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Onkyo introduces stereo integrated amp with Wolfson DAC for under $500

I received a Onkyo C-7030 disc player with the Wolfson 192/24 in it yesterday. It is the matching player for the Onkyo amp under discussion. Very happy with the high quality and sound.

Being an old timer, may I ask a dumb question? Why does the Onkyo amp have a DAC ?
 
Zunes have Wolfsons, but nobody cares.

I don't know why that is. I can be listening to music in class and people will point and ask "What the heck is that?" So I tell them, "It's a Zune HD."
They are still clueless.
Then I say, "It's one of the best sounding portable music players I have ever heard."
They all think I'm full of it. It's funny though when they listen to music on their cell phones and ipods with the Sirius DACs.
So clueless.

But they also have SkullCandy ear buds, wondering why I'm using big Sony cans so...

It just seems the world is so uneducated...
 
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I can't understand the logic in only releasing the black version in the U.S. You would think these companies do some market research.

cubdog
 
Thanks Davidb1.

I have yet to make the computer to stereo connection leap of the 1990's yet. Maybe someday.

Onkyo should offer the silver. I bought the CD player to go with my black '80-'90s set-up, so did not notice. I did note the aluminum front, I did not want plastic.

1st piece of new equipment I have bought in at least 30 years except for cartridges and stylus. I thought it was the best bang for the buck after researching off and on for a year. Very pleased so far.
 
Being an old timer, may I ask a dumb question? Why does the Onkyo amp have a DAC ?

Most people these days use digital files to listen to music. A DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) allows them to do so. Think of it like a cartridge on a record player.

I don't know why that is. I can be listening to music in class and people will point and ask "What the heck is that?" So I tell them, "It's a Zune HD."
They are still clueless.
Then I say, "It's one of the best sounding portable music players I have ever heard."
They all think I'm full of it. It's funny though when they listen to music on their cell phones and ipods with the Sirius DACs.
So clueless.
I thought only the original Zune 30 had a Wolfson.
 
I thought only the original Zune 30 had a Wolfson.

I do believe it's all Zunes.
I synced an identical file to my friend's Zune, which is the big old black one, I forget how much space it had.
With a quick listening test from one to the other, each taking a turn on the headphones and the big system, I determined that in both comparisons, the HD sounded more natural and more pleasant to the ear, and also had more output capability and SNR.

The Zune HD uses a Wolfson WM8352G. Not 100% sure what the older ones used.
 
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The Onkyo A-9050 is set for release in October. Of course, it's available in silver....just not in the US.

- 75 watts/channel
- Optical/coaxial digitals
- Wolfson 192 kHz/24 bit DAC
- phono input
- stereo pre-outs
- subwoofer output
- detachable power cord

711258.jpg

Wonder why they did not include an asynchronus USB input??
 
Black or silver plastic :scratch2: I think I'd pass.

Like an old friend used to say, "You can't polish a turd". :thumbsdn: Not to say that this amp is a turd. But can anyone confirm if it's plastic or metal?
 
Black or silver plastic :scratch2: I think I'd pass.

Like an old friend used to say, "You can't polish a turd". :thumbsdn: Not to say that this amp is a turd. But can anyone confirm if it's plastic or metal?

The Mythbusters, polished a turd.
 
I'm a vintage guy at heart, so I use an external, standalone DAC (HRT MSII) plus my computer. Works great though, and the price was SO-right. I have no more than a grand into my digital-playback setup, and I couldn't be happier with the sound.
 
Black or silver plastic :scratch2: I think I'd pass.

Like an old friend used to say, "You can't polish a turd". :thumbsdn: Not to say that this amp is a turd. But can anyone confirm if it's plastic or metal?

Myself, I'd rather see the money go into the internals than the looks.
 
Some iPods have Wolfsons, but no one believes me.

Sent from my SPH-M910 using Tapatalk 2

Only up to Gen 5.5, the last good sounding iPod (if you bypass the audio amp). Since then, the DAC has been an inferior one that saves them about $.75 in production costs.

Unfortunately, my 5.5 was stolen from my car (the only reason I'd ever own an iPod is that they interface with my Scion's stereo and its steering wheel control buttons) and the Gen 6 'Classic' 160 Gb I bought to replace it is not nearly as good sounding (and has to be reset about 10 times a month).
 
I received a Onkyo C-7030 disc player with the Wolfson 192/24 in it yesterday. It is the matching player for the Onkyo amp under discussion. Very happy with the high quality and sound.

Being an old timer, may I ask a dumb question? Why does the Onkyo amp have a DAC ?

I also have a nice sounding 7030 but since I ripped all of my CD's and put them on my NAS, I haven't even turned it on. I probably should have held off for a year on that purchase (and then not purchased it). Still, I think the 7030 is a good deal for the money.
 
What is this thing that Onkyo has about labeling their controls in a 2mm tall font? They're damned hard to read in the dark.
 
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