Onkyo TX-SR706 or Yamaha DSP AX-863SE?

[admin_exported]

I've been planning getting into the surround game for a good few years and never really gotten round to it, but now the time has come!

Unfortunately it seems fraught with choices! I have a Panasonic TH-42PZ81 (which is fantastic) and Sky HD and plan getting a Panasonic DMPBD35 for BD, DVD and initially CD audio too. So I need an amp/receiver and a speaker package to complete the set and my budget is around £1000. I like the Q Acoustics 1010i package because they fit my living room and because they have gotten great reviews here and elsewhere. So then to the amp/receiver. Using the pages of Whathifi, I've bounced between a couple of the cheaper Onkyos and the Denon 1909 skirting briefly with the Yamaha DSP AX-763 before finally(?) settling on the Yamaha DSP AX-863SE. Finally, that is until I started trying to source one and found the details of the Onkyo TX-SR706. "How could I have missed its review on Whathifi?" I thought while flicking the magazine pages and searching the web simultaneously. But it turns out it has never been reviewed.

So, my question to the Whathifi team: is there a review of the Onkyo planned? The question to everyone else: any opinions on either of these amps, potential matchup to the speakers, performance with music, or (being new to this) any tips really.

I have tried (and will try again) to audition the kit before I make my choice, but unfortunately I've encountered a dealer that was willing to demo but didn't stock all the kit and then a dealer who seemed to turn his nose up because I think I was at the wrong end of the budget scale for his liking (he didn't seem to know any Denon models starting with anythign less than a 3!).

 

[Pistol Pete1]

Hi jonotheone,

Judging by the hype around the yamaha 863SE at the moment, and the fact that this years onkyo amps seem to be falling short to their competitors, I would expect the yamaha to be the best bet for movie and cd playback.

These comments come from an onkyo amp owner (606), that has the Q Acoustic 1010i 5.1 package you mentioned. I bought both, because of two reasons:

1) Heard they worked very well together.

2) Bargain at £769 for both.

The package is good, especially for movies, but I find myself already looking to upgrade to the Q Acoustics 1030i floorstanders as front speakers. See attached page:

http://www.exceptional-av.co.uk/product.php?fdProductId=119

But you may want to look into more expensive speakers, as that amp will shine with them.

Maybe these:

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/3322

or:

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/4360

or:

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/4355

or if possible:

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/4112

Hope that helps.................

 

[Anonymous]

Got the same dilemma currently.

Having a full overhaul of the cinema set up.

Bought a W4500 Sony.

About to buy a Panny BD55, Speakers will either be the B&W 685 set, but more likely the KEF 3005, not got a massive livingroom and think the B&W's will over power in size.

Amp wise yeah its the 706 of the 863.

My weigh up is between sound and speak. I love things to have a high speak, and I feel the onkyo has the upper hand. But if I bought this would i really notice/feel I was getting poorer qulaity sound than the yamaha?

Looking attach all my HDMI's viva the amp so the yamaha would fall short as I would be connecting SKY HD, Blu Ray, XBOX 360 and PS3. ( guess I have the option to link the xbox and ps3 via the TV as it probably isn't essential they need to be in to the amp)

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies so far. I think I'm leaning towards the Yamaha as I think it will better with CD Audio, but I really don't want to repeat past performances of buying something and regretting it later (just after the review comes out in What-<insert mag specialisation here>!

 

[Gerrardasnails]

jonotheone:Thanks for the replies so far. I think I'm leaning towards the Yamaha as I think it will better with CD Audio, but I really don't want to repeat past performances of buying something and regretting it later (just after the review comes out in What-<insert mag specialisation here>!

Yamaha - easily. However, try to demo the Sony 3400es.

 

[Anonymous]

FYI Sevenoaks has a deal offering the yamaha 863 and q acoustics 1010i 5.1 for 899

 

[Clare Newsome]

pc321:FYI Sevenoaks has a deal offering the yamaha 863 and q acoustics 1010i 5.1 for 899
That is insanely good value for money - especially considering the Yamaha once cost £800. It'll be a storming movie system, and not a bad little music set-up with the right source, either. Bargain!

 

[Anonymous]

Clare,

Any reviews for the Onkyo 706 or 806 in the pipeline ?, would like to know how it stacks up against the Harman Kardon AVR-255 (only 3 stars) or similar priced Marantz receivers, I know you have reviewed the Yamaha 763 and 863 but what about the Onkyo models in the same price bracket or do you feel the 606 is the only one which needs to be reviewed ?. Your review does not have to be in-depth, just if those two amps offer anything close to value for money as their prices have been lowered by a big margin, please guys I know a quite few ppl have asked for these reviews as Onkyo has over the last few years considered to be a good value for money or (to use your word) a 'Bargain' !