Onkyo A-9010 (with DAC and digital-output) vs A-9030 (no DAC/do, 40€ more expensive)

[hybridauth_Google_100705092361066781379]

After having read the fantastic review of the Onkyo A-9010 I'm decided to go for it (I also need a pair of speakers so feel free to give me a pair of suggestions here).

The problem is that the 2015 review talks about a version without the DAC. The current version (also in amazon.co.uk, so I guess this is an updated 2016 version) has the DAC, but the (I guess) higher A-9030 version doesn't have it.

Then I am having the doubt, is the A-9030 the good option now (provided that I don't need a DAC)? The review of the 9030 is from 2012 and is just meh, but I assume the 2016 version is as good as the 2015-reviewed 9010. The price difference is not that much, so I'm willing to buy the 9030, but I am not sure because I am just assuming that 9030 is better than 9010.

What would you do?

 

[muljao]

My understanding is the Onkyo 9010 that is available in the UK has no DAC, whether its 2015 or 2016 version

 

[muljao]

If you don't need a DAC, the 9010 seems to tick all the boxes with generally great reviews all over the net. One part of me thinks for a few pounds more the Marantz pn6005 or the Yamaha a-s501 is worth the outlay, because it may come up later that a DAC is convenient, but thats a what if situation.

A freind recently bought a Denon PMA-720AE amp (also without dac) and I think it is fantastic, and retails inexpensive if you look around (originally it was 300 ish pounds, now I think about 175).

As for speakers its hard to recommend, but decide your space and narrow it down.

 

[hybridauth_Google_100705092361066781379]

My understanding is the Onkyo 9010 that is available in the UK has no DAC, whether its 2015 or 2016 version

<p> Im amazon.co.uk they seem to sell the version with a DAC with the digital audio inputs https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00SH2JSJW/ref=s9_simh_gw_g23_i1_r?ie=UTF8&fpl=fresh&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=&pf_rd_r=99D567YYZW56398ZECSG&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=026d359a-cb34-4790-9249-ec9f152ee8e2&pf_rd_i=desktop </p> <p> That said, and reminding that I am going to buy the spanish version, the question is wheter the 9030 is as good (and a little bit better) than the 9010 or not. I guess it is, models are updated at the same time and there's no reason to think the 9030 is worse than the 9010. The DAC, I have two of them, and if these would not be good enough then I'd go for a dedicated one, so I'm willing to skip the DAC if in exchange I get a better product. </p> <p> The question really is, is there any reason why I should skip the 9030 and go for the 9010, even though it has a DAC? (from the 9010 review: Onkyo has decided to bypass the whole issue by not going down the DAC route with the A-9010, instead preferring to improve other aspects of the electronic design.), so in the 2016 version they've changed their mind, but for the 9030 they are following the same reasoning. </p> <p> For the speakers, is this amplifier good enough for the MONITOR AUDIO BRONZE 2 speakers? </p>

 

[rainsoothe]

Hi. I remember reading somewhere that a forum poster actually prefered the 9010 (UK version) to the 9030. If you can, do audition.

Also, I was looking at the 9010 UK version as a present for my dad, and, if I'm not mistaking, the pictures on amazon uk are indeed of the DAC version, but description says it's the UK version.