Onkyo MK II seies (almost) complete
- Thread starter grillebilly
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wow
Nice set!
I have the little one, and its a sweety, the bigger ones must be bitchin, so to speak.
Nice set!
I have the little one, and its a sweety, the bigger ones must be bitchin, so to speak.
grillebilly
Empty Head
I bought the little one new way back, the 4500 was a CL pickup, the two big ones came from AKr's.
The entry level 1500 is the only one I'm missing
The entry level 1500 is the only one I'm missing
clydeselsor
Lunatic Member
Nice job! I have always thought that those vintage Onkyos were cool!
vintageboy
Chicago HiFi
I bet they sound good
Mico
Well-Known Member
I have TX-4500 had a chance to listen to 4500MK II recently and do A/B with mine. Not the same thing, both sonically and under the hood. Cleaner and warmer sound on the original, no Pre-out Main-in RCA connectors on MK II :thumbsdn: no wooden cabinet (obviously) and more power on the Mk II :scratch2: One of the designers of the original line considers the MK II version (at least 4500MK II) to be quote: " a less expensive replica of the original TX4500" and " I was not fond of the transistors in the mkII series nor the cheesy metal cabinet with the wood grain imprinted on it."
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
Last edited:
Hello,
I had successfuly replace burned out Tuning and Signal Strenght meter bulbs successfuly in Onkyo 6500 receiver. While replacing the dial axial bulb, the soldered connections touch the body and I think it short circuiteded. Now none of the lamps in both the tuning and signal strength meters and the dial axial lamp light up. Can someone please guide me what to look for to correct the problem. I changed out the input selector bulbs and all are funtioning. The reciever works - radio and phono but just no dail and meter lights.
I had successfuly replace burned out Tuning and Signal Strenght meter bulbs successfuly in Onkyo 6500 receiver. While replacing the dial axial bulb, the soldered connections touch the body and I think it short circuiteded. Now none of the lamps in both the tuning and signal strength meters and the dial axial lamp light up. Can someone please guide me what to look for to correct the problem. I changed out the input selector bulbs and all are funtioning. The reciever works - radio and phono but just no dail and meter lights.
cabby
Well-Known Member
I am a proud owner of the TX4500mkii. It's simply the best sounding amp I've ever owned ( maybe I need to get out more or pony up for $$$ ones ). Completely effortless power, presence, and just a bit of " twang " to the sound is just awesome. What I want to find out is the difference in sound between that and TX2500mkii and also the TX6500mkii. Just more/less power ??
dly66
Addicted Member
Nice collection you have there, especially getting the upper two models I don't think the 8500 Mk IIs are very common.
Having bought a TX-2500 Mk II on closeout back in 1980 and current owner of 4500 Mk II with tuner issues on attractiveness of the front panel with me the IIs win that battle. Especially when lit up in the dark. I picked up a TX-2500 in pretty good shape at a local Goodwill a few years ago for $10 so I have lived with both types. I was looking for a Mk II at reasonable price 4500 or 6500.
I thought after the recap my TX-4500 Mk II has a clean effortless sound to it I liked. Since a Mk II was my first receiver that I had for over a decade that line holds a special place with me.
They say the 4500 Mk II is wide but the Technics SA-5470 of similar vintage is of very similar dimensions.
Having bought a TX-2500 Mk II on closeout back in 1980 and current owner of 4500 Mk II with tuner issues on attractiveness of the front panel with me the IIs win that battle. Especially when lit up in the dark. I picked up a TX-2500 in pretty good shape at a local Goodwill a few years ago for $10 so I have lived with both types. I was looking for a Mk II at reasonable price 4500 or 6500.
I thought after the recap my TX-4500 Mk II has a clean effortless sound to it I liked. Since a Mk II was my first receiver that I had for over a decade that line holds a special place with me.
They say the 4500 Mk II is wide but the Technics SA-5470 of similar vintage is of very similar dimensions.
cabby
Well-Known Member
which one do you like better 2500 or 4500 ??
nj pheonix
Lunatic Member
Sorry about your misfortune.
You should probably open up a new thread with your problem.
I'm sure help will come along.
grillebilly
Empty Head
The 2500 IMO is the best bang for buck vintage receiver there is. I think the more power you have the more "open" the music gets, especially with the volume up a bit. At lower volumes, settings that allow comfortable conversation while listening, it would take a better ear than I have to tell the difference. The signature sound quality the Onkyo's have doesn't change much through the line. The phono stage is considered a strong point. I used the 8500 as a preamp for a tube McIntosh MC275 and a solid state MC452 and was thrilled.
goodolpg
Just an old fart trying to help.
