THIS WILL BE NZ'S BEST SELLING HOME THEATRE RECEIVER IN 2010.
Posted 30 June, 2010 #
THIS WILL BE NZ'S BEST SELLING HOME THEATRE RECEIVER IN 2010.
We have just received news that the Onkyo TX-SR608 has taken a 5 star award in Japans HiVi magazine, the review noted it was one of the rare occaissions all 10 judges were unanimous in giving the award.
What HiFi (UK) have also reviewed the TX-SR608 and the result will be published in their August issue.
We are not surprised at all, as soon as the TX-SR608 arrived in NZ in April we knew it would be a winner.
We are still gob-smacked that even today there is no otrher brand of receiver for sale in NZ that offers features / value even close to the TX-SR608.
The 2010 Onkyo TX-SR608 7.2 channel home theater receiver blows the category apart being the most affordable THX Select2 Certified model ever offered.
THX is just the start, this will EASILY be one of the top-selling receivers on the market over the next year!
If a retailer does not have an Onkyo TX-SR608 on the floor for sale it is for 1 of 2 reasons...
1: They have sold out and await new stock
2: They ARE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF SELLING HOME THEATRE RECEIVERS.
The Onkyo TXSR608 has 6 HDMI 1.4 inputs (one is located on the front panel) for simple hookup of your high definition source components.
HDMI 1.4 is compatible with the new 3D video format, and the HDMI output on the receiver handles an Audio Return Channel from your HD TV back to the receiver (convenient for those getting their HDTV programming from a over-the-air antenna).
It's also got an analog RGB video input for connecting your PC, and a universal port for connecting optional Onkyo peripherals such as an iPod dock.
Last but not least, all lower resolution video sources can be upscaled to 1080p using its Faroudja DCDi Cinema scaling technology via HDMI output.
SRP FOR THE TX-SR608 IS $1499.99
KRAMER | posted 30 Jun 2010, 6:50PM | # | Report
This model is the benchmark.
It will be interesting to see what 'WHAT HIFI' have to say.
NOT IN THE BUSINESS??? | posted 1 Jul 2010, 11:09AM | # | Report
Don't you think your comment about dealers who do not sell Onkyo TX-SR608 as 'not being in the business' a little harsh?
I sell Yamaha and Pioneer and I am very much 'in the business'.
Everyone in the industry knows Onkyo is number 1 in NZ, but there are other good brands for our customers to choose from, if we prefer these then that is just a matter of choice.
LIVEWIRE | posted 2 Jul 2010, 1:00PM | # | Report
Re the last post; yes you are quite right, there are other great brands to choose from.
I think it is important we point out that this is a 'non issue' at the very entry level point of the market.
For the purpose of this Post we refer to receivers in the mid to upper segment of the market.
The real point I emphasize is that at this moment there is only one receiver brand in NZ that supports HDMI v1.4. That brand is Onkyo.
This is not a recent occurance or a window of opportunity, it has been that way since April and will remain so for a little while yet.
Being 'in the business' does include among other things both the retailer and distributor keeping pace with technology developments within a category and ensuring customers are given the correct facts to make a good decision.
If a retailer who presents themselves as a reputable reseller of Home Theatre Receivers is knowingly selling non v1.4 compliant receivers to customers without pointing that out and exactly what it means, then that is just horse trading on their behalf.
LIVEWIRE
Horse Trader? | posted 2 Jul 2010, 6:47PM | # | Report
You are on fire today Livewire.
Love your work!
Onkyo 608 | posted 4 Jul 2010, 8:52AM | # | Report
Value for money it has to be one of the best amps in its category 'ever'.
Certainly raises the bar.
What HiFi | posted 8 Jul 2010, 5:25PM | # | Report
Good news about the What HiFi 5 star review!
The Oracle asks, is it a Strawberry or Raspberry? | posted 9 Jul 2010, 9:45PM | # | Report
Whats the story with Strawberry Sound these days?
Strawberry Jam Recipe?
After entering the Auckland market mid 2009 with much hoopla and rumoured dramatics they seem to have amounted to little more than bubbles in the bath tub.
Their timing to drop into Auckland was impeccable, mid 2009 and Eastern HiFi was hanging in there only by a thread and Strawberry looked well poised to pick up where Steve Allbury left off.
A year down the track the company with a rather fruity name looks to be yet another statistic of the brutal and unforgiving audio retail space.
My take on this outfit is that it is a betwixt and between Audio retailer / Custom Installer, yet another one! Will we ever learn?
