Sony 720 vs Onkyo 605

[BigRedEE]

So until recently I had been set on getting the Onkyo 605 reciever "remanufacured" for just under $300 with a 3 year warrenty. But now I am thinking that I would rather get the sony 720 reciever new for $200 (which has a 2 year warrenty) since it really has all the features that I need. I have the Panasonic bd-35 which as both lossless audio codecs on board and the 720 accepts LPCM through HDMI.

My question is what I am getting out of the 605 that is worth roughly $95? I am trying to keep my budget as low as possible and that money could really be used on the speakers. I figure that I will be hooking my xbox up directly to the TV (the reciever is really just for BD); aka I dont think i will miss the analog video-digital upscaling.

Thanks

[callas01]

the onkyo will be much better, its full band-width so it will sound better, it will give you more power, the full 95watts per channel vs less on the Sony in full surround, in full surround the sony will give you prolly around 80 w/c not the 105 that is stated, it has more functionality & features. in order to get a Sony receiver that matches the onkyo 606 you will need to be buying the sony 920 which is $400. In your case, buy the onkyo.

[BigRedEE]

Originally Posted by callas01

the onkyo will be much better, its full band-width so it will sound better

can you elaborate on that? The only thing i was concerned about was that the sony can only do 1080/24p and not 30 or 60 hz refresh...can anyone confirm or disprove that?

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by BigRedEE

can you elaborate on that? The only thing i was concerned about was that the sony can only do 1080/24p and not 30 or 60 hz refresh...can anyone confirm or disprove that?

I think you have your stats mixed up. 24hz is an additional feature for movies, and if it has that it's more than likely got 60hz.

It also looks like the 720 does not do TrueHD or DTS-HD MA decoding- depending on your player, this can be a bad thing.

[brett_day]

Originally Posted by aramis109

I think you have your stats mixed up. 24hz is an additional feature for movies, and if it has that it's more than likely got 60hz.

It also looks like the 720 does not do TrueHD or DTS-HD MA decoding- depending on your player, this can be a bad thing.

you are correct, the 720 does not decode the new hd codecs, you would need to have a player that can decode internally like the ps3 in order to get the loss less auido through the receiver

[callas01]

full-bandwidth power rating that covers the range of human hearing from 20 Hertz to 20,000 Hertz. Some manufacturers only provide a power rating for a partial range. Sony receivers including the 197, 520, 720 & 820, are not rated at the full-bandwidth. the 920 and up through the ES line are. the onkyo has a full rating too. it will sound better cause you will get the full range of sound.

[BigRedEE]

Thanks guys for the input!

Well back in the day, when I had been doing all my blu-ray research I had originally wanted a sony 350 but changed my mind and got the panasonic 35 in order to decode both HD formats; and therefore not needing to have reciever with them, just one that accepts LPCM

And on the full bandwith point, Crutchfield.com has the sony 720 listed with full frequency range, @ 8 ohms, .09% THD, and a probably more realistic 95W.

I know that it is not sony's website, but they are somewhat know and I doubt they would give false info. Btw, I am not buying it from them at that price, just using their info.

It seems legit, doesn't it?

[callas01]

I just replaced my Sony 710 the predecessor to the 720 with a sony 920, I am telling you from experience that the 700 series are not all that great. They aren't terrible, but the step up to the 920 was an amazing difference, and I am only refering to SQ.

good luck dude

[PanasonicPlasmaMan]

Have the 605. could not be happier

[BigRedEE]

Hey, guys I really appreciate you comments. Thanks Just trying to weigh my options.

Three things really keep me from just straight up getting the sony:

1. So many people here seem to have the onkyo's, the 605 or 606 (and love them if the do)
2. The option of LPCM or bitstream aka player or reciever doing the decoding
3. The option of using banana plug with the onkyo (I think that what ya call em )

Saving about $100 just seems so significant to me since I was originally trying to find a system for $400 and am going to spend around that much on the speakers alone If you guys insist though, I just might go for the onkyo.

Btw, I didnt think the 710 accepted LCPM or was limited somehow more so than the 720. I know that its is a newer model but I thought I recall something major that was different from 710 to 720. Ugh, I cant remember what it was though...could be completely wrong too

Finally, for people who have both options of the BD player decoding the audio or bitstreaming the audio to the reciever. Have you played around with two ways. Which one do you prefer? Techniquely they are the same I believe, but which sounds better to you?

