Onkyo vs Marantz – Which A/V Receiver is the Right Choice for You?

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Today we’re going to be taking a look at the overall quality of two big A/V receiver brands, Onkyo and Marantz. Onkyo is best known for being a go-to brand for people looking for a budget A/V receiver, whereas Marantz mainly sells somewhat more higher end products with higher quality components. Which one is the right A/V receiver brand for you? Let’s find out.

Onkyo vs Marantz – Build Quality

Both brands of A/V receivers are actually pretty similar when it comes to build quality. Despite their cheaper devices being made out of cheaper materials, Onkyo and Marantz still make reliably durable receivers that should give you a few years of great use when hooked up to your main set-up.

However, it has to be said that Onkyo does have a rather infamous issue when it comes to faulty HDMI boards that need to be solved either through replacement or repair, which can be pricey either way.

Because of that, I have to give the prize in this category to Marantz as their receivers are far less prone to failure.

Onkyo vs Marantz – Extra Features

Many Onkyo and Marantz receivers come with extra features that really give you a sense of convenience. Various voice command systems like Google Assistant or Alexa are compatible with many of their products.

Generally speaking though, I do find the system interfaces of Marantz A/V receivers to be easier to use, plus they generally allow you to configure your settings faster. Onkyo receivers are a little slower to navigate.

Ultimately, while it was pretty close, I have to say that Marantz would be the slightly better choice for someone who is looking for an audio receiver that will satisfy them with useful and responsive quality of life features.

Onkyo vs Marantz – Sound Quality

This will probably be the deciding factor for you. I can say without a doubt that Onkyo receivers and Marantz receivers do indeed sound pretty different from each other. That’s mostly due to differences in wattage or pre-amplifiers, as well as the differences in what equalizer they use.

When it comes to Onkyo, their receivers have a little more wattage than Marantz’s in similar price ranges. That means your audio is going to get a little more of a boost to clarity and volume, which are definitely important factors to some people depending on their taste.

But with Marantz, I preferred their EQ. To be fair, their receivers actually do sound very good at completely flat settings, but Onkyo has recently been using their AccuEQ system, which really isn’t as good as many other equalizers.

Overall, when it comes to sound quality I prefer the Marantz, but I don’t think I can crown an objective winner here, as this is a very subjective comparison. Anyone who prefers the extra oomph provided by more wattage may feel more comfortable with the dynamic richness that many Onkyo products do offer.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, I think more people will be satisfied by going with a Marantz A/V receiver than an Onkyo. However, keep in mind that Marantz products are typically more expensive. If you are on a budget then I would recommend Onkyo as long as you keep the potentially faulty HDMI board in mind. But if you can afford one, a Marantz would be a great choice.