Denon vs Onkyo AC-3/THX processors-which to buy?
2sober
I currently own a Denon AVR3600 AC-3 receiver.
I want to upgrade to their flagship AC-3/THX processor only (AVC-A1?)
Do they use a 24 bit chipset as Onkyo do?
Does Onkyo make a comparable processor only(no power amps)?
I must say I really like the 3600, but too often the overload light
comes on during playback of any source on stereo or any dsp modes.
Is this a fault? I am using 5xNAD216 power amps in bridged mode to
drive the five channels and an active RS12 Infinity Sub.
The overload light only dissapears when I set the input level below 0db!
The power seems to be too little this way; I have to crank the vol. to
+3-5
Does this mean i'm getting a distorted signal?
Would this be still present on the processor-only?
Finally, how does it stack up to any of Onkyo's gear?
Can someone comment who has heard a comparison between the two brands?
sorry about the many posts-I'm new to the list:)
thank you in advance
theo
Rowland Crookham
Rich,
Sony better than Denon or Onkyo?
Ya Right!!! Get a life DIPSHIT!!!
Kok Sing Chan
Rowland,
I'm sorry to tell you this, but I think you're the so called "dipshit"
here, because the Sony processor is indeed better. And I'm not saying
this because I own one (I wish I did), I even have a the Onkyo myself.
AndersonRM
In article <5psbqd$hnm$1...@newsd-103.bryant.webtv.net>,
smithn...@webtv.net (Rowland Crookham) writes:
>Wrong again pal,I have Sony's top av amp and
>the Denon VR 5600 . Compared to my denon
>my sony cannot even begin to compete.
>As to the onkyo not being as good as the sony,I'll take your word for
>it.
>But,I would like to hear from other Onkyo owner's .
Sony's TA-E2000 was their top Pro-Logic amp and it had better sound
than any Denon ever made if detail is what your after. I owned it, the
Denon
AVP8000 and AVR3000 at the same time and Sony's amp was superior.
-Rich
AndersonRM
In article <5pngbb$epk$1...@newsd-107.bryant.webtv.net>,
smithn...@webtv.net (Rowland Crookham) writes:
>Rich,
>Sony better than Denon or Onkyo?
>Ya Right!!! Get a life DIPSHIT!!!
>
>
Seriously. I know a couple people who have dumped their Onkyo
901 and Marantz DP870 processors for the Sony SDP-EP9ES
and now Sony has another unit called the SDP-E800 which has
less features but the same processing for $480 list!
vrs. $750 list for the SDP-EP9ES.
-Rich
PRomero141
>My receiver is the highly rated Onkyo TX-SV919THX
>Yamaha DDP-1 decoder.
My setup! :-)
I use Infinity SM speakers all round...125s L+R, Video C, 105s LR Surr.
A Cerwin Vega Sub (passive-driven by my old 125w Pioneer 901!)>Sony
SDP-EP9ES is an easy recommendation.
I especially like the PCM inputs and features on it.
I wish though that Onkyo would make a 5.1 DD decoder THX.
---PR
---"D'oh!!"(Homer Simpson)
AndersonRM
In article <19970709155...@ladder01.news.aol.com>,
prome...@aol.com (PRomero141) writes:
>I especially like the PCM inputs and features on it.
>I wish though that Onkyo would make a 5.1 DD decoder THX.
It's already on the 919 for Pro-Logic and you want to cripple
DD with it? Please no....
-Rich
Brian Lee
In article <2119.7131...@nospam.net.au> Paul Dossett <astr...@nospam.net.au> writes:
>From: Paul Dossett <astr...@nospam.net.au>
>Subject: Re: Denon vs Onkyo AC-3/THX processors-which to buy?
>Date: 11 Jul 97 21:55:57 +1000
>2sober (tkez...@networx.net.au) said:
>>I currently own a Denon AVR3600 AC-3 receiver.
>>I want to upgrade to their flagship AC-3/THX processor only (AVC-A1?)
>>Do they use a 24 bit chipset as Onkyo do?
>You mean the AVP-A1. They use a Motorola 24bit DSP chip for AC-3, if I'm not
>mistaken.
I own AVP-8000 (US version of AVP-A1) and I think it worth every penny. This
had been picked as best system under $5000 in HK. However, I do not think it
uses Motorola chip. Let me know if I'm mistaken.
>>Does Onkyo make a comparable processor only(no power amps)?
>I don't think so. For the price of the AVP (around the $5K mark) you're
>much better off looking at real high-end brands like Lexicon.
I do not know how currency works in Aus., but Lexicon's DD is about $1000US
higher than Denon's. Only comparable one I can think of is HK's best one and
Chiro's.
>If you can't hear distortion and the overload light is only flickering
>briefly, you probably don't need to worry about it. I'd adjust it myself, if
>only to stop the distraction from the flashing light in a darkened room.
>>Would this be still present on the processor-only?
With my Adcom CD changer it gets overloaded at 0, but it never gets overloaded
if you turn it down to -2db.
>>Finally, how does it stack up to any of Onkyo's gear?