[callas01]

Your right the 710 didn't process LPCM, and I was not comparing HD audio from the core audio.... First thing I did when I set up my Sony 920 was (of course) listen to the HD audio (on about 5 different blus)..... But I actually went back and listened to my most watched blu (casino royale) in standard DD, I did this cause I- well I'm anal- and wanted to really know what the difference in SQ was. First scene in the bathroom, before he was 007, when he breaks the sink with the dude head, smashes through the stalls, and the sound of the water flowing from the sink.... all had small nuances that I hadn't heard before... Also, (my reference piece) the snake fight up to the embassy exploding, there were many things that sounded more complete.

Then, and this really pissed the wife off.... I went back and switched from DD to LPCM to show her the difference in uncompressed audio, from what we used to hear... needless to say after about the 3rd time, I got "I hear the difference, can't you just leave it alone now."

I did get the urge to switch between the player and receiver doing the decoding, there was no difference. At least none I could notice.

I will be honest with you, I am not a fan of Onkyo's and I'll prolly get some crap for that, but I love Sony and Pioneer receivers and so usually if I can convince someone to get one of them over an onkyo I will, but in your case I want you to have the best experience possible, and when you are comparing these two, I have to say that in this instance, the Onkyo is the better receiver. Go to BB and check them out, seriously, at my BB they have a room with 3 TV's, 8 AVR, 1 BDP, and a lot of speakers, both of these receivers are in there, choose one set of speakers, lets say polks or klipsch, then switch back and forth between the receivers and see what you prefer.

[aramis109]

To my knowledge BB doesn't carry Onkyo, though Circuit City does.

[BigRedEE]

Thanks guys.

I'm going to Nebraska Furniture Mart to listen to them tomorrow. I dont know if they carry the 720 or 605, but they have both 820 and 606 in their websites. hopefully, they have a nice place to listen to them Any suggestions for me while I'm there? Like things to try or ask the store guy to do?

[callas01]

Originally Posted by BigRedEE

Thanks guys.

I'm going to Nebraska Furniture Mart to listen to them tomorrow. I dont know if they carry the 720 or 605, but they have both 820 and 606 in their websites. hopefully, they have a nice place to listen to them Any suggestions for me while I'm there? Like things to try or ask the store guy to do?

try to listen to them on the same set of speakers if possible, other then that.... IDK

[esdub20]

Good thread. I'm in the same boat with these two, but I think I will end up going with the Sony 720 just because I'm on a really tight budget. I was originally hunting for a $250 HTiB

[gearyt]

Originally Posted by BigRedEE

Any suggestions for me while I'm there? Like things to try or ask the store guy to do?

take your own source material, music and Blu....

[BigRedEE]

Well the testing didnt go so well. They only had the 606 and all the sony's werent even hooked up, not to mention that even if they were, I would have heard each on different speaker brands it was pretty terrible

anyway, I was pretty turned off of the 720 by one of the store guys because mainly he said that so many people have returned them and he didnt even know why they carried them. On the other hand he seemed to be pretty baised since he started by saying the the 720 wouldnt even power monitor 30's

But anyway the most of the recievers I have been looking it have been out of stock. But have have found mid 200's prices for the Denon 1908 and Onkyo 606...so once again I would like your opinions I know a decent amount about the 605 and have read that the 606 is pretty similar except for 2 more HDMI...but I am pretty clueless about the Denon, I have heard they are pretty confusing but good quality. I searched for the denon on the forums here but may have missed one that would have been good. Thanks for the help and let if it would be better if I start a new thread

[callas01]

First, keep this thread going. Secondly the guy at the store you went to is obviously an idiot. Lastly, Denon > Onkyo, if you can find that Denon that price, jump on it.

[BigRedEE]

thanks. so I dont think that denon has internal HD decoding, but since my BD player does I'm pretty sure the denon accepts HD audio through LPCM...Is there anything in particular that the 1908 has over the 606 or is it just a Denon vs Onkyo thing? Anything that you can add helps, I'm like a dog frothing at the mouth for info lol

[callas01]

Originally Posted by BigRedEE

I'm like a dog frothing at the mouth for info lol

you and me both. looking at the specs of the denon it would appear to accept LPCM, you could always call or email denon CS and ask. Or find someone here that has one...... Denon is just a higher end reciever then onkyo IMO. Most of the specs on the denon match the onkyo, so once again, you may want to listen to them both.