Cannot decide! Sony vs Onkyo

Rich_L

Rich_L

Rich_L

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
18,175
Location
Santa Barbara, Californee
Completely torn between two systems and can't decide! So what else but to OcUK!

Both have 3D pass-through, ARC, True-HD, DTS-HD support, on-screen overlay display etc etc. Both are identically priced at $249.99 w/ free shipping which is the top-end of our budget so while I know there are loads of other awesome things for $350, $450 it's pretty much a choice between these two - at least it's not a $250 soundbar!

Sony HT-SS380

http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/st...51&storeId=10151&langId=-1&partNumber=HTSS380

+ves

Slim-line amp is more wife-friendly (lol)
PS3 sync (all our media is done through PS3 streaming/BR)
Microphone-calibrated set-up
iPod dock included

-ves
Proprietary speaker connectors
3 HDMI inputs
Limited upgradeability
Limited inputs

vs.

Onkyo HT-SS3500

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...mp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0077V88V8

+ves
4 HDMI inputs
More upgradeability
Higher range of inputs (component, composite etc)

-ves
iPod connection via USB front port (no dock)
Bigger amp (not so wife-friendly)
Manual calibration required

My leaning is to go for the Onkyo more so that I don't entirely trust Sony (:p)but it seems like a decent system. Any hints of tips - I appreciate it's slightly annoying that probably neither model is available in the UK to compare but still..halp!
 
Neither, 10 year old top of the range Yamaha legacy amp. Sure, won't have the functionality, but will still stomp all over the all singing and dancing amps for outright sound quality.
 
Mr_Sukebe said:
Neither, 10 year old top of the range Yamaha legacy amp. Sure, won't have the functionality, but will still stomp all over the all singing and dancing amps for outright sound quality.
Click to expand...
I'd have to agree with Mr S here.

Having heard a variety of modern units (even comparably priced ones) an older high end unit will do much better for your money.

gt
 
realBabelfish said:
wont do 3d or hdmi - so no HD BR audio.

i guess with a low end system like in the OP HD audio would be pointless anyway
Click to expand...


You're absolutely correct, it won't do HD BR audio.
What it will do is coreDTS, which is part of all BDs that use DTS-MA (last time I checked, was on 90% of the disks I had to hand).

For reference, coreDTS is 1500kbps, DVD Dolby Digital is around 448kbps, DVD DTS was upto 1500, but typically a lot lower. On the BDs I've checked recently, one was 3.2mpbs, the other 6mbps. So the data throughput rate is in similar order of magnitude better than when comparing DVD to coreDTS, as coreDTS to full HD.
As for how much you'd notice the difference. Well I recently added HD audio capability to my own system. Yes it is noticeably better, however I'm not exactly running a budget system. At a price point of £300, I'm guessing the improvements would be far less apparent.
More importantly, by going the "full functionality" route, you'd ignoring the benefits that a high end legacy amp would have in the quality of the rest of the internals, i.e. power supplies, pre/power sections, switching etc. With the legacy kit, you're also avoiding the licensing charges that must be paid by the manufacturer for the ability to decode the latest formats.
 
Mr_Sukebe said:
You're absolutely correct, it won't do HD BR audio.
What it will do is coreDTS, which is part of all BDs that use DTS-MA (last time I checked, was on 90% of the disks I had to hand).

For reference, coreDTS is 1500kbps, DVD Dolby Digital is around 448kbps, DVD DTS was upto 1500, but typically a lot lower. On the BDs I've checked recently, one was 3.2mpbs, the other 6mbps. So the data throughput rate is in similar order of magnitude better than when comparing DVD to coreDTS, as coreDTS to full HD.
As for how much you'd notice the difference. Well I recently added HD audio capability to my own system. Yes it is noticeably better, however I'm not exactly running a budget system. At a price point of £300, I'm guessing the improvements would be far less apparent.
More importantly, by going the "full functionality" route, you'd ignoring the benefits that a high end legacy amp would have in the quality of the rest of the internals, i.e. power supplies, pre/power sections, switching etc. With the legacy kit, you're also avoiding the licensing charges that must be paid by the manufacturer for the ability to decode the latest formats.
Click to expand...

cool. didnt know about the core DTS thing. im all HD amped up though so im ok :)

HDMI switching is something else to consider. personally i would avoid those little all-in-one systems as they are ultimately going to frustrate you and you will end up getting separates and proper speakers at some point so its a bit of a waste of cash.
 
Mr_Sukebe said:
You're absolutely correct, it won't do HD BR audio.
What it will do is coreDTS, which is part of all BDs that use DTS-MA (last time I checked, was on 90% of the disks I had to hand).

For reference, coreDTS is 1500kbps, DVD Dolby Digital is around 448kbps, DVD DTS was upto 1500, but typically a lot lower. On the BDs I've checked recently, one was 3.2mpbs, the other 6mbps. So the data throughput rate is in similar order of magnitude better than when comparing DVD to coreDTS, as coreDTS to full HD.
As for how much you'd notice the difference. Well I recently added HD audio capability to my own system. Yes it is noticeably better, however I'm not exactly running a budget system. At a price point of £300, I'm guessing the improvements would be far less apparent.
More importantly, by going the "full functionality" route, you'd ignoring the benefits that a high end legacy amp would have in the quality of the rest of the internals, i.e. power supplies, pre/power sections, switching etc. With the legacy kit, you're also avoiding the licensing charges that must be paid by the manufacturer for the ability to decode the latest formats.
Click to expand...

I've had the same argument time and time again with people on many different forums. I've given up now.

The majority of people care more for the bells and whistles than outright sound quality. They spend £300+ on a brand new amp, then they could have had a 5-6 year old one for the same money which would have destroyed it.

Oh well, at least we know what we're on about :D
 
glen8 said:
The majority of people care more for the bells and whistles than outright sound quality. They spend £300+ on a brand new amp, then they could have had a 5-6 year old one for the same money which would have destroyed it.

Oh well, at least we know what we're on about :D
Click to expand...

There's nothing wrong with prioritising features and connectivity over sound quality. The problem is people making uninformed decisions, rather than anything else. All said and done, a cheap amp is a cheap amp - it will be a compromise in one way or another.
 
It's a fair point - if I was still in the UK I'd likely do what I did before and get a second-hand 5-6 year old amp for cheap as chips, pair it with some random second-hand speakers and get a great value set-up - especially as being in London I could just go pick it up.

Over here in the US it's a bit trickier - I don't really know the best sources of 2nd hand or refurbished kit (there's a lot of rubbish on craigslist..) and getting something shipped inter-state is considerably more expensive than popping to the other side of London and seeing it in action first :p

Bear in mind that the two systems (and my budget) are $249.99 (155 quid!) including speakers..I'm not expecting miracles I just needed a reasonable surround set-up to complement the TV for watching a movie on now and then, not an audiophile uber-home cinema set-up :p

Anyway, the Sony won out in the end for the PS3 integration/iphone dock plus the wife 'didn't want a big blocky amplifier' in the living room and she preferred the look of the more slim-line speakers :p Will be interesting to see how it turns out - worst case scenario it gets relegated to the office at a later date and replaced with a separates later down the line. :)

*edit*

I'd just add I do appreciate the advice regardless!
 
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