Onkyo Oulet (ShopOnkyo) President's Day Sale - e.g., Refurbed TX-NR709 $320, TX-NR609 $240

what do you use for your active cooling? what type of setup?

Quote from Roveldude : If you're talking about the HDMI board being cooked by the heat underneath, that's what happened to my TX-SR606. Replaced the bad caps and added and exhaust fan (yes, I know you shouldn't have to do this), and it's working fine after 3 years. Had I known, I would have added active cooling from the start. Sounds like a great deal for $300. Will this have been the biggest mistake you've made in your life?

I have been waiting to jump on the 616 for a month now and now I hear about the problems with that particular receiver. I have owned 3 onkyo receivers ion the last 6 years and not a problem with any of them. What does anyone know about the NR-709 receiver?

Quote from Jacads : what do you use for your active cooling? what type of setup?

After looking at some $30-50 solutions, I just hung a 120mm low speed PC fan with small zip ties from the inside of the case top blowing out, powered with a 12V DC brick run into a switched wall outlet. A kludge I know, and I know I shouldn't have to do it. I would not put one of these AVRs in a cabinet w/o active ventilation. They run very hot.

I bought the supposedly better quality Yamaha (663), in 2008 and now my surround sound no longer works (I need to keep in 7 channel).

Since the Yamaha already allowed 100% HDMI connections, I really didn't want to upgrade just yet. For me, buying a refurb unit that is in the same class for $253 seems to offer minimal risk (Onkyo 616 vs. Yamaha 673).

Other options were tempting, but rather than spend $500 now...I will spend $250 now and probably get the next generation stuff for $250 in another 3-5 years.

Quote from Roveldude : If you're talking about the HDMI board being cooked by the heat underneath, that's what happened to my TX-SR606. Replaced the bad ....

replaced the caps on my 606 two years ago....running strong to this day.

It was my first experience fooling around with soldering and such ...very nervous about attempting the repair. IT WAS A SNAP


Since my initial foray , I have done ~ dozen units(I buy off Craigs List @~ $50/per ..fix 'em up and sell'm on Craigs List@ $100/$150) ..I am at the point that I can do the whole job in about 15 minutes...$3 worth of Caps and Ten Cents worth of Solder.

I Onkyo

Quote from Roveldude : Which product is "this product"? Thanks. I don't think anyone's warranty covers shipping back for repair. What's 76#? An entire HTIB? I don't think I'd send the whole thing back if the receiver failed.

Product is HS5500 - 7/1 Sound System w/receiver

76 pounds was the total weight of the package....

Quote from Roveldude : Noted and agreed. But they must sell a kazillion units worldwide, too. I THINK it may be a function of trying to squeeze in so many features, connectors, amps, subsystems, etc. into one box creating multiple potential failure points at a value price. One HDMI port fails, bam it goes back and into the recycle path. This is part of the reason I went simple with the TX-8050 this time. Only 2 channels, runs cool (seen it).

I think it really has to do with the fact that a lot of people put things in cabinets. My friend didn't have much ventilation on his receiver and it crapped out. Mine sits by itself in no cabinet and never overheated. Also, people buy under powered receivers for their needs, then run the receiver hard and the whole unit is hot so something fails inside from being too hot.

Quote from tential : I think it really has to do with the fact that a lot of people put things in cabinets. My friend didn't have much ventilation on his receiver and it crapped out. Mine sits by itself in no cabinet and never overheated. Also, people buy under powered receivers for their needs, then run the receiver hard and the whole unit is hot so something fails inside from being too hot.

I think you're correct. I wouldn't even stack something on top of mine out in the open. Without the fan, it really did get so hot I could hardly keep my hand on it.

I placed an order but did not get a confirmation. What about you guys?

Quote from lvblkjack : I placed an order but did not get a confirmation. What about you guys?

Not yet. Maybe a Chinese New Year hangover!

Got an order number at checkout, so assume OK.

Quote from Roveldude : Not yet. Maybe a Chinese New Year hangover! Got an order number at checkout, so assume OK.

same here no email confirmation but got an order #.

So...HT-S5500 7.1 refurb at A4L for $269, or the HT-S7409 5.1 refurb at ShopOnkyo for $279?

Will be running a 3.1 setup upstairs with the speakers from one of these systems and an Onkyo 430.

The surrounds and receiver will go downstairs with Monitor 70 fronts and CS1 center, replacing an old 6.1 Onkyo HTIB. Was going to use the two extra surrounds from the 5500 as front heights downstairs. With the 7409 I'd be stuck with a 5.1. Could always paint the old silver Onkyo surrounds black and run with those...

Larger woofers on the fronts of the 5500, look to be (cheap?) wood cases as well. The fronts from the 7409 will fit in a gap in our entertainment centers, but they look to be plastic cases. I doubt it will make much of a difference on speakers of this caliber.

And a related question, acoustic suspension or bass reflex for front and center speakers?. Most of the info I find is for subwoofers only.

Quote from CouriPut : I have the 805 and looking for a suitable replacement as the hdmi board went out and now pulsates sound to the surround speakers. I Loved this receiver but I can't find anything close to what this receiver offered below 600. like others onkyo runs hot, I had a dedicated fan for cooling at mine was never enclosed. then one day, it was 1 thing, then the other. having to downgrade below thx ultra2 will be missed.

you would be hard pressed to find any performance like the 805...unless you get another THX Ultra certified Onkyo

like it has been said...they run hot and have not been known to be the most reliable

The extended service plan is your friend if you are going to buy an Onkyo

I've had an Onkyo 506 and 707 since around the time each have come out. They do get super hot and will randomly turn off 1-3 times per month, but I just turn them back on and everything is fine. Weird. Going to be looking to upgrade my 707 soon, either 818 or Denon.