• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Onkyo a7090

jsours

jsours

Active Member
I picked up an Onkyo A-7090 circa 1979 this past weekend as basically a throw-in on some Monitor Audio MA1 Series 2 speakers. Everything about it from the styling to the incredible weight says that this is a pretty decent quality unit, plus it looks to be nearly right out of the box. Anyone have experience with this particular beast?
 
Register to hide this ad
jsours said:
I picked up an Onkyo A-7090 circa 1979 this past weekend as basically a throw-in on some Monitor Audio MA1 Series 2 speakers. Everything about it from the styling to the incredible weight says that this is a pretty decent quality unit, plus it looks to be nearly right out of the box. Anyone have experience with this particular beast?
Click to expand...

If you picked it on Ebay last Sunday you were bidding against me and you won. I have the same one along with the T4090 tuner that was included in the post. Imagine what I think of it that I was going to buy a second one. I bought mine new in 1979 or 1980. The exclusive distributor for PR did not import it and tried to sell me the smaller brother, the A7070. But I wanted it and after much convincing on both sides he finally ordered one for me from Japan. I bought it, along with the T4090 tuner, TA2040 cassette deck, AT5 audio Timer and Onkyo SC90 MKII speakers. From some other dealer I bought a Technics SL1600MK2 with ADC ZLM cartridge and an Audio Control C101 equalizer. A couple of months after I got a Pioneer RT-1011L. And believe it or not I still have all that stuff in working (although not perfect) condition. My 7090 worked very well until a couple of years ago when it started dropping a channel but all it took is a good cleaning of the switches and everything is OK now except for an LED from the power meters starts going out after playing for 30 minutes or so and the replacement part is NLA. Once you get yours don't try to clean the front with anything othe than a wet rag or the lettering will come off. I happened to my tuner. If possible try to get a pair of the SC90MKII that go great with it. Big and heavy, but nice. You will have a hard time because very few came to the US, but sold very well in Germany and Japan. Mine have all the stickers and lettering in german.
Other than that, all I have to tell you is that once you get it. I hope you really hate it, hate it so much that you are willing t sell it to me cheap.
By the way, I don't know if this is ethical or not, but what was your maximun bid?
 

Attachments

  • DSC00134.JPG
    DSC00134.JPG
    23.1 KB · Views: 170
I have it's little brother the A 7040, had it since new. great line of Onkyo gear. odel is right be careful when/if you clean the face plate.
 
I got it local from a guy that is moving to AZ. He had some rosewood Monitor Audio MA1 Series 2 speakers that looked interesting. When I went to look at them he said he would throw in the Onkyo, about 50 feet of thick gauge speaker wire, and a Sansui tuner for asking price of the speakers. I said "yes" of course as I was going to buy the speakers anyway. I'm just curious as to what my luck has brought me. Sounds like you are a fan for sure. It just seems really excellent. Quite a nice little bonus.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the advice on the faceplate. It looks pristine currently, but I'll keep that in mind. Anything I can do to preserve it?
 
Binkman said:
Vintage Onkyo gear is getting harder to find.. you've got a sweet one at 0.01% thd... worth every penny to fix if it ever goes sour.:yes:

Specs and service manual here.. free to join and no spam etc.

http://www.hifiengine.com/library/onkyo/a-7090.shtml
Click to expand...

Actually, the specs given in the manual and all the literature of the time was 0.016%THD at 1 watt, 0.018%THD at rated power (110wpv). IM (intermodulation) which I think is much more revealing of the quality of it, are exactly the same. I don't know why nowadays they don't give you the IM figures.
 
odelj48 For THD measurements.. is simply rounded off because when you get numbers like 0.01 it would take 10% of that in precision instrumentation to get a solid number.

I know a guy in Australia who has designed probably the most sensitive piece of equipment in the world to measure THD at 0.001!! and explained the difficulties of obtaining same require accuracy to 0.00001. At that efficiency.. a simple DMM or any emitting electronic device within the vicinity of 10 feet can affect the readout including random radio waves of any frequency.

Basically the way he explains it is; most design labs would be lucky to get 0.015% accuracy never mind brag about it.

However!! With vintage Onkyo.. I would tend to acknowledge high accuracy in their labs or what used to be the good stuff coming out of their labs. now it's all a/v
 
I got the A-7070 and the matching T-4XXX tuner as part of a package deal for cleaning a guy's carpet. They are sitting unused in the wings unused, but work perfectly. I forgot the model # of the tuner, and just went to verify...but..oh yeah...DO NOT even stare at the lettering of this series or it will flake off. I managed to stop cleaning the tuner faceplate before I destroyed all of the lettering. :thumbsdn:

edit...I can't believe someone just said the same thing, but I think it was said before on a thread a couple years ago.
 
I too have the Onkyo A7090 and it is a really nice integrated amp. I have had several other integrated amps come through recently but none of them matched the clarity from the Onkyo. At least from what I could tell given my setup. It doesn't really have a sound, just clear reproduction. It replaced my Pioneer SA-9500 and Kenwood KA-8150. Both of which looked cooler, but did not sound as nice or clear (of course they may have needed some recapping. Plus at 110W @ 8Ohms it is no slouch. Dual mono construction. A real keeper for me. It has powered several pairs of speakers and currently Polk RTA/Monitor 11 (not the towers 11's). To my ears this is a great combination.

Enjoy your Onkyo A7090 and let me know if you decide to part with it, I would be glad to pick up another one to replace my basement workshop unit.
 
I bought an Onkyo 7090 integrated Amp and noticed that there is alot of static sound and cutting in and out. Sometimes sounds like my right speaker has a blown tweeter and the loudness button is not working. Anyone have advice or place where I can buy parts?

Matt
704-620-1254
 
matty777 said:
I bought an Onkyo 7090 integrated Amp and noticed that there is alot of static sound and cutting in and out. Sometimes sounds like my right speaker has a blown tweeter and the loudness button is not working. Anyone have advice or place where I can buy parts?

Matt
704-620-1254
Click to expand...
It needs a thorough and competent cleaning of every switch and pot before you consider replacing anything. This unit is somewhat notorious for scratchy/intermittent switches and pots. It's worth the time to do this right.

Another bit of advice, you're on a forum that is viewed globally. Some viewers come here with less than good intentions. Don't post your personal information(phone number) out in the open forums.

Hopefully a mod will edit it out before it's added to the wrong database somewhere.
 
I used to own this amp, I bought it brand new back in the day, awesome sounding amp !! sadly it was stolen along with the matching tuner,
 
I originally had the A-7070/T-4070 several years ago and ended up giving it to my brother but truly enjoyed listening to it and recently purchased the A-7090/T-4090 and find it to be a step up. Well built, like a tank, dual power supplies, hefty, solid built with conservative power ratings. Like any 40+ yr old equipment cleaning and servicing should be done to be sure no bad caps or transistors.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom