Elite vs Intergra

bigaudiofanatic
bigaudiofanatic Posts: 4,415
edited October 2010 in Electronics
I am looking to upgrade my receiver never heard of them but how are Integra receivers?

Here is the one I am looking at
http://integrahometheater.com/model.cfm?m=DTR-30.2&class=Receiver&p=s

How would it compare to my elite?
HT setup
Panasonic 50" TH-50PZ80U
Denon DBP-1610
Monster HTS 1650
Carver A400X :cool:
MIT Exp 3 Speaker Wire
Kef 104/2
URC MX-780 Remote
Sonos Play 1

Living Room
63 inch Samsung PN63C800YF
Polk Surroundbar 3000
Samsung BD-C7900
Post edited by bigaudiofanatic on
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Comments

  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,576
    edited October 2010
    It's Onkyo's flashier line.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • messiah
    messiah Posts: 1,790
    edited October 2010
    It's just a re-branded Onkyo man. I'd stick with Elite personally. I think you can get a nice SC-25 for about 800 from Hi-fi Heaven in Green Bay. They sell on Audiogon. There's none currently listed, but you can always just call the guy.
    "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
    Benjamin Franklin, February 17th, 1775.

    "The day that I have to give up my constitutional rights AND let some dude rub my junk...well, let's just say that it's gonna be a real bad day for the dude trying to rub my junk!!"
    messiah, November 23rd, 2010
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  • bigaudiofanatic
    bigaudiofanatic Posts: 4,415
    edited October 2010
    There is actually a SC-25 on clearance at best buy for 1k if i remember correctly.
    HT setup
    Panasonic 50" TH-50PZ80U
    Denon DBP-1610
    Monster HTS 1650
    Carver A400X :cool:
    MIT Exp 3 Speaker Wire
    Kef 104/2
    URC MX-780 Remote
    Sonos Play 1

    Living Room
    63 inch Samsung PN63C800YF
    Polk Surroundbar 3000
    Samsung BD-C7900
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  • messiah
    messiah Posts: 1,790
    edited October 2010
    bigaudiofanatic wrote: »
    There is actually a SC-25 on clearance at best buy for 1k if i remember correctly.

    Grab it, I know you're looking for HDMI, and it has those sweet **** ice amps too :D Hi-Fi Heaven would still be cheaper though. You pay shipping, but no sales tax, and it's brand new (not sure of the condition of the BB unit, but many times open box = no remote etc.)
    "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
    Benjamin Franklin, February 17th, 1775.

    "The day that I have to give up my constitutional rights AND let some dude rub my junk...well, let's just say that it's gonna be a real bad day for the dude trying to rub my junk!!"
    messiah, November 23rd, 2010
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  • cstmar01
    cstmar01 Posts: 4,424
    edited October 2010
    messiah wrote: »
    It's just a re-branded Onkyo man. I'd stick with Elite personally. I think you can get a nice SC-25 for about 800 from Hi-fi Heaven in Green Bay. They sell on Audiogon. There's none currently listed, but you can always just call the guy.

    don't check on audiogon. check videogon under the name Rand.

    They don't like to admit however that they do this; as I go to the store and have asked them and state "nope not us we would never do this".
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited October 2010
    Also look at Onkyo's 5008 and 3008
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  • bigaudiofanatic
    bigaudiofanatic Posts: 4,415
    edited October 2010
    I would love to but I would need to sell my receiver and at least one set of speakers I have for sale before I could go grab it. After paying off credit cards finally about 2 months ago I only use them in an emergency now.
    HT setup
    Panasonic 50" TH-50PZ80U
    Denon DBP-1610
    Monster HTS 1650
    Carver A400X :cool:
    MIT Exp 3 Speaker Wire
    Kef 104/2
    URC MX-780 Remote
    Sonos Play 1

    Living Room
    63 inch Samsung PN63C800YF
    Polk Surroundbar 3000
    Samsung BD-C7900
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  • polkfarmboy
    polkfarmboy Posts: 5,703
    edited October 2010
    get the elite but dont expect it to drive your logans... you will need an amp and with that in mind the elite sc is one hell of an expensive preamp

    You can buy a integra preamp for around a thousand
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited October 2010
    bigaudiofanatic wrote: »
    I would love to but I would need to sell my receiver and at least one set of speakers I have for sale before I could go grab it. After paying off credit cards finally about 2 months ago I only use them in an emergency now.


