Onkyo Long Term Reliability

[sound10]

Hi everyone, as previously mentioned in another post, I really liked the sound of the Onkyo TXNR809, however I am put off from potentially buying Onkyo Products, because of what I've heard and read on the web.
I know that the previous models did have aome issues, but I would like to ask your opinion as to what you think. Also, would be very interested to hear from Onkyo owners.
When I read glowing reviews about Onky receivers, especially the latest ones on whathifi, it makes me wonder why no issues are picked up when testing.
I've read many user reviews on amazon.com with regards to Onkyo's latest receivers and it makes for some interesting reading. Lots of questions, so here goes :-

1. Do Onkyo Receivers run much hotter than other Brand Receivers ? If that is the case, then is long term reliability compromised ? Have Onkyo added a fan to the latest receivers to stop them overheating ?
2. How is Onkyo's customer support please here in the UK ? The only reason for asking is that US Customers seem to have lots of problems with Onkyo Customer Support. If any forum member has had their receiver repaired, how did they find the experience please ?
3. The TXNR609, a few people are having issues with upscaling etc etc where the receiver loses a frame every couple of minutes. Is that true ?
Finally, if it were your hard money, would you purchase an Onkyo Receiver ?
I would also be grateful if the Whathifi team can give some input and perhaps speak to Onkyo UK with regards to what I have posted.

Thanks

 

[Paul.]

I think Onkyo amps represent fantastic value for money, especially if you buy the outgoing model.

My 805 is probably 4 years ish old. The screen went just after the three year warenty ran out and onkyo wanted £100 labour, but were kind enough to offer free parts. (by kind I of course mean that sarcastically, I did the repair myself as it was only two resistors that needed replacing on a non essential board. I bought 200 resistors off of ebay for £5, so 2.5p per resistor) Other than cost I can't complain with the service however. I think repair services are subbed out to a third party in the UK (the companys name escapes me).

It does run hot, but it does have a fan and it has never gone in to saftey mode because of heat. The fan only kicks in when I forget to leave the cabinet door open.

Do remember that problems are amplified on the internet, and you will see similar responce for many brands.

 

[Big Chris]

I pretty much echo Paul here.

Had my 875 for almost 4 years. My display also packed up, but within a year of buying it. It was collected and repaired by Genserve and has been fault free ever since.pray: )

Haven't heard of the display fault of any of the later ranges (7s, 8s and the current 9s)

As Paul said, most owners who buy something and it works fine for what is perceived as a reasonable length of time don't tend to go online and look for forums/sites. Only the people with issues tend to go looking for answers.

I'd buy another Onkyo without a moment's hesitation.

 

[hammill]

I have had an 875 for about three years and so far no problems at all. Yes, it runs hot so make sure it is well ventilated. Currently happy to recommend it.

 

[professorhat]

Ditto the above two except that I've not had any issues with my 905 (touching wood as we speak). It's about 3.5 years old now.

 

[chrisup]

I have an Onkyo 905 and had my hdmi board replaced by Genserve under warranty and its been fantastic since then. Yes I would by another Onkyo.

Chris

 

[Ravey Gravey Davy]

Had a 606 for three and a half years now and no issues at all with performance or reliability.

Had to reposition into the top glass shelf and put my Panny DVD on the bottom because the Onkyo heat set off the Pannys fan (glad that came out right). Problem solved.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Ditto on the '875 – have been running one since it was launched in Summer '07, and no problems at all.

Has been back to Genserve for a hardware update to ensure future firmware upgrades were possible (this only affects early models), but has worked faultlessly day in day out. All TV sound goes through it from the Sky box, as my screen has neither tuner nor audio/speakers, so it gets used most evenings for at least some time.

Yes, it gets warm, but it's in a well-ventilated location – on its own on the bottom shelf of an Atacama Equinox AV rack – so have had no problems.

 

[sound10]

Hi, many thanks for all your replies. My mind has now been put at ease. Cheers

 

[Sliced Bread]

My 905 is also about 3.5 years old and not had any problems.

EDIT:

The 905 is used every morning & Evening for TV, film and music duties, so it's done some millage.

 

[Paul.]

Wow, everone seems to have an xx5? Have Onkyo sold any amps in the last four years?

 

[Clare Newsome]

Wow, everone seems to have an xx5? Have Onkyo sold any amps in the last four years?

Only about 25% of all receivers sold in UK per year in past two years.....

That's a lot of boxes, which - statistically - may explain why they get a few grumbles online.

 

[nads]

my 805 is still running fine since new.

