Onkyo 919Pro vs. Pioneer VSX-99 ?
Karl Blomquist
to the Onkyo THX919Pro or the Pioneer Elite VSX-99.
What I want is:
- quality (sound, assembly, reliability)
- power (to all 5 channels)
- sub-out
- AC-3 ability (with flexibility to upgrade if necessary)
- *it would be nice to have* THX processing
I see the following pros/cons to each unit:
** Onkyo **
Pros Cons
- Clean/powerful for a receiver - only 55w/side for rears
- 5.1 input is external so possibly - when using 5.1 it switches to a
could add other/upgraded decoders fixed video input. This may
- THX processing and certification limit 5.1 imput source flexibility
- Reputed quality - need to add external AC-3 decoder
at additional cost
Questions on Onkyo:
1. Can you video in be switched to another source when using the
5.1 input, or is it fixed as the laser in source?
2. Does it have a sub-out that functions as both a sub-out for
normal music/pro-logic and the .1 sub-out for the external
decoder input?
3. I assume the Onkyo has pre-outs for the rears so I could add a
100w/side amp to even out the channel power if need be?
** Pioneer **
- Powerful enough from what I read - not reputed to be as "clean" as Onkyo
- integrates nicely with my Pro-97 - no 5.1 external input so upgrading
TV and CLD-704 laser or using other decoders is out
- has built in AC-3 decoding - no THX processing/certification
These are the main points I've compiled so far, if you have any
additional input or comments that could help me decide one way
or the other I'd appreciate it.
--
Thanks,
,---------------------,-------------------.----------------,
| Karl Blomquist | opinions are mine | gt...@bnr.ca |
| Bell Northern Rsrch | and not BNR's ! | 1-613-765-4886 |
'---------------------'-------------------'----------------'
TedJac
Don't mean to butt in where I'm not invited, but... have you looked at or
had a listen to the new Yamaha RX-V2090? It really is superior sounding
to the Pioneer unit... and not as expensive as the Onkyo. For the price
of the Onkyo, you can get the 2090 and Yamaha's new DDP-1 AC-3 processor.
You owe it to yourself to check out this unit. Good luck...
Ted
Mr. Fun
{Questions on Onkyo:
{ 1. Can you video in be switched to another source when using the
{ 5.1 input, or is it fixed as the laser in source?
No, if you enable the external decoder only video 4 can be displayed.
{ 2. Does it have a sub-out that functions as both a sub-out for
{ normal music/pro-logic and the .1 sub-out for the external
{ decoder input?
I think so, but I'm not positive.
{ 3. I assume the Onkyo has pre-outs for the rears so I could add a
{ 100w/side amp to even out the channel power if need be?
Yes. All of the channels go out after the pre-amp and processing and go back
in to the amps. This lets you use it as just a Pro-Logic processor / video
switcher if you have external amps. Or you could do weird things like run the
center channel through a line level digital delay or something like that.
I haven't heard the Pioneer yet, but I love my Onkyo. I've come to appreciate
the THX processing, even though I disliked it at first. I wouldn't like to
sacrifice that on my non-AC-3 discs.
**************************************************
Visit Astroboy International World Headquarters at
http://www.neosoft.com/~astroboy/
Tom Holman
THX specs, as well as the enhancement. That alone qualifies as an
improvement that will cost more money, but is worth it. The reason is
that the THX amp spec calls for the ability to deliver 100 watts in 8
ohms, but more and more real power when facing real loudspeaker loads.
This cannot be an advertised feature due to UL requirements, but it is
nonetheless true.
There are 100 watt amplifiers, and 100 watt amplifiers, in other words,
and they vary greatly in price. The difference is in the ability to drive
real loudspeaker load impedances over the full map of possibilities.
There is a technical test for this listed in IEC standards, but I have
never seen it performed in a spec sheet or a review.
The same notion applies to the other receiver suggested by others in this
forum.
You might note Dave Ranada called the Onkyo the best receiver he had ever
seen in Stereo Review, or words to that effect, and he doesn't do that
lightly, nor monthly.
Best regards,
Tomlinson Holman (TH of THX)
Vice President, Research, TMH Corporation
Internet address: tomh...@aol.com
Web page in development.
matthew c. mead
> In article <44rg5m$9...@bcarh8ab.bnr.ca>, gt...@bnr.ca (Karl Blomquist) wrote:
> {Questions on Onkyo:
> { 1. Can you video in be switched to another source when using the
> { 5.1 input, or is it fixed as the laser in source?
>
> No, if you enable the external decoder only video 4 can be displayed.
>
> { 2. Does it have a sub-out that functions as both a sub-out for
> { normal music/pro-logic and the .1 sub-out for the external
> { decoder input?