    Buying a receiver is a emergency.:D
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  • bigaudiofanatic
    bigaudiofanatic Posts: 4,415
    edited October 2010
    leroyjr1 wrote: »
    Buying a receiver is a emergency.:D

    That made me laugh.:D:cool:
    HT setup
    Panasonic 50" TH-50PZ80U
    Denon DBP-1610
    Monster HTS 1650
    Carver A400X :cool:
    MIT Exp 3 Speaker Wire
    Kef 104/2
    URC MX-780 Remote
    Sonos Play 1

    Living Room
    63 inch Samsung PN63C800YF
    Polk Surroundbar 3000
    Samsung BD-C7900
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  • messiah
    messiah Posts: 1,790
    edited October 2010
    ^^ +1 :D

    Forgot it was vgon, not agon, sorry :o

    If the Elite he has now drives his Logans, this one will do even better. I'm sure one day an even better upgrade will be coming, but he has a loft bedroom at home for now.
    "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
    Benjamin Franklin, February 17th, 1775.

    "The day that I have to give up my constitutional rights AND let some dude rub my junk...well, let's just say that it's gonna be a real bad day for the dude trying to rub my junk!!"
    messiah, November 23rd, 2010
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  • sm88
    sm88 Posts: 353
    edited October 2010
    I believe Integra Research is the top of the line from Onkyo, I have some of their gear and it is quite good despite a heftier price tag. Are you looking to use it as an all encompassing unit, for amplification and everything else? Or just to act as a pre/pro. I would also recommend a separate amp if it is in the budget.

    Some of the newer Pioneer Elite's have icepower amps in them I believe, which is Class D but might be better suited to your ML's as well?
    Current System:
    Paradigm Signature S2 v2
    Conrad Johnson MF2500
    Wyred4Sound DAC2
    Audioquest Black Mamba II

    For Sale:
    3x Wilson Cub's
    Conrad Johnson MF2500
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  • bigaudiofanatic
    bigaudiofanatic Posts: 4,415
    edited October 2010
    Ya the more I think about it the more I think I am going to stay with the elite's. I will be getting a 5 channel amp for a install soon a Chiro C500 is the amp. But I want to upgrade my receiver for HDMI's for the better audio as I know I am missing out on.
    HT setup
    Panasonic 50" TH-50PZ80U
    Denon DBP-1610
    Monster HTS 1650
    Carver A400X :cool:
    MIT Exp 3 Speaker Wire
    Kef 104/2
    URC MX-780 Remote
    Sonos Play 1

    Living Room
    63 inch Samsung PN63C800YF
    Polk Surroundbar 3000
    Samsung BD-C7900
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  • TrashyTrucker
    TrashyTrucker Posts: 225
    edited October 2010
    BAF,
    If you do sway towards the integra look at the 50.2 verses the 30.2 the 50.2 has all the bells plus usb, ethernet and more power. I got one priced out for 1300 down here in my area. I have my eye on it as well.
    Regards,
    Matt :D
    Integra DTR 50.2 used as a preamp
    Rotel RCD 1520 cdp
    AudioQuest Jaguar 72v dbs ic's
    AudioQuest type 8 wire
    biamped to:
    2-Hafler 9500 trans nova's
    AudioQuest NRG-3 power cable's
    dedicated AC line for
    Tesla Plex 20a duplex receptacle
    Panamax Max 7500 pro surge/line conditioner
    SDA SRS 3.1 TL's modded...
    spikes, rdo's, rings, dynamat, sonicaps, mills & aeon
    Panasonic Viera G20 50" plasma


    ...SDA's are just like candy for your ears...
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  • cstmar01
    cstmar01 Posts: 4,424
    edited October 2010
    If you are doing an external amp anyways and want a Integra look at their pre/pros on the used market. They have some nice models for not so much coin these days.
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,716
    edited October 2010
    cstmar01 wrote: »
    If you are doing an external amp anyways and want a Integra look at their pre/pros on the used market. They have some nice models for not so much coin these days.

    Just keep in mind some of them have HDMI issues. My DRT 5.9's HDMI board went toast after about 2 years (in the shop as we speak). Ensuring they are under warranty might be a good idea, or that they are not 09 models would probably be even better.

    I havent heard much on the forums about Onkyo or Integra's '10 models having these issues so I think it was just all the 09 ones.
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • HB27
    HB27 Posts: 1,518
    edited October 2010
    I deal with a local Ovation A/V store and I'm told in no uncertain terms that the newer Integra line is top notch as far as dependability goes. They tell me they don't see any bad units at all. Built like a tank.
    They use the Integra and top line Marantz in their sound rooms. I've listened to both and honestly not impressed with the Marantz as far as driving the speakers goes. Even the Marantz top end high watt units don't seem to have the push I like. That's driving just 2 channel though. Surround sounds very sweet on them. I like a receiver that can do double duty adequately.
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  • bigaudiofanatic
    bigaudiofanatic Posts: 4,415
    edited October 2010
    My neighbor has a onkyo receiver and wether it is running his Klipsch bella's or the lsi25's It does not seen to be a full sound, almost as if the onkyo is really flat. But could just be that be needs more power for those lsi's
    HT setup
    Panasonic 50" TH-50PZ80U
    Denon DBP-1610
    Monster HTS 1650
    Carver A400X :cool:
    MIT Exp 3 Speaker Wire
    Kef 104/2
    URC MX-780 Remote
    Sonos Play 1

    Living Room
    63 inch Samsung PN63C800YF
    Polk Surroundbar 3000
    Samsung BD-C7900
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited October 2010
    HB27 wrote: »
    I deal with a local Ovation A/V store and I'm told in no uncertain terms that the newer Integra line is top notch as far as dependability goes. They tell me they don't see any bad units at all. Built like a tank.
    They use the Integra and top line Marantz in their sound rooms. I've listened to both and honestly not impressed with the Marantz as far as driving the speakers goes. Even the Marantz top end high watt units don't seem to have the push I like. That's driving just 2 channel though. Surround sounds very sweet on them. I like a receiver that can do double duty adequately.

    The SC-27 is the ballsiest receiver I have ever heard. It drove my old RtiA9s with ease. And, the Wolfson DACS are top notch with excellent sound for 2 channel.
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  • bopicasso
    bopicasso Posts: 878
    edited October 2010
    If your going to buy a external amp, dont worry about buying a receiver for the power but the preamp abilities. You can score a cheaper model elite that will do the job.
    Living Room setup: Pioneer Elite VSX-21TXH, Krell KAV 300i, PS Audio DL III DAC, Tyler Acoustics Taylo 7u, Dynaudio Audience 120C+, SVS 25/31PCI, B-P-T Clean Power Center, Ps3, Panny 50" S1 Plasma, Tekline speaker cables, Audio Art interconnects, and Pangea power cables.
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited October 2010
    bopicasso wrote: »
    If your going to buy a external amp, dont worry about buying a receiver for the power but the preamp abilities. You can score a cheaper model elite that will do the job.

    This is bad advice if you want the best sonics. The elites below the SC series don't sound nearly as good as the lower end stuff. (even though the lower priced elites still sound damn good) The DAC makes all the difference. An external amp can't cure a DAC not up to one's sonic expectations.
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,716
    edited October 2010
    HB27 wrote: »
    I deal with a local Ovation A/V store and I'm told in no uncertain terms that the newer Integra line is top notch as far as dependability goes. They tell me they don't see any bad units at all. Built like a tank.
    They use the Integra and top line Marantz in their sound rooms. I've listened to both and honestly not impressed with the Marantz as far as driving the speakers goes. Even the Marantz top end high watt units don't seem to have the push I like. That's driving just 2 channel though. Surround sounds very sweet on them. I like a receiver that can do double duty adequately.

    What models were you looking at. I am curious if they consider my model one of the "newer" ones or not.

    I like the reciever, its just been fritzing with the HDMI. Beyond that it performs and does exactly what I need and I am already missing it + my carver since I am no operating on a Denon 1610 (90x5 on a really good day)
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • messiah
    messiah Posts: 1,790
    edited October 2010
    SolidSqual wrote: »
    This is bad advice if you want the best sonics. The elites below the SC series don't sound nearly as good as the lower end stuff. (even though the lower priced elites still sound damn good) The DAC makes all the difference. An external amp can't cure a DAC not up to one's sonic expectations.

