Onkyo TX-RZ50 Review (Home Theater AVR)

[SimpleTheater]

Name a more capable AVR or Pre-Pro for the price.. Most of the people on here are using all external amplification, so the problem Amir encountered is a nonevent.

Denon X3700H. I prefer Audyssey over DIRAC.

But that's about it. Amazing how much crap is out in the 9.2 AVR category in, especially under $2k.

 

[Sprint]

Name a more capable AVR or Pre-Pro for the price.. Most of the people on here are using all external amplification, so the problem Amir encountered is a nonevent.

I would add Yamaha CX-A5200 (measured well as reported by Audioholics here) under 2500 Euros. 64 bit YPAO does a good job until 30HZ. Below that use a miniDSP if needed or use manual PEQ. I do not use Room correction of Yamaha as I use GLM in my Genelecs which needs a XLR. Super happy with sound for both movies and music.

 

[nashmoss77]

The prepro case for the RZ50 is certainly very strong. PrePros are generally far more expensive, and the cheaper ones from Emotiva etc leave a lot to be desired. Using the RZ50 as a $1400 prepro makes a lot of sense - given you get Dirac for free and all the lates bells/whistles such as 8k.
Also makes resale a lot easier than a dedicated prepro. I would've certainly considered the 7100 if it had preouts.

Pairing it with something like a Monolith power amp, one can get a solid system for around $3000.

 

[dlaloum]

I would've certainly considered the 7100 if it had preouts.

That would describe the Integra DRX 3.4

 

[Dougey_Jones]

I would add Yamaha CX-A5200 (measured well as reported by Audioholics here) under 2500 Euros. 64 bit YPAO does a good job until 30HZ. Below that use a miniDSP if needed or use manual PEQ. I do not use Room correction of Yamaha as I use GLM in my Genelecs which needs a XLR. Super happy with sound for both movies and music.

I love everything Yamaha makes, Electronics, Motorcycles, Instruments, etc, but I can't stand YPAO.

Your setup sounds awesome.

 

[Dougey_Jones]

The prepro case for the RZ50 is certainly very strong. PrePros are generally far more expensive, and the cheaper ones from Emotiva etc leave a lot to be desired. Using the RZ50 as a $1400 prepro makes a lot of sense - given you get Dirac for free and all the lates bells/whistles such as 8k.
Also makes resale a lot easier than a dedicated prepro. I would've certainly considered the 7100 if it had preouts.

Pairing it with something like a Monolith power amp, one can get a solid system for around $3000.

Or troll OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace and get 7-channels of great amplification for $500'ish and have a very solid system for $2,000. Both of those marketplaces are inundated with mid-2000's era Parasound, Rotel and other mid to hi-fi multi-channel amps for reasonable prices.

 

[TallDan]

That would describe the Integra DRX 3.4

I very nearly got one of those, but amplifiers and, iirc, 11.1 processing instead of 9.1 made the tx-rz50 worth the extra $100 in list price in my mind.

 

[MASKINEN]

Denon X3700H. I prefer Audyssey over DIRAC.

But that's about it. Amazing how much crap is out in the 9.2 AVR category in, especially under $2k.

Why do you prefer Audyssey over Dirac?

 

[dlaloum]

Denon X3700H. I prefer Audyssey over DIRAC.

Easy decision then!

 

[Sprint]

I love everything Yamaha makes, Electronics, Motorcycles, Instruments, etc, but I can't stand YPAO.

Your setup sounds awesome.

I fully understand. It seems YPAO in lower end models were of a different level quality wise. But I hear from others that 5200 has 64 bit R.S.C which does a good job till 30HZ though personally I haven't tried because GLM takes me to a different level. However I need to admit, that DIRAC via miniDSP for my SVS subs does an excellent job.

On the other hand the ESS Sabre Pro DAC in 5200 along with the XLR feeding Genelecs has converted my living room to a place better than the nearby cinema hall . Earlier I used to have Yamaha RX-V775 - a lower end non-aventage model. The CX-A5200 (especially with XLR connections) takes me to a different planet sound wise - instrument separation being the highlight.

 

[Dj7675]

I fully understand. It seems YPAO in lower end models were of a different level quality wise. But I hear from others that 5200 has 64 bit R.S.C which does a good job till 30HZ though personally I haven't tried because GLM takes me to a different level. However I need to admit, that DIRAC via miniDSP for my SVS subs does an excellent job.

On the other hand the ESS Sabre Pro DAC in 5200 along with the XLR feeding Genelecs has converted my living room to a place better than the nearby cinema hall . Earlier I used to have Yamaha RX-V775 - a lower end non-aventage model. The CX-A5200 (especially with XLR connections) takes me to a different planet sound wise - instrument separation being the highlight.

Not sure if you saw the xlr issue or not on the 5200 or not.

