Onkyo 806 V Sony 2400ES

[grdunn123]

Bit of a retrospective post as I've already chosen and bought one of the above. Auditioned both recently and was aware beforehand that the Onkyo had the better spec but the Sony had the better pedigree with music. I found that they were both very different but both extremely good in their own right.

The Onkyo has bags of presence and power with excellent sound with movies. It has an awesome ability to reproduce a 360 degree sound whereas the Sony is far more civilised, I felt like I was constantly turning the Sony up to try and capture the same dynamics.

2 channel music was a different ball game with the Sony proving to be far more relaxed and subtle. The Onk kinda sets about music the same way it handles movies.....full on.

I did buy the 806 as movies and Sky HD are my primary sources, having said that the first Onkyo died a death within hours and I now am in to my second day with it's replacement although having read another AV forum site I am now waiting for some dreaded blue spots to start appearing on my TV screen......

 

[Pistol Pete1]

Your views make very interesting reading, cos I am tempted by both amps. Currently I have the Onkyo 606, and love it for movies (but can be a bit 'full on' and 'bass heavy' sometimes!!), but for 2 channel stereo it's a bit thrashy in the high frequencies.

806 similar in that respect??

Or is the 2400ES better for stereo reproduction, if a bit less 'bass heavy' for both movies and stereo!! I also assume that the 2400ES shows off more detail in the sound and adds a 'sweeter treble' to both?

Cheers.....

 

[grdunn123]

The Onk is wonderful with movies (THX and all that) whereas the Sony is just too civilised, it's as if it's almost thinking about what it has to do next whereas the 806 is full bodied and grabs your attention but without any harshness. Even my Wii sounds so much better......I have bi amped my Mission 'fronts' and music doesn't sound thrashy or harsh, I think the bi amping tames this

 

[grdunn123]

The other deciding factor in all of this may well be that Onkyo are apparently about to raise the price of the 806 back up to £799.99 come February 1st in line with many other big manufacturers price rises. I read this on another forum in several different posts so now may be the time too buy the Onk

 

[Pistol Pete1]

When I bi amped my Q Acoustics 1030i floor standers, it did improve, but I still feel with some types of music (not all) that the treble is harsh/muddled.

Yet, with movies the treble is bright,clear and the clarity is superb!!! It's just what I would like to hear in the 2 channel playback...

I do like the Onkyo big and bold sound, so its interesting that you find the Sony 'too civilised'. Just need to know what it will take to improve this slight annoyance, and whether it's financial 'worth it'......

 

[Pistol Pete1]

Yes, I've heard about the price rising that a lot of companies are doing. Q Acoustics are doing the same which is why I bought them a week or so ago (£169 delivered - BARGAIN!!)

Forgot to ask.......any blue dot problems on 806's anymore, or have they fixed that and sending out the improved versions now?

 

[grdunn123]

I think you may find that the Sony goes too much the other way and you might find yourself craving a little more expression and excitement..........worth checking out the proposed price increase on the Onk....I have read several articles saying that it's going up to £800 on Feb 1st. No idea whether it's true but other's are putting their prices up so it may just be true. Makes it bargain of the year at £399.99 at Richer Sounds...

 

[Pistol Pete1]

Just looked at Richer Sounds website...looks like the price increases have started!!!!

Its £499.95 for black or silver now!!!!!

 

[grdunn123]

I hadn't noticed that it had gone up again. I was down in Nottingham last week and had planned to buy it there as I was working there all week. The on line price on the Sunday before I left was £399.99 but by the Tuesday It had gone up £50 for the silver and £30 more for the black meaning that it was £479.99. Through their mix up I managed to get the silver for £390.

I did a brief comparison between the 606 and 806 and the latter was much more full bodied and rounded with movies , didn't get a chance to compare music though. I think the recent introduction of the 706 may well have a bearing on the 806's price too.

 

[Pistol Pete1]

Oh well,

The 807 will be out in the summer, no doubt, so maybe I'll wait till then and bag a bargain!!!!

But before then I might go to my local dealer and have a listen as they have the 806 (silver only-NOT a colour I like!!) and the Q Acoustics 1030i. Only drawback is that one guy in there is very pushy and I hate that. Went in recently to look at the Q Acoustics and within 2 minutes he was trying to get me to follow him into the audition room to hear a £800 amp that I was not even remotely interested in!!!! I made my excuse and left!!!

Thanks for all you feedback...it's been most informative..

 

[grdunn123]

Cheers Pete, let me know which path you go down.....I'll keep posting on any positives and negatives that I find with the Onk.

 

[Pistol Pete1]

That would be great...... thanks.....

 

[Anonymous]

The Onkyo is a great class A amp, it just needs feeding with a pure power supply to get the MAX clarity out of the Pre-amp.

Too much interaction with the signal path otherwise!

 

[grdunn123]

trevor79:The Onkyo is a great class A amp, it just needs feeding with a pure power supply to get the MAX clarity out of the Pre-amp. Too much interaction with the signal path otherwise!What would you recommend?

 

[Pistol Pete1]

Which means mains conditioners, and improved mains cables?

I use the Tacima CS929 conditioner, but the original mains cable on the Onk 606.

 

[grdunn123]

mains conditioners?? I guess that's different from surge protectors? How much for the Tacima Pete? I've seen things like the Russ Andrews mains cable for the amp but never really gave it a second thought at the price they were charging. Do they make a difference?

 

[Anonymous]

Oh yes, but you can go much further than that!

 

[grdunn123]

Go on then Trevor, how much further and more importantly how much more expensive?

 

[Pistol Pete1]

Look on ebay for the Tacima..... Think I got it for about £23.

It did make a difference to the sound... opened up the sound and improved the clarity/bass punch.

It's a surge protector too......

Its a good upgrade.......that will not break the bank..............

 

[grdunn123]

Pistol Pete1:

Look on ebay for the Tacima..... Think I got it for about £23.

It did make a difference to the sound... opened up the sound and improved the clarity/bass punch.

It's a surge protector too......

Its a good upgrade.......that will not break the bank..............
Thanx Pete, just been checking out Ebay and you're right. Can't really imagine spending hundreds on something like this (unless it makes a huge difference of course) but it doesn't seem to be talked abouth that much in these forums anyway.

 

[Pistol Pete1]

The 'What hifi' team seem to like it, though....

5 star review on this site....

http://whathifi.com/Review/Tacima-CS929/

 

[grdunn123]

Yeah I just read the review! How could i have missed such a cheap and painless upgrade? Ok, will get one and give an honest review!

 

[Pistol Pete1]

I think you will be pleased with your purchase......

 

[Pistol Pete1]

Thinking about it, I'm tempted into looking at replacement mains cables for the onkyo 606, to see if it improves the treble harshness problem.

I know the cd player will not be the problem, when it comes to my annoyance, as I have a Marantz CD63 KI Signature- its a top player.....

Maybe I'll look into the Russ Andrews cables.........
The 'Clearer Audio Copper-Line Alpha' looks interesting.......or the Russ Andrews PowerMaxT Plus mains cable.......

Anyone know much about this sort of upgrade?...

 

[grdunn123]

I just bought a Tacima from Amazon, hopefully be here in the next couple of days! I remember the Marantz KI signature.....must be 13 years old now? I had the Pioneer equivalent amp and cd player of the time......can't even remember the names now but they were the 'breathed on' specials as they called them!