Chuck C
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2001
- Messages
- 2,224
This person seems to think the new Onkyos are underpowered because they are 1) lighter than their predecessors and 2) the S&V article has got the consumer convinced that their is a serious problem with the amp selection.
Here's the post (from ar.com):
WARNING!!!!
Unfortunately, Onkyo went cheap on the poweramp section of the receivers it released this spring (2001). This applies to the 494, 595, and 696 (as well as the Integra 5.2 and 6.2). The new models all weigh significantly LESS than the models they replace. And the new models have a impedance switch on the back which is another bad sign.
Onkyo wants people to believe these new models have more power than their predecessors. Maybe they do have more power into 8 ohms with one channel driven. But check out Stereo Review's Sound and Vision magazine - July/August 2001. They tested the 696 model, and discovered it only puts out 74 watts into a 4 ohm load - one channel driven @ 1Khz. This is 1/2 of the 8 ohm power. Healthy poweramp sections should put out MORE power into lower impedances. Also, with 5 channels driven at the same time, the output is only 46 watts (8 ohms @ 1KHz). And it doesn't matter how you have the impedance switch set -- it still limits the 4 ohms power output by about 50%.
These results for the 696 are worse than the results for 575 and 474 models which were reviewed in previous issues.
And I'm sure the new 595 is worse than the new 696. (but probably not much worse as it's only about 2 lbs less)
Onkyo is misleading people with their power output specifications in these new models.
It's sad because I went to a local dealer who carried the Onkyo 696 as well as the Harman Kardon AVR-510. They were both the same price, and he said "the Harman Kardon is overpriced". I said "why is that?". He replied "it's only 70 watts x 5, vs. the 100 watts x 5 of the Onkyo". Little did he know that the HK 510 weighs about 9 lbs more than the Onkyo! and the HK has more than double the power into a 4 ohm load and more power with 5 channels driven. The HK is a true high current amp unlike the new Onkyo's.
But Onkyo is smart with their marketing. Their new receivers will be an easier sell, with the inflated power specs.
http://www.audioreview.com/reviews/A...ct_50647.shtml
So new Onkyo owners and experts, what the frig?
------------------
Chuck
Chuckster's HT Equipment List
Here's the post (from ar.com):
WARNING!!!!
Unfortunately, Onkyo went cheap on the poweramp section of the receivers it released this spring (2001). This applies to the 494, 595, and 696 (as well as the Integra 5.2 and 6.2). The new models all weigh significantly LESS than the models they replace. And the new models have a impedance switch on the back which is another bad sign.
Onkyo wants people to believe these new models have more power than their predecessors. Maybe they do have more power into 8 ohms with one channel driven. But check out Stereo Review's Sound and Vision magazine - July/August 2001. They tested the 696 model, and discovered it only puts out 74 watts into a 4 ohm load - one channel driven @ 1Khz. This is 1/2 of the 8 ohm power. Healthy poweramp sections should put out MORE power into lower impedances. Also, with 5 channels driven at the same time, the output is only 46 watts (8 ohms @ 1KHz). And it doesn't matter how you have the impedance switch set -- it still limits the 4 ohms power output by about 50%.
These results for the 696 are worse than the results for 575 and 474 models which were reviewed in previous issues.
And I'm sure the new 595 is worse than the new 696. (but probably not much worse as it's only about 2 lbs less)
Onkyo is misleading people with their power output specifications in these new models.
It's sad because I went to a local dealer who carried the Onkyo 696 as well as the Harman Kardon AVR-510. They were both the same price, and he said "the Harman Kardon is overpriced". I said "why is that?". He replied "it's only 70 watts x 5, vs. the 100 watts x 5 of the Onkyo". Little did he know that the HK 510 weighs about 9 lbs more than the Onkyo! and the HK has more than double the power into a 4 ohm load and more power with 5 channels driven. The HK is a true high current amp unlike the new Onkyo's.
But Onkyo is smart with their marketing. Their new receivers will be an easier sell, with the inflated power specs.
http://www.audioreview.com/reviews/A...ct_50647.shtml
So new Onkyo owners and experts, what the frig?
------------------
Chuck
Chuckster's HT Equipment List