Onkyo A-9711 Integrated Amplifiers
Onkyo A-9711 Integrated Amplifiers
USER REVIEWS
[Apr 14, 2002]
Regent
AudioPhile
Strength:
Build quality, remote control, Headphone jack and of course the sound for the price
Weakness:
Needs to be matched with quality components, anything else will degrade the sound drastically ( I found this out myself ) This is one of the most underated Intergrated Amps out there. For the price I don''t think there is anything else that can match it. The bottom line of course is the sound and for my ears it might not be the so called high end but it is pretty damn close. Good recordings are produced to their fullest and I can go on listening for hours without fatigue. I feel that the sound is warm with a good soundstage,a surprisingly extended bass considering it''s output ( 80W per ch. ), and clear highs although some recordings can be a bit thin and bright. For those I use the tone controls and can say they will make most of my CD''s listenable, even the real bad ones with just minor adjustments. I would match it up with good components and stay away from the mid-fi junk like I have, you''ll be surprised at what you will hear from this component and can honestly say this is one of audio''s best kept secrets. Thank you Onkyo for giving us a very satisfying product without breaking the bank. Associated Equipment: Denon DCM-460 CD Player Musical Fidelity X-DAC Musical Fidelity X-PSU Monarchy Audio DIP Sony KC-KA2ES Cassette Deck PSB Silveri Speakers MIT terminater 3 Interconnects Audioquest Slate Bi-wire Speaker cable Similar Products Used: This is My first Intergrated , was using seperates( Cambridge Audio Pre W/Onkyo amp ) |
[Feb 06, 2002]
fiji
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Good frequency extension; low level dynamics; unfatiguing sound; external build
Weakness:
Un-involving sound reproduction; not rhythmic; recessed midband frequencies; lacks pace and timing; no preamp outputs. Straight out of the box this amp impressed me with good frequency extension and a generally smooth and lush sound. There was however a silvery texture to the high frequencies but this disappeared after several days of keeping the amp powered on with music running through it. But there was something about the amp that didn’t sound right. I then compared it with a fairly inexpensive but good Rotel RB971 power amp and a more expensive older model Luxman RV371 surround amp. What became apparent to my father (a non hifi enthusiast) and I was that the 9711 amp was not musically involving -- it didn’t reach out and pull you into the music. It was as if the music, no matter how loud you played it, was hanging in the background in a two dimensional plane. The other two amps had more rhythm and pace, which gave a more ‘toe-tapping’ experience. The midband frequencies also seemed recessed and as if they were covered with a veil. This made vocals, especially Diana Krall’s, less sensual and detailed. Without looking inside, the amp seems solidly built and is reasonably heavy for an 80 watt RMS per channel amp. The control panel layout is practical and typical of a mid priced amp – bass & treble tone; record selector; attenuator (20db); Speaker A or B or both and off; CD direct. There is also a remote control, which looks fairly standard. The power cord is not detachable. The 9711 is not a bad amp and if you compare to food, it reminds me of a McDonald’s hamburger - non offensive taste (sound) that appeals to much of the mass market. If you prefer a bit of spice and flavour with your music then look elsewhere. Similar Products Used: Rotel RB971; Luxman RV371; Yamaha DSP-A1 |
[Jan 22, 2001]
David Jayes
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Decent sound for price.Remote volume and input select. Reasonable input flexibilty.Source direct facility. Plenty of power.
Weakness:
Ultimately still a 'budget'amp. I bought the A9711 after auditioning it. It had received a favourable review followed by a major award in a local hi fi publication. It's physically fairly imposing with, to my eyes, a neat fascia design. Similar Products Used: Yamaha. Nakamichi. NAD. Cambridge Audio. Leak etc |
[Feb 22, 2001]
Muzo
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Immense power reserves, remote, build quality, reliability
Weakness:
occasionally shrilling highs when matched with b&w nautilus's I had to get a separate DAC (s700 Cambrdige audio) to smooth the sound I get from the match described above, as the cd spinner (nowadays) onkyo 7511, and this amp and the b&w's combined produced a rather sharp sound with some recordings. Similar Products Used: onkyo receivers, pioneer a616 |