The Auckland store looks like a Loewe stand with a couple of sound systems to balance things out, Yippee! Name ONE audio retailer that has worked in Ponsonby, that was a bad move. I thought they had a winner when they were rumoured to be taking out Eastern HiFi Mount Eden but that apparently went pear shaped and the Ponsonby location was resultant a rush job.
Despite a dog site Denon still call it their flagship store in Auckland, I bet Paul Money sells twice what Strawberry do yet nobody calls him a flagship. Meanies!
The flagship Denon store is really any Harvey Norman store you choose, APG turned their back on hifi dealers 2 years ago. And Harvey Norman have really got behind the brand and full credit to them. From what I can see they are doing a great job for APG.
Yet despite the commitment Harvey Norman gives APG they still pretend to cater to 'specialists' with oily talk but it does not amount to money in the till. Just fuzzys for those who get off on tummy rubs, banks don't accept fuzzys as collateral anymore.
Aaaand, if Denon is the new flavour of the month at Harvey Norman where does that leave the incumbent of the past 200 years Sound Group Holding / Yamaha?
And what about you lot with Onkyo? Livewire seems to have gone very quite in this new entity. For a while there he was rattling everyones tree but what happened? Did the novelty wear off? Maybe he is too busy hoping JB will win the lottery for Avalon? A bit risky don't you think?
Anyway, back to Strawberry. Looks like the world domination expansion plan concocted by the little man is about to blow a rather loud Raspberry! Block ya nose before she blows!
Mucky!
The Oracle
Whew! | posted 10 Jul 2010, 9:15AM | # | Report
Thats a gusher about Strawberry! So you think Strawbs is kaput? Ex staff member are we? Or disgruntled 'other person'?
Cant speak for Strawberry but I think you have a point for your comments about the brands.
Yamaha is most definitely off the boil these days although I would not be so sure Denon is #1 son at Harveys, Marantz has done a good job of sneaking in there too.
Strawberry | posted 10 Jul 2010, 12:46PM | # | Report
Who knows or cares? Damn right it would be tough in that space these days.
AppleFlapJax | posted 11 Jul 2010, 5:49PM | # | Report
Are the days of a HiFi store as we knew them over?
Redeyes | posted 11 Jul 2010, 5:59PM | # | Report
It is possible, but lets look at this s 'times are changing' its not over but it will be a heck of a lot different to how we knew it.
The Avalon showroom in Newmarket is a sign of things to come and the HiFi Cafe concept in Hamilton is similar, eg: importers creating sales environments for their wares.
They have to, because the number of stores that can stock the goods has diminished.
Strawberry is the Auckland showroom for APG but unless Strawberry have the stock in there on consignment basis it will not work because the stock turn on the likes of Loewe and high end Denon is so low that it would be silly for Strawberry to tie their funds up in expensive but slow moving inventory.
It would also drain cash from their already established custom install business. Mike Pierce is a sharp cookie so I would doubt he would make a mistake like that.
Sin City | posted 11 Jul 2010, 9:41PM | # | Report
Auckland is a funny old city. The audio space in retail seemed wide open and I thought Strawberry was well poised to pick up on Easterns demise. A year down the track I think they have missed the boat, probably because there was no boat to catch. Aucklanders are tough nuts to crack, it is not a city of 1.3m but a bunch of towns that have grown into each other. Some have 'HiFi money' to spend and other don't. Strawberry fluffed it in Auckland through choosing a goddamn awful location. HiFi country in Auckland is Epsom, Mt Eden, Parnell, Remmers and Newmarket. Strawberry needed to be in that periphery. (Exactly why Soundline, Absolute, Demo Room and now Avalon) have perched their bums there.
Strawberry are CI NOT retail | posted 13 Jul 2010, 8:02PM | # | Report
Strawberry will be a custom install provider in Auckland, the are not a genuine retailer. Not here or in any other town in NZ, that is just a tack that they do if it works.
What? | posted 14 Jul 2010, 12:08PM | # | Report
Have any of you actually been to Strawberry Sound? They have a hell of a lot more in there than ' a couple of audio systems" and way more than just Loewe and APG stock...
So many online experts with no knowledge blowing smoke up each others backsides...
Also in case you didn't know, the Audio Cafe in Hamilton is closing because it didn't work!
You guys are so funny!
funny? | posted 14 Jul 2010, 10:03PM | # | Report
Whats funny about a business closing? Tosser!
fair cop... | posted 14 Jul 2010, 10:06PM | # | Report
Fair call mate, I have not been to Strawberry.
But the sounds of things neither has anyone else.
