CC lemoned out my Onkyo TX-DS939!

[Lowpro]

I've had the TX-DS939 for about 5 years now. I've taken it in for service 4 times now for a simple problem with the volume control motor. It would periodically stop working which was a major pain. Kind of lame to spend that kind of money on a receiver and have to get up off the couch to adjust the volume manually. :-P Each and everytime I put this unit in for servce CC would not just order the part and actually fix it claiming they could not simulate the problem. They did order the part this time around, but supposedly Onkyo shipped the part out to CC over a month ago. It got lost somewhere along the way evidently. After 3 days of constant calling to the service center to get an update on what the heck is going I finally got a resolution, mind you I would have been happy just having my 939 fixed.

To my suprise the service center lemoned my 939 out yesterday and so I went to CC to talk about a replacement. The current flagship receiver from Onkyo is the TX-DS989ver2. Only problem is it sells for $3500. I was given a store credit for the full amount of my original purchase 4 plus years ago of $2700. This was plenty to purchase a decent replacement, but not the current flagship receiver. I don't think I've ever experienced such a high degree of customer service as I did on this particular occasion. (I was even in my Best Buy shirt as I stopped by there on the way home from work.) The long and short of it is, they found an e-commerce return 989ver2 at another store location about 20 minutes away. They sold me that unit for $2700 making it an even swap. I purchased a 5 year service plan on it as well which only cost $70 bucks. I had several months left on my service plan for the 939 and they applied what I had left to the 5 year service for the 989. Not bad eh ... $70 bucks out the door to upgrade from the 939 to the 989ver2 with a 5 year protection plan. I have not had much time with it yet, but I did finish initial setup and started testing it out with various audio sources. Can't wait to get home from work tonight and watch a movie from start to finish. Have not even messed with the remote yet other than to work the unit itself. Hopefully it should not be too difficult to program it. :-P

[pradike]

Originally posted by Lowpro
The current flagship receiver from Onkyo is the TX-DS989ver2. Only problem is it sells for $3500. I was given a store credit for the full amount of my original purchase 4 plus years ago of $2700. This was plenty to purchase a decent replacement, but not the current flagship receiver. I don't think I've ever experienced such a high degree of customer service as I did on this particular occasion. (I was even in my Best Buy shