Customer Reviews

Onkyo TX-NR3008 9.2-Channel Network Home Theater Receiver

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

This is a cross post of my review on AVSforums, a discussion thread is also over there about this AVR and my experiences thus far. Also, there are some pics of my install and of the OSD for this device (which I could not find anywhere), including the HDMI overlay:

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Unfortunately, the first one I purchased from Amazon (warehouse deals) was bad, it has a hiss/click in the 2 front speakers. They were great doing the return, and sent me another one that; so far, has been perfect..

To begin, here's a list of my gear:

Epson 8500
Axiom M60v2, VP150, and QS8s for surround, surround backs (7 channel)
Epik Castle subwoofer
Dedicated theater, ~20X17
Room treatments (NO bass trapping, just for highs)
HTPC w/5500 series video card (HD bitstreaming)


I'm coming from a Pioneer 1018, a ~500 dollar AVR that's ~2-3 years old. This is a good AVR, and I've been happy with it. The biggest reasons for my upgrade is to get OSD (all my gear is behind me in a closet; I can't see what mode/volume/etc I'm in on the Pioneer on screen, and it's driving me nuts), better room correction, and dual sub balancing EQ correction. The Pioneer also supported HD sound, so that's consistent between the systems; as well as the speakers (everything is the same).

First off, for those who have been reading the 3008/5008 thread, I'm on my second 3008; the first one sent had a "hum/buzz" in the front two speakers (L/R). So my initial impression was "how about some QC!". 2nd AVR seems fine so far, the buzz/hum is gone..

As soon as I got the AVR I upgraded the firmware to the most recent available. I did it once via USB, and once via network. Both times it took a long time to finish (30+ minutes), but went without a hitch. As such, I can't comment on the "old" firmware or what the upgrades "fixed".

After running the FW updates, I then ran through Audessey. Easy process, took about 1-1.5 hours to measure 8 positions and calculate the results. The calculation took much longer than I expected (10 minutes or so), on the Pioneer the room calculation was much faster (but much less sophisticated). As you can see, I mounted the Audessey mic on my photography rig using some blue painters tape. I think that the tape adds a nice "color" and "transparency" to the final EQ calculations.

Anyway.. On to listening. I setup the default audio modes, a feature I didn't know I wanted, but man, I couldn't live without it now. For those who don't know, it allows you to select the default mode for different types of audio; stereo is output as 2.1, TrueHD is output at 7.1 in THX Cinema mode, etc. Once you set this, all the switching between modes is fully automated. Really nice when you have one source (HTPC) that can play tons of different types of audio/video files! I set stereo to 2.1 and the HD audio codecs to 7.1 THX Cinema mode.

First thing I played was music. Bass was significantly/dramatically better (depending on the source material). From the main listening position, it was tight, clear, and very easy to listen to. Also, stereo separation was better; there's a much higher "sense of space" with the new AVR. Not sure how to explain it, but I'm very happy with the results. Set the sub volume a little higher (apparently I'm a bass head, I like it louder than reference) but that was my only listening tweak. Music was much "easier" to listen to; probably because some of the ringing or smearing is being processed out by the room correction software in the 3008. Regardless, very happy with the music results!

On to video.. I've watched a few movies since the install (I haven't slept very much), and all of them were "improved" to "much improved" over the Pioneer. Again, the bass is SO much better that it's really hard to say if that's causing everything else to "sound better" too. The surrounds are much more noticeable (not in a bad way, just more ambient sound), and the system sounds better "blended" than it did with the 1018. I'm in love with the immediate OSD, for folks with gear in a closet (or out of sight) it's exactly what the doctor ordered! I haven't been through all the listening modes yet; I'm stuck on THX Cinema because I like the results so much! Overall, again, very happy with the video results.

