Reddit reviews Onkyo TX-8255 Stereo Receiver (Discontinued by Manufacturer)

bass down treble up

different speakers.

better receiver

its better to get a used mid/high end receiver like Onkyo than a low grade receiver new with all the extra shit on it like Panasonic

a good receiver will make shitty speakers sound good. a bad receiver will make great speakers sound like shit

Sorry mate, I just see too many of the same posts here. I suggest going through the pages because I am sure someone has posted something similar.

EDIT: if $300-500 is your budget then you are in for a treat when you get some actual speakers up an running. For a ~$300 budget I recommend getting the Pioneer SP-BS41-LR bookshelf speakers, Onkyo TX-8255 receiver, and if you want more bass you could get the Pioneer SW-8. I suggest monoprice.com for speaker cables and such.

But this is a new set-up. For more bang for your buck though you should definitely go vintage. It's just a lot more complicated and more time consuming trying to find the right equipment at the right price in a good condition.

That player should have a preamp if I remember correctly. So all you would really need from there is a receiver and speakers. If you get a receiver with a phono input, turn the preamp off on the record player and make sure to use that input in the back. If it doesn't, you'll need to turn the preamp on.

Here's what I mean, this receiver has a phono input while this one doesn't (at least it doesn't list one and the back inputs don't say). I'm not saying buy either of these or that they're great cause I really don't know, I'm just using them as examples.

You'll hear from a lot of people around here to look for vintage equipment. I would agree with that. In that case you'll want to scour craigslist, ebay, garage sales, etc.. You can probably get a great vintage receiver for ~$50 (not sure what that is in pounds) if you do some looking. Just don't expect HDMI inputs and the like.

For speakers there are a lot of options. Don't cheap out and use crappy speakers. Buy some nice bookshelf speakers; I say bookshelf speakers instead of floorstanding speakers because those seem to be the most used for a 2 speaker set up. I'm not sure what brand most people use around here. I have some Yamaha's from the 90's that I absolutely love. Vintage speakers can also be found for less than new speakers.

But what receiver and speakers you should buy really comes down to what sound and usage YOU want. A 2/3/4/5 speaker set up? Subwoofer? Do you also want to use your receiver for your computer's and/or TV's sound?

This thing looks promising. I'm a fan of Yamaha receivers.

This one also looks like an option. Onkyo is a pretty solid brand.

Woo! That's a large space. And it's going to reverberate like mad, and there's basically nothing you can do about it. It's not the worst thing in the world though, it could have an enjoyable "arena" feel to it.

I would focus on durability and power for that installation. Since the room isn't acoustically good in any way, subtle differences in speakers or amps simply won't be heard. Good range and volume will be.

Get a durable and powerful power amp (perhaps Behringer or Pyle, something over 200W per channel). Could run you around $150-200, but will last and handle the conditions of the large room and work environment. Hook it up to a mixer (Might be too complicated, but if you set it up and leave it it could work well) or preamp such as this to control inputs and volume, and you can hook up your CD player, mp3 player, or whatever else you want.

We're up to about $300 here, which doesn't leave much for speakers, but speakers aren't that important for this space, you're looking for durability, good range, and power handling once again. Go with PA or DJ speakers with solid cabinets and durable drivers. Something like this, or this. They'll withstand the weather and open-air conditions of that place well, and will be easily mountable on the girders or walls.

Cheap speaker and RCA cables can be found at Monoprice. Probably worth getting outdoor-rated ones. That should do you well, I think.

If you're really looking for something simpler, go with a simple Stereo Receiver and some simple but durable speakers, such as these. You could even do 2 pairs of those speakers for even better coverage in the building, and hook them up to the A and B channels of the amp. You might not be able to turn the volume up as high on that system, but it will still sound pretty good.

http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-8255B-TX-8255-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B001AMSPQI/

Do it.

Well here is what I would do.

Turntable: something like this. Good deal with buy it now price of $270.

