From: stuart@uwa.oz.au (Mather)
Subject: Re: A/V Pro-Logic receiver: Onkyo or Technics ?
Organization: Elec Eng, Univ of Western Australia
Date: 17 Dec 92 02:01:48 GMT

kirk@hpcc01.corp.hp.com (Kirk Lindstrom) writes:

>>I am in the market for the A/V receiver. Obviously I am concerned
>>about the sound quality but let me admit right away that I do care
>>about bells and whistles and I do like lots of technical features.
>>
>Fair enough.

>>I have been doing some research and I narrowed my choice down to
>>two models: Onkyo TX-SV70PRO and Technics SA-GX910. They cost
>>about the same (Technics is about $40 more expensive).
>>
>>Let me explain the main differences which I am considering in my
>>decision:
>>
>>1. Onkyo has a good reputation for quality and I obviously I like
>>   that, but that implies that for roughly the same money you get
>>   less features.
>>
>Get what you pay for. 8-)

>>2. Technics doesn't seem to have a lot of publicity neither in
>>   magazines nor in this group. Does it mean this is some kind low
>>   quality stuff which is not worth looking at ? I would appreciate
>>   some comments about Technics equipment.
>>
>Most of their stuff I've heard is, IMHO, low end.  Onkyo is probably at the
>top of the list for this price range as for quality, engineering and sound
>before you get into the Denon/Yamaha/SonyES mid-fi.

>>I really like some of the features of SA-GX910 which TX-SV70PRO
>>doesn't have:
>>
>>- digital fiber optic input and outputs. I am planning to do digital
>>  recordings from CDs in the future (did not decide the format
>>  yet) and I wonder how important is to have digital in/out in the
>>  receiver ? Any comments ? 
>>
>Those links cost money and probably end up costing you $25-$50 to have.

>>- S-Video inputs. How much difference does it make compared to
>>  regular video inputs ?
>>
>You need an S-video source (LD or SVHS copy of a LD) as well as a new TV
>with S-video inputs for it to matter and it doesn't matter all that much
>from what I've heard and seen.

>>There is more like built-in equalizer and pre-out/main-in loops.
>>How important are those (I am not currently planning to get
>>separate equalizer/amplifier) ?
>>
>Built in EQs are nice in that you can adjust the sound spectrum of you
>speakers to better match room acoustics (If you are in to that sort of 
>thing).  Many of us don't even have tone controls on our preamps so we're
>stuck with what we get.

>>On the side note, I really like the Technics's digital rotary
>>tunning... :-)
>>
>>3. SA-GX910 is more powerfull (370W vs. 315W) but TX-SV70PRO's
>>   power is better distributed, with the center chanel the same as
>>   front chanels.

>>>370WATT "CLASS A"  NOOOOWAAAAYYYY. NOT UNDER $10,000.00<<<

>>
>You WANT the front 3 channels to be close in power.  Most of the info
>comes from the center speaker.

>>4. The spec for SA-GX910 says that this is Class A amp. What does
>>   it mean ?  Is it important ?
>Class A means the output draws current all the time and is less efficient
>than A/B or Class B outputs.  Advantage is there is less distortion.  Many
>Audiophyle amps are class-A to maybe 25 Watts and then switch to class A/B.
>I find it hard to believe that any all-in-one box could be true class-A
>unless it was only rated at 10-25 Watts or so or it gets VERY hot.  My
>guess is there is a class-A amp "somewhere" in the gain path like the
>inputs and they are just telling you about it hoping all you know is that
>"Class-A amps are usually expensive, thus good".  Then again, I could be
>wrong....

>>
>>Well, I realize that not that many people will have experience with both
>>receivers but I would appreciate any comments on any of them.
>>
>I'd pick the Onkyo and enjoy the better sound which will last longer than
>the fun of playing with the nice features which often get set to "flat"
>after a few weeks.

>>Bolek
>>
>Kirk out
>=> "We are what we pretend to be."  -  Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
>+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
>| Kirk Lindstrom - OCD Product R & D | Hewlett-Packard Co.  M/S: 91UA |
>|   Engineer/Scientist, Hardware     |                                |
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