Onkyo TX-SR876 and Cabinets

[fahim]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone could help me.

I have a Onkyo TX-SR876 which I want to put in a cabinet. The cabinet I am interested in is the BDI Mirage 8227.

I'd like your opinions as to how safe it would be to put the Onkyo in one of the vertical sections given how hot it runs? Could it share a vertical section with another component without totally frying it? Should the other component be on top or underneath?

If your view is that this would be a bad idea given how hot it runs, which amps would you recommend that would play nicely in the cabinet up to £1000?

Thanks for any insight you can provide.

F

 

[Ronald Archiebald]

Fahim,

1. The 876 will run hot, and there never should be an instance when there is any other component on top of it. In my opinion, this would apply to any AV receiver, and is not only restricted to the Onkyo.

2. I do not think this cabinet will provide sufficient 'breathing space' to the 876, even if there is open space in the rear as the ventilation ducts are on top of the receiver. I have always preferred AV racks for this purpose.

3. IMO, your money is better spent on getting the best receiver for your money and the cabinet should not feature in this consideration.

Ronald

 

[michael hoy]

Ronald Archiebald:
Fahim,

1. The 876 will run hot, and there never should be an instance when there is any other component on top of it. In my opinion, this would apply to any AV receiver, and is not only restricted to the Onkyo.

2. I do not think this cabinet will provide sufficient 'breathing space' to the 876, even if there is open space in the rear as the ventilation ducts are on top of the receiver. I have always preferred AV racks for this purpose.

3. IMO, your money is better spent on getting the best receiver for your money and the cabinet should not feature in this consideration.

Ronald

Ronald,

Not all amp / receivers run hot like the Onkyo's do, my Denon used to get quite hot, but I have a 19mm MDF shelf in between the amp and Sky box.

My new Pioneer amp does not even warm my hands, having an open back does disperse alot of the heat.

I would agree that puting a device directly on top of the amp would case some issues.

 

[Ronald Archiebald]

Michael Hoy,

The OP owns an Onkyo 876. Points 1 & 2 address that, specifically.

Ronald

 

[Joe10155]

I think it's going to be too tight. The cabinet I have my 876 in (very old MFI item) is not ideal as far as Onkyo specify as it only has around 4 1/2 inches space each side and only 5 inches space above it, as I have my blu-ray player on a shelf above it. I have not had any problems yet (touch wood).

However, I have cut out most of the back panel after adding some strengthening and I leave the doors open when it's in use and for a while afterwards.

In the BDI cabinet you are thinking about the compartments are only around an inch wider than the 876 is, and there are some vents in the side of the 876. I also don't think there is adequate height in the compartment to add any other items.

 

[strapped for cash]

It's so difficult to find an AV stand that is 1) not ugly; and 2) will accomodate your kit with sufficient shelf height to not suffocate your receiver.

I'm very close to going the "biuld your own" route, if only I had more faith in my skills as a craftsman...

 

[Frank Harvey]

If you're going to put an Onkyo in a cabinet, you really need a lot of space above it, and I'd ensure that the cabinet has no back to ventilation. The new Onkyo's don't seem to suffer with this as much as the older ones - we had our 608 running slightly high on an Apollo Mezzo AV rack with only a few inches above to spare. It was running about as hot as normal AV amps, instead of as hot as an F1 engine standing still like the Onkyo's of old!

 

[michael hoy]

strapped for cash:
It's so difficult to find an AV stand that is 1) not ugly; and 2) will accomodate your kit with sufficient shelf height to not suffocate your receiver.

I'm very close to going the "biuld your own" route, if only I had more faith in my skills as a craftsman...

What part of the country do you live in?

 

[strapped for cash]

I live in the Midlands, though I use the word "safely" to refer to a TV stand that will accomodate a reasonbly specced receiver with sufficient headroom to allow proper ventilation. Then there's the other issue of finding one that will also accomodate a full-size centre speaker on the top shelf as well... Oh, and one that also doesn't look ugly (though beauty is, of course, in the eye of the beholder).

 

[michael hoy]

strapped for cash:I live in the Midlands, though I use the word "safely" to refer to a TV stand that will accomodate a reasonbly specced receiver with sufficient headroom to allow proper ventilation. Then there's the other issue of finding one that will also accomodate a full-size centre speaker on the top shelf as well... Oh, and one that also doesn't look ugly (though beauty is, of course, in the eye of the beholder).

