jason str Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 (edited) With all the storms that came through the Chicagoland area lately one of my friends lost his Denon receiver, im not sure of the model but it sounded decent for what it was. Anyway i offered one of my receivers that is no longer used but he wanted something new and having recently lost his full time job and working only part time was on a tight budget and picked up the Onkyo TX-8020. Yesterday i went over and swapped out the old Denon for the new Onkyo and we took it on a test drive using his Walnut Klipsch Forte's expecting nothing spectacular and was dissapointed with the results. No clarity, subpar dynamics, sloppy bass, screechy mids with grating highs. I have heard my share of budget receivers, even i purchased a new $50 Sherwood on closeout from Circuit City for basement use a while back and think even the jippo model Sherwood was a step up from Onkyo's budget buy. My advice, if you value your music save some cash and get yourself something decent. Empty pockets ? Buy used. Edited September 15, 2014 by jason str 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang guy Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Thanks for the head's up. $150 isn't gonna buy you much new. I'm with you on buying used stuff, though. Even used, there isn't much out there for $150. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willland Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 having recently lost his full time job and working only part time was on a tight budget and picked up the Onkyo TX-8020. Yesterday i went over and swapped out the old Denon for the new Onkyo and we took it on a test drive using his Walnut Klipsch Forte's expecting nothing spectacular and was dissapointed with the results. No clarity, subpar dynamics, sloppy bass, screechy mids with grating highs. I don't know much about the TX-8020 except that it is an entry level stereo receiver with pretty basic guts and capabilities. With that said, don't let that tarnish your view of Onkyo music capabilities. What I am getting at is about 2 years ago I picked up on my local c-list a Cambridge Audio Dacmagic. While I was there, the seller offered to throw in an Integra DTM-40.4(Onkyo TX-8050) for another $100.00 so I said what the heck, I could find some use for it. When I got home, I unhooked my Luxman R-117(yes, the R-117 receiver) and hooked up the Integra to my Heresys. Let me say this, I was for one very surprised considering I did not expect too much. After many a demo going back and forth with the R-117, the Integra ran almost neck and neck in all respects with the Luxman except maybe in dynamics, which did not surprise me considering that is what the R-117 is most known for. I tell you all this because the Onkyo TX-8050 network receiver is the Onkyo fraternal twin to the Integra DTM-40.4. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason str Posted September 15, 2014 Author Share Posted September 15, 2014 I have heard other Onkyo stuff, not bashing the brand, just this model. Expecting a better sounding budget receiver i guess, when something sounds this bad it needs to be culled out for a better pick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willland Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 I have heard other Onkyo stuff, not bashing the brand, just this model. No I did not get that you were bashing Onkyo at all. My point is that the Luxman R-117 is by far at the top or next to the top of the best sounding piece of gear(not just receiver) I have ever owned. The Integra DTM-40.4 shocked me how great sounding it is with my Heresys and I felt letting the R-117 go to another loving home and sliding the Integra(Onkyo) in it's place would not leave me unsatisfied. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybob Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 (edited) Speaking of bargains, A good used Nakamichi AV-500 such as I got from a forum member recently, is a really decent,powerful, quality unit. Fan noise is minimal, and well worth the effort. Read the audioreview about this sleeper. Not pretty to some with it's blackface but behind is essentially an Nakamichi AV-10 which retailed for much higher. It beats out my old school Yamaha V850 AVR, which is fairly nice with our Chorus. Never thought I would be coming back to graduating an AVR for 2 channel. Alas, the reviews are true. Much like separates sound. Edited September 16, 2014 by billybob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sancho Panza Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item? Onkyo TX-8050 Network Stereo Receiver (Black) 3.9 out of 5 stars (308) $240.00 Onkyo TX-SR313 5.1- Channel Home Theater A/V Receiver, Black 3.9 out of 5 stars (340) Sony STRDH130 2 Channel Stereo Receiver (Black) 4.1 out of 5 stars (352) $128.00 Yamaha Natural Sound Stereo Receiver (R-S201BL) 4.4 out of 5 stars (229) $149.95 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sancho Panza Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 What's the budget? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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