Onkyo Icon P‑80 + M‑80 World First Unboxing and Preview

[l_lama]

Dirac takes some energy out of the room modes so that you can listen louder before

Loudness compensation is for opposite case of low-level listening. If you don't need to reduce volume to something like 45dB(A) SPL at evening, it probably would not make any changes.

Per conversation with support, it is possible to have DIRAC and FidelityIQ working together.

V-shape curve in TV broadcase signal is pretty expected, per your reply I understand it is possible to have custom DIRAC target curve for HDMI input, is it correct?

 

[Michael K.]

C658 known to be sick (HDMI input complaints, missed loudness compensation, low level at sub outputs).
There are entire https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/nad-c658-streaming-dac-review.12090/ thread about it.

C268 is better spec-wise, no doubt. I barely see any use for M-80, if I would ever need VU meters Yamaha is the way.

I have had a C658 in my second stereo setup for a while and never had any issues. But there is no TV hooked up and I use floorstanders, so no sub. Onkyo still has to show us that they will keep supporting their hardware and also that they will still be here in a couple of years, which is sad. I've had really nice Onkyo stuff over the last 45 years

 

[l_lama]

Onkyo still has to show us that they will keep supporting their hardware and also that they will still be here in a couple of years, which is sad.

Onkyo already went bankrupt and sold. I received replies on my inquiries from Klipsh support.
Denon and Marantz were sold to Samsung recently among other brands.
Cocktail Audio just disappeared.
Will Lenbrook follow the way of Dodo one day leaving NAD and BlueOS ecosystem with no further support?

Probably Samsung portfolio of Hi-Fi brands is most reliable from perspective of long-term support, but there are nothing comparable to P-80 or C658 populated with MDM2 module.

That's the reason I'm considering separates and avoid any integrated amplifiers with any kind of network connections.

 

[Michael K.]

I guess we will see what happens in the future. In my case I've had enough separates and favor a one-box system because I like the usability. I had a Yamaha A-S3200 at home paired with an Eversolo A8 and a Bluesound Icon and still liked the NAD M33 better.

 

[Acapella]

Loudness compensation is for opposite case of low-level listening. If you don't need to reduce volume to something like 45dB(A) SPL at evening, it probably would not make any changes.

Per conversation with support, it is possible to have DIRAC and FidelityIQ working together.

V-shape curve in TV broadcase signal is pretty expected, per your reply I understand it is possible to have custom DIRAC target curve for HDMI input, is it correct?

Where you measure the 45dB(A), at the listening position?

Yes I can set for example Dirac Slot 1 to active for the HDMI Input (with a target curve optimized for TV sound) and for the Optical Input (where the Streamer is connected) I can set the Dirac Slot 2 to active. The Onkyo is storing the active slot for each input.

 

[l_lama]

Where you measure the 45dB(A), at the listening position?

Good question. I checked the setup and UMIK volume was not 100%, so despite the calibration, it's SPL data was incorrect.
Actual values now are more like 52-55 dB(A)S SPL, but I really need to go down to 44-46 to keep bedroom 100% silent.

 

[peters423]

hey guys, I had some time to test P 80 and M 80. Unfortunately M-80 was not a great match for my speakers and my liking, I sent it back. I am however considering to keep P-80 as premp and streamer for hypex nilai amp (which hasn't arrived yet). It's one of very few devices which combines Dirac, HDMI and sub management. Next one that fits the list is NAD M66 but it's like 3-4x more expensive. Do you think it's viable option or is the device meant to be used primarily with M-80? Perhaps you have other suggestions?

 

[l_lama]

Dirac, HDMI and sub management.

If you will not like P-80, have a look Arcam S35 and S45 all-in-one amplifiers, HDMI and DIRAC are there too, should be current-capable.
Another options are Bluesound Node Icon and NAD C658 (read user's feedback carefully for both).

You may consider power amp with variable gain and balanced and regular inputs if you want to have to have some "pairing" choices.

 

[dlaloum]

hey guys, I had some time to test P 80 and M 80. Unfortunately M-80 was not a great match for my speakers and my liking, I sent it back. I am however considering to keep P-80 as premp and streamer for hypex nilai amp (which hasn't arrived yet). It's one of very few devices which combines Dirac, HDMI and sub management. Next one that fits the list is NAD M66 but it's like 3-4x more expensive. Do you think it's viable option or is the device meant to be used primarily with M-80? Perhaps you have other suggestions?

It is a preamp - it can be matched with any power amp you like as long as the output V level matches the power amps gain/input requirements...

