[Kosinski]

My inexpensive Sony receiver just recently stopped working. I think that I may have been the culprit because I used it to drive 3 outdoor rock speakers for about 8 hours of loud music around our pool.


Wiring for the rock speakers runs through a Sonance switcher. The switcher is approx 30' from the receiver location and the farthest speaker is about 200' away. Wiring is 14 gauge.


In addition, the Sony provided AV for a surround sound system in my basement that has lots of older equipment (no HDMI). At some point, I will be upgrading to newer equipment.


I have a new Onkyo 705 in my up-to-date setup located in the living room. I like the 705 and was thinking that staying with Onkyo would make sense regarding possible confusion if I moved to a diff brand.


My options:

- floor model Onkyo 805 for $550

- new Onkyo 606 with a dedicated (Onkyo?) 2-channel amp.

- new Onkyo 875

- other manuf?


I'm concerned that the floor model 805 has been tampered with too much and could be problematic. Also, I am concerned from threads that seem to indicate that older 805's cannot be upgraded properly with new software drivers. I need to make a quick decision because someone will probably grab the floor model 805 at the current asking price.


thanks for the help!

 

[oztech]

If you can swing it the 875 .

 

[vincer20]

i would not trust floor models even at a discount.

 

[Jakeman02]

If you decide to go with the 805, rather than going with a floor model you can pick it up refurbished 805 for < $500 shipped from shoponkyo.com during the current sale after signing up with the website. I'd go that route before a floor model, they come with 1 yr warranty but you can move it up to 3 years total, which beats new for about the same price you quoted for the floor model.

 

[r1dude57]

Plus, you will probably wind up with the latest firmware version if you buy a refurb from shoponkyo. I just may have to pick up another one at that price.

 

[Kosinski]

thanks so much for the feedback!


wow...I didn't even consider that the 606 might not have pre-outs. That would have been a real bummer!


I'll give consideration to the refurb 805. However, why would I benefit from the 875 (i'll also look for a refurb 875)? My current TV is a 1990 35" mitsubishi tube. Once it dies (it seems like it will last forever!), i'm going to upgrade to a HD projector and new HDMI components. Maybe I do not understand the 875's upscaling advantages, but I was under the impression that the advantage was when someone used an older component that is limited to component video versus HDMI. I also thought that the electronics within the future HD projector would upscale any signal sent to it. If I am wrong in this understanding, then maybe the 875 would be best.

 

[r1dude57]

My 805 passes through the HDMI signal untouched. However, if I hooked up a 1080i signal through componenet, it will downscale it to 720p when outputting signal through HDMI. I have a Samsung BD-UP5000 with a built in Reon processor that handles all my scaling and interlacing before sending to the 805. The 805 then sends it untouched to my display. The advantage of the 875 is that you already have the Reon built into the 875 itself, therefore it will scale anything you need done (component, HDMI, and I believe composite too), and scale it all the way to 1080p if need be (instead of converting all non-HDMI signals to 720p in the 805). Since I have the Reon in my source device (system is only for BR, HDDVD, and SDDVD), it didn't benefit me to go with 875. I tend to ramble sometimes, but I hope that I made it understandable, as those would be the main differences between the two.

 

[Kosinski]

do you guys think that it is wise for me to rely upon the the amp section in the 805/875 for the "outside" zone with the long distances? I can afford an 805 or 875 (especially a refurb which will be around $800) but am wondering if it would make more sense to use the AV receiver for the indoor surround and get a dedicated amp for the 2-channel outdoor speakers.


Do refurb units typically come in "like new" condition or are they sometimes dinged up?

 

[oztech]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Kosinski /forum/post/14185256


do you guys think that it is wise for me to rely upon the the amp section in the 805/875 for the "outside" zone with the long distances? I can afford an 805 or 875 (especially a refurb which will be around $800) but am wondering if it would make more sense to use the AV receiver for the indoor surround and get a dedicated amp for the 2-channel outdoor speakers.


Do refurb units typically come in "like new" condition or are they sometimes dinged up?

How long of a distance are you talking about and what brand .

 

[Jakeman02]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Kosinski /forum/post/14185256


Do refurb units typically come in "like new" condition or are they sometimes dinged up?

I've ordered quite a few from shoponkyo and one from the HK ebay auctions and they have all came in new condition cosmetically, no dings or scratches. They do specify on the website that it may have some cosmetic defects so it's always a chance but in my experience that hasn't been the case.

 

[Kosinski]

max distance approx 230' (30' from receiver to switcher, 200' from switcher to Paradigm rock speaker). wire is 14 gauge.


for manuf, i'm up for suggestions but I cannot see talking my wife into more than 14 or 1500. I'm not a true audiophile and thus do not need the "best"....I just do not want to burn up a second receiver.