Cartridge: Sure 97xe can be had for $66 bucks here

Amp: Either spend some time perusing Ebay/ Craigslist for something vintage with phono inputs. If your having trouble with that you could go for one of these. On sale for $168 is a good deal and has built in phono inputs, no need for a preamp.

Speakers: A pair of these will do you well for $270. Don't have a pair myself but I hear great things and I personally love my Polk floor-standers.

Furniture: As always the r/vinyl approved Ikea Expedit Will hold everything nicely for $80.

This would all cost you roughly $850. Leaving you about $150 for the vinyl itself(which can go a pretty far way if you look around). Of course you could always go for a cheaper pair of speakers or shop around for a cheaper TT if you want more to spend on the actual music itself. Anywho, Just my 2 cents. Good luck with your setup and I hope I was helpful.

Thanks! This is exactly what I was looking for. I'm picking up a Technics SL-Q300 on Friday. I have speakers. And I think I've found a half decent receiver that I'm going to spring for -- an Onkyo receiver see it here.

OK. Here we go.

At your price point and experience level we should stick with solid state. tubes are more expensive and potentially temperamental. your speakers are solid, vintage big box bangers. Your room may not be too huge, but you need to push a decent amount of air to get those speakers to sound good. So you need at least 50 watts per channel.

Vintage: when in doubt, go pioneer. they sound great, look awesome and are built like tanks. I would recommend either an SX-750 or SX-780. Anything lower on the food chain might not be able to get your speakers going, and anything higher is going to be out of your price range. The 780 is a slightly later model and might cost a little less, but with no real difference in performance (IMHO). Unfortunately, getting a specific model means looking on eBay. Some folks have gotten burned buying receivers on eBay, I myself have been very lucky. Just make sure the unit has been recently serviced, and that the seller has a positive feedback rating AND SELLS A LOT OF ELECTRONICS.

If you do not want to go eBay, that means thrifts/yard sales/flea markets. Just look for something clean that has the WPC you need (at least 50 as indicated above). Look for the usual suspects, Pioneer, Marantz, Sansui, Technics. Also keep an eye peeled for Sony, Harman Kardon, Kenwood, JVC, Aiwa, etc.

2 things to keep in mind when looking for a vintage receiver:

1. Is it silver faced? It seems silly to judge a receiver on looks, but remember that silver facing was the style in the 70s, which was the golden age of hi-fi. When the faces started to turn black was when shit started to go down hill with consumer audio. Is every silver receiver good and every black one lousy? Not at all. But is this a good way to quickly get an idea about a receiver? Definitely.
   
   
2. Is it heavy? This is another good method for quickly judging vintage audio gear. In general, light weight means bad.
   
   New: a great new receiver in your price range is the Onkyo TX-8255. Has the 50 WPC your speakers crave. Also has a built in phono preamp (which you need for spinning records) which most modern receivers lack. As it is new there is no sweating shady eBay sellers, or worrying about it dying 3 days after you hook it up. But most importantly, it has a decent, neutral sound. Amazon has it for around $200
   
   http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-8255B-TX-8255-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B001AMSPQI/ref=zg_bs_667846011_15
   
   Another nice new receiver that might fit your needs is the Sherwood RX-4105. At 100 WPC you will be banging it nice and loud. It will require an external phono preamp, but at $120 you can afford one.
   
   http://www.amazon.com/Sherwood-RX-4105-Stereo-Receiver-Black/dp/B0002EPWC0/ref=sr_1_24?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1313428014&sr=1-24
   
   If you go with the Sherwood, get this phono-pre, the Artcessories ART DJPRE II . You will not do better for under $100.
   
   http://www.amazon.com/ART-II-Preamplifier-Outputs-Switchable/dp/B000AJR482/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1376331900&sr=1-2&keywords=artcessories

First, for an amp/receiver, the more you can spend, the better you can get. If you can budget more for this component, do so. It will make a ton of difference.