> I think so, but I'm not positive.
It does. Its sub-out is for both of these functions.
> { 3. I assume the Onkyo has pre-outs for the rears so I could add a
> { 100w/side amp to even out the channel power if need be?
> Yes. All of the channels go out after the pre-amp and processing and go back
> in to the amps. This lets you use it as just a Pro-Logic processor / video
> switcher if you have external amps. Or you could do weird things like run the
> center channel through a line level digital delay or something like that.
I didn't realize this until I took another gander at the back of
the unit. The pre-out and main-in's are connected with little connectors
that fit into two phono plugs.
-matt
--
Matthew C. Mead
mm...@Glock.COM | Network Administration and Software Development
http://www.Glock.COM/~mmead/ | Consulting: BizNet Technologies -> mm...@bnt.com
Mr. Fun
ccd...@netcom.com (Chris Dalla) wrote:
{Answers:
{
{1. Yes. The video source doesn't matter. It's a matter of switching on the
{ EXTERNAL DECODER option.
Nope. Try it. You'll see that when the external decoder is switched on, the
video source goes to video 4. If you try to change to another source, the
external decoder is switched off. And it doesn't let you mix and match video
and audio while the external decoder is on, because the "Input Selector"
option is disabled.
I thought this was pretty annoying.
Indigo Vic
>I assume the Onkyo has pre-outs for the rears so I could add a
100w/side amp to even out the channel power if need be?
Yes, it has pre-outs for all six channels.
I'd note, though, that while THX doesn't normally certify less than 100
watt amps, the reasoning is that they don't want low power amps being used
in the front. However, they're comfortable with the idea of 50w amps
being used in the back only.
I'd also note that the 919 doesn't provide amplification for the sub
channel. If you want a THX certified amp for the sub, the cheapest one I
know of is the Marantz monoblock (100w), which is about $300. Or you
could count on buying a powered sub.
Hope that helps...
-Vic.
.
Indigo Vic
video source goes to video 4. If you try to change to another source, the
external decoder is switched off. And it doesn't let you mix and match
video
and audio while the external decoder is on, because the "Input Selector"
option is disabled. I thought this was pretty annoying.
I was kind of annoyed by this too... it means that for any AC-3
programming, you're going to need to route the video to video 4. Then
again, I figure that I can plan on looking for an AC-3 processor that
routes multiple video signals as well as audio signals... Maybe by the
time there are multiple AC-3 video sources available to me, it'll be time
to go to separates anyway, because what I just described sounds an awful
lot like a new preamp.
>In addition, when the external decoder is selected, no audio is routed to
any
of the line-level outs (video 1, 2, and 3 and Tape 1 and 2).
I was also momentarily surprised that the when you turn the decoder on,
audio is routed only to the amplification, and not to any other output. A
minute's thought, though, made me realize that I wouldn't WANT to attempt
to route 5.1 discrete channels to a stereo output.
There is still one thing that does bother me a tiny bit, which is that the
919 doesn't automatically "remember" whether video 4 had the decoder on or
off last. So, if you've got the decoder input on, and switch to any other
input, and then back to video 4, the decoder input turns itself off.
-Vic.
.
Chris Dalla
>
>OK. So I think I've narrowed my field of choice down
>to the Onkyo THX919Pro or the Pioneer Elite VSX-99.
>
>What I want is:
>- quality (sound, assembly, reliability)
>- power (to all 5 channels)
>- sub-out
>- AC-3 ability (with flexibility to upgrade if necessary)
>- *it would be nice to have* THX processing
>
>I see the following pros/cons to each unit:
>
> ** Onkyo **
> Pros Cons
>- Clean/powerful for a receiver - only 55w/side for rears
>- 5.1 input is external so possibly - when using 5.1 it switches to a
> could add other/upgraded decoders fixed video input. This may
>- THX processing and certification limit 5.1 imput source flexibility
>- Reputed quality - need to add external AC-3 decoder
> at additional cost
> 1. Can you video in be switched to another source when using the
> 5.1 input, or is it fixed as the laser in source?
> normal music/pro-logic and the .1 sub-out for the external
> decoder input?
> 100w/side amp to even out the channel power if need be?
Answers:
1. Yes. The video source doesn't matter. It's a matter of switching on the
EXTERNAL DECODER option.
2+3. Yes. In fact, the Onkyo has pre-outs for everything, and internal
amplification for everything except the sub. If you want to use an
external amp, you just remove the jumpers between the pre-outs and the
amp-ins.
-c
matthew c. mead
> In article <ccdallaD...@netcom.com>,
> ccd...@netcom.com (Chris Dalla) wrote:
> {Answers:
> {
> {1. Yes. The video source doesn't matter. It's a matter of switching on the
> { EXTERNAL DECODER option.
