Onkyo TXSR-577 vs. Sony STR-DH800

[stevebrock]

I have just bought myself a Sony BDP-360 Blu Ray player and want to delve into home cinema, using my existing hi-fi speakers to start with (Mission M72) so want a dedicated HDMI amp - My budget is £300.......

My local hifi dealer is setting up the 2 amps for a demo on Tuesday, I like the look of the Sony but my hi fi shop says the Onkyo is a better built, sounding amp.

The Onkyo is priced at £299 and the Sony at £279?

Any opinions?

 

[d4v3pum4]

By the way, if you don't need 7.1, go for the lesser priced Onkyo 507 as the additional channels are the only difference.

 

[stevebrock]

yes I have spoken to the shop again and they are going to get a 507 set up as well, incidentally it does not get that good a review on here with the Sony faring better - glad that I have a demo planned so I can choose for myself. My shop though says the Sony is not built as well as the Onkyo - especially the speaker binding posts?

any more feedback would be great - as to me it is a lot of money I'm spending and I want to get it right!

 

[Anonymous]

Wasn't going to post on this forum again but I will for your sake. Got a TX-NR876, more high up the scale than the two models you're checking out but I know I can definitely offer you one piece of good advice. Most important thing is to get the shop to set the Onkyo's up 100% manually, without using the Audysey microphone set-up. The microphone system setup makes my Onkyo sound really staid... set it up manually and it sounds amazing, packed with lots of life and energy.

That's why I wouldn't pay much attention to the What Hi-Fi review of the TX-SR507... seemed as if they just assessed it after setting it up with the Audysey EQ system, not manually.

My TX-NR876 got a 4-star review from the mag but it easily deserves a 5-star for sound quality if you set it up properly. And that's before you take into account its fantastic, unique ISF video calibration ability... which appears to mean pretty much nothing to this magazine anyway (see my previous posts) but that's another can of hoo-hah! Trust your own faculties mate and you won't go wrong!

 

[Andrew Everard]

Three posts, three attacks on the magazine - not a fan, then, richardifield...?

 

[Anonymous]

richardifield:
Wasn't going to post on this forum again but I will for your sake. Got a TX-NR876, more high up the scale than the two models you're checking out but I know I can definitely offer you one piece of good advice. Most important thing is to get the shop to set the Onkyo's up 100% manually, without using the Audysey microphone set-up. The microphone system setup makes my Onkyo sound really staid... set it up manually and it sounds amazing, packed with lots of life and energy.

That's why I wouldn't pay much attention to the What Hi-Fi review of the TX-SR507... seemed as if they just assessed it after setting it up with the Audysey EQ system, not manually.

My TX-NR876 got a 4-star review from the mag but it easily deserves a 5-star for sound quality if you set it up properly. And that's before you take into account its fantastic, unique ISF video calibration ability... which appears to mean pretty much nothing to this magazine anyway (see my previous posts) but that's another can of hoo-hah! Trust your own faculties mate and you won't go wrong!

You are talking about your NR876, which is of zero consequence to the OP, for HIS SAKE?

 

[Anonymous]

Andrew Everard - I made some perfectly justifiable criticisms of What Hi-fi's complete lack of focus on video-related features in AV receivers. You guys put sound first, I and lots of other enthusiasts have different priorities.

Matt Gurney - read your comments on the Onkyo TX-SR507 you owned. You had probs with the Audysey set-up system. I have had issues with it on my 876. I'm cautioning Stevebrock that if he wants to hear the 507 properly he ought to switch off Audysey EQ and do a manual setup. You're entitled to yr opinion, I'm entitled to mine, Stevebrock is entitled to his... don't have a cow about it!

Stevebrock - you asked for advice before auditioning receivers. If my experience of the NR876 is anything to go by - and I think it is as all Onkyos use Audysey - my advice is to set up the two Onkyos manually if you want to hear them at their best. That's it. After that, trust your ears... buy whichever receiver meets your needs best. If anybody on this forum has a problem with that advice they really need to get out more.

 

[Andrew Everard]

richardifield:Andrew Everard - I made some perfectly justifiable criticisms of What Hi-fi's complete lack of focus on video-related features in AV receivers. You guys put sound first, I and lots of other enthusiasts have different priorities.

There is no 'complete lack of focus'. The receiver you have got four stars - no need to be so petulant about it...

 

[stevebrock]

to be honest i take all magazines with a pinch of salt/I just use them for a bit of guidance and I certainly would not buy an amp just based on a magazine review!

Its the same in the Mountain Bike world with mags hyping bikes up because they get a lot of advertising revenue from manufacturers!

I will get them to set up the Onkyo manually, if they dont want too then Im walking..... At the end of the day Im gonna get what I percieve as the visually & sonically best amp out of the Sony & Onkyo.

My budget is £300 MAXIMUM so there is no point trying to steer me above that figure!

 

[Andrew Everard]

stevebrock:Its the same in the Mountain Bike world with mags hyping bikes up because they get a lot of advertising revenue from manufacturers!

Ah, so not at all the same, then...

 

[stevebrock]

matt gurney:

why did you ask for advice!

i just asked for opinions not advice!