Returning of Integrated amp and CD player of ONKYO

Wheather it is based on the popular trend for interest in 2 Channel system’s returning by stereo players or not that make me have a chance to try and test many Integrated amp and CD player products in this recent 3-4 months. Moreover, large companies of  industry in the past also release small and large models to the market gradually.

Formerly, Yamaha is the beginner then Harman Kardon and original brands, Marantz, Rotel and CEC had followed. The most interesting point that the highest competitive products in stereo market now are the primary products to mid-era products. Recent brand that will be mentioned here is ONKYO as mentioned above. 

ONKYO is the large, well-known brand in Japanese stereo market and also the superior of AV Receiver or even CD and Integrated amp. In Thailand, it used to have products in listening categories  that were interested by new and proficient Thai stereo players for awhile (about 5-6 years ago as I can recognize) Maybe it would find the good opportunity in this year to cliam being superior in this section back.

ONKYO sent me two kinds of products for testing whether they can be marketed or not. When I had just received the products, I told them to give me a few time for testing according to lose long disconnection.Firstly, I didn’t expect too much because of long disconnection that make me feel like strangers with them.

Therefore, I manage Mr. Tonmai (101/1) to unwrap products and do  burn in process. I ask him to listen before doing burnin to compare further with the quality after doing burn in.

ONKYO has sent me the products in this category for main 6 models, including:

  • Integrated amp : A-9355 (GOLD) for 9,400 baht
  • Integrated amp : A-9355 (GOLD) for 13,900 baht
  • Integrated amp : A-9555 (GOLD) for 21,900 baht
  • Integrated amp : A-9755 (GOLD) for 30,900 baht
  • CD Player : DX-7355 (GOLD) for 9,400 baht
  • CD Player :DX-7555 (GOLD) for 18,900 baht

The interesting product for me is small Integrated amp & CD that I think that it would please many customers who would like to begin playing in 2 channel system with affordable budget.  With the beginning price at 9, 400 baht (A-9155 & DX-7355 model) is the good positioning for marketing.

In this section, I would like to consider the overall interest of product line with these issues:

  1. Design

Its design is beautiful and specific unique of ONKYO, in the same way, If you see this Integrated amp, you will realize immediately that this is ONKYO’s product. Another outstanding point is its design is real Integrated amp without any concealing, ambiguilty or make any confusing with receiver’s appearance. It is finely manufactured both in manufacturing and design. For CD player, in my consideration, I pay attention in small detail that should not be neglected or CD tray. The smoothness of mechanism in inserting or ejecting CD is the excellent point of ONKYO at this price and quality so it will be worthwhile for investment.

  1. Acknowledgement
    1. Integrated amp of ONKYO is rather lighter than other brands because new products of ONKYO have Digital amp in expanding the signal, it wil convert Analog signal into Digital signal by Pulse Width Modulation process then expand signal to have higher gain and transform signal back again.

 Then, what would be happened?
This process is different from normal amp because ONKYO will produce the heat that generated by expanding lower signal. This process allow fin to decrease heat as well, therefore, its weight is lighter than others common ones. (To mention this issue because some customers believe that the better amp, the more  weight it has.)

    1. VL (Vector Linear)

This is the additional technology in expanding signal. To explain in simplification, After expanding digital signal, Jitter would be occurred while doing transformation back. This will give purity or more alloy to the transformed signal. VL is likewise one feedback control circuit that controls the expanded signal to be smooth as much as possible. (Following the method, this will increase quality of sound.)  

2.3 Volume
ONKYO stated that in designing new amp, it will focus on turning low volume for the customers who need to listen to low level with high detail. In this circuit’s design, ONKYO will elevate the reference of signal to be higher than Noise Floor for 15 db. Therefore, although you turn low volume, you still get high fully detail because S/N value will be higher than signal reference comparison with common Noise Floor. 

***Notice.
This point is also another point that should pay attention on because it would be able to make confusion, that is, Integrated amp of ONKYO is rather tune low volume’ s gain. The result in real usage, sometimes you have to turn volume to be higher than normal. (Maybe at 11 o’ clock or noon direction) It is not caused from watt level but this is its normal system. If you do not pay much attention on its detail, you may think that it is not a good one because of low watt .   


2.4 Others
For other information, I believe that you can receive more by reading further journals in our website.

2.5 sound?
If you take some periods for listening to this stereo intentionally, you will meet many difference. Since the sound is transmited from real Integrated amp that can be noticed the difference from other similar price receiver cleary.

 
I would like you to focus on sequence, flow and softness of this model’s sound tone. In addition, its speed is not slow and can support with many styles of music.


After burning, the sound is better moderately, therefore, it is worthwhile for waiting of doing burn in.

2.6 Matching

It can be matched with many loudspeakers. Anyway, it will be good and suit with lively loudspeakers to fulfill the system. As I tested, it is compatible with ENERGY, KEF, MISSION, MONITOR AUDIO and more. For larger model, it is good with REVOLVER RW-16

Finally, I would like to recommend all products of ONKYO as I suggested above to the customers who are looking for stereo system either Integrated amp or CD player or even the customers who have plans to install CD Player in your Home Theater systems. Please test them and meet its efficiency by yourselves.

At least, ONKYO would be another option that worthwhile and return to the industry in the most exact time.