onkyo 805 vs 806

806 has Audyssey Dynamic EQ and the 805 doesn't. The weight loss (13 lbs) had to come out of the power supply - not good. Stick with the 805 if you can find one.

There are four for sale on ebay right now:

http://electronics.shop.ebay.com/items/?_nkw=onkyo+TX-Sr805&_sacat=293&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&_sop=3&_dmpt=Speakers_Subwoofers&_odkw=martin+logan&_osacat=293

Go for it!

Cruz123,

My post said the 805 does not have AUDYSSEY DYNAMIC EQ and indeed it does not. This is a brand new feature of Audyssey MultEQ that is on the 806 but not the 805.

The Audyssey MultiEQ is just fine on the 805. It is the same Audyssey software that is used in my $1800 Onkyo Pro PR-SC885P processor.

Audyssey MultiEQ is a very sophisticated room correction system that uses a supplied-microphone to take sound readings of your system in your room and processes the data through a complex algorithm to determine speaker placement, speaker frequency response, room bass nodes, and room reflections and then modifies the frequency response and channel delay settings inside the AVR to optimize your system's sound. It works great to equalize the bass in your room and to make all of your speakers blend seamlessly. As Cruz 123 points out, it does not always get the individual speaker volumes levels exactly right, so it is nice to have a Radioshack analog SPL meter to double check this after you run Audyssey. What it does in correcting bass nodes and room reflections is very impressive and cannot be duplicated through normal equalization methods. Definitely recommended.

The latest Denon and Onkyo products have an enhancement to Audyssey MultiEQ called Dynamic EQ. It is designed to 'dynamically re-balance' the frequency response at different volume levels so, for instance, the bass volume level is boosted at lower volume levels. I have not heard it; however, I have read posts on several forums about it and the comments are mixed - many do not like its effect andc choose to leave it disabled (just the Dynamic EQ function, not the MultiEQ).

I would not give this much consideration. The 805 will make you very happy.

I've said enough (or more than enough) about the 805. As for surrounds, they are not that critical, especially for movies (you will most likely set them for an 80hz crossover so the sub will do all the bass anyway). Now if you listen to a lot of audiophile-grade 5.1 music, they are more important. I only listen to music in 2 channel, so I am using very inexpensive Infinity 150s for surrounds with movies. They work great. Dipoles are very good for surrounds because of the diffusive soundfield they produce. Personally, I would put the money elsewhere.

Your center channel speaker is the most important speaker in your HT since it handles the majority of the sound and also, most importantly, vocals. If it is not well-matched to your Snell L/R speakers, things will shift in sound quality as they move across the screen. This will become irritating over time, trust me. Audyssey goes a long way toward integrating the speakers, so if you are close on the speaker types you will likely be okay. If the center channel speaker makes male voices sound boomy, creates sibilance on "s" sounds, or sounds lifeless and boring, this is a killer and Audyssey won't help. Spend your money on the center vs on surrounds.

Best of luck.