 

[CGP]

Thanks, this thread has been really helpful. Im close to deciding for the combo of the M-80 and P-80. Having listened to the A-50 compared to Advance Paris A10, NAD and Music Fidelity integrated amplifiers, the Onkyo is ahead big time for me. I also had the opportunity to test with 7 different speakers. Plus the duo looks awesome with the VU.

But I was triggered that the Yamaha would have a better design build however comparing both build (just from 2 pictures) of the P-80 and the RN1000A I see the P-80 actually being build more constructive towards an amplifier, it really looks like this was designed around signal purity first.
The large linear transformer and clearly defined discrete power supply section suggest they prioritized stable, low-noise power delivery. I also appreciate the use of through-hole components and what appears to be a very straightforward topology, fewer layers of digital abstraction and shorter analog signal paths. The detailing on the wiring is also much better as opposed wiring fumbled away and chucked all in together. so far for distortion i guess. Whether the PCB are the same or not, color is green or purple, its of minor importance, its important to divide the functionality of both devices and what they are meant to do.

Overall, it gives the impression of an engineering led design focused on fundamentals rather than feature stacking or cosmetic layout symmetry.

 

[l_lama]

Hi!

I brought my P-80 from the shop (yes, brick and mortar one) and when powered on, the device is producing audible low-freqency hum (can't even record on iPhone) without power amp connected.

Any ideas what could it be?

 

[Toni71]

Put your hand on the top in the middle and push gently. Mine had this hum also, because of the top plate. For the short time I had it, I placed a small weight in the middle on top. Hum gone.

 

[billou5767]

no review , no teardown somewhere ?

 

[l_lama]

Put your hand on the top in the middle and push gently. Mine had this hum also, because of the top plate. For the short time I had it, I placed a small weight in the middle on top. Hum gone.

I have both transformer hum and resonance coming from the top plate. As I put my hand on the plate, I feel a gentle vibration. If I push slightly, the resonance is gone as I dampen the plate, however the hum itself is still there.

I'll bring the unit back to the shop and try with DC blocked they have, not sure why it happens.

no review , no teardown somewhere ?

This one is probably most comprehensive review, but no measurements still: https://en.heimkinowelten.de/onkyo-icon-p-80-m-80-test-vorstellung/

 

[James240]

Was so looking forward to the P80 upgrade from a DMP 6 then i noticed its MSRP of $4200 AUD which makes absolutely no sense.

 

[l_lama]

Was so looking forward to the P80 upgrade from a DMP 6 then i noticed its MSRP of $4200 AUD which makes absolutely no sense.

It's kind of robbery, EUR 1500 is street price here, so gray import should follow soon I hope.

 

[stormglass]

When I first heard (and saw) about the Onkyo revival and this particular M80/P80 combo I was really excited, immediately contemplating the idea to get it a.s.a.p. My first doubt occurred when I saw the back panel picture of the preamp. Only 2 analog input ? Why ? Quality signal relays are so cheap these days (the excellent Panasonic TQ2 series relays are about 2 euros/piece even at street prices) and some additional quality RCA input connectors are also dirty cheap. I thought is just me with my outdated thinking; Afterall we are living in a digital audio world and the choice for such a ridiculous small number of analog inputs is a design wise decision of the skilled and seasoned designers behind this product. Then, the real shock came when I saw the "guts" inside these boxes (there are several videos on YT). This is not a price optimized design is a dirty cheap approach. I am in electronic building hobby for more then 40 years with dozens of fairly complicated projects successfully accomplished, I just know something about audio design and electronic component choices. But, to use only 2 pcs. of 10000uF in the main power supply (one each for positive/negative rails) in a more then 2x100w rated class AB amplifier is simply a bad decision driven, I presume, only by the aggressive cost cutting decision. Then the small heatsink (too small for such a claimed output power), the quality of the PCBs, the wiring (look at the speaker output terminal connections), the cheap quality of the mains transformer and other flaws which I don't bother to mention. All these for a piece of equipment positioned in the upper segment of the market with an asking price of near 3000 Euros/combo. I read in the previous comments that some of the early adopters noticed hum and buzz attributed to the top cover which was solved by putting a weight on the top. This is not a surprise, the steel sheet is too thin (economy reasons) and also that fancy pattern (but otherwise totally wrong from the functional perspective) of the venting holes are the main culprits. Also it tells us something about the quality of the mains transformer and the parasitic escaping magnetic flux due to a cheap implemented iron core laminations. Well, I admit that those VU-Meters are nice and will bring a solid visual satisfaction and also the overall external design is appealing but this is only what you get for the money.
Overall, a big deception for me.