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expired Posted by newjack • Mar 29, 2023
expired Posted by newjack • Mar 29, 2023

Onkyo TX-RZ50 9.2-Ch. THX Network A/V Receiver (Certified Factory Refurbished)

+ Free S/H

$959

$1,599

40% off
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Deal Details
Onkyo USA has Onkyo TX-RZ50 9.2-Channel THX Certified Network A/V Receiver (Certified Factory Refurbished) on sale for $959. Shipping is free (via UPS ground).

Thanks to community member newjack for finding this deal

Note, product is a certified refurbished unit.

About the Product
  • 250W/Channel THX Certified Select RZ Series Dynamic Audio Amplification
  • 9.2-Channel Smart AV Receiver
  • 4K/120 Enables Gaming Experience
  • Discrete Zone 2 HDMI Switching
  • 11.2-Channel Processing/Pre-Outs for 7.2.4 layouts
  • Built-In Streaming Services
  • Built-In Multi-Zone Streaming/Voice Control
  • DTS Play-Fi Enabled
  • Works w/ Sonos Certified
Warranty

Editor's Notes

Written by Discombobulated | Staff
  • This product is coming directly through Onkyo Manufacturers; certified factory refurbished audio products have been tested, inspected and approved for sale by an approved Onkyo qualify assurance professional
  • Products may have minor cosmetic imperfections, however, all units are in working order
  • This offer is part of Onkyo: Up to 40% Off Certified Factory Refurbished products
  • Offer valid while promotional price/supplies last
Additional Notes

Original Post

Written by newjack
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Onkyo USA has Onkyo TX-RZ50 9.2-Channel THX Certified Network A/V Receiver (Certified Factory Refurbished) on sale for $959. Shipping is free (via UPS ground).

Thanks to community member newjack for finding this deal

Note, product is a certified refurbished unit.

About the Product
  • 250W/Channel THX Certified Select RZ Series Dynamic Audio Amplification
  • 9.2-Channel Smart AV Receiver
  • 4K/120 Enables Gaming Experience
  • Discrete Zone 2 HDMI Switching
  • 11.2-Channel Processing/Pre-Outs for 7.2.4 layouts
  • Built-In Streaming Services
  • Built-In Multi-Zone Streaming/Voice Control
  • DTS Play-Fi Enabled
  • Works w/ Sonos Certified
Warranty

Editor's Notes

Written by Discombobulated | Staff
  • This product is coming directly through Onkyo Manufacturers; certified factory refurbished audio products have been tested, inspected and approved for sale by an approved Onkyo qualify assurance professional
  • Products may have minor cosmetic imperfections, however, all units are in working order
  • This offer is part of Onkyo: Up to 40% Off Certified Factory Refurbished products
  • Offer valid while promotional price/supplies last
Additional Notes

Original Post

Written by newjack

Community Voting

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Top Comments

every professional reviewer has this on the recommended buy list. this is hard, if not impossible to beat at this price. just note the lower warranty length of 1 year versus 3 for a new unit.

you won't find anything else with dirac and full pre-outs at anywhere near this price.
open box available with full 3 year warranty for $990 from an authorized Onkyo dealer.

https://www.safeandsoundhq.com/pr...8079330415
There's never going to be an official company source that admits, "yeah, they're the same inside." Google "onkyo rz50 vs pioneer lx505" and read through the many forum threads; most enthusiasts recognize them as using the same platform.

I saw a comparison photo showing both the insides and the layout is the same (can't find it again). Whether there are component quality differences or whatever, I don't know if anybody has compared to that level of detail.


The back panels are the same. https://imgur.com/a/pqg9CIL The internal layout is the same. The menu system is the same except for the logo. There are slight feature differences that you can learn about if you want to read through all those forum threads.

86 Comments

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Mar 31, 2023
147 Posts
Joined Mar 2011
Mar 31, 2023
bearsfan2222
Mar 31, 2023
147 Posts
Did they ever fix the unit overheating and dying after a year or 2? I went through 2 Onkyo units. DId not overuse, had small fan on it still would not last. Frown
Mar 31, 2023
332 Posts
Joined Jan 2011
Mar 31, 2023
fej
Mar 31, 2023
332 Posts
Quote from supermanrob :
Not surprising people always paint Dirac as an OMG night and day experience but it varies widely from setup to setup.
Especially when people claim all you have to do is just run it(especially this lite version).
I'm kind of with you, if you were truly interested in dialing in your system the questions would be active crossover? Infinitely adjustable? Individual EQ?