Since that post was almost 4 years ago hopefully he already got it fixed.
My receiver buying days are pretty much done.
My current speakers really need more power/current than a receiver should be asked to provide
BUT---if I came across a good enough deal on a 8500MK II I would grab it.
Love the styling, those were made during that short crossover period between analog and digital where some receivers had both, plus the Onkyo is evidently quite a beast.
And no, this is NOT an offer of any sort.
cwh
33
@grillebilly you ever find that 1500? Was (is) a great collection.
grillebilly
Empty Head
I never did get one. Recently I have started selling off a lot of vintage gear. I had a Sansui 9090 and Marantz 1250 as garage receivers, stacked Large Advents, and some other stuff that was just not being used enough. With the market the way it is, and with the passing of my mom, my thinking has changed a lot. Stuff you don't use has now become nothing but clutter. So with the money I stepped up my game a bit and bought some current Mac gear, but second hand. It should retain its value fairly well.
The Onkyo receivers will be the very last things I get rid of. If I see myself downsizing later the Mac gear will probably go before the Oinkers.
The Onkyo receivers will be the very last things I get rid of. If I see myself downsizing later the Mac gear will probably go before the Oinkers.
cabby
Well-Known Member
I didn't even see this. This will be 100% corrected by replacing the fuse bulb. Same thing happened to mine.
dly66
Addicted Member
I just came back. The 2500 Mk II I originally had got replaced since the background noise was going up and annoying me, moving to a larger place 40 watts was running out of gas, and of course the in thing then was going digital. That was in 1990 Good old technology obsolescence game, you buy the current in vogue stuff and junk the old tech. Not stuck in that mentality these days. A lot of yards got mowed to buy that one. I was 13 when I bought it and a pair of headphones and it was at least 6 months later I had a pair of DIY speakers to go with it. I drove salesmen crazy checking them out they did not trust a kid my age around them. I started looking at them a year or two before I knew I wanted a stereo at a fairly young age and had looked at the audio magazines and review guides during that period. Not much surprise I went into engineering.
If you are talking about the TX-2500 vs the TX-4500 Mk II easily the 4500. But that is a recapped 4500 Mk II vs an original 2500. The extra power helps a lot but styling wise with me the Mk II wins hands down, much more classy. It would be interesting to do a head to head of a similarly recapped 4500 and a 4500 Mk II back to back with several speakers. My KLH model 17s in the work room setup are pretty forgiving on what are driving them. The Advent Legacy IIs and the living room setup some units don't play very well with them so I have to be more selective who rotates in there. Still need to try my Scott 342-C and the Onkyo despite its issues and see how they do. Before I say too much on the 4500 I really have to see how it does with the Advents, even if it is with CDs. Then again the tuning situation and antenna setup may be better in that room so tuner may do better. Something about the way the apartment is built seems reception at night in my workroom can be more challenging. Since the 4500 could not tune a station at all until I did the rudimentary front end alignment using local stations it may just be badly in need of an alignment after the recap. A number of original caps in the tuner circuits were leaking.
That is what you never forget, the Mk IIs look really cool and stand out in the dark. They can really light up a room.
I have fixed up a number of units, two projects on the shelf (3000A, SX-9000), and are thinning the herd some myself. Get some, fix them up good way to learn about transistor electronics, try them out and decide the keepers and let the others go. At some point you decide its too many. I have my Technics SA-5470 and Yamaha CA/CT-610II pair on Craigslist right now.
S S
Active Member
Nice Collection of Onkyos. I run a TX-4500 as a Pre-amp into a M504 Stereo Power Amp and it's awesome. The 4500 itself was very good, but the headroom of the 504 and the pre section of the 4500 is very nice. With help on AK I replaced the Power Section IC on my folks TX-1500mkii and up running and it's sounding great again. Cleaned it all up and it should be fine for years. I picked up a TX1500 and cleaned it up and re-LED-lamped it and that's a really nice small receiver for my attached semi heated garage. The are great receivers. My friend came over a few weeks back and he now has a TX-4500mkii after hearing my Onks. Hard to beat, especially for the price they can be had which seems to be edging upward for clean ones. Great clean underrated power and warm sound even pushing them. I can easily push my L-100s with the 1500 or 4500. My 4500 by itself does a decent job pushing my L112s. Love them Onkyos!
