Yamaha R-N602 vs Onkyo TX-8150

[drummerman]

I haven't seen the HiFichoice review but Onkyo's usually do well.

That box does a lot.

 

Is something like the 8270 the same bang for bucks as lets say their new A-9150 + a network streamer? Or will it be outclassed by seperates in the same pricerange?

In theory the separates may be better. Difficult to say.

I am impressed at Onkyo's stereo portfolio. The company has really embraced 2 channel.

I read with interest about the new 9150. Some good thinking going on and Onkyo have refrained from the power race. Have to say it looks a very interesting alternative to others.

http://www.nl.onkyo.com/en/products/a-9150-140041.html

Of course the attraction of the 8270 is that 'everything' is in a box. As I said before. Onkyo's usually measure nicely when tested with way more power than stated.

At a guess I don't think you would go far wrong with either.

I'd personally probably go Onkyo over Yamaha.

 

[stereoman]

To me, all Yamaha amps I heard have a pretty wimpy, fuzzy-ethereal kind of bass (AS-500, AS-701, AS-3000), so do try to audition. Have no experience with the R-N602 or the Onkyo, though.

Absolutely correct. I also heard these amps ( I have one of those, AS 701 ) and must say it is truth. Although the overall sound is not so bad, there is something not right about these amps and though 701, 801 and 1100 offer good musicality they all have problems with fuzzy bass ( being not tight and without snap - this goes much better with AS1100 ) also they have some resolution problems. When music is packed with multitude of instrument layers - Yamaha here goes muffled. So although in general they are good amps ( especially for the price ) they offer a bit analytical sound with some musicality but as a big compromise in other areas. Very good price-sound ratio though. I can def. recommend audition.

 

[Blacksabbath25]

To me, all Yamaha amps I heard have a pretty wimpy, fuzzy-ethereal kind of bass (AS-500, AS-701, AS-3000), so do try to audition. Have no experience with the R-N602 or the Onkyo, though.

Absolutely correct. I also heard these amps ( I have one of those, AS 701 ) and must say it is truth. Although the overall sound is not so bad, there is something not right about these amps and though 701, 801 and 1100 offer good musicality they all have problems with fuzzy bass ( being not tight and without snap - this goes much better with AS1100 ) also they have some resolution problems. When music is packed with multitude of instrument layers - Yamaha here goes muffled. So although in general they are good amps ( especially for the price ) they offer a bit analytical sound with some musicality but as a big compromise in other areas. Very good price-sound ratio though. I can def. recommend audition.

it comes down to what speakers you are using in the first place and what power supply the lower down models have in the Yamaha amplifiers .

if you have a good power supply you get better bass control over your speakers to cope with the dips and highs properly you can get a amplifier that starts clipping because it can not keep up with the demands it's been given and power supply's is running out of puff .

some amplifiers can be a bit lazy and do not give your speakers the impact and snap your after cone size in your speakers matter the bigger they are the better a smaller speaker as to work harder as they have smaller drivers and the impact is not so big .

Every speaker as it's own traits some are better then others in bass control like some B&W speakers can be boomy it's also about matching the components i.e. Amplifier and speakers

even some of the most expensive Naim's only have a power supply of 400 va but it's how the amplifier uses it that matters .

 

[iMark]

We bought the R-N602 back in October 2016 as a replacement/upgrade for a Yamaha R-S500, Cambridge Audio DACMagic and Airport Express. The Onkyo has similar features but the Yamaha was on offer at Richer Sounds.

Sound is very similar to the Yamaha we already had and we already liked that. The R-N602 makes life very easy with all the inputs: phono, TV, Bluray player (for SACD/DVD-A and Bluray Audio), old Minidisc deck etc, iPod. The only thing I miss is the Rec Out selector I had on the R-S500. The AirPlay streaming and Spotify Connect are excellent. FM radio reception through the cable sounds OK to. The phono stage sounds a bit better than the one in the R-S500. The DAC seems to be very good too. I can't hear a major difference between the Yamaha and the Cambridge Audio DAC.

The Yamaha app is pretty good and very useful for setting up internet radio. We use a Logitech Harmony Touch as a remote so I can't comment on the Yamaha remote.

But if we didn't own this box and were in the market for a new one I would definitely consider the new Onkyo 8270 because it has an HDMI-input. Very nice with a Bluray player.

 

[stereoman]

To me, all Yamaha amps I heard have a pretty wimpy, fuzzy-ethereal kind of bass (AS-500, AS-701, AS-3000), so do try to audition. Have no experience with the R-N602 or the Onkyo, though.

Absolutely correct. I also heard these amps ( I have one of those, AS 701 ) and must say it is truth. Although the overall sound is not so bad, there is something not right about these amps and though 701, 801 and 1100 offer good musicality they all have problems with fuzzy bass ( being not tight and without snap - this goes much better with AS1100 ) also they have some resolution problems. When music is packed with multitude of instrument layers - Yamaha here goes muffled. So although in general they are good amps ( especially for the price ) they offer a bit analytical sound with some musicality but as a big compromise in other areas. Very good price-sound ratio though. I can def. recommend audition.

it comes down to what speakers you are using in the first place and what power supply the lower down models have in the Yamaha amplifiers .

if you have a good power supply you get better bass control over your speakers to cope with the dips and highs properly you can get a amplifier that starts clipping because it can not keep up with the demands it's been given and power supply's is running out of puff .

some amplifiers can be a bit lazy and do not give your speakers the impact and snap your after cone size in your speakers matter the bigger they are the better a smaller speaker as to work harder as they have smaller drivers and the impact is not so big .

Every speaker as it's own traits some are better then others in bass control like some B&W speakers can be boomy it's also about matching the components i.e. Amplifier and speakers

even some of the most expensive Naim's only have a power supply of 400 va but it's how the amplifier uses it that matters .

I drive Leema Xero with AS 701. The amp drives them easily and am really glad with the sound. Though I never heard Xeros sounding bad with any amp must say. I heard all 3 Yamaha amps ( demoed ) and as good as they are - especially AS1100 I think that - no matter what - too relaxed bass is their weakest point especially with overlayed passages. But it is just a gripe and all of those 3 offer great sound quality. So much that I am after AS1100 now...as said before. Pitty I never heard Leema amps as they are very often recommended too. Yamaha on the other hand are built like a tank and offer great inbuilt phono stage. Need to hear it at home first. Similar in sound to Accuphase. (both being MosFet based). But you give credit to AS2100 and I believe AS1100 will sound "comparatively good". I only demoed AS1100 and AS2100 for a short time. Nice amps. Make good impression.