General stuff.. This thing runs MUCH hotter than my Pioneer did (driving the same speakers and at the same volumes). It's not "dangerous" hot (IMHO), but much, much hotter than it's predecessor, that's for sure. Also, this thing weighs a TON compared to the Pioneer.. A TON! It's hard to move with one person (you can do it, but don't put in into a glass rack (which is what I have) without help!). The rear of this device is laid out really nicely! I'm very happy with it; easy to connect the speakers (takes bananas securely) and the source component(s). Audessey was easy to run, and correctly detected all my speakers and room layout both times.

The OSD (overlay and full menu) is pretty snappy (it could be better), much faster and nicer to look at the the older Pioneer. However, it's nothing "great", it's still mostly text; it get's the job done, but isn't going to wow you with graphics (I'd much prefer simple and fast over pretty and slow, so this works well for me).

AVR seems to be able to handle high volume just fine; I played some music at 5 under reference and it kept right up. Didn't hear any clipping or distortion; but, to be honest, my Pioneer was just as good at this volume and didn't get as hot..

I decided to go with Onkyo after having a Pioneer Elite (VSX-92XH) that lived most of its life at a repair facility more than on my home theater stand. I conferred with several people who own Onkyo equipment, one of whom has a high-end Klipsch setup, as well as read many reviews on their latest line of high end products (TX-NR1008, 3008 and 5008) before deciding to purchase the TX-NR3008. I made the right choice. For the money, you get many more features and power out of Onkyo than you would with Pioneer or Denon ($$$). Setting up this beast (50+lb) was a breeze and it sounds no different than my Pioneer Elite. I know this is a point of contention because there are camps out there that believe receiver X is better than receiver Y--which very well may be the case, however, for the purposes of watching movies, I can't really tell the difference between my Pioneer Elite and this Onkyo. Before I get flamed, keep in mind that most if not all high end receivers are THX U2 certified and the mode that allows you to up-convert from 5.1 or fewer channels to 7.1 is arguably the same from receiver to receiver as it is a process proprietary to THX. Beyond that, the only major differences are listening modes which I largely don't/didn't touch. I leave BD movies whose digital tracks are 7.1 alone and those that are 5.1 I listen in THX U2 Mode. I have no complaints. This receiver is driving my 'prosumer' setup consisting of a Klipsch RC-64 II center, SUB12HG sub woofer, Polk towers and Polk surrounds (working on upgrading the Polks to Klipsch Reference towers and surrounds).

As far as cons go nothing major but it should be said that the TX-NR3008 generates a ton of heat. I do not recommend placing this unit in a cramped TV stand or near other hot components as you are probably sure to experience heat related failures if you do so. After watching a movie, I can feel the heat emanating from my receiver from about a foot or so away and for that reason it stands on a tower in a well ventilated area. Secondly, it clicks a lot when switching from analog to digital modes or between different sound tracks. This mainly happens when watching TV (Cable, satellite, whatever) and moving from analog to digital signals. If you change the channel once or twice, no big deal, if you're channel surfing, you'll hear a lot of clicking. I read online that this isn't really an issue at all and that there is no real way to 'fix' this so its something you'll have to deal with if you purchase an Onkyo receiver. Having said that, this 'issue' wont prevent me from buying another Onkyo as it seems to be unique to them in some way.

Of the 10 receivers I've owned over the decades, this is the best one for controlling sound (and video in this case). But, there are some of these models that have a known deficiency with the power module that could have disastrous consequences. Here are the symptoms; the remote stops working with no control of the power. Then other buttons fail, but the receiver still works with the front panel buttons - Onkyo technical service will tell you it is the remote. A couple of days later the receiver will turn on by itself (this is really bad if you aren't at home) and the only way to shut it off is unplugging the power cord. Finally, the power fails entirely.
The first one failed after two weeks was returned to Amazon and replaced immediately. Unfortunately, after reading outstanding reviews, I chose a replacement which failed within 5 weeks. This now puts me into warranty delays with Onkyo service providers.
Here's my issue; Onkyo admitted they had a problem with a number of the TX-NR3008 models - one that had the potential of starting a fire. This is a safety issue - they should have pulled the affected lot(s) from the market until the problem could be fixed before selling them to consumers.
I am very disappointed!