Second, for something new, take a look at:

• Onkyo TX-8255 ($249)
  
  
• Onkyo TX-8020 ($199)
  
  
• Topping TP32EX ($159)
  
  Third, for vintage, the search is a bit more personal. Check listings like these or find your local clearance dealer. For your needs and at your price range, a nice mate for those Pioneers might be a Marantz, Yamaha, or Kenwood. Lots of offerings and they'll have the sound and look you're going for.
  
  Keep the following tips in mind for buying used:
  
  
• always hear it before you buy it
  
  
• always put performance before appearance
  
  
• do your homework – research model and manual
  
  
• inspect any given piece thoroughly
  
  
• read reviews and forums if possible

https://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Home/Speakers/Pioneer+Speakers/SP-FS51-LR

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AMSPQI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I was right next to them

Yep, just two speakers. You'd have an amp or receiver powering them. They could either be bookshelf speakers or towers, depending on what you're looking for.

You could have something like this Onkyo Stereo receiver http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-8255B-TX-8255-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B001AMSPQI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375127606&sr=8-1&keywords=onkyo+stereo+receiver

Powering some bookshelf speakers. Such as the Axiom Audio M3 http://axiomaudio.com/m3-bookshelf-speakers

The possibilities are pretty limitless when it comes to configurations like this.

I wish I knew more about those speakers, but it seems to me that for general overall improvement of your sound, you're going to need to buy a receiver. This can generally be done on the cheap, and to make sure you get what you need, make sure you purchase a receiver/amplifier combo. I personally prefer Denon, and these things tend to look like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-8255B-TX-8255-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B001AMSPQI/ref=sr_1_1?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1345570208&sr=1-1&keywords=onkyo+stereo+receiver

(Chose an Onkyo to share another worth while brand)

You have another couple of options left. Do you see yourself wanting to install surround sound (for a television or a very limited amount of music) or would a typical left and right speaker set up work for you? If just stereo (left and right), the above receiver will do great for you. I don't recommend buying new or online, buying in person and used tends to be the best option. Just be sure to test. Test. Test. Test. I also encounter some of these units in thrift stores (another place to definitely test).

Ready to upgrade my setup - not getting a 'full' sound. What comes first, a new cartridge, or new speakers? Currently using a Rega RP1 with stock Carbon cartridge, and a pair of 130W Pioneer floor speakers.

Is the Bias 2 cartridge (part of the Rega Performance Pack) worth it, or should I look for a different brand/package?

Also, it's been recommended to get a phono-preamp, but I believe there's a preamp built into my receiver - Onkyo TX-8255. Am I missing something?

Thanks!

Sorry to say you will need an integrated amplifier, like this.

The input- your ipod or computer- would plug into the amp, and you use the amp to control the speakers.

Those speakers do not have volume or tone controls. The "integrated" part means this unit integrates the amplification- the part that gets your sound up to a signal level that can drive your speakers- plus things like volume and tone control and input selection (you can plug more than one input in at a time).

You may be tempted by small, cheaper desktop amps like this Lepai Tripath amp.
it's your money, so feel free to experiment, but those are pretty hefty speakers. They are going to need more power than that little Lepai amp can provide unless you're content with low sound levels. Otherwise you'll be overdriving the amp all the time, sending distortion to the speakers which could blow the drivers.

An alternative to an integrated amplifier would be a receiver like this Onkyo model, if you are among those who still listen to radio.

if you want to save money and don't mind a little risk, there are many classic integrated amps and receivers on ebay available for good prices.

how about a traditional setup and something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004G5ZA5K


http://emotiva.com/a100.shtm

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AMSPQI/

if your really on a budget:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00026BQJ6/

many receivers will have phono build in meaning you wouldn't have to get two separate boxes
a amplifier will only supply power to the speakers while a receiver will be a all in one
Onkyo
Sherwood