    I agree. Go for the good stuff.
    "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
    Benjamin Franklin, February 17th, 1775.

    "The day that I have to give up my constitutional rights AND let some dude rub my junk...well, let's just say that it's gonna be a real bad day for the dude trying to rub my junk!!"
    messiah, November 23rd, 2010
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bopicasso
    bopicasso Posts: 878
    edited October 2010
    SolidSqual wrote: »
    This is bad advice if you want the best sonics. The elites below the SC series don't sound nearly as good as the lower end stuff. (even though the lower priced elites still sound damn good) The DAC makes all the difference. An external amp can't cure a DAC not up to one's sonic expectations.

    If this is a home theater application, the cheaper models will perform just fine as a pre. But if this is for music or a dual purpose I do agree a better dac will be needed. But for the price difference in the receivers a nice external dac can be purchased or a integrated amp w/ home theater bypass that will perform probably better than the high end elites for 2ch music depending on the brand of integrated.
    Living Room setup: Pioneer Elite VSX-21TXH, Krell KAV 300i, PS Audio DL III DAC, Tyler Acoustics Taylo 7u, Dynaudio Audience 120C+, SVS 25/31PCI, B-P-T Clean Power Center, Ps3, Panny 50" S1 Plasma, Tekline speaker cables, Audio Art interconnects, and Pangea power cables.
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited October 2010
    bopicasso wrote: »
    If this is a home theater application, the cheaper models will perform just fine as a pre.

    Sure, but they won't sound as good as the SC series, even in movies. The Elites sound better than most AVRs, but don't fool yourself into thinking that the preamp portion for HT sounds anywhere near the same. I have owned the VSX21-TXH and the SC-27. The SC-27 is superior in every respect by a large margin.
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  • bopicasso
    bopicasso Posts: 878
    edited October 2010
    I never said a top of the line wont out perform a bottom of the line reciever. A SC model should sound better for the huge price difference, if it didn't Pioneer would be out of business. All I am saying is that their are many options to consider besides buying a top of the line receiver. Especially if he is not using the amp section.
    Living Room setup: Pioneer Elite VSX-21TXH, Krell KAV 300i, PS Audio DL III DAC, Tyler Acoustics Taylo 7u, Dynaudio Audience 120C+, SVS 25/31PCI, B-P-T Clean Power Center, Ps3, Panny 50" S1 Plasma, Tekline speaker cables, Audio Art interconnects, and Pangea power cables.
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited October 2010
    The Elites sound good for music but can't touch a pre amp.
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  • bopicasso
    bopicasso Posts: 878
    edited October 2010
    Or a integrated.
    Living Room setup: Pioneer Elite VSX-21TXH, Krell KAV 300i, PS Audio DL III DAC, Tyler Acoustics Taylo 7u, Dynaudio Audience 120C+, SVS 25/31PCI, B-P-T Clean Power Center, Ps3, Panny 50" S1 Plasma, Tekline speaker cables, Audio Art interconnects, and Pangea power cables.
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  • kawizx9r
    kawizx9r Posts: 5,150
    edited October 2010
    SC25 for 900 in my area (one or two in box at Bestbuy). Checked them out the day before yesterday...thought about getting one but passed. I don't need a receiver! I need tubes :p
    Truck setup
    Alpine 9856
    Phoenix Gold RSD65CS

    For Sale
    Polk SR6500
    Polk SR5250
    Polk SR104


    heiney9 wrote: »
    Any clue how to use the internet? Found it in about 10 sec.
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,716
    edited October 2010
    EndersShadow wrote: »
    What models were you looking at. I am curious if they consider my model one of the "newer" ones or not.

    I like the reciever, its just been fritzing with the HDMI. Beyond that it performs and does exactly what I need and I am already missing it + my carver since I am no operating on a Denon 1610 (90x5 on a really good day)

    Just as a addendum to my post, the repair shop just called to tell me my Integra is fixed, it needed 8 capacitors changed on the HDMI board, which is the exact same fix they use for SRx06 Onkyo models..
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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