I bought this receiver over other brands because of its rated power of 140 W, bi-amp and BTX capabilities, and Audyssey MultEQ XT32 room correction.

At a price tag of under $2k, this is probably the most powerful receiver, and it has 9 channels of it. The hefty weight of 55 lbs is probably the proof, and looking through its cover, the transformer is HUGE -- more huge than that in my old 50-lb Denon.

Among the many models that I looked at, Onkyo is the only brand that offers both bi-amp and bridge (BTX) capability. I doubt any body is going to hook 9 speakers to a receiver, so bi-amping or bridging is nice way to improve the sound. My speakers are bi-amp'able, so I used bi-amp. If the speaker is not bi-amp'able, I suggest bridging, which increases power and reduces distortion. Either way, Onkyo is the winner.

Audyssey MultEQ XT32 is the latest and best, and it gives enhanced resolution in room correction than earlier generation Audyssey MultiEQ. I previously used a digit processor and determined that my room resonates at 40 and 80 Hz, and power needs to be reduced about 100 times at these frequencies for very narrow bands of 1/30 octave -- that requires high precision compensation! The Onkyo does a very nice job, I don't need my special digital processor any more, and the sound is even better.

One complaint I have is that I cannot use MultEQ room correction and graphical equalizer at the same time. If a CD is too strong in base or treble, I have to live with it or I lose the room correction. I so miss the base and treble nobs on my old receiver. Fortunately my DVD player has built-in graphical equalizer and many sound modes, so I am covered.

Like another reviewer pointed out, this machine runs HOT. I measured it to consume about 130 W without playing any sound. The digital processors are definitely power hungry. On standby, it consumes less than 3 W, so you can safely leave it plugged in without worrying about your electricity bill.

I highly recommend this receiver.

Pity that the price is now three or four hundred more than Amazon had it listed at a month or so ago, as this receiver is phenomenal. To replace my venerable STR DB830 in the Mike Cave I tested out the Onkyo RC230 (now in bedroom) and the Onkyo 808 (now in living room) before settling on this beast. The advantage of one extra HDMI, the extra headroom the toroidal transformer supplies, and a 32 bit DAC versus a 24 bit processor wasn't worth the extra 500-800 bucks for the Onkyo 5008, IMHO.

PROS

1.)Sound quality is phenomenal. For all music types, for all movies, it's incredible. The first song that I tested it with is Israel's version of Over the Rainbow, and the details I never noticed before, the nuance, the subtle power (it feels STRONG even at low and mid volumes), and the incredible tonal range all blew me away. In fact, it was a bit startling how clear and lifelike it sounded. I've never heard anything like it in a living room setting.

2.)The OSD has every feature I want. Onscreen receiver controls are great. The actual menus are easy to navigate and have some handy features. For example, I can assign upconversion/hdmi processing to each input individually, the Audyssey EQ works great, and the DSX (I'm using front heights after testing both wides and heights) sound settings are all I'm using from now on. Do not underrate the importance of Audyssey to a 7.2 system or in terms of calibrating the EQ. Audyssey DSX dramatically expands the sound stage. You won't be able to live without it.

3.)Crazy power. I'll seldom use quite a bit of it. I have fairly rugged speakers and this puppy drives a 7.2 set-up effortlessly with zero hint of distortion. Onkyo has power limiters that screw up the sine wave, all channels continuous tests, so if you read about wattage ratings on-line be forewarned that it is a firmware, not a hardware power, limitation. It draws over 11 amps, and the headroom (meaning I can turn it up without distortion and keep the details of the music) seems limitless with my current receiver set-up.

4.)I don't know how I lived without a network, internet radio capable receiver for so long.

5.)The video upconversion for SD sources is great. After being horrified by the RC230 and disappointed in the Onkyo 808 in this regard, I was very pleased with the results. Video processing is stellar.