Neither my YPAO nor my Audessey was really that great and needed adjustments, but I'm a 30 year audio guy 🤷🏼
1
Pro
Mar 31, 2023
10,662 Posts
Joined Jul 2010
Mar 31, 2023
supermanrob
Pro
Mar 31, 2023
10,662 Posts
Quote from BeautifulWallaby506 :
How's the reliability on Onkyo?
I see too many refurbished deal on it that make me worry. I had Denon and Yamaha in the past and both work fine beyond 10+ years
Good question and observation.

It has come up often, at least compared to other brands.

I know many others that have other brands like Yamaha & Denon and have had no problems(me included).

Many of them have no interest, that question is one of the reasons(including me).
1
Apr 1, 2023
743 Posts
Joined Dec 2005
Apr 1, 2023
hiroo916
Apr 1, 2023
743 Posts
Quote from turnne :
I would disagree
" Most" have said that Dirac is clearly a better room correction system than Audyssey

Not sure what your criteria is for saying the Denon X3800 is a better unit
From where I sit there are pluses and minuses to either units

If I were choosing, from only those two, it would be the Onkyo used as a pre/pro and the purchase of a separate amp
I don't think we actually disagree much except that I said the Denon might be *slightly* better. There's a few things like 4 independent sub outs, amp disable.

I acknowledged that Dirac is better by saying that was the big plus of the Onkyo having that included. However, the Denon can add that.

Remember the context that I was replying to somebody who said they already have an x3800 and was asking if it was worthwhile to switch to RZ50. In that scenario, I don't think its worth switching; if Dirac is worth switching for, then just pay the $350 to add it to his Denon that he already has.

For myself, I use external amps so I've been leaning towards the x3800 due to amp disable and also want to add another sub, so the independent subs on the Denon is a plus. But this deal on RZ50 is super tempting.
Apr 1, 2023
14,337 Posts
Joined Aug 2010
Apr 1, 2023
turnne
Apr 1, 2023
14,337 Posts
Quote from hiroo916 :
I don't think we actually disagree much except that I said the Denon might be *slightly* better. There's a few things like 4 independent sub outs, amp disable.

I acknowledged that Dirac is better by saying that was the big plus of the Onkyo having that included. However, the Denon can add that.

Remember the context that I was replying to somebody who said they already have an x3800 and was asking if it was worthwhile to switch to RZ50. In that scenario, I don't think its worth switching; if Dirac is worth switching for, then just pay the $350 to add it to his Denon that he already has.

For myself, I use external amps so I've been leaning towards the x3800 due to amp disable and also want to add another sub, so the independent subs on the Denon is a plus. But this deal on RZ50 is super tempting.
And that is your opinion...which is fine
But you used the the word " most" in your original response to suggest that most would agree with you and for your reasons

I disagree and thus have a different opinion
I would argue that " most" ( including me) that have set up both Audyseey and Dirac would say the the latter is a clear winner

Full disclosure...I dont personally own the AVR in this thread or the Denon X3800
But in my own system, I pulled out a Marantz pre/pro and put in an Arcam pre/pro a couple of weeks ago and there is a clear winner with Dirac
Same room, same speakers, same source material
1
Apr 1, 2023
14,337 Posts
Joined Aug 2010
Apr 1, 2023
turnne
Apr 1, 2023
14,337 Posts
Quote from JesusFreak :
Counts mean nothing. I bet they sell a lot more denon and Yamaha and the failure rate is minimal compared to onkyo, especially historically.
My personal experience puts Yamaha far ahead of Denon with reliability..over several Denon units being repaired under warranty and one unit they bought back from me
Which I know means nothing if I dont have sales numbers and actual documented failure rates....
So..that is a nutshell gives you the merit of speculation...
Quote from fej :
I'm kind of with you, if you were truly interested in dialing in your system the questions would be active crossover? Infinitely adjustable? Individual EQ?

