[DodgeTheViper]

How much do you think you can get for the Z7 ?

[jason1wood]

Not sure, but wouldn't let it go for anything less than £650 plus.
I've had it 4 months and it's immaculate, but when I spoke to Matthew (Bluefalcon) he said XT32 would be a massive step up.

[jason1wood]

I know I can't get anything withXT32 without adding funds, but just a bit tight at the moment.

[DodgeTheViper]

I totally understand that. Nowt wrong with looking for a Receiver with XT32 for a 'reasonable' price

[jason1wood]

I am keeping my eyes peeled Dodge. Kept seeing yours for sale but out my budget mate. Haha

[DodgeTheViper]

You mean my old 3009 ?

Nah, i'm talking cheaper than that. The processing may not be the same but i'm going down a similar route to you so that i can add a power amp. I've looked at Audiolab processor's but can't afford it and if you want room EQ, seems like you have to look elsewere, which is what i'm doing

[jason1wood]

Was looking at your 3009, not sure which way to go really. I don't have a dedicated room so I can only do so much, but I'd like to do the best I can with the room I have.
I'll just keep an eye on which direction you're going Kev. Noticed you're not having any luck with tracking down an Emotiva.

[DodgeTheViper]

It's all a balancing act, well i think it is. Money, features, what you're trying to achieve and even storage, i.e. were does it all fit etc.

I think i'm pretty much sorted on what i want to do with the money i have, which isn't a lot. It's exactly as you say, just trying to do the best that you can. There's only two things that i need to sort now, power amp, and change the sub. After that that's me done for a bit, at least with all the expensive kit anyway until i have more funds available.

I am trying to have a dabble with room acoustics though

[jason1wood]

Forget that thought Kev, there's always something else you'll want to improve haha. I'm not touching room acoustics as that's another massive hit to the wallet. Just sit back and enjoy what you have mate. You haven't even had time to enjoy your new S-150s you bought. Haha

What processor you using at the moment, an integrated receiver?

[DodgeTheViper]

Yep, it will be an 818.

[jason1wood]

I have been told to look at them too.

[DodgeTheViper]

As i said, just balancing features against cost and for me it comes out a winner, and i have looked at other options.

And you can disregard the negatives that some people seem intent on posting

I thought my 3009 was great, and i'll be able to compare the 818 very soon

[jason1wood]

Cracking price too. Might toss my Z7 on the classifieds now I have a power amp. Yay.

[DodgeTheViper]

Originally Posted by jason1wood

Cracking price too. Might toss my Z7 on the classifieds now I have a power amp. Yay.

[Apone]

I used a 5009 receiver as a processor only and the a/v performance/features/design of that unit beat my Onkyo 886 - which is a processor only.

The 818 used as a processor is a good way to upgrade and you'll have good secondhand value if you ever want to sell it on.

I would compare the Z7 amps with the 818 amps and if you are happy with the 818, then let the Z7 go. Otherwise, use the Z7 amps to drive the speakers. Not a purist approach by any means but as long as you are happy with the sound - that is what counts.

You might also find that amps that have multi channel inputs are getting rare as a lot of the newer amps have no multi channel inputs.

[jason1wood]

Apone, I have a Rotel power amp that can drive the speakers so the 818 would be processor only, and at that price I can't see anything touching it at the moment.
Anyone want a Z7 haha

[TheBlueFalcon]

The 3008 was a huge improvement on the Z7 and Sub EQ (pre-XT32 update) in my opinion. It really depends on personal preference though.

The 818 is obviously the cheapest option if you want to buy new. A 2nd hand 3008 would probably be around the same price, but there are a few benefits to the 3009 that I feel are worth paying extra (but not too much) for.

A 2nd hand 5508 or 5509 would be the best choice if you're using an external power amp. Again, the 5509 has a couple of improvements that I like/prefer, but it really comes down to price difference.

There may be a few 2nd hand bargains to be had when the 3010/5010 are released but, with the price increase over the 09 series, I doubt that many people will be changing this year.

[jason1wood]

Thanks for that Matthew, I didn't think the 3009 was better than the 818 as kev(Dodge) had sold his and is now looking at the 818. Although that might be personal preference or financial.

Will keep my eyes peeled for any of the mentioned processors, price dependant of course.

[jason1wood]

Would I lose many functions if I bought a 5507, theres one on the classifieds at the moment?

[TheBlueFalcon]

Originally Posted by jason1wood

Thanks for that Matthew, I didn't think the 3009 was better than the 818 as kev(Dodge) had sold his and is now looking at the 818. Although that might be personal preference or financial.

I've not compared the 818 and 3009, but I'd expect the 3009 to be better - even if it's not a huge difference. There are some specs that aren't known for the 818 and I wouldn't expect the hardware to be the same.

For the difference in RRP, the 818 is definitely the sensible choice. But having seen the 3009 on clearance at £1300, it's difficult to say which is the better choice.

[samhain]

What's the 818?

[jason1wood]

It's the new Onkyo 818 Affordable receiver with built in Audyssey XT32

[samhain]

Oops interesting blind test there then, presumably the 818 can be paired with different amplification if preferred?

[Ideal AV]

Originally Posted by samhain

Oops interesting blind test there then, presumably the 818 can be paired with different amplification if preferred?

yes no probs, as long as the avr has pre-outs then you can use the processing side of it to control an amplifier

[Webmonkey]

So guys - any rumors of a 5510 yet?? Onkyo has just annonced new recievers for late 2012.. :-)

[Smurfin]

No offence but why would you be bothered with the 5510? It'll be the same as the 5509 if previous models are anything to go by?

[RICKYJ]

Originally Posted by Webmonkey

So guys - any rumors of a 5510 yet?? Onkyo has just annonced new recievers for late 2012.. :-)

As far as I know, the 5509 is to remain as a current product at this time.

[Dav1dF]

All info points to the 5509 being an ongoing product into 2013.

[Steve Collier]

Originally Posted by TheBlueFalcon

This might interest those using XT32 ... Audyssey set the Subwoofers to -12dB (of the maximum -15dB) so EQ'ing them was fine, but only leaving a further 3dB reduction is not enough. So, I measured the output of each Subwoofer with my SPL meter, increased the volume on the Onkyo to 0dB and then reduced the level on each Subwoofer manually - to match the level I measured before. ... Having the Subwoofers on the Reference setting, which was giving a reading of about 91dB on the set up screen, instead of setting them to 75dB, seems to have given me further improvement. It's not a huge difference and there's no way I can verify it (at the moment) but I thought it was worth mentioning.

I've just got a 5509 so let me check I've followed this correctly (I had to turn down my Velodyne DD15 to 3 to get 75 dB when starting Audyssey). You basically look at the result of the Audyssey sub attenuation, then tweak the initial starting volume of the sub and run Audyssey again such that the Audyssey sub attenuation ends up roughly mid-range to give it more elbow room either side?

[TheBlueFalcon]

Originally Posted by Steve Collier

I've just got a 5509 so let me check I've followed this correctly (I had to turn down my Velodyne DD15 to 3 to get 75 dB when starting Audyssey). You basically look at the result of the Audyssey sub attenuation, then tweak the initial starting volume of the sub and run Audyssey again such that the Audyssey sub attenuation ends up roughly mid-range to give it more elbow room either side?

As long as your Subwoofer isn't set to +12dB or -15dB then it's supposed to be properly calibrated - or at least as good as it can be with the Mic positions used. Most people try and aim for closer to 0dB so they have room to increase or decrease the volume when necessary.

The post you quoted was in reference to getting better results having my Subwoofers at a higher volume for the calibration, but then having to make a few adjustments to allow for me to reduce them.