onkyo 808 or pioneer lx53

[admin_exported]

Hi all,

I'm in the process of buying a new receiver, and i was pretty keen on the onkyo 808.

with great features and big power for the money it looked like the one to get.

also picking up a great review and a award here on what hifi.

then i read the review on the pioneer lx53 and it won in the price class above the onkyo.

i'll be using it manly on HT but also music, which one will best future proof and give me daily enjoyment for many years to come.

price is not a concern i can pick them up for the same money. just looking for some feedback of people who own them or know a bit

about these to. also ease of use, which one will work best of the box with less hassles.

any feedback would be great.

cheers.

Mat.

p.s. they will be hooked up to polk audio tsi500 speaker pack. will be upgrading to higher end speakers down the track.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Not sure how these amps will be with the Polk, but the Yamaha RXV1067 a better specced amplifier than the 708 for only £50 more. I haven't compared specs to the Pioneer as yet.

 

[Anonymous]

thanks Dave,

have not had a close look at the yamaha's but will go down and check them out.

i have heard a 708 running the polk system and it sounded pretty good, thats what got me onto the onkyo's in the first place.

just wished they were better looking.

 

[rana_kirti]

FrankHarveyHiFi:Not sure how these amps will be with the Polk, but the Yamaha RXV1067 a better specced amplifier than the 808 for only £50 more. I haven't compared specs to the Pioneer as yet.

in what ways is 1067 better specced than 808....? More power or more features...?!?

Thanks

 

[Frank Harvey]

Sorry, I meant the 708.

Between the 808 and the 1067, the Yamaha can be switched between HDMI inputs while in it's 'HDMI pass through' mode, and has an optical output. It has eight HDMI inputs (against the 808's seven). The 1067 has four (rather than two) component inputs. A few differences, but some of those might be important to some people.

The 708 has a power advantage (on paper), and THX Select, which is useful if you have THX speakers. It also has the very handy Last.FM and Napster facilities, excellent for finding new music - Napster in particular.

As far as the LX53 is concerned, it is also behind on component inputs, and doesn't have a set of pre-ins like the Yamaha and Onkyo. Don't forget, the LX53 is basically a VSX2020, but in the casework and brushed aluminium finish of the LX73.

 

[rana_kirti]

Hi Frank,

Since you mention the only thing 708 having over 1067 is power and that too on paper. i went to their respective websites and got this info. But need you clarification on this.... ;-)

onkyo 708 spec sheet says...

Front L/R 170 w/ch ( 6ohms, 1 khz, i channel driven iec )

Center 170 w/ch ( 6ohms, 1 khz, i channel driven iec )

Surround L/R 170 w/ch ( 6ohms, 1 khz, i channel driven iec )

Surround Back L/R Ront L/R, Front Wide L/R, or Zone 2 L/R 170 w/ch ( 6ohms, 1 khz, i channel driven iec )

Yamaha 1067 spec sheet says...
Channel7.2-channelRMS Power (8 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz) [THD]105 W x 7 [0.06%]Max Output Power for Europe (4 ohms, 1 kHz, 0.7% THD)7 x 165 W/ch
How much would the Onkyo 708 be roughly at the same yamaha at RMS Power (8 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz) [THD] ?

This ratings are very confusing... Could you help clear it out for us novices...?

Thanks

 

[Frank Harvey]

The lower the ohms rating, the higher the output can be quoted. This is a trick many Japanese manufacturers use - instead of quoting it into a standard 8ohms, they'll rate it into 6 to give them an advantage so to speak. Also, some manufacturers might quote that power rating into only one channel - when the transformer is supplying one speaker, it can muster more power into it than if it were driving 5 or 7. "All channels driven" is the best rating to go by, but not all manufacturers who do this actually state they do it.

Even then, paper watts can only be a guide....

 

[rana_kirti]

thanks but i'm still in doubt...

so from the specification i posted what can we derive...?

the yamaha 1067 at 8 ohms at "All channels driven" says...
RMS Power (8 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz) [THD]
105 W x 7 [0.06%]

1. What can we conclude it might be for onkyo 708 from the specs i posted ?

2. Which is more powerful paper wise the onkyo 708 or the yamaha 1067 ?

Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

rana_kirti:

thanks but i'm still in doubt...

so from the specification i posted what can we derive...?

the yamaha 1067 at 8 ohms at "All channels driven" says...

RMS Power (8 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz) [THD]

105 W x 7 [0.06%]

1. What can we conclude it might be for onkyo 708 from the specs i posted ?

2. Which is more powerful paper wise the onkyo 708 or the yamaha 1067 ?

Thanks

If the onkyo is quoting 170 w/p/c with 1 channel driven, then that would make the 1067 the most powerfull on paper.

But as mentioned earlier, I would take the spec'n sheets from manufacturers with a pinch of salt, it's real world power that matters.

I home tested the 708 and1067 recently, as a you can see from the signature I went for the 1067, for me it's not about power, more about control when the unit is pushed hard, and the 1067 won that contest hands down for me (only IMO).

Remember WHF gave it 5 stars and it pushed the 808 (the 708s more powerfull brother) hard.

 

[grdunn123]

rana_kirti:
thanks but i'm still in doubt...

so from the specification i posted what can we derive...?

the yamaha 1067 at 8 ohms at "All channels driven" says...
RMS Power (8 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz) [THD]
105 W x 7 [0.06%]

1. What can we conclude it might be for onkyo 708 from the specs i posted ?

2. Which is more powerful paper wise the onkyo 708 or the yamaha 1067 ?

Thanks

The claimed power output in watts is no guide as to which is more powerful. Sustained current is far more important for good sound quality.

