To Wes Marshall,
I just finished your review of the Onkyo TX-NR5010 and thought I would ask for your assistance.
I am in the market for a receiver and need assistance comparing my preferences between the Onkyo TX-NR5010 and the Denon AVR-4520CI. My speaker setup includes a full set of Paradigm Monitor 11-series fronts, center, surrounds and back surrounds in a 7.1 format. My sub is the Paradigm PW-2200, which can double as a coffee table due to its size when not in use . . . LOL!
To start, I was able to obtain a 4520 for test purposes, which is helpful, and considering my previous unit was an Onkyo TX-NR3007 I am a bit familiar with each of their sound differences.
I wish I could get my hands on an Onkyo 5010 to test together with the Denon, but for now I’ll need to rely on open, honest expert opinions and input from sources like yourself. Thanks for your opinion, attention, time and effort. All input will be highly appreciated and considered.
Thanks,
John
Nice speakers! The Onkyo TX-NR3007 and TX-NR5010 should have very similar sounds, so if you preferred the 3007 to the Denon, it would be a good assumption that the 5010 would also be a winner. If you preferred the Denon, you would probably still prefer the 5010.
They have similar levels of connectivity, power, and applications. Both have good sound quality. You or I might have an idiosyncratic need for a feature. For instance, I demand an HDMI output for a second zone and I always prefer a sleek and useful remote control. Beyond this, in comparing the Denon 4520 and the Onkyo 5010, there are two other important issues to me. First, the Denon costs $500 less. That’s a lot of money. Second, I’d want to know if they had equivalent dealers in your area. If not, which manufacturer has the better local dealer and, by extension, the most readily available support if there is a problem? That’s worth a lot.
By the way, have you considered the Anthem MXR 700? It’s $500 less than the Denon and $1000 less than the Onkyo and has a near- perfect sonic balance. . . . Wes Marshall
