Integra vs Onkyo - What's the difference?

math wizard

I've been looking at Integra and Onkyo receivers. Are they the same with just a diff. look and name so that they can be sold through diff. sales channels (similar to what Yamaha, Denon, Pioneer, etc... does)? The Integra 7.9 and the Onkyo 805/875 look strangley similar spec. wise. Could someone comment?

mantis

Integra is made for Custom Install. Onkyo is the standard. Think of Integra as Elite of Pioneer. better built quality, better power supplies, Bigger caps , better chassis.

When I worked for a onkyo/Integra dealer (Soundex) this is what I learned there. Both products are fantastic but the Integra line is the ELite. It's not a rebadged Onkyo receiver.

Dan

MikeC78

Onkyo makes a Pro series also, I believe they are similiar to the Integra line. I seen some internal pics over at AVS with the Pro and the Integra side by side, and the Pro line had the exact same power supplies labled as Integra on it. The only difference was the facia. I believe they were comparing the newer Pre's, the 9.8 and the 998.

WilliamM2

mantis wrote: »

Integra is made for Custom Install. Onkyo is the standard. Think of Integra as Elite of Pioneer. better built quality, better power supplies, Bigger caps , better chassis.

When I worked for a onkyo/Integra dealer (Soundex) this is what I learned there. Both products are fantastic but the Integra line is the ELite. It's not a rebadged Onkyo receiver.

Dan

That may have been true at one time, but no longer. The current Onkyo and Integra units are identical. My Onkyo 885 even had "Custom designed for Integra" written on the toroidal transformer.

Sherardp

Integra is also harder to get or should I say harder to find in personal experience.

mantis

WilliamM2 wrote: »

That may have been true at one time, but no longer. The current Onkyo and Integra units are identical. My Onkyo 885 even had "Custom designed for Integra" written on the toroidal transformer.

If Onkyo and Integra is now the same, why spend the money and put out 2 lines??? Makes no sense. We are picking up Integra and I will question our rep. He is coming in soon. I will report back what he tells me.

Dan

apphd

WilliamM2 wrote: »

That may have been true at one time, but no longer. The current Onkyo and Integra units are identical. My Onkyo 885 even had "Custom designed for Integra" written on the toroidal transformer.

mantis wrote: »

If Onkyo and Integra is now the same, why spend the money and put out 2 lines??? Makes no sense. We are picking up Integra and I will question our rep. He is coming in soon. I will report back what he tells me.

Dan

I would bet it is just a cost effective way to manufacture. Sharing some parts would not make them identical. Also willing to bet that there are other parts shared as well. Just like some parts in a Lexus are the same as can be found in a Toyota. Quantity buying power, reduced engineering costs, reduced wharehousing and material management costs (some factory may be cranking out Onk and Integra models right side by side, is the major factor in this.

dudeinaroom

apphd wrote: »

Just like some parts in a Lexus are the same as can be found in a Toyota....

and Pontiac.

mmadden28

Huh, I always thought the difference was that the Integra's had no amp, and had extra features made for custom installations such as balanced outputs, etc.
I also figured they were harder to get/find as they were only available though custom installers or the used market, not the regular retail market.
Interesting discussion.

MikeC78

mantis wrote: »

If Onkyo and Integra is now the same, why spend the money and put out 2 lines??? Makes no sense. We are picking up Integra and I will question our rep. He is coming in soon. I will report back what he tells me.

Dan

Have no idea why they put out the two lines really? The only difference is mainly the looks of it. Go check out the new Onkyo Pro 886 and the Integra 9.9. The inards are reported identical over at AVS, and actually the Onkyo is more expensive than the Integra by like $50. I believe the difference in cost is the rack ears on the 886 that the Integra lacks.

WilliamM2

mantis wrote: »

If Onkyo and Integra is now the same, why spend the money and put out 2 lines??? Makes no sense. We are picking up Integra and I will question our rep. He is coming in soon. I will report back what he tells me.

Dan

They spent years building up the Integra name, why not have models under each brand? It gives the custom installers a different product than the big box stores sell. It's called marketing.

Rather than ask a rep, do what I and others have done. Open up an Onkyo 885 and an Integra 9.8, see if you can find a single part that is different, other than the face plate.

Oddly enough, the Onkyo had a higher list price in this case, and a feature or two that are missing on the Integra. Hardware is identical.

mmadden28

Its like a Chevy Blazer and a GMC Jimmy Same cars right?

Serendipity

WilliamM2 wrote: »

They spent years building up the Integra name, why not have models under each brand? It gives the custom installers a different product than the big box stores sell. It's called marketing.

Rather than ask a rep, do what I and others have done. Open up an Onkyo 885 and an Integra 9.8, see if you can find a single part that is different, other than the face plate.

I believe the two units are identical.

comfortablycurt

The way I understood it is that the Onkyo's are produced on an assembly line, where as the Integra's are hand made, to stricter tolerances.

I've been wondering the same thing though...I've looked at both, and they appear to be essentially identical.