>I think the AVP-A1 is overpriced for what it offers (~$5K versus <$2K for the
>Sony AC-3/Pro-Logic decoder, which is apparently very good). Onkyo and Denon
>both make very good consumer gear, but from the sound of it, you are ready to
>make the next step up.
Again, I'm very happy with it. I do not know which Sony model you are talking
about, but I didn't see any Sony preamp with DD yet. AVP-8000 do not make
bright sounds as AVR-3600 does. Overall, I was very happy with sound quality,
and there are enough inputs/outputs for everyone. I used to own Sony
TA-2000ESD preamp, but Denon has better cut in everyway. My only complain is
how it mutes for 2 seconds whenever I change to different mode. Overall, it
was best one I could find under $3500 bracket.
Hayden Brown
On Fri, 11 Jul 1997 14:39:32 -0600, min...@wcic.org (Brian Lee) wrote:
>In article <2119.7131...@nospam.net.au> Paul Dossett <astr...@nospam.net.au> writes:
>>From: Paul Dossett <astr...@nospam.net.au>
>>Subject: Re: Denon vs Onkyo AC-3/THX processors-which to buy?
>>Date: 11 Jul 97 21:55:57 +1000
>
>>2sober (tkez...@networx.net.au) said:
>>>I currently own a Denon AVR3600 AC-3 receiver.
>>>I want to upgrade to their flagship AC-3/THX processor only (AVC-A1?)
>>>Do they use a 24 bit chipset as Onkyo do?
>
>>You mean the AVP-A1. They use a Motorola 24bit DSP chip for AC-3, if I'm not
>>mistaken.
>
>I own AVP-8000 (US version of AVP-A1) and I think it worth every penny. This
>had been picked as best system under $5000 in HK. However, I do not think it
>uses Motorola chip. Let me know if I'm mistaken.
Here is some information I found on the web. I make no claim as to
its accuracy.
Dolby Digital Processors
excerpt from Denon Tech Notes, © Denon
Dolby Digital (AC-3) has made the jump from laboratory curiosity to
practical reality. Denon is very pleased to have played an important
role in its development. Denon is concerned about the recent flurry
of enthusiastic yet uniformed comments about different applications
depending on which one provides the best performance for our customers
needs. Marketing departments of some of our competitors would have
you believe that Motorola's new DSP 56009 digital signal processor is
a better way to implement Dolby Digital decoding than Zoran's ZR
38500. Zoran and Motorola designs have passed Dolby Laboratories
rigorous screening process and as we'll soon see, both do the job. To
illustrate this point, let's look at some of the specifications for
both designs and see how they relate to real world performance.
ZORAN 38500 MOTOROLA DSP56009
Data Path 20 bits 24 bits
Clock Speed 65 Mhz 80 Mhz
Max MIPS 33 40
Spare MIPS 3 NONE
Instruction Word Size 32 bit 16 bit
Dedicated FFT hardware Yes No
Floating Point Support Yes No
The Zoran and Motorola ICs are both DSP (Digital Signal Processing)
engines and thus share some basic similarities. For example, both are
basically RISC chips (a computer acronym for Reduced Instructions Set
Computer). Zoran's AR38500 IC is specifically designed to process
Dolby Digital.
Motorola's DSP56009 is a new adaption of the 56000 family platform.
It's an excellent digital signal processor that can do a number of
things well. A more complex design and requires a larger internal
instruction set to reach the same end the Zoran IC. The Motorola also
requires a higher clock rate to execute its internal instruction set
quickly enough for Dolby Digital processing in real time. The Motorola
design is less efficient in decoding a Dolby Digital data stream. Not
better- not worse- just less efficient. Motorola is a 24 bit design,
operates a significantly faster clock speed, has higher MIPS (Millions
of Instruction Per Second), and is a computer chip's top speed
performance rating.
When decoding a Dolby Digital (AC-3) signal, the Zoran's 38500
actually has more reserve capability because it's larger Instruction
Word Size that makes the Zoran's execution faster. The Zoran IC also
includes a section dedicated to performing complex calculations called
FFTs (Faster Fourier Transforms) frequently used to decode Dolby
Digital signals. Zoran's architecture supports full block floating
point calculations, a very sophisticated method of dynamically
allocating computational resources exactly when needed. Full block
floating point designs, especially when used for Dolby Digital
decoding, drastically increases overall precision and effective
resolution. Zoran's 20 bit performance is directly equivalent to
Motorola's 24 bit/fixed point.
The DSP (Digital Signal Processing) engine whether it's from Zoran,
Motorola, or another supplier, is only a minor factor in determining a
component's total sound quality. These ICs really have no sound
quality of their own - they're just computers manipulating data. That
is why Denon concentrates so much effort in other areas. For example,
our DDSC-Digital Surround processor includes very accurate
analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters for musically
pleasing sound. Our short analog signal paths, high grade circuit
elements and high current linear power supplies assure superb
recreations of whatever sound source you choose. Denon's remarkable
expertise has resulted in circuitry of whatever sound source you
choose. Superlative sound quality? Of course! With Denon,
that's a given.
Zakhann
I doubt very seriously if various ac-3 decoders have a sound quality of
its own.