, sorry, we DON'T do recounts here ) so c'mon in and throw in yer two-cents!


Cheers!


- Ed.

Hmm, I've got the 525 and just tried to see that DTS+NEO6 on the dispaly with all speakers enabled. I see it says dts+neo6 also, but.. I believe this is correct behavior. If you look at the dts website at the neo6 documentation it quotes as one of the features "Extended Surround - Neo 6 provides optimum decoding of Extended Surround matrix soundtracks, and can also generate a back channel from 5.1 material." So don't be alarmed to this and think it is a bug.


Anyway, sorry to digress, but:


I think the remote of the 525 is great. It is laid out logically and easy enough to use. It's also a learning remote and I was able to program all my other devices into it. The 525 remote is backlit, a press of the light button and every single button lights up for a few seconds, I guess the 325 isn't that way.


I got my 525 for $699 at cc by pricematching with costco. This would put it into a comparable price range of the onkyo. I think a better comparison here would be to see how the 525 compares with the sr800 since they are more equal in price.


I've never heard the sr800, but so far I think the 525 is a great receiver. I know the actual comparison here is for the 325, but you can actually get a 525 for about the price of the onkyo so I think you should try considering the 525.

Quote:
D'OH!!! (insert Dragnet music here)


BTW - bcwang, I agree that the comparison should be between the 800 and the 525, not the 325 but it was a starting point (for another reason not mentioned here).


As a matter of fact, my buddy told me today that he can get the the 525 for the same price as the 800. But you got yours for $699, eh? I just may have to have a little chat about the "great" deal he could get on the 525.


Oh well, can't beyotch-slap the goose laying the golden egg just yet, now can we?


Thanks for the additional input. Keep 'em coming guys. Decision time is coming soon (otherwise my buddy's gonna beyotch-slap me for sitting on the fence too long).


Cheers!


- Ed.

Quote:
Loopy,


Thanks for your input.


1. I agree that they're not in the same category (see previous posts).


2. As for the power ratings, the Onkyo is rated at 100w/channel vs. 50w/channel with these two models (see point number one for qualifier in addition to your point about the H/K's being "underrated").


Given these two specific models, the 800 has a clear edge on power (although I doubt I'd need it all seeing how I have two kids, not counting me, under my roof as well).


My concern again comes back to build quality, overall company product line track record as well as how much more bang for the buck am I getting going with one over the other. BTW, forgot to mention that I will be primarily using this for HT.


Cheers!


- Ed.