Onkyo TX-SR876 (discounted) or TX-NR808?

[Jayelae]

The local Onkyo dealer here in the Phlippines has two remaining Onkyo 876 receivers in stock being sold at a very good price. I posted about this earlier and I am now convinced about getting the 876. I want to buy one and mate this to my existing Panasonic AE 2000U projector/Panasonic BD-80 Blu-Ray player and B&W CDM NT 5.1 speakers. My use is/will be strictly video via regular dvd and blu-ray dvd (no network needs; audio cd listening via a Musical Fidelity set-up).

The new Onkyo 808 is not yet available locally but ought to be soon. It looks pretty good on paper and is newly released (June 2010 in the U.S.). I am just intrigued that as early as now, the 808 is already on sale in Amazon (originally $1,099 now going for $754.77).

My worry is that if I wait for the 808, the 876 may no longer available should I decide at a later date that I want the 876 after all. Definitely the 808 will not be on sale upon intro over here.

Should I take the plunge and get the 876 or will the 808 really be worthwhile waiting for?

Thank you for you help and sorry for all my posts on this matter!!

[LordoftheRings]

Get the 876, it does a much better job with DVDs too, because of it's excellent HQV Reon video processor.
The 808 VP is not as good.
And the 876 has a better Audyssey (MultEQ XT, higher up), plus it has a better amp section too.
You'll be perfectly happy with the 876; I know, I am.

The 876, no doubt about it!

[Jayelae]

Got the 876 today and had it installed by professionals -- finally got the sound and balance right after 6 hours! The Audyssey measurements and settings did not sound right so we just fiddled around with the settings and I am very, very happy.

The sound, the clarity, the unforced power, the naturalness is there -- in short, everything I needed and wanted. I am particularly happy with the sound of my classical music blu-ray dvds. They sound divine with the sonics being transformed -- I tried out the live recording of the Berlin Philharmonic with Sir Simon Rattle conducting and Yefim Bronfman on the piano and the balance between piano and orchestra became perfect. With my 11-year old Yamaha 995, the piano got buried in the orchestra amd sounded a bit tubby and muddy -- now the pristine sound and balance came out. The same for blu-ray opera recordings like the Carmen with Jonas Kaufmann -- before I had to use the PCM stereo setting for the HD Master setting sounded wrong with the voices being buried. Not anymore -- now the sound is a revelation.

I play the piano and the sound of a Steinway concert grand in a blu-ray recording is, well, the way a Steinway really sounds!

The difference for loud bombastic blu-rays like Gladiator was at first not that obvious then upon longer viewing and listening one realized the unforced power that is not in-your-face blatant-- so much more natural, detailed, subtle, nuanced but with all the more impact!

As to the video aspect -- all the blu-rays just seemed clearer and more high-def -- but, again, so natural and so right to my eyes!

I will be testing out more blu-rays over the week-end and I am sure that I will experience yet more eye opening and ear-opening revelations. The B&W CDM NT series speakers are perfect partners!

Bravo Onkyo 876!

[bz1080p]

Congrats on the 876!
Glad you were able to get it "tuned" in right.
Enjoy
BZB

[LordoftheRings]

Fantastico!

Bob