Yamaha and Onkyo are two renowned and well-respected brands in the audio industry that produce high-quality receivers speakers, headphones, soundbars, subwoofers, and amplifiers.
In this article, we will cover a general overview of both brands, looking specifically at the sound quality, durability, price, and so on. While we will cover a wide range of their audio devices, we will specifically focus on their AV receivers because these brands are especially known for their receivers.
Generally, Yamaha receivers are more durable than Onkyo and are shipped with more features. In addition, Yahama receivers often sound warm and smooth while Onkyo receivers sound a bit more neutral.
Yamaha vs Onkyo AV Receivers Comparison Table
| Criteria | Yamaha | Onkyo |
|---|---|---|
| Brand Reputation | Well-Regarded in Audio | Well-Established in Audio |
| Sound Quality | High-Fidelity, Clear Sound | Precise Sound Reproduction |
| Build Quality/Design | Durable Build, Modern Design | Robust Build, Sleek Design |
| Product Range | Wide Range of AV Solutions | Varied AV Receiver Options |
| Pricing | Moderate to High | Moderate to High |
| Features | Advanced Audio Processing | High-End Features, Connectivity |
Before we continue, you can check out similar comparisons in the series:
Pros and Cons of Onkyo:
Pros:
- Neutral sound profile
- Generally a bit less expensive
Cons:
- Not as durable as Yamaha in general
- Often shipped with basic features unless you upgrade
- Some users have reported issues with their receivers randomly shutting off and entering protection mode.
Pros and Cons of Yamaha:
Pros:
- Generally more durable
- Often shipped with convenient and bonus features as well
- Generally, sounds a little warm and smooth
- Offer connectivity to a wide variety of online services e.g Spotify, Rhapsody, and Pandora
Cons:
- Generally a bit more expensive
- Users have sometimes reported issues with their Yamaha receivers not producing any signal.
Quick History
Yamaha Quick History
Yamaha is a Japanese brand that was established by Torakusu Yamaha in the year 1887. It produced the first Yamaha piano in the 1900s, which eventually laid a solid foundation for the many products that followed.
Yamaha is one of the largest audio product manufacturers with a reputation that sees their products used in international competitions and by renowned musical maestros. The Yamaha brand has a wide range of products that cut across professional audio equipment, digital and acoustic musical instruments, home audio products, and many others.
Onkyo Quick History
Takeshi Godai established the Japanese company Onkyo in 1946. Godai intended to address the gap in delivering satisfactory Japanese-made dynamic speakers.
The work Onkyo originated from a Japanese word meaning “sound acoustics.”
Sound Quality
Yamaha Sound Quality
Yamaha audio equipment is known for producing clear and rich bass delivery and overall exceptional quality sound.
Yamaha speakers have multiple sound modes with an incredible ability to deliver soft but loud sound delivery.
This is because of their high dynamic range, which includes a great deep bass and an extended high.
Onkyo Sound Quality
If you are an audiophile, you want a receiver that can deliver your specific notes as perfectly as possible. The range of AV receivers from Onkyo sounds very impressive and complete with incredible functionality and product regardless of your listening environment.
When it comes to choosing and paying for the better fidelity unit, putting your money on Onkyo is one of the best decisions for audiophiles.
They have a more well-rounded sound signature that offers more detail; audiophiles refer to it as a more “clinical” sound. The highs, mids, and lows are equally discernable.
Features
Yamaha Features
Yamaha has one of the most diverse selections of audio products with diverse features, which might make the feature hard to generalize. However, here are some across their audio devices.
- Wireless connectivity including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Music Cast (for multi-room connection).
- Voice command features such as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa
- HDR10+, HDMI, 8K/60Hz, and 4K120Hz
- Online streaming support for Spotify, Apple AirPlay, etc
- Virtual surround
Onkyo Features
Many people expect to get a bundle of features in today’s world, especially when paying more for a product. However, the features of an Onkyo receiver are mainly related to the system’s sound.
It has some of the best step-up receivers with features such as:
- Dirac Live
- Streaming suite
- Support for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa
Build Quality
Yamaha Build Quality
Yamaha products use modern groundbreaking technology to deliver high-end audio products. Their products are known for delivering premium performance and last a pretty long time.
Yamaha products come with impressive aesthetic delivery and long-lasting function. This is because they pay attention to the use of high-quality materials in the production of their devices.