How good are you at DIY and do you have any tools.

Reason for asking, you could send a cutting list of to a specialist timber company, they will cut the wood to size and you basically assemble it yourself.

If this is the route you may want to try, I can post a link to the company I purchased my wood from.

See my cabinet here.

 

[strapped for cash]

michael hoy:
strapped for cash:I live in the Midlands, though I use the word "safely" to refer to a TV stand that will accomodate a reasonbly specced receiver with sufficient headroom to allow proper ventilation. Then there's the other issue of finding one that will also accomodate a full-size centre speaker on the top shelf as well... Oh, and one that also doesn't look ugly (though beauty is, of course, in the eye of the beholder).

How good are you at DIY and do you have any tools.

Reason for asking, you could send a cutting list of to a specialist timber company, they will cut the wood to size and you basically assemble it yourself.

If this is the route you may want to try, I can post a link to the company I purchased my wood from.

See my cabinet here.

Thanks mate. Stand looks great by the way.

I'm sure I could assemble pre-cut wood pieces.

My DIY skills aren't bad as I did a lot of renovation work on my house a few years back (I'd watched too many episodes of Property Ladder and decided I could turn a relatively cheap wreck-of-a-house into 5* accomodation in one hour; I was obviously naive and it looked much easier on TV)!

As I just forked out for a new centre speaker, I'm light on funds this month, but if you could post the link to the company you mention that would be much appreciated. I'll hang onto it for later use... I'm dying to get rid of the tacky Amazon glass and four metal legs stand my equipment currently sits on!

 

[fahim]

I own an 876 but am not particularly married to it. I am happy to change the receiver to something which plays nicer in a cabinet as quite frankly racks are awful looking and I have to take my Mrs into consideration.

Michael Hoy, you have the sort of layout of components I am also after and seems you don't have much room above your receiver. Does your Sky+ HD box behave itself?

I am seriously tempted by the same receiver as you (LX72) as it seems to run much cooler than the 876.

The cabinet does have a completely open back and shelves in each vertical section.

 

[michael hoy]

Fahim,

The Sky box is running fine, I did used to have a closed back to the unit, and with the door shut in summer the Sky box did not like it.

I have now opened the back up due to the amp, and everything is now alot cooler.

 

[michael hoy]

strapped for cash:michael hoy:
strapped for cash:I live in the Midlands, though I use the word "safely" to refer to a TV stand that will accomodate a reasonbly specced receiver with sufficient headroom to allow proper ventilation. Then there's the other issue of finding one that will also accomodate a full-size centre speaker on the top shelf as well... Oh, and one that also doesn't look ugly (though beauty is, of course, in the eye of the beholder).

How good are you at DIY and do you have any tools.

Reason for asking, you could send a cutting list of to a specialist timber company, they will cut the wood to size and you basically assemble it yourself.

If this is the route you may want to try, I can post a link to the company I purchased my wood from.

See my cabinet here.

Thanks mate. Stand looks great by the way.

I'm sure I could assemble pre-cut wood pieces.

My DIY skills aren't bad as I did a lot of renovation work on my house a few years back (I'd watched too many episodes of Property Ladder and decided I could turn a relatively cheap wreck-of-a-house into 5* accomodation in one hour; I was obviously naive and it looked much easier on TV)!

As I just forked out for a new centre speaker, I'm light on funds this month, but if you could post the link to the company you mention that would be much appreciated. I'll hang onto it for later use... I'm dying to get rid of the tacky Amazon glass and four metal legs stand my equipment currently sits on!

Have a look at this company, they have supplied me with various orders for wood.

The will pre cut your timber and edge it, but you will have to do a little bit of work.

1. You could route the rebates in the sides.

2. You could use biscuit joints.

Either can be hired from a hire shop.

I may be able to make the drawings for you nearer the time (depending on work commitments), but you would have to workout what design you would like.

Edit: updated link

 

[strapped for cash]

Thanks Michael, but you didn't include the link...

 

[Big Chris]

Here's my solution. Ikea 'Tobo' TV unit. Middle section should have a pair of drawers, but I left them out.

 

[shreader]

i recently bought a unit in black ash for my yamaha 1065,virgin vbox and yamaha 1900 blue ray its has lots oroom for ventilation have a look at ikea web site hope thats some help

 

[fahim]

So has anyone got any recommendations for brands I should be looking at that would be a little more comfortable in such a space without frying any surrounding kit?