Onkyo TX-2500 MK11 vs Pioneer SX-750

[gbroot]

I've had several of the SX-750's and like their sound. I'm looking at an Onkyo TX-2500 MK11 which is powered similarly to the SX-750. I like the fact that the Onkyo has a separate power switch vs the piece of s**t on the 750. Outside of that, other Onkyo amps I have had are well built and trouble free. Anyone out there who've had experience with with both of these units please let me know you're impressions.

 

[bd1886]

I have both. (Have tested and tested with pairing and comparing to their bigger brothers/others.) The Onkyo has an extremely smooth presentation and with efficient speaks it provides that smooth as rich with clarity to good volume. I think of it as Yamaha smooth but not giving up all the warm like a lot of pairing with Yamaha can do.
The SX-750 is a dead on Pioneer approach and it is extremely solid sounding with a forward edge like it's bigger siblings. Once I had experienced other gear, I realized my tastes were a little more reserved and pairing proved a bit difficult. Then.....a swap in with some older speaks/containing modern drivers (to spec) showed just what that forward edge could do. No matter how we swapped we couldn't find that incredible synergy with MOTL/TOTL other brands using those speaks. (An SX-850 did the same as the SX-750.)
I'm in the process of learning what the older gear all did with their take on sound and declaring "best" proves ridiculous at times...another speak changes that so it is very easy to respect other opinions for what we all can enjoy.

The Pioneer SX-750 and Onkyo TX-2500 MKII scream "What about me?!!" to bigger gear in what they do do well. Easily (and quickly) I consider these two favs. JMHO

 

[grillebilly]

I've had the 750 and still have the 2500. I gave the 750 to my brother, who is more into Pioneer.
All I can say is the Onkyo is very impressive for 40 WPC. The phono section is as good as they get in receivers. You need to try it out.

 

[bd1886]

When the Onkyo folks sat down around that discussion table (back then) the meeting was all about "How can we save our butt?". Keeping the bean counters backed off a bit and pushing for a little more engineering in their more affordable units is what did it. There butts are still here and fighting in a much more complex market place.

They learned what showing up "late to the dance" could do!