> Nope. Try it. You'll see that when the external decoder is switched on, the
> video source goes to video 4. If you try to change to another source, the
> external decoder is switched off. And it doesn't let you mix and match video
> and audio while the external decoder is on, because the "Input Selector"
> option is disabled.
I was about to disagree with you too, but went out and played with
my 919. Unfortunately, you're right!
> I thought this was pretty annoying.
Me too. I'm still fairly bummed about it, but not too much,
considering I have my LD on video 4 with an optical audio input. I'll soon
put an AC-3 decoder in there too.
laurie higgins
>- Powerful enough from what I read - not reputed to be as "clean"
as Onkyo
>- integrates nicely with my Pro-97 - no 5.1 external input so
upgrading
> TV and CLD-704 laser or using other decoders is out
>- has built in AC-3 decoding - no THX
processing/certification
>
>
>These are the main points I've compiled so far, if you have any
>additional input or comments that could help me decide one way
>or the other I'd appreciate it.
Get the Onkyo. The Pioneer Elite models for this year look and feel
so cheap that I have no confidence in them whatsoever.
Geena P.
svio...@tmewarp.atl.ga.us
Jeremy Husk
going street prices?
--
Shorter of breath, /\
& one day closer // \ /\ Jeremy Husk
to death /\ /// \ // \ izz...@mvs.oac.ucla.edu
// \ //// \/// \ UCLA Department of Physics and
/// \// \ \ Astronomy, V.P. Undergraduate
//// \ \ \ Astrophysics Society
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Fun
g...@tiac.net (Geoffrey Reynolds) wrote:
{Something you might consider is getting the Onkyo and waiting for Onkyo to
{come out with their AC-3 decoder for the 919. I am very sure that this will
{happen.
I've read several places that Onkyo has no current plans to release an AC-3
decoder for the 919.
Robb Gonyer
: In article <450vgu$j...@sundog.tiac.net>,
: g...@tiac.net (Geoffrey Reynolds) wrote:
: {Something you might consider is getting the Onkyo and waiting for Onkyo to
: {come out with their AC-3 decoder for the 919. I am very sure that this will
: {happen.
:
: I've read several places that Onkyo has no current plans to release an AC-3
: decoder for the 919.
Yup, called em last week. They have no plans to do so , and they are waiting
until AC-3 becomes more mainstream. The guy I talked to said that he didnt
even forsee one for next year. Better get the Yamaha if you want it soon.
Im selling cables to hook the Onkyo up to the Yamaha if anyones interested.
-R
:
: **************************************************
Robb Gonyer
: : Yup, called em last week. They have no plans to do so , and they are waiting
: : until AC-3 becomes more mainstream. The guy I talked to said that he didnt
: : even forsee one for next year. Better get the Yamaha if you want it soon.
: : Im selling cables to hook the Onkyo up to the Yamaha if anyones interested.
: : -R
: : :
: : : **************************************************
: : : Visit Astroboy International World Headquarters at
: : : http://www.neosoft.com/~astroboy/
: That's strange; when I contacted Onkyo, they said an AC-3 decoder was planned
: for the 919. Oh well, the unit does in fact have main in jacks, so if you
: got really ambitious, you could get a separate preamp ;)
:
: Regards,
: John
I guess I worded my response a little off... they plan to make one, but they
are waiting to see if AC-3 will catch on, that could be a year or 5 years...
By the way, no need for a seperate pre amp, that 25 pin connector is mainly
just 6 pre-in jacks for an external decoder. All you need is the cable.
that converts DB25 to 6 RCA.
-Robb
:
Geoffrey Reynolds
astr...@neosoft.com (Mr. Fun) wrote:
:>In article <450vgu$j...@sundog.tiac.net>,
:> g...@tiac.net (Geoffrey Reynolds) wrote:
:>{Something you might consider is getting the Onkyo and waiting for Onkyo to
:>{come out with their AC-3 decoder for the 919. I am very sure that this
will
:>{happen.
:>
:>I've read several places that Onkyo has no current plans to release an AC-3
:>decoder for the 919.
:>**************************************************
I have heard through several sources that Onkyo will be releasing one sometime
around the beginning of the year. They would be fools not to release one,
unless they are replacing the 919 with an AC-3 equiped model real soon, in
which case, waiting for that model would be the way to go.
Jeff
frang...@gmail.com
> Thanks,
> ,---------------------,-------------------.----------------,
> | Karl Blomquist | opinions are mine | gt...@bnr.ca |
> | Bell Northern Rsrch | and not BNR's ! | 1-613-765-4886 |
> '---------------------'-------------------'----------------'
