Onkyo TX NR708 (can I add a power amp to this one??)

tophatjohnny

Just checking with the pros before this one is delivered. Buying from a web site that has no weekend support available and can't get Onkyo on the phone either. With 100 watts of power, I'm sure that will be better than the 80 watts I have now, but the goal is to hook up additional power down the road. Am I good with this one??

chumlie

Yepper. Your good.

IRLRaceFan

According to the specs on Onkyo's web site, it has analog pre-outs; so you would be able to use external power amps.
http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?m=TX-NR708&class=Receiver&p=i

As far as being "good with this one", that will depend on a lot more knowledge of your system than just adding 20-Watts more power and even that doesn't mean much. Most people here will tell you not to get hung up on power number and in truth, 20W isn't much of a difference (I'll let others here get into these details).

Make sure it has all of the other features you want, you're happy with the price, and the seller has a good reputation.
Good luck!

tophatjohnny

IRLRaceFan wrote: »

According to the specs on Onkyo's web site, it has analog pre-outs; so you would be able to use external power amps.
http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?m=TX-NR708&class=Receiver&p=i

As far as being "good with this one", that will depend on a lot more knowledge of your system than just adding 20-Watts more power and even that doesn't mean much. Most people here will tell you not to get hung up on power number and in truth, 20W isn't much of a difference (I'll let others here get into these details).

Make sure it has all of the other features you want, you're happy with the price, and the seller has a good reputation.
Good luck!

I own the RT2000i Towers and for surrounds I own the FX300i's and am using a Yamaha NX C-340 center (replacing that soon) and have an additional Yamaha sub, so the sound is good, just no kick for my music, and I need that. That and if 20 watts aren't a big difference, will an additional 10 watts help?? The one I have coming has 110watts. I'm betting it will rock good, or I will be adding the power amp quickly!!

jbooker82

Yep but you can get a year newer Refurbed TX-NR709 from accessories for less for $450. The TX-NRxx9's hold their power ratings better too. The actuall power doenst fall of near as hard when compairng the Onkyo rated 2 channel to Home Theater Magazine's 5 and 7 channel power ratings.

tonyb

Don't be so worried about the wattage in the receiver since you will be adding an amp anyway. Once you add the amp, the receivers power for those channels will become useless. Well, not totally useless, the receiver will then be able to power the surrounds better.

If your a bass head, dump that yamaha sub and get a real one from the likes of SVS, Epic, Rel, Velodyne, Dayton, and a cast of others.

tophatjohnny

tonyb wrote: »

Don't be so worried about the wattage in the receiver since you will be adding an amp anyway. Once you add the amp, the receivers power for those channels will become useless. Well, not totally useless, the receiver will then be able to power the surrounds better.

If your a bass head, dump that yamaha sub and get a real one from the likes of SVS, Epic, Rel, Velodyne, Dayton, and a cast of others.[/QUOTE


I will get an amp in time, but will be digging the 110 watts in the new amp and it will be here tomorrow Wednesday. I added the 5 year warranty, so I should be good to go. Can't wait. And I will get a nice Polk Sub in time too. Kind of a bass head, but a nice equal sound is more my thing!!

gp4jesus

tophatjohnny wrote: »

tonyb wrote: »

If your a bass head, dump that yamaha sub and get a real one from the likes of SVS, Epic, Rel, Velodyne, Dayton, and a cast of others.

I will get an amp in time, but will be digging the 110 watts in the new amp and it will be here tomorrow Wednesday. I added the 5 year warranty, so I should be good to go. Can't wait. And I will get a nice Polk Sub in time too. Kind of a bass head, but a nice equal sound is more my thing!!

+Tonyb

To OP: as others have said, compared to the 100W you have/had, a 20w increase is minuscule though how your new AVR delivers into 5/7 channels and into lower impedence loads compared to your former power source may make the difference.

OTOH as others said if you plan to add an ext amp for your LR/LCR that should lighten the load for the AVR considerably for the sides/surrounds.

Either way as TonyB mentioned a good sub to handle the heaviest lifting. Remember heavy gage wire to carry all that juice to your speakers! Oops!

My $.02, Tony

tophatjohnny

Update. the 708 slams for me. At least on the TV side. After calling Onkyo to learn how to do the updates, pretty darn cool. Now I have to figure out why the DVD player isn't reading, and will have to call to do the mic set up of the speakers, but other than that I can tell a huge difference between the 80 watts that the 414 had and the 110 watts this one has. Night and Day!! Can only imagine how a good amp will improve this package!! Probably going to look got a 5 channel amp!!

jbooker82

Glad you like it. Onkyo is hard to beat for features per $.

dorokusai

Yes, you can easily add another amplifier but the guys here have you well taken care of in multiple options it appears.

I'll add a comment for the subwoofer choice and the fact you should ditch the Yamaha. Keep in mind that Polk Audio has finally started to make subwoofers that are worth paying attention to again, after about 10 years of laziness. Check out the DSW series and the MicroPro if you want some more features and power. They are at least worth a look now, when in the past, it wasn't worth the time.