Anyone using Onkyo TX-8050 as preamp with Emotiva amps?

[audiosanity]

I am looking for a versatile and cheap audio/video 2-channel preamp/DAC with at least one of each analog audio and video inputs for say an AM/FM tuner and other older components. I have a modest setup with a 2-channel receiver, blue ray, TV, and Focal 727s. I want to replace the receiver with my XPA-200, but maintain flexibility with all the current sources.

So my XDA-2 won't serve that purpose. In fact, any solution with separates will likely cost more than the entire existing system. I refuse to pay $1000 for an analog preamp. The Stealth DC1 with its analog input comes closest with a semi-reasonable price, but it would still lack a lot of things and would require a separate tuner.

But then I found this receiver. It has the following:

1. 4 digital audio inputs
2. AM/FM tuner, obviously
3. Analog inputs for both audio and video
4. The ability to play music off a USB hard drive!
5. pre outs
6. Internet radio support

All for the clearance price of about $250. The newer replacement is $400 and has no pre outs. In fact, anything with pre outs will probably cost well over $500-600. Any separates with all this functionality will likely cost over $1500. What am I missing? How bad can this be? Has anyone experience with this or something similar to it?

[vinylfreak]

I have been using a Onkyo NR-818 as a pre-amp with a Sherbourn PA5-200 (twin to the Emotiva XPA -5 ) for the last 3 years and have been very happy with the performance.....

[garbulky]

If you are looking for sound quality to pair with your XPA-200 (which is quite a good amp imo)....
Well all I can say with the Onkyo is that sh*t is as sh*t does.
Just being blunt about it. It's not going to be bad. But it's not going to be as good as a DC-1.

If you want quality....get the DC-1. You can also get its companion SP-1 which adds a whole bunch of analog inputs along with a phonopreamp section for the addition of a turntable.
emotiva.com/products/electronics/sp-1
Now you have separates with most of hte abilities.
However you won't get the AM/FM tuner or the ability to do music off a USB hard drive. Internet radio support is possible through a PC.
If you want an amfm tuner visit some garage sales or put a wtb on craigslist. There's plenty of vintage AM FM tuners.

Here's one
It's about $70
www.amazon.com/PT504-Mount-Digital-Tuner-Feature/dp/B002UKZ9K4/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1457823663&sr=1-2&keywords=radio+tuner

For digital radio stations the grace radio tuner would work but it doesn't do FM radio stations. It will find your local radiostations internet radio though.
www.amazon.com/Grace-Digital-GDI-IRDT200-Hi-Fi-Internet/dp/B00395ZQMK/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1457823663&sr=1-7&keywords=radio+tuner

Here's how I look at it. Do you like really good quality which you can relish or do you like features with superb convenience and mediocre sound? That's the difference between separates and recievers. There's no arguments that recievers have way more features than the separates. That is sad. But it's the truth.

[novisnick]

Mar 12, 2016 17:56:19 GMT -5 vinylfreak said:

I have been using a Onkyo NR-818 as a pre-amp with a Sherbourn PA5-200 (twin to the Emotiva XPA -5 ) for the last 3 years and have been very happy with the performance.....

I too have owned the Sherbourn PA5-200, great multichannel amp, an equal to the mighty XPA-5. It very very rarely comes up for sale. Enjoy.

[audiosanity]

Mar 12, 2016 18:03:41 GMT -5 garbulky said:

Here's how I look at it. Do you like really good quality which you can relish or do you like features with superb convenience and mediocre sound? That's the difference between separates and recievers.

I have always felt that the biggest weakness of receivers is the amp section, and that if you don't need a phono preamp, a decent receiver like this one will not give up too much in the sound quality department if used as a preamp.

I thought about using a tuner (like the Pyle) connected to an analog-to-digital converter, in turn connected to my XDA-2. But that leaves out all the internet radio features and reading music off of a usb drive.

But I am just now realizing that there are receivers with digital audio output. If the Onkyo had a digital audio output, I could simply connect it to the XDA-2 and have all the possible features and still have a great DAC/Preamp. I hope slightly higher end models have that. So then that might solve all my problems.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

[mshump]

The Onkyo would give you everything on your list. I started in a very similar way with an onkyo AVR. We can all give you suggestions, the ones above are all good suggestions, but we don't have your wallet, listening ears, and value vs price thoughts the same as you. You can try the Onkyo and if it doesn't meet your needs then return it or sell it. I personally would go with a pre-amp and separate tuner. You can pick up a Parasound classic 2100 pre-amp for around 600.00, Enotiva also has a new line of lower cost products coming out over the next 6 months or so. If you don't mind picking up used, you can get an XSP-1 for 5-600.00. Take your time, research and enjoy the journey most of all !! Let us know what direction you go in.



Mark

[knucklehead]

I've owned 2 8050's over the past few years - with and without external amps to drive my song towers - and a few other speakers. I bought both of them from A4L.com. While the 8050 does a good job of driving the song towers I think the Crown 1500 does a slightly better job - subjectively speaking of course. I'm currently using the 8050 in the bedroom 2 channel driving a pair of Emotiva ERM-1 bookshelf speakers. The sound quality is better than you might think for a receiver. As for all these claims about this DAC and that DAC - I have a cheap-ass Behringer USB DAC for 2 channel from the HTPC and it sounds very good. Give it a try before dropping 15-20x the money on a DC-1. You may be surprised.

[vcrpro3]

I am, and for what i paid for it, it does a great job!

[ribbonking]

I am also using a TX-8050 in conjunction with a Sherbourne 4Z-75 amplifier in my whole house audio system. Works well for me in that appliation.