 

[Anonymous]

Well I'm confused are we talking about the Onkyo 808 or 708?

 

[Frank Harvey]

"Tomorrow will be Christmaaaaas"

 

[Frank Harvey]

mattyk55 - do you know what speakers you're likely to end up with? If you'll be keeping this receiver for a long time, I'd choose it based on your future speaker purchase.

 

[Anonymous]

Go for the Yamaha if I was in your position. Yamahas tend to have a more beefier sound that can push out nice bass and midrange from your speakers. Obviously better suited to the drivers used in your speakers and the type of speaker they are. The other amps will be good but I feel they are more suited to sub sat style of systems. Yamaha is an easier fuller more grown up sound.

 

[rana_kirti]

Bobbyx:Go for the Yamaha if I was in your position. Yamahas tend to have a more beefier sound that can push out nice bass and midrange from your speakers. Obviously better suited to the drivers used in your speakers and the type of speaker they are. The other amps will be good but I feel they are more suited to sub sat style of systems. Yamaha is an easier fuller more grown up sound.

If yamaha has more power then why does everyone say that the onkyo has a more forceful presentation ? i'm confused.....

 

[rana_kirti]

markjaspi:rana_kirti:
thanks but i'm still in doubt...

so from the specification i posted what can we derive...?

the yamaha 1067 at 8 ohms at "All channels driven" says...
RMS Power (8 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz) [THD]
105 W x 7 [0.06%]

1. What can we conclude it might be for onkyo 708 from the specs i posted ?

2. Which is more powerful paper wise the onkyo 708 or the yamaha 1067 ?

Thanks

If the onkyo is quoting 170 w/p/c with 1 channel driven, then that would make the 1067 the most powerfull on paper.

But as mentioned earlier, I would take the spec'n sheets from manufacturers with a pinch of salt, it's real world power that matters.

I home tested the 708 and1067 recently, as a you can see from the signature I went for the 1067, for me it's not about power, more about control when the unit is pushed hard, and the 1067 won that contest hands down for me (only IMO).

Remember WHF gave it 5 stars and it pushed the 808 (the 708s more powerfull brother) hard.

I cant get to demo these 2 avrs with same speakers where i live...

buddy you are the only person i found who has heard both 708 & 1067 with the same speakers..... So help me out here....

could you reflect back and put in a few words how you found 708 & 1067 different from each others, on what parameters with a few examples....?!? Could you describe how their sounds differ from each other....

Thanks in advance pal.... ;-)

 

[Anonymous]

wattage is only one type of measurement. It depends on other things to like the quality of parts inside, big power supplys etc. Onkyos own ratings seem a bit ambitous realisticaly in my opinion it will produce half of that when running a home cinema setup. I believe the ratings of the Yamaha seem more realistic. If all these amps were measured in the same way you will be shocked to find what they all really produce. In my personal experience I have found Sony amps sound very thin for example making them suited for sub sats systems really. I can give you a few more clues there is another well known magazine that measures all amps it reviews using the same equipment and method to give us a real reading of what the amps are producing. You can look for the models on there that you are interested or similar models from same company or a slightly older model obviously take caution when trying to compare an older model but it will give you an idea of what I am on about. But like I said amps do have their own sound as well generally associated with the brand as a whole unless there is a major shift in the design for some reason either to step up a gear in some way features, facilities, components etc or a shift in the technology.

 

[Frank Harvey]

rana_kirti:If yamaha has more power then why does everyone say that the onkyo has a more forceful presentation ? i'm confused.....
The brute force of the Onkyo's is one of their strong points....

 

[rana_kirti]

This is confusing me and driving me nuts...

if yamaha has more power than onkyo.....

then how hoes onkyo have more brute strength...??

 

[Anonymous]

Not sure yet David, it's between the polk tsi500 and the klipsch synergy f-30. i know that the receivers that i'm looking at are over qualified

for the job, but i want this receiver to last awhile with the thoughts of up grading to high end speakers in a couple of years time.

at the moment it's now between onkyo 808, yamaha 2067, and the marants 6005. ive gone cold the pioneer no real reason just the

fact that i can listen to the other 3 side by side in one store. and i dont know what sort of speaker i'll upgrade to next so i'll want a

receiver that will handle most type of speakers if there's such a thing? any thoughts David? or anyone else?

 

[Frank Harvey]

rana_kirti:
This is confusing me and driving me nuts...

if yamaha has more power than onkyo.....

then how hoes onkyo have more brute strength...??

That's numbers for you

 

[rana_kirti]

mattyk55:
Not sure yet David, it's between the polk tsi500 and the klipsch synergy f-30. i know that the receivers that i'm looking at are over qualified

for the job, but i want this receiver to last awhile with the thoughts of up grading to high end speakers in a couple of years time.

at the moment it's now between onkyo 808, yamaha 2067, and the marants 6005. ive gone cold the pioneer no real reason just the

fact that i can listen to the other 3 side by side in one store. and i dont know what sort of speaker i'll upgrade to next so i'll want a

receiver that will handle most type of speakers if there's such a thing? any thoughts David? or anyone else?

Matty,

I'll be waiting for your comparison report between 808 & 2067 as i'm also in the same boat but none of the dealors here have both the amp.

When are you expected to go for the Demo ? Best of luck...

Cheers

 

[Anonymous]

Rana,

i hope to get down there and test the yam and onk sometime next week and i'll let you know how it all goes.