Onkyo Build Quality
People tend to look at their build quality first when buying expensive devices. However, other than looking good, the device should be able to deliver good service over many years.
When it comes to “build quality”, Onkyo is a bit shaky. Many people complain of their receivers either requiring repair or going dead in less than a year despite the two-year warranty on their devices.
Ease of Use
Yamaha Ease Of Use
Yamaha offers an array of easy-to-use audio equipment. This includes wireless-enabled streaming speakers such as the Yamaha MusicCast WX-030. Yamaha products include devices with buttons that are easy to operate and remote control for use across the room.
Onkyo Ease Of Use
Onkyo receivers are particularly easy to set up. As an excellent performer, the products are made with superb usability and valuable features that make them easily accessible to all users.
The direct source buttons added for ease of control in the absence of a remote further make the Onkyo TX-NR585, for instance, much more user-friendly.
Cost
Yamaha Cost
Yamaha has an array of products that are more affordable than most other brands. For example, the Yamaha R-S202BL Stereo receiver is a high-quality receiver that costs around $200 to $300 but offers more features than other products in the price range.
The price tag you will get for most Yamaha products is listed below.
- High-quality receivers from $200 to $1500
Speakers:
- Centre channel speakers – $70 and upwards
- Indoor/outdoor speaker – $100 and upwards
- Ceiling speakers start at $130, and
- Bookshelf speakers from $120
Onkyo Cost
Onkyo receivers are generally costly. This is most likely attributable to their high-quality build and good sound performance.
- Receivers: $200 – $3000
- Speakers: $20 – $6000
- Amplifiers: $40 – $1000
Space Requirements
Yamaha Space Requirements
Most Yamaha products, particularly soundbars and Bluetooth speakers, are a great fit for any room. The portable size and sleek design of most of these devices make them fit easily into small spaces without demanding too much space.
Onkyo Space Requirements
Generally, Onkyo receivers are a little taller. Although they may not take up much space on your table, they are much taller and broader than many competing receivers in the market.
Remote Controls
Yamaha Remote Controls
Most Yamaha audio devices come with a handheld remote control for simple control of the device. But, beyond the physical remotes, Yamaha designed a virtual remote for almost all the audio products from the brand. This includes headphone control, multimedia music control, MusicCast Controller, and AV Controller.
This virtual remote can be downloaded from the app store for Android, iPhone/iPad, and PC use.
Onkyo Remote Controls
Onkyo receivers come with remote controls that make them easy to control even from the comfort of a seat. Besides, the remotes are intuitive and easy to use. The wireless remotes are device-specific and can be purchased separately from the device.
On the other hand, the Onkyo remote for Android utilizes the home network to operate wirelessly and deliver several remote control functions to manage your Onkyo hi-fi systems. Besides, the app permits wireless streaming of audio from personal computers and handsets.
Onkyo is, therefore, more advanced when it comes to remote controls and will make your entertainment system easy to navigate.
Connectivity Options
Yamaha Connectivity Options
Here are the main connectivity options compatible with most Yamaha speakers:
- Bluetooth
- Wi-Fi
- RCA
- HDMI
Onkyo Connectivity Options
Onkyo receivers have several connectivity options to take care of the analog and digital features.
They are therefore compatible with older devices and the modern class of devices. Some of the vital connectivity features include:
- USB ports
- HDMI ports
- Wi-Fi
Power Range
Yamaha Power Range
The power range for an average floor-standing Yamaha speaker is around 100 watts to 200 watts. However, a Yamaha bookshelf speaker has a power range of 200-600 watts.
Onkyo Power Range
Onkyo receivers have several connectivity options to take care of the analog and digital features.
They are therefore compatible with older devices and the modern class of devices. Some of the vital connectivity features include:
- USB ports
- HDMI ports
- Wi-Fi
Frequency Response
Yamaha Frequency Response
Yamaha audio equipment have a general frequency range of about 28 Hz-25kHz.
Onkyo Frequency Response
The frequency response is varied depending on the device. For instance, the speakers have a frequency response of between 50Hz to 20kHz.
Conclusion
Yamaha is one of the oldest audio companies in the world today, but they have only grown better over the years. They have a range of diversified products, including musical instruments and professional and personal audio products. On the other hand, although the build quality of Onkyo can be less than desirable, the vintage brand manufactures audiophile-grade sound systems. They are, however, costly.