Upgrade from Onkyo to pioneer receiver.

[Anonymous]

It was about 4 month ago when i was out looking to buy a new AVR. i had a listen to 3 differents AVR. at that time , the yamaha z7, onkyo 906, and the pioneer LX82, all 3 amp. where great performer, but for me the pioneer LX82 was a winner when it come's to movie's, the open and specoius sound presentation from the pioneer lx82 deliver the sound with such an expressive emotion's and power that mareked it self as the most cinematic AVR. among the other's....and it dosn,t stop there , in the top of that it,s one of the most gorgeuos looking AVR. on the makret ....what more do i need

About the price , i live in Denmark and here i gave 15000kr for it and if u convert that amount to pounds than it,s something around 1700£

 

[Anonymous]

TKratz:Buckshar:

depends on which specific range you are referring to - I found the Icepower ones over-warm if anything IMO (I had a SC-LX71)

From that statement, it is difficult for me to believe you have ever heard a 'real' warm receiver? LX71 is among the brightest receivers I have ever tested!

Buckshar:

if you are considering the Z7 - how about the 3900 as well (and saving money in the process) ? how much difference is there between the 2 ?

Well, the difference is remarkeble I would say. Apart from the added power of the Z7, there is a huge improvement on the stereo performance and surround effects as well.

This might be more critical when pairing with speakers that are heavy to drive rather than for Monitor Audio though.

I've owned in the last year (actually owned for seveal weeks to months at a time - I'm fussy so been through a few)

Pioneer 2011, Yamaha RX-V3800, Pioneer SC-LX71, Arcam AVR-350 (that one lasted longest), Pioneer AX10Ai (current)

I've always found the Pioneers to have exceptional surround sound decoding performance, not sure why they are different, but they always seem to give the most "movie-like" performance. The AVR350 SQ was always superb, but I preferred the 2011 for movies (and the AX10Ai is a step above that) - I don't know how the mechanics of the decoding differs from one AV amp to an other as I've been told that D.Digital etc decoding is like unzipping, its a set routine (from what I've been told) - so it must be how the AV amp then translates that into the sound that goes to the speakers (taking into account the appropriate delays etc)

When it comes down to it though - we all have different tastes, and whats right for one isn't right for another, so take a listen and make your own judgement.

BUT from what I've found (to my great cost !) - is that demos unless they are in your own home, with your actual room (and its dynamics) and your actual speakers, can be misleading, I've bought in the past an amp that sounded amazing on demo, but at home I wasn't impressed - just my 2ps worth.

 

[Anonymous]

bigboss:Errr.......because a stereo amp is not an AV receiver. I assume you don't watch MTV then.

After gel, you're the next Pioneer fanboy!!

You absolutely love your receiver to bits, don't you?.....just can't tolerate anything remotely against the Pioneer!

As it happens. Where is Gel? all this pio talk and he's nowhere to be seen.

By the way, I love my Pio's too.

lol

 

[Anonymous]

bigboss:

After gel, you're the next Pioneer fanboy!!

You absolutely love your receiver to bits, don't you?.....just can't tolerate anything remotely against the Pioneer!

marco_1:

martynsh14 -In the End there is no such thing
as perfect in the Hi-Fi world , and iam sure u will be happy with
buying anyone of those 2 amp.

 

[TKratz]

marco_1: About the price , i live in Denmark and here i gave 15000kr for it and if u convert that amount to pounds than it,s something around 1700£

That is really a good price you found for that Pioneer Marco

Usually I think Pioneer receivers are utterly expensive in Denmark, compared to e.g. Yamaha and Sony.

When I bought my Yamaha, Pioneer LX71 was priced like a Yamaha RX-V3900. There was no competition, V3900 simply wiped the floor with LX71 in my opion, also for movies. Yamaha Z7 was then again in a whole different league and cheaper than Pioneer LX81! That was really a very easy choice...

My main purpose for the receiver was music (60% weight for music, 40% weight for movies), and no, I really have no room for a separate stereo setup. Besides there are things like 5.1 channel SACD and Bluray concerts.

A lot may have changed for LX82, and if the receiver is only used for movies I understand why people might prefer it, but having heard quite a few Pioneers I still doubt I would overall prefer this receiver before my Yamaha, particularly with music on my system

 

[Anonymous]

TKratz:
marco_1: About the price , i live in Denmark and here i gave 15000kr for it and if u convert that amount to pounds than it,s something around 1700£

That is really a good price you found for that Pioneer Marco

Yes Tkratz i got it for a very good price i paid 15000kr for it the time when it costed 18000kr

But to be honest now the price are droping down on it and it cost 15000kr in many shop, infact there is one place (lydspecialsten) on the internet that have it on sale now for 14000kr

 

[Anonymous]

Alot of Pioneer fans out there, seems they you all use your AVR movies huh?

What about the yamaha fans, you use your AVR for movies but also alot of music?

 

[Anonymous]

I didn't rate my 3800 much at all for music, I thought the LX71 sounded better for music (and movies) - I did like the "sound field modes" - although found them a bit over-complicated.

what makes the Z7 so special over and above the 3800/3900 ?

my personal view is if you like music and movies and have a budget under that of about 3k (the AVR600) then go for a 2nd hand "legacy" high-end AV receiver - anything of ilk of the Yamaha Z9, Denon AVC-A1SR, Pioneer AX10i/Ai you'll sacrifice some element of convenience of the likes of HDMI switching, ahd HD decoding, but far far better value for money in my honest opinion.

Don't let the lack of HD decoding necessarily desuade you on the search for decent movie performance, I spent an evening swapping between an Arcam AVR350 and a "highly rated" HD amplifier that cost me about £1100 (the Arcam cost me £600 new) using Bluray movies via my PS3 - and I almost had a tear to me eye (genuinely) as the Arcam was absolutely leagues better in overall SQ - even though the Arcam was in theory at a major disadvantage as I had to use Optical (Dolby Digital 640kbps) vs HDMI and Dolby TruHD lossless on the other amp.

I've seen ex-dem Audiolab 8000ap's for <700 too - that partenered with a 2nd hand 5 channel power amp (if you don' tmind a 2 box solution) would also sound superb in my opinion

 

[Anonymous]

to the OP - how do you find your current Onkyo ?

I mean I've seen new 1007 Onkyos (which are a good few rungs up in the series from your current Onkyo) for 699 - which seems a lot of av amplifier for the money - thats for sure

 

[martynsh1984]

buckshar, the current amp has performed very well. overall it does very well with movies and ok for music.

build quality is excellent and i cant fault it in any way.

main reason for upgrading is i always want a little more. i find it hard to settle.

on your other point about slightly older amps. i agree. i have a friend with a rotel/b&w setup and it walks all over mine for music(even par with films) so i get your point, as he paid a lot less for his second hand. however the TV i have only has 1 hdmi (i dont use the separate tuner box) and i dont think my other half would appreciate another box to deal with.

when i bought mine i got it in a package with my speakers so didnt pay the rrp which was 450 at the time. when i chose it there was a few others to consider but all had downsides or a larger price so the onkyo was the winner.