 

[moonfly]

Another 875 runing fine from new with no issues, this was even a pre-order model I ordered before release and got delivered the day they were out.

 

[TnA200]

Hi Sound10,

I've never had a problem with my 875 and it plays music nearly all day long, from morning till night. Weekends and some evening sees it doing movie duties too. It is the hub of around 9 different inputs and has never had any issues.

Having said that... in the last few weeks it does sometimes change the speaker configuration by itself, so that suddenly the left is too dominant, then when I check the settings the settings have changed from -8.5 to +65 or even more! Yesterday it was the Center speakers turn to have strange setting! I know my other half would probably figure out how to correct them, but no one else would stand a chance if this random act of audio bombardment occured. I hope it's not an indicator of an approaching major issue, but until then I would rate my Onkyo highly.

I must say when I bought it it was very highly rated online, also in this magazine, helping me to decide upon it and I have never regretted buying it. If Onkyo continue to make excellent AV receivers then I would buy another comparable unit in the future. Actually I did buy a 607 for my father-in-law and before that a 605 for my mum. Atleast two friends have other high end Onkyo 9 series models. All with no issues.

Hope this helps. (sorry if it was a bit long

TnA

 

[Andrew Everard]

Wow, everone seems to have an xx5? Have Onkyo sold any amps in the last four years?

Well, the question is about long term reliability, so perhaps not surprising that owners who have experienced long term reliability are posting.

 

[hammill]

I had one of the last 875s and have had no problems with it whatsoever. As it happens, I am using the same stand as Andrew and although the 875 runs hot, it has not been an issue.

 

[Paul.]

Wow, everone seems to have an xx5? Have Onkyo sold any amps in the last four years?

Well, the question is about long term reliability, so perhaps not surprising that owners who have experienced long term reliability are posting.

Well I was being silly, but now half serious since even more xx5 owners have shown up. 10:1. Where are all the xx4 series and xx3 owners? Can those of us who all have xx5s expect them to mysteriously extinct like the xx4 and xx3? Or is the xx5 that point of diminishing returns where all the latest features are still covered so no one upgrades them?

 

[hammill]

Wow, everone seems to have an xx5? Have Onkyo sold any amps in the last four years?

Well, the question is about long term reliability, so perhaps not surprising that owners who have experienced long term reliability are posting.

Well I was being silly, but now half serious since even more xx5 owners have shown up. 10:1. Where are all the xx4 series and xx3 owners? Can those of us who all have xx5s expect them to mysteriously extinct like the xx4 and xx3? Or is the xx5 that point of diminishing returns where all the latest features are still covered so no one upgrades them?

When I bought the 875 it was highly recommended. I had been out of the market for a while - were the previous series so highly recommended? If not, that might account for the discrepency.

 

[sound10]

Hi, looks like I was worrying about nothing lol. Onkyo definitely now is on my shortlist when I come to buy. Cheers

 

[moonfly]

I hadnt even heard of Onkyo before I bought my 875. I have heard a few alternatives since, but have never heard a reason to change, and I have a few friends that either do or have owned Onkyo AVR's, all of which speak highly of them. My next purchace I think will be the Onkyo 5509

 

[Chrisdraper85]

Hi,

FWIW I've just replaced my old Onkyo TXSR 577 with the TX-NR509 after my 577 broke. I had bought the unit from Richer Sounds a Christmas 2009, but over this summer the right channel developed what turned into a debilitating crackle - after their repair team couldnt get the parts to repair the fault within 2 months they offered to replace it with the 509 which I jumped at.

That issue aside I've been really impressed with both units (so far!) and the new on-tv display of the 509 is a really useful feature (certainly saved my knees some wear and tear in setup!), not to mention the Audyssey mic system for calibration.

Would have no hesitation recommending their kit.

 

[professorhat]

Wow, everone seems to have an xx5? Have Onkyo sold any amps in the last four years?

Well, the question is about long term reliability, so perhaps not surprising that owners who have experienced long term reliability are posting.

Well I was being silly, but now half serious since even more xx5 owners have shown up. 10:1. Where are all the xx4 series and xx3 owners? Can those of us who all have xx5s expect them to mysteriously extinct like the xx4 and xx3? Or is the xx5 that point of diminishing returns where all the latest features are still covered so no one upgrades them?

May be wrong, but I think the xx5s introduced HD audio codecs, which may be why there are a few about and less of the older models. It was the main reason I upgraded at the time.

Apart from 3D, I don't think there's been a major reason to upgrade since (other than my constant desire for new toys ).