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August 2, 2014 - 9:26pm

#1

Scifi Wasabi

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Onkyo M-5200 Amplifier

I'm currently running my setup with an Onkyo TX-108 integrated amp/preamp with some JBL TLX-171 speakers (TX-108 puts out 100 w/ch and speakers max out at 150 w). It sounds fine and dandy, but here's my issue:

I've recently come into ownership of an Onkyo M-5200 amplifier (150 w/ch). I'm interested in pairing this with a separate pre-amplifier (possibly an Onkyo P-3200, or maybe a Nikko Beta II..) and so my question is:

Will I get better performance/sound with the M-5200 and a preamp, rather than my current integrated system? Does anyone have any experience with this amp, or any of the Onkyo M series? What are your general recommendations?

August 3, 2014 - 9:53am

#2

commsysman

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Onkyo amplifiers

My experience with Onkyo amplifiers is that they all sound "bright" and are not something I like to listen to.

Amplifiers from NAD, Marantz, Music Hall, and Rotel all sound much better to me.

I would suggest that you stay away from Onkyo, Yamaha, and Pioneer and try listening to some better-sounding amplifiers.

If you listen to some better ones, I think you will not want to listen to the Onkyo amps any more.

August 4, 2014 - 11:38am

#3

Scifi Wasabi

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Looking less for general

Looking less for general opinion on Onkyo amps, though I do appreciate the info. My budget is tight, but I'll try to go out and give a few other brands a listen.

I'm mainly looking for people's experiences with these particular amps (Integra TX-108 and M-5200), to decide what to keep and what to sell. I would just test them side by side, but it would require me investing in a separate preamp first.

I know that the M-5200 beats the Integra in terms of power (150 w/ch against the Integra's 100 w/ch), could I consider this alone to be enough of a benefit to invest in a decent preamp?

August 4, 2014 - 11:39am

#4

Scifi Wasabi

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Joined: Aug 2 2014 - 9:17pm

Looking less for general

Looking less for general opinion on Onkyo amps, though I do appreciate the info. My budget is tight, but I'll try to go out and give a few other brands a listen.

I'm mainly looking for people's experiences with these particular amps (Integra TX-108 and M-5200), to decide what to keep and what to sell. I would just test them side by side, but it would require me investing in a separate preamp first.

I know that the M-5200 beats the Integra in terms of power (150 w/ch against the Integra's 100 w/ch), could I consider this alone to be enough of a benefit to invest in a decent preamp?

August 4, 2014 - 11:39am

#5

Scifi Wasabi

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Joined: Aug 2 2014 - 9:17pm

More specific info

Looking less for general opinion on Onkyo amps, though I do appreciate the info. My budget is tight, but I'll try to go out and give a few other brands a listen.

I'm mainly looking for people's experiences with these particular amps (Integra TX-108 and M-5200), to decide what to keep and what to sell. I would just test them side by side, but it would require me investing in a separate preamp first.

I know that the M-5200 beats the Integra in terms of power (150 w/ch against the Integra's 100 w/ch), could I consider this alone to be enough of a benefit to invest in a decent preamp?

August 4, 2014 - 12:11pm

#6

bierfeldt

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Joined: Oct 26 2007 - 2:30pm

Integra and Onkyo are the same company

I am not familiar with the M-5200. Is it balanced? Does it have XLR connections or only RCA? If it is balanced, it may be worth investing in a pre-amp because it could sound very good. If it is not balanced, you probably will get an audible hum vs. your integrated unless (and maybe even if) you buy stupidly expensive cables.

If it is balanced, given Onkyo's tendency toward brightness, I would look for a warmer preamp to help balance that out. These tend to be pricy new though with the cheapest one I know of new is the Parasound P5 at $1100 (though it is not warm) and they go up from there.

Bluntly, more power is not a big difference maker unless the speakers you have are very hard to drive. Those JBL TLX-171 have a 90dB sensitivity and appear to be relatively easy to drive. Unless your room is huge or you are yearning for a few more dB of loudness when you choose to "turn it up to 11," power should not drive your decision.