• 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 TX-8050 phono quality?

telemike

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
Any TX-8050 owners have opinions on how good the phono amp is on the Onkyo?

I'm impressed with my 7030 cd player and was thinking the TX-8050 would work better for my newly integrated living room system. I'm running my DVR, DVD, CD and PHONO inputs in stereo.

I'm kind of realizing I need remote control. Thinking about the TX-8050 or A-9050 from Onkyo.
 
Register to hide this ad
I was a big fan Of Onkyo back in the 1970s. There amplifiers were on par with Pioneer, Marantz, and Sansui. However, Onkyo today is money wasted. I bought an AV receiver three years ago and had nothing but problems. For the longest time, Onkyo would never admit they had a problem, even on their own forum.

I would recommend Marantz to anyone looking for power. Very well built and reliable. To me, Marantz is the best bng for your buck. :music:
 
I've had a different experience than 4Play's with my TX-8255, it's working very well for me including the remote. The phono section seems to be quite happy being driven by my old AT12s cartridge, it's a little lower level output than the Tuner Section / CD / Tape inputs, but that wasn't a surprise as the AT12s has always been somewhat lower output.

Now I have seen write ups about Onkyo's AV receivers indicating that they had a bad run of I/O circuits, specifically HDMI inputs, which they did not want to acknowledge. But for the straight stereo receivers I don't think that was ever an issue.

Mark Gosdin
 
Greetings;

:thumbsdn: I just did a search and the first three reports from fellow aker's were all negative from poor audio sound to problems with interfacing and streaming. I have onkyo amps (earlier tx82's two of them.) and have missed on bids on other the better older models without pre a/v etc.

I have tested a yammie rx861 with my empire and it's good but all those bells and whistles I don't need. I'd suggest a 'natural sound' yammie with FET's prior to the a/v stuff. (My fam has three yam amps, too.)

I have wondered how a tube phono 1:1 buffer on a newer AV (with phono) would sound?
 
Throwing out the baby with the bathwater dept.?

All of Onkyo's recent problems concern the video boards on their AV receivers. I don't know of anyone having problems with their two channel stuff.

I have an older A-8200 integrated amp with a better-than-average phono stage, sounds good enough for me. I would expect the TX-8050 and A-9050 to be decent, although probably not exceptional. By contrast, I've never been a fan of Yamaha's "house sound".

BTW, I also have an Integra DTR-6.6, basically an Onkyo with an attitude; the video board sucks, too, so I don't feed video sources through it. However, I use the phono stage all the time with decent results.

As always, just my opinion, YMMV.

Happy trails,
Larry B.
 
I have an older (late 90s) Onkyo 2-channel that has a very good phono section and it has a remote, though I never use it. Can't remember the model off the top of my head.
 
Not sure if the 8050 uses DSP processing on the phono and analog inputs.

The A-9050 doesn't

Sent from my XT1053 using Tapatalk
 
Baby and the bath water; No not so.. I was offering a solution comparable to a good onkyo, my yammie with the empire with a low end grado xt cart sounded very clear in all hz. (I've yet to try my new 'gold' and 'green' grado carts but I'm sure it's a good bet or I wouldn't have invested in it.)

I'm a big fan. My tx-82's have a good phono input, too the OP would be quite happy with... just to give you an idea... I wish I had saved Onkyo's old tube web site before they went a/v.. Wished I had the money to buy their tube amps.. stuff you don't see here, all asian markets mostly we'll never see except the west coast maybe.

I did see some onkyo pcb of equal visual quality/ chinese tube stuff but I don't know about the tubes they have. Not cheap kits either fully assembled.. I wonder if Onkyo went to china for the tubes.
 
Yes , the newer onk AV recievers have problems with their HDMI outputs but the older stuff has great reliabilaty and great sound with the phono and other outputs . Now I am using a TX-890 in my main system and the phono is outstanding . I use a TX-8211 at work to run 3 pairs of speakers for about 8 years now and it has not skipped a beat . My HT receiver has been repaired once and I have an extended warranty so I`m not worried , it sounds better than most others . I will buy Onkyo again and again .
 
I bought a TX-8050 around 4 years ago to use for background music in my home office. It's feature set was perfect for the intended purpose and the price was, downright bargain basement.

For it's price, it's a decent sounding modern day receiver with nothing major to fault for it's price. The biggest complaint would be in fact related to the OP's question about the phono section which is barely passable and even a low cost phono preamp would outshine it easily. The phono section on the Onkyo is rather thin with a one dimensional sound using my VPI Scout to test it out of curiosity. If LPs are your main source material, personally, I'd pass.

But again, for my intended purpose as a background music amp, it's a satisfying receiver with it's network functions, streaming music, vTuner, iPod input, etc...
 
I'll scratch this off the list. The A9050 integrated is more interest now

Sent from my XT1053 using Tapatalk
 
TX-8050 Phono stage

I bought a TX-8050 around 4 years ago to use for background music in my home office. It's feature set was perfect for the intended purpose and the price was, downright bargain basement.

For it's price, it's a decent sounding modern day receiver with nothing major to fault for it's price. The biggest complaint would be in fact related to the OP's question about the phono section which is barely passable and even a low cost phono preamp would outshine it easily. The phono section on the Onkyo is rather thin with a one dimensional sound using my VPI Scout to test it out of curiosity. If LPs are your main source material, personally, I'd pass.

But again, for my intended purpose as a background music amp, it's a satisfying receiver with it's network functions, streaming music, vTuner, iPod input, etc...

I have one also and have used its phono stage, however, any of my Phono preamps do a much better job in playing vinyl. However, this is true with many of the older receivers made prior to the no phono stage HT receiver era.

I like it for its controls, balance, treble, bass and 4 speaker capability as well as line level playback.
 
Back
Top Bottom