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Sansui 8080 or Onkyo TX-4500

hughman61

hughman61

Active Member
Got a line on two receivers.

Let's say both are going for $350 and both have been serviced ( cleaned & lubed with lamps replaced ) not refurbished. Which would you go for?

Also would you pair either with Advent large speakers?

Just looking to get an idea what people think of these?

Thanks,

~Hugh
Los Angeles, CA
 
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I have a 9090 paired with stacked Original Large Advents and it's fabulous! I am a huge fan of Onkyo receivers and have a 4500 MK II paired with Polk 7's with the Peerless soft dome tweets. It also is very nice. The thing is the Sansui commands a price that is probably double the Onkyo, maybe even 3 times. So if the money was the same I would pick the Sansui. That's not saying the Onkyo is not as good, because I would probably sell my 9090 before the 4500. In fact I know I would. Hope it was not too confusing.
 
As a fan and a long time owner of a TX4500 I'd have to give the nod to the 8080 also. The Onkyo sounds excellent and has many inputs so is very versitle but that price is pretty high. Get the Sansui and if you don't like it sell it and use half of the money to buy another TX4500.
 
grillebilly said:
I have a 9090 paired with stacked Original Large Advents and it's fabulous! I am a huge fan of Onkyo receivers and have a 4500 MK II paired with Polk 7's with the Peerless soft dome tweets. It also is very nice. The thing is the Sansui commands a price that is probably double the Onkyo, maybe even 3 times. So if the money was the same I would pick the Sansui. That's not saying the Onkyo is not as good, because I would probably sell my 9090 before the 4500. In fact I know I would. Hope it was not too confusing.
Click to expand...
Why would you sell your Sansui over the Onkyo?
 
OMGCat! said:
As a fan and a long time owner of a TX4500 I'd have to give the nod to the 8080 also. The Onkyo sounds excellent and has many inputs so is very versitle but that price is pretty high. Get the Sansui and if you don't like it sell it and use half of the money to buy another TX4500.
Click to expand...
I re-read the CL posting and the Onkyo is refurbished. Is $350 really too much? Though I think his definition of refurbished may be questionable.
 
They are great receivers and sound amazing (this coming from a separates guy) but are way under rated compared to the bigger names so generally go for far lower prices. You'd have to ask exactly what was meant by refurbished for me to even consider it. If it's recapped, has new thermal paste, new trimmers, tuner aligned and the rest of the works then it is not so shabby of a deal. If it's been deox'd and had the dust blown out not so much. Here in SD I picked one up for a friend last year in very nice shape for $75.
It's worth a few hundred IMO but that's not what the market for them will bear yet. For that price I'd be looking at a TX6500 or even a rough TX8500.
 
hughman61 said:
Why would you sell your Sansui over the Onkyo?
Click to expand...

It is my opinion the Onkyo's beat the Sansui in performance. The TX #500 line ( I prefer the MKII's) are the best sounding vintage receiver made. Yep, better than Marantz, Sansui, Pioneer, Yamaha, Kenwood, or whatever else you want to compare them too. Even a lot of big buck separates and tube rigs. That's why I have the 2500, 4500, 6500 and 8500 at the heart of all the rigs in my house. The 9090 is a garage stereo and I have to admit is is pretty damn good sounding. In the wings are 3 different Merrylanders' CR Yamaha's, the TOTL Marantz 1250 integrated, a Sansui Eight and some lesser models. The Sansui's sell for stupid money and the Onkyo's are way undervalued so I'll bank the cash.
 
Like grillebilly I too prefer the Onkyo sound and performance. I doubt I would pay that much for a 4500.
There is a TX-8500 listed on the bay right now for only a couple dollars more. Also claims to be tech serviced and working great.
It's in Lomita, CA.
Check it out
 
I have a sansui 7070 and an Onkyo 4500. Both sound good. I've been listening to the sansui for a few weeks, it's probably time to switch it up again. The Sansui looks cooler, I think, but the onkyo probably has a better sound. Its not by much though, and I think you would be pleased with either of your choices. I paid $175 for the Onkyo, not refurbished, but clean and excellent condition. I got the sansui cheaply at an estate sale...
 
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