My friend says his Onkyo 302 sounds better than my Pioneer 815

[Dmax]

Why would he say such a thing? He says though his Onkyo has less watts (65 watts) it has better sound quality and is still stronger than my 100 watts and mines is 7.1 while his is just 5.1. What does he mean ?

[N. Abstentia]

Well he's somewhat right....Onkyo rates their power realistically, while Pioneer...embellishes a little bit. So if the two receivers were measured the same way the Pioneer would probably also be 65 watts or even less.

7.1 means you have two extra channels and can run a 7.1 system with side surrounds. A 5.1 system cannot do this...of course since there are no 7.1 DVD's that's not a big deal.

Sound quality? That's subjective. Who's to say which sounds better?

[kexodusc]

Well he's somewhat right....Onkyo rates their power realistically, while Pioneer...embellishes a little bit. So if the two receivers were measured the same way the Pioneer would probably also be 65 watts or even less.

It's the exact opposite. Read some lab measurements of any Pioneer receiver over the last few years, and any of the sub $1000 Onkyo's. Pioneers generally offer more power and don't embellish at nearly as much as Onkyo. I don't know when this happened exactly, I remember a few years back Pioneer wasn't making the same quality stuff they use to. All I can say now is that they're right back up there with the likes of Denon, Yamaha, H/K etc, and seem to offer as much or more power than all of them. Quality wise, you rarely hear of problems these days (no more than the other brands) and sound wise, well, they're as good as any of them IMO, but yeah, it's pretty subjective.

I think your friend is on crack. Those entry level Onkyos aren't as powerful, and are nowhere near as nice as your 815 IMO. Tell him to quit being jealous, and shut up!

[Dmax]

It's the exact opposite. Read some lab measurements of any Pioneer receiver over the last few years, and any of the sub $1000 Onkyo's. Pioneers generally offer more power and don't embellish at nearly as much as Onkyo. I don't know when this happened exactly, I remember a few years back Pioneer wasn't making the same quality stuff they use to. All I can say now is that they're right back up there with the likes of Denon, Yamaha, H/K etc, and seem to offer as much or more power than all of them. Quality wise, you rarely hear of problems these days (no more than the other brands) and sound wise, well, they're as good as any of them IMO, but yeah, it's pretty subjective.

I think your friend is on crack. Those entry level Onkyos aren't as powerful, and are nowhere near as nice as your 815 IMO. Tell him to quit being jealous, and shut up!

Thanx guys! I think my friend is more jealous than anything,he hates when someone gets something new.

[N. Abstentia]

I seriously doubt that a $250 Pioneer entry level reciever will produce a clean pure 100 watts on all 7 channels driven at the same time. That's 700 pure clean RMS watts? No. It might do 100 watts with all 7 channels combined.

[Dmax]

I seriously doubt that a $250 Pioneer entry level reciever will produce a clean pure 100 watts on all 7 channels driven at the same time. That's 700 pure clean RMS watts? No. It might do 100 watts with all 7 channels combined.

Whats the difference between pure watts and other types of watts?

[markw]

I seriously doubt that a $250 Pioneer entry level reciever will produce a clean pure 100 watts on all 7 channels driven at the same time.

I guaranrtee it won't.

[bfalls]

How did he measure the performance? Was he running the same source and speakers? If not, how does he know if it's the receiver and not something else in the "chain? It may be just his opinion and not necessarily jealousy.

[topspeed]

Why would he say such a thing? He says though his Onkyo has less watts (65 watts) it has better sound quality and is still stronger than my 100 watts and mines is 7.1 while his is just 5.1. What does he mean ? His car is faster but my girlfriends hotter.

Oh yeah, well I heard his big brother can beat-up your big brother.

Here's an idea, why don't you two just whip it out and measure? Let's settle this once and for all. Sheesh!

Anybody that has such low self-esteem that they have to claim their rig sounds better than another's has bigger issues to deal with than avr's. If you actually react to it, you're no better.

Make the choice: Are you on the same level as your friend, or are you better?

[kexodusc]

Anybody that has such low self-esteem that they have to claim their rig sounds better than another's has bigger issues to deal with than avr's. If you actually react to it, you're no better.

Make the choice: Are you on the same level as your friend, or are you better?

You could be the bigger man and let your friend's insecurities go unanswered. But that's what a LOSER does. When you've got better gear and you KNOW it you rub it in his face until he saves up enough money, buys better gear, and does the same to you. Then, when you're on the receiving end of the taunts, that's when it's time to grow up and be the bigger man...

[Dmax]

Oh yeah, well I heard his big brother can beat-up your big brother.

Here's an idea, why don't you two just whip it out and measure? Let's settle this once and for all. Sheesh!

Anybody that has such low self-esteem that they have to claim their rig sounds better than another's has bigger issues to deal with than avr's. If you actually react to it, you're no better.

Make the choice: Are you on the same level as your friend, or are you better?

Thanx Sally Jesse Raphael, I will work harder on this life threatening issue.