Onkyo TX-SR606 - Other brands/models with similiar features?

[RaiderJ]

I'm looking for a new receiver, and had my eye on the Onkyo TX-SR606, but now it's out of stock at Newegg (they're having 15% off with Paypal).

Any recommendations on a receiver with similar features at a sub-$400 price point?

 

[erwos]

Sony STR-DG920? Amp isn't as good, but them's the breaks.

 

[s44]

Harman Kardon AVR-254. Pioneer VSX-1018AH-K is a touch above $400. And with the 15% off, the onkyo 706 is $450 at the egg...

Edit: forgot the $50 discount limit

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: s44
Harman Kardon AVR-254. Pioneer VSX-1018AH-K is a touch above $400. And with the 15% off, the onkyo 706 is $425 at the egg...

I Have a Pioneer VSX-D710S and the AMP is very muddy-alarm clock like compared to my Onkyo with WRAT. However, Harmon-Kardon sounds very nice but they are very low powered and higher powered units similar to the Onkyo's power output are very expensive.

Don't get me wrong, Pioneer is great but be sure you buy one of their Elite Products.

 

[RaiderJ]

Amazon has the Onkyo for $340, which isn't a bad price with free shipping - would that still be one of the best options in that price range?

 

[cheesehead]

Originally posted by: RaiderJ
Amazon has the Onkyo for $340, which isn't a bad price with free shipping - would that still be one of the best options in that price range?

I'm more of a stereo enthusiast than an HT guy, but I've talked to dozens of people who adore their Onkyo SR-60x receivers and my (rather brief) listening experience was quite positive indeed.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: Cheesehead

Originally posted by: RaiderJ
Amazon has the Onkyo for $340, which isn't a bad price with free shipping - would that still be one of the best options in that price range?

I'm more of a stereo enthusiast than an HT guy, but I've talked to dozens of people who adore their Onkyo SR-60x receivers and my (rather brief) listening experience was quite positive indeed.

Can you explain how a dedicated stereo receiver is better for stereo sound than a multichannel one of the same spec from the same maker?

 

[Googer]

Probably a better reciever for the money:
http://www.topchoicedigital.co...uct.aspx?id=10043102&l

 

[s44]

That bottom-end Elite is, I believe, exactly the same as the top-of-the-line non-Elite (the VSX-1018AH-K mentioned above) but with THX certification.

And it's a lot more than the 606.

It (along with the similarly priced 706 and the cheaper HK 254) does have full pre outs, though. If the OP is considering moving up to more power amp goodness in the future, that would make it easier.

 

[cheesehead]

Originally posted by: Googer

Can you explain how a dedicated stereo receiver is better for stereo sound than a multichannel one of the same spec from the same maker?

The long answer is that for the $340 you spend on an SR-606, you get:

-Complicated and powerful DSP filters (which are almost always undesirable for music listening, though useful for HT)
-HDMI/component/S-video/whatever else switching
-numerous DACs and ADCs
-five channels of amplication

That same $340 for a two-channel power amplifier will get you:
-Two channels of amplification
-An on/off switch
-Four heavy duty binding posts.

It's sort of like comparing a Caterham to a Corvette. They both cost about the same, but the Caterham is much faster than the Corvette because, when you buy a Caterham, you're not paying for air conditioning, noise protection, windows, doors, a navigation system, crash certification, or carpet.

The short answer is that I can't afford to build more than a single pair of decent speakers, and my method of buying speaker parts (e.g. buying other people's unused parts for 1/3 of their normal value) is ill-suited to buying five of everything.

 

[DaveJ]

Originally posted by: Googer
I Have a Pioneer VSX-D710S and the AMP is very muddy-alarm clock like compared to my Onkyo with WRAT. However, Harmon-Kardon sounds very nice but they are very low powered and higher powered units similar to the Onkyo's power output are very expensive.

Don't get me wrong, Pioneer is great but be sure you buy one of their Elite Products.

For the record, I have a 6 year old HK AVR 520 receiver and it's awesome. Never had a single issue with it not getting "loud" enough.

Power ratings are misleading, IMO. When I bought my HK receiver in 2002 they were one of only a handful of manufacturers whose receivers reflected an accurate measurement of their power output. All of the others tested below what they were "rated" for. When you're looking at receiver specs it's useful to note whether their output figures are rated for the entire 20hz-20khz range, or whether they say something like "100wpc @ 1khz into 8ohms". The latter is not as accurate, obviously.

With that said, I think Onkyo makes some great stuff, and I've been looking at the TX-SR876 to replace my HK sometime next year. HK also makes great gear but they don't offer as many inputs as Onkyo, and their quality apparently isn't that great these days.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: RaiderJ
I'm looking for a new receiver, and had my eye on the Onkyo TX-SR606, but now it's out of stock at Newegg (they're having 15% off with Paypal).

Any recommendations on a receiver with similar features at a sub-$400 price point?

Check the list of Circuit City stores going out of business, one may be in your area and you may be able to pick up an Onkyo for cheap.