I Expected More
Written: Jun 27 '00 (Updated Jul 19 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Full of features
Cons: Harsh high-end range
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| simplemoney's Full Review: Onkyo TX-DS777 |
The title of this review is "I Expected More", not more features, but more from Onkyo's Integra line. I owned their first Integra turntable with the "shock absorber" feet. It was great then and it is great now.
So I wasn't surprised to read some great reviews about the Onkyo TX-DS777and decided to test drive it against the Nakamichi AV-10, Denon 3300, Marantz 8000, Sony STR-DA777ES and Pioneer Elite VSX-26TX. I decided to go on a listening tour and found a high-end audio store that carried all but the Pioneer. I went on a weekday during the day when I knew it would be slow and got the salesman's undivided attention.
First, Sony and Onkyo have to change their product names. Trying to tell the salesman to switch between DS777 and the Sony DA777, quickly turned into just asking for the Onkyo vs the Sony. I'm thankful I wasn't trying to listen to other Onkyo or Sony receivers because that solutions wouldn't have worked.
I always start my listening tests with the Telarc Test CD #2, because it contains some very difficult to reproduce tracks. I've heard this CD played on a Krell system with KEF reference speakers and the reproduction was near flawless. That system costs upwards of $15,000 (just for the amp, preamp and speakers), so I didn't expect a sub $1,000 receiver to be on par with such a system. My goal was to find a sub $1,000 receiver that was as close as possible to that Krell system.
I honestly expected the Onkyo to be one of my finalists, but the unit fell flat on its face within one minute. It just lacks a refined amplifier (which is most of why you buy a receiver). The upper-end sounded very harsh. I didn't even have to hear how it did on the lows, because the high-end was so bad I just told the salesman to put it out of its misery. For any anti-Sony fans out there, the Sony didn't last much longer.
I admit I'm pickier than most - my list of "must have" features are pretty standard: DTS, optical inputs, a remote control. Once a receiver meets my simple features list, sound is the only option.
If you want to know, I decided on the Nakamichi, but the Denon and Marantz sounded nearly as refined. The Nakamichi just had more low-end punch to make up for a slightly less refined mid-range.
To be fair, sound quality has come along way. I recently sold my Carver receiver to get a new unit with DTS and the Onkyo came close in sound reproduction to that 1986 Carver receiver. And if the majority of your listening needs are Fleetwood Mac and the latest Julia Roberts movie, this unit will more than meet those needs - just not my needs.
Recommended:
No
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