Tripod Man | posted 14 Jul 2010, 10:10PM | # | Report
Why the Strawberry bashing?
I think something we all learned from the Eastern days was the amount of shit that was dished out on them was not necessary, same applies to Strawberry. He has made the same mistakes as Allbury, but let him sort his own mess out.
fair cop... | posted 14 Jul 2010, 10:50PM | # | Report
fair call mate.
Audio Cafe Hamilton | posted 15 Jul 2010, 11:06PM | # | Report
I hope I am wrong but I heard today these guys have gone tits up too...?
Its a jungle out there!
Demo'd Room | posted 17 Jul 2010, 10:17PM | # | Report
Pretty sure Demo Room is winding down too, a real shame but sign of the times I guess.
Demo Room | posted 18 Jul 2010, 9:32AM | # | Report
Bloody tough with such a small high end selection. Linn has gone backwards since they moved out of the old Absolute location.
Will be interesting to see how that Avalon showroom fares.
Linn | posted 20 Jul 2010, 5:08PM | # | Report
Linn is not enough on its own to support a retail outlet let a lone a high street (expensive) 'Demo Room'.
onkyo | posted 20 Jul 2010, 10:14PM | # | Report
can onkyo support a showroom?
showroom | posted 21 Jul 2010, 12:06PM | # | Report
they obviously couldn't with eastern hifi....
if at first you don't succeed, re-badge & try again
Eastern HiFi | posted 21 Jul 2010, 10:06PM | # | Report
Eastern was a dead duck long before Onkyo arrived, and it can be credited for producing some of the biggest idiots he audio industry has ever seen and heard. I for one like the new Avalon showroom, very clean and fresh which is a fresh departure from some of the hovels that call themselves 'specialists'. And fantastic to see my main man Bharat ride again!
WOW | posted 23 Jul 2010, 11:41AM | # | Report
What a deal! Brand new Onkyo receiver at $898 JBhifi!!
http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/jb-hi-fi-home-audio/receiver/
How are stockists supposed to stay in business when they are selling at lower than our cost?
What Hifi | posted 23 Jul 2010, 4:02PM | # | Report
Another review if anyone else is interested...
http://www.avforums.com/review/Onkyo-TX-SR608-AV-Receiver-Review.html
WOW | posted 24 Jul 2010, 8:56AM | # | Report
I THINK YOU NEED TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK SLOWCOACH, THE ONKYO AT $898 ON THE JB WEBSITE IS THE TX-SR508....THAT IS ITS NORMAL PRICE! SO WHICH STOCKIST ARE YOU? (NOT!)
WOW...? | posted 24 Jul 2010, 9:04AM | # | Report
Re the TX-SR508 advertised in the link above being lower than your cost? Sorry, but that is not possible. If you wish to discuss call me on 021 848 880.
Cheers
LIVEWIRE
Yeah, Great deal! | posted 26 Jul 2010, 8:50AM | # | Report
RRP $899, JB $898!!! WOW, that's a whole $1 saving!
JB destroying brand value! | posted 26 Jul 2010, 7:43PM | # | Report
yeah those JB guys ought to be ashamed of themselves discounting $1 off the TXSR508 and destroying Onkyo brand value in the process...
plonker | posted 26 Jul 2010, 7:45PM | # | Report
so who is the Plonker of a dealer?
Celestion | posted 31 Jul 2010, 9:32AM | # | Report
whats the deal with Celestion 'guitar'??, are the loudspeakers coming back to the NZ? They were a great product when sold by the old Eastern HiFi group. Still have mine!
F series Celestions | posted 5 Aug 2010, 6:29AM | # | Report
the F series Celestions Eastern sold were an awesome speaker, would buy another set if the were still available. Avalon could do with another speaker brand in their offer, Polk left a bit of a hole. Their Boston stuff is very nice but Polk has the benefit of all the product Eastern and other dealers sold into the market, probably the main reason why Harveys have jumped on its bandwagon and ranged it. Does not say a lot for the other speaker brands they sold but...you usually only change brands because the ones you have are not going so well.
I love the Polk subs, the speakers are a bit cheap and cheerful looking. The main weakness with Polk is no Sub Sat home theatre system, it is really obvious when you visit a JB store and they have about 4 Jamo and KEF models on offer to support their amps and receivers.
Harvey Normans main strength is their massive selection, they certainly cover the bases!
Showroom | posted 6 Aug 2010, 6:32AM | # | Report
Your showroom in Newmarket is a credit to you. I am sure Onkyo and KEF will be tickled pink with it.