**A week after writing this review, I caught my three and a half year old son looking behind one of the speakers while we were listening to "Toddler Radio" on Pandora. I asked what he was doing, and he turned to me and asked "where's the singer?" That about sums it up.

CONS

1.)Some little glitches. I get snow for a half second when I switch to my Panasonic plasma. I looked on-line, and it is a problem that cropped up after the most recent firmware update (it's an hdmi handshake issue). Annoying, but doesn't effect functionality. You can't run certain sound modes when playing analog sources if you're passing sound through to the television via hdmi. Annoying.

2.)Cost, though you're getting what you're paying for. I love this beast to death.

3.)Size. It is big. And heavy. You are going to have to measure your spare space quite carefully. One glance inside tells you why: a massive central tranformer/amp, four discrete mini transformers, and a ton of hardware. Appears to be top notch build quality.

I love this receiver.

I was seeking a receiver to replace my 4-5 year old Onkyo 804; the primary reason was a desire for video upscaling. After researching several different models, I chose the NR3008 for its 1080p upscaling capabilities. I have a Panasonic 1080p plasma, and I have DISH as my television provider. The picture previously was very good but I never felt the quality was as good as the TV could produce due to the signal compression from DISH. With the 3008, the picture is crisper and the colors are outstanding, with more variety, nuance and brilliance. My DVD player is an old upscaling non-HD Toshiba; however, with the 3008, the picture is HD quality and the sound is fantastic. I ordered the unit through Amazon and it was delivered with free shipping in two days. Moreover, I monitored the price after ordering and the price went down $32 the day the unit was delivered. A quick call to customer service, and I was immediately credited the price difference. I am extremely satisfied with all aspects of the 3008 and heartily recommend it.

Purchased the Onkyo to replace my 11 year old Denon AVR-5700. Set up was a breeze. I have had the receiver for a month now. Plenty of connections for almost all types of home theater setups. The sound is incredible. Crisp and clean. Love the capability of plugging all components in and only having to have 1 HDMI out of the receiver to your TV. I would highly recommend this receiver. It s a beast.

I purchased this receiver hoping it would fill all my Audio and Video needs.It has lived up to my dreams of having a one in all unit.This receiver produces great video and suberb audio and has all the up to date Audyssey calibrations and does a fantastic job of calibrating your subwoofers.The USB for updates is a wonderfull and easy way to keep the receiver up to date.I enjoy listening to my Apple through the USB hook up and also enjoy this unit for hookinb up to my computer.I have had this receiver foe a while and its performance is Fantastic and I would rate it a 5 star for the easy on screen programs to operate this wonderfull receiver.I beleive ths Receiver is the best bang for the buck that is made this year!!!!

The TX-NR3008 and other "high-end" receivers from Onkyo have issues. See the FAQ on Onkyos web site. I am out of the Amazon return period and am having to return to a service center for who knows have long. I called OneCall about the issue and they knew nothing about it. They should not be selling these receivers.

The bottom line is do not buy from Onkyo.

I purchased this receiver back in February and it is now malfunctioning. It appears this model and others manufactured in late 2010 are defective so purchase at your own risk. I will add that Onkyo is paying for shipping to have this "refurbished" when they were aware of the issue to begin with. I now have to wait 3-4 weeks to get my receiver back and hope that further damage has not been done. I am furious that defective units were/are aloud to be sold here instead of being recalled with corrected models. This is a lot of money to spend on a product that has a major defect.

Onkyo and amazon will not replace these after 30 days and the issues tends to arise 3 - 4 months of use.

The issues that happen are: The remote control becomes unresponsive, it will turn itself off and on, it will cycle through listening modes at will, it will create electrical charge sounds through your speakers and people have reported it starting on fire.

I use amazon for all my purchasing and am disappointed they wont replace this piece of crap! $1,400 for a soon to be refurbished receiver, and who knows the damage that was done.

I will now be hesitant to purchase expensive items through amazon and no longer support Onkyo!


Here's a link to one of many disgruntled owner threads with the same problems:
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