Neither my YPAO nor my Audessey was really that great and needed adjustments, but I'm a 30 year audio guy 🤷🏼
I personally had to consistently tweak Audyssey...subs..center..tweak tweak repeat...Then I listen to another source and have to tweak again
Dirac is more complicated up front ...but no tweaking after the initial set up for me
1
Apr 1, 2023
117 Posts
Joined Nov 2016
Apr 1, 2023
DursmanRI
Apr 1, 2023
117 Posts
Quote from youra6 :
One thing i wished the 3300W had was eARC. I think i missed that by one generation.
I've relied on eARC more than I thought I was going to. I have a Denon x4500 (which is HDMI 2.0) I bought in 2020 and while I was looking at these new units, my guess is the build quality is possibly better (along with the DAC etc) on the AVRs of that generation. But more over there's just no compelling reason for me to "upgrade" when the only console I have that utilizes HDMI 2.1 features is the Xbox, and since the x4500 gen does have eARC, I can run the console right into the TV (to access the advanced gaming features) and send the audio back out to the Denon and still get Atmos etc. No it doesn't have Dirac but it does have the advanced XT32 form of Audyssey which I'm good with.

eARC does offer a bit of "future proofing" if you want high res sound. If you've already got a receiver capable of it (or want to save some $$ and buy an older AVR that does), I'd almost recommend investing in a new TV/speakers instead -- esp. considering the premium prices of AVR's today -- since there's really not a ton "new" here over AVRs from 4 years ago. And in terms of audio formats (Atmos/DTS X/Auro etc) there isn't really anything new at all. As much as I like to keep up with current tech, my next AVR upgrade will be when there's, say, an 8K TV with 8K content in the real world out there.
Last edited by DursmanRI April 1, 2023 at 07:27 AM.

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Pro
Apr 1, 2023
9,262 Posts
Joined Jul 2005
Apr 1, 2023
fourml8r
Pro
Apr 1, 2023
9,262 Posts
Quote from JesusFreak :
Counts mean nothing. I bet they sell a lot more denon and Yamaha and the failure rate is minimal compared to onkyo, especially historically.
manufacturers don't release failure rate information to the public. so your only data is going you have is the number of models and the quantity of each available. Inventory does fluctuate so the data is reported as number of times the baseline quantity (Calculated on current inventory).

3 Pioneer models / baseline quantity
8 Onkyo models / 3x baseline quantity
9 Marantz models / 4x baseline quantity
11 Yamaha models / 4x baseline quantity
14 Denon models / 8x baseline quantity

1
Apr 1, 2023
240 Posts
Joined Dec 2010
Apr 1, 2023
TwistYaWig
Apr 1, 2023
240 Posts
Quote from turnne :
My personal experience puts Yamaha far ahead of Denon with reliability..over several Denon units being repaired under warranty and one unit they bought back from me
Which I know means nothing if I dont have sales numbers and actual documented failure rates....
So..that is a nutshell gives you the merit of speculation...


I personally had to consistently tweak Audyssey...subs..center..tweak tweak repeat...Then I listen to another source and have to tweak again
Dirac is more complicated up front ...but no tweaking after the initial set up for me
I too hated audyssey and I could never dial in my Denon S960h, so I'm returning it and just got this in the mail today. The extra power should also help drive some of my speakers too
Pro
Apr 1, 2023
10,662 Posts
Joined Jul 2010
Apr 1, 2023
supermanrob
Pro
Apr 1, 2023
10,662 Posts
Quote from fej :
I'm kind of with you, if you were truly interested in dialing in your system the questions would be active crossover? Infinitely adjustable? Individual EQ?

Neither my YPAO nor my Audessey was really that great and needed adjustments, but I'm a 30 year audio guy 🤷🏼
Yes that's the misinformation with all this.

You read often people say if you have a difficult/bad room/environment you need Dirac.
The reason isn't because running it fixes that difficult/bad environment(no RC correction can do that)!
It's the ability to see and adjust/tweak/correct the results.

People also often say it has a higher learning curve.
The learning is why and how to make those adjustments/tweaks.

Audyssey changed that in 2017 when it introduced that ability with the Editor app and now MultEQ-X.

Anyone that claims all you have to do is run Dirac(especially this lite version) and all is fixed probably doesn't know what they are doing.
I don't know anyone that just runs Dirac and call it good.
2