onkyo or hk?

chadjessie@hotm

I tried to search for the answer on this but couldn't really come up with any definitive answers. Looking at the onkyo 803 or the hk 445. Overall the onk has more features and much more power (105 w) compared to the hk (65 w) But I like the hk. I have read somewhere that onk overestimates there power and hk is conservative. I was wondering if anybody knows in reality how close these two avrs would really be power wise? Also sound wise overall I have heard the hk is much warmer? Is there anymore outstanding things about either one of these? Found them for same price.
Will be running rti12 center, rti6 fronts, and 4 fxi5's. Thanks for the help.;)

dorokusai

I don't think either one would be a bad choice but would give the edge to the Onkyo. I think they rate the power sections of their gear pretty fairly, as well as being 6 & 4ohm capable.

The new WRAT feature is very similar to the NAD PowerDrive design for dynamic power handling. If your into video as much as audio, the Onkyo also has HDMI switching which is a nice feature for some folks. Anyways, good luck.

I've heard HK referred to as warm but never really noticed it personally.

phipiper10

I've found as you have that for the same price you get more features with Onkyo.

SKsolutions

Is was my impression that Onkyo was back in the dumper in terms of component quality build. I was loyal to them for a long stretch, but just handling and listening to anything they put out in the last year or two was a disappointment. Their upper line stuff may be better. If there was a ballot box, I check off "used HK 635" if you don't mind an occasional ghost volume increase.

Ern Dog

One thing is for certain, both avr's have pre-outs so that you could add a separate amp. Rti's really need separate amplification to sound their best, plus with a 7.1 set-up and that beefy Rti12 Center, your avr will need some help pushing all that. Consider a 3-channel amp to power the front sound stage and have the avr power the 4 Fxi5's.

I've had an Onkyo before and currently have an HK. The HK does have a warmer sound which I like, but this is really a personal preference. Best thing you could do is test drive them both out to see which one sounds better to your ears. The HK has a better amp because it is a "High Current" amp, but the Onkyo has lots of cool features that the HK doesn't have.

ben62670

I use an HK 235 as a pre. For audio it is great as a pre. It is very detailed, and dynamic. I'm not heavy into video, but as for sound, and on board dac it is very pleasing to the ear. I agree with ern on separate amplification on the fronts. I have used 2 channel up front, and run the AVR for the center set at small with very good results.

daniel_paul_

If you have rti'6s for fronts you do not need a separate amp. I think the RTi12center a typo. That is the biggest tower speaker and not typical for a center.

TennesseeOutlaw

Personally I would go with the H/K.. You might want to check out Harman International on Ebay.. They sell factory refurbs there.. They come with the same warranty as a new unit does. You could up you model a few notches by going that route.

Good Luck,

Josh

ben62670

If you meant that you have the RTi12s up front I would seriously consider external amplification. You could even get a 2 channel amp to bi amp the 12's using the receiver for the highs, and the amp for the lows. If you go the HK route look for a good quality amp that puts out about 200 per channel at 8 ohms. I went for the AVR-235 to use as a pre amp, and it works great. I think with your setup getting a cheaper AVR with pre outs, and buying a separate 5 channel amp would work best. I have an Adcom GFA-7500, and a Sunfire Theater Grand up for sale if you are interested.

Enjoy
Ben

engtaz

I have owned Onkyo and Denon. I would buy a Denon before Onkyo again.
C.C. has both.

engtaz

chadjessie@hotm

Thanks for the info so far. I do have the rti 12 as the center channel. I have read and heard of this being a great center if you can make it work. Guys from Polk even said this would make an awesome center. Thought I would give it a shot at least.:D Was definitely planning on running some extra power to it and it does seem to make sense to get a three channel amp for the rti6 fronts as well. (Around 200 wpc?) Anymore info on the two avrs is appreciated. Still checking them both out along with some of the other things you've suggested.

Holydoc

chadjessie@hotm wrote:

Thanks for the info so far. I do have the rti 12 as the center channel. I have read and heard of this being a great center if you can make it work. Guys from Polk even said this would make an awesome center. Thought I would give it a shot at least.:D Was definitely planning on running some extra power to it and it does seem to make sense to get a three channel amp for the rti6 fronts as well. (Around 200 wpc?) Anymore info on the two avrs is appreciated. Still checking them both out along with some of the other things you've suggested.

Far be it for me to question the "Guys from Polk" but are you planning on having this RTi12 center standing inbetween your other speakers or laying on its side?

chadjessie@hotm

I have a 62 inch bush tv stand with very generous sized shelves. It lays perfectly in the bottom shelf. (Looks pretty neat too!) I know it might end up being a little low for sound but like I said, I thought I would just try it. I love the sound from the 12's and maybe it will work like I planned.

dorokusai

You could angle it up using, moreso to the listening position, using some cheap rubber doorstops from Home Depot.

chadjessie@hotm

Good idea. I will have to try that. Nice and simple.:D

MattN03

chadjessie@hotm wrote:

I have a 62 inch bush tv stand with very generous sized shelves. It lays perfectly in the bottom shelf. (Looks pretty neat too!) I know it might end up being a little low for sound but like I said, I thought I would just try it. I love the sound from the 12's and maybe it will work like I planned.

Any pics??

chadjessie@hotm

Sorry no pics yet, but will post if I get some.

Holydoc

Chad,

I am not sure that laying an RTi12 on its side would be optimum for a center speaker, but it is your ears. I would think if you had to center it on a shelf, the tweeter would be too far off center to project a good front stage. The tweeter is very easy to localize and needs to be dead center for a good center presentation. Also the woofers would basically be wasted since if you kept the speaker at full, the possibility of drowning out the dialogue with bass from the resonance of the cabinet would be less than ideal.

Again far be it for me to question the "Guys from Polk" but I bet you would be much happier and have a much better presentation with a speaker with the centroid of the tweeter dead center and pointed at the listeners ears. BTW, were those "Guys from Polk" anyone that frequents this board? I really would like to PM them so that I could get a better understanding of why they think this would be an "AWESOME" center channel. Because in my opinion, this goes against everything intuitive about speaker placement and sound distribution.

Sorry about being so off topic. I am just concerned that the advice that you may have been given could of been given from a marketing stand-point rather than a logistics or audiophile standpoint.

chadjessie@hotm

Hey Doc. Interesting observations. You might end up being right about it. Once I decide on a new avr I am going to do a lot of playing around with it. The issues you present do have merit.:D Thanks. It is definitely a trial and error thing that might end up not working, that's for sure. It does intrigue me though so I thought I would try it. On the "Guys from Polk" (funny) Nobody specific. I have read several write ups on using the rti as a center. I honestly can't remember where but I think there was one a while back somewhere on this board and someone from Polk chimed in on it. I will have to let you know how it goes! Thanks.

Holydoc

Chad,

No problem. You are going about it the right way. Learning and setting up your perfect system is an adventure of trial-and-error. Matter of fact, sometimes you will not know that there is fault in your system until you try something else. Those of us who just play fat-dumb-and happy and just build a system and move on, end up being happy with what we have and achieved. Those of us who continuously have to tweak and try new things, end up as audiophiles with a very addictive (and expensive) hobby.

You just have 27 posts so far. It will be interesting to see which category you end up in.

chadjessie@hotm

Ya, kind of curious myself. Just started out looking to update the current system but now I might be addicted. Definitely have a lot to learn, but thanks to all the polk experts out there the answers are there.:D Thanks.