Yamaha AVENTAGE 5200 Series 11CH Processor/Amplifier Review

Yamaha is on their 3rd generation of separates in the Aventage line with their new 11-channel CX-A5200 AV Processor and MX-A5200 amplifier. Read our review to find out if they are a worthy successor.

www.audioholics.com

 

[dlaloum]

I always liked the build and sound quality of the Yammies... but my search for a decent RoomEQ has taken me elsewhere... Audyssey up till now (unsatisfyingly) - and now I am keen to try Dirac.

 

[Dj7675]

I always liked the build and sound quality of the Yammies... but my search for a decent RoomEQ has taken me elsewhere... Audyssey up till now (unsatisfyingly) - and now I am keen to try Dirac.

Or, quite possibly, you may not like full range, automated eq (EQing to a room curve). I don’t think I will ever purchase a processor without the ability to to manual EQ again. For me right now it is Dirac DLBC below 300-500hz and fixing speaker issues with a few filters above that range.
You would have good company…

Some comments from Floyd Toole about room curve targets, room EQ and more

Room curve targets Every so often it is good to review what we know about room curves, targets, etc. Almost 50 years of double-blind listening tests have shown persuasively that listeners like loudspeakers with flat, smooth, anechoic on-axis and listening-window frequency responses. Those with...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Sprint]

Not sure if you saw the xlr issue or not on the 5200 or not.

Yamaha AVENTAGE 5200 Series 11CH Processor/Amplifier Review

Yamaha is on their 3rd generation of separates in the Aventage line with their new 11-channel CX-A5200 AV Processor and MX-A5200 amplifier. Read our review to find out if they are a worthy successor.

www.audioholics.com

Yes I did see but as Gene has mentioned - it is not audible and clearly recommends to not consider this -23dB distortion as the one to reduce sonic clarity.

I have driven the front LR channels to high levels and atleast I am unable to hear any sign of distortion. I do not even know if Yamaha has rectified it as I just purchased it 2 weeks ago. On the other hand, I have to admit I do not even know how distorted sound sounds like . I know how a damaged speakers produces a distorted sound but I have never heard or experienced a distortion produced by a AVP.

Here is what Gene says "While 23dB sounds like a really big number, it's important to note that the overall distortion level is still quite low for the CX-A5200 model and below the threshold of audibility in my testing. While I'm not happy about this result, as it certainly is NOT State-of-the-Art (SOTA), it never diminished my enjoyment of this product even during my critical listening sessions."

 

[hmt]

You don't hear any advantage of the ESS DAC though. YPAO with RCS is still crap as is does not correct well in the Bass region.

 

[Sprint]

You don't hear any advantage of the ESS DAC though. YPAO with RCS is still crap as is does not correct well in the Bass region.

That's a million dollar debate if one hears any difference in DACs and it is my personal experience that ESS sounds different to my ears when I compared it with Cirrus Logic. Again it is my personal experience. Is it a placebo effect or mind play? I do not know .

Fully agree YPAO in the bass region is crap and that's why I myself have a miniDSP with DIRAC. But other than that Yamaha is superior in the sound quality and build quality. I can only say for me, the sound is very engaging be it music or movies.

 

[hmt]

My point is that the 23 db higher distortion on the XLR outs dominates in case of the 5200. When you don't hear it, you also don't hear differences bn DACs. SINAD of the 5200 is 73 db. That's not very good but probably still inaudible.

 

[Rottmannash]

I always liked the build and sound quality of the Yammies... but my search for a decent RoomEQ has taken me elsewhere... Audyssey up till now (unsatisfyingly) - and now I am keen to try Dirac.

don't think you'll be disappointed.

 

[Dougey_Jones]

Mid 90’s or better SINAD is fine for me, mid 70’s is unacceptable at the price point we’re discussing.

 

[SimpleTheater]

Why do you prefer Audyssey over Dirac?

Maybe “prefer” isn’t an accurate wording choice. The implementation of Audyssey via the Denon and the phone app gives an amazing amount of control once completed to fine tune based on REW values taken after the fact. So does Yamaha’s parametric EQ. I haven’t used the NAD, Adcom or Onkyo but the two former appear to have had implementation difficulties. Additionally, from watching DIRAC videos, it appears you can send preferred target curves to your device, but as anyone knows the target isn’t exactly what you’ll get, so editing the results are paramount, yet the videos I’ve seen don’t seem to allow it. This could just be terrible directions on those two products DIRAC implementation but I’ve stayed far away from their products exactly because of what appears to be the inability to minutely adjust the final DIRAC EQ.

If this is a DIRAC issue and manufacturers are forced to implement it this way, then I will say I prefer Audyssey and YPAO to DIRAC. If it’s the manufacturers implementation then I await a better implementation. If it’s terrible marketing on their websites and YouTube videos that don’t show these final calibration options, then I’ll also stay away from these manufacturers because for me a product encompasses everything, and customer service, instructions, return policies are all part of my purchase decision. If they suck at writing instructions they probably suck at creating firmware updates, as I’ve been burned by Anthem in the past and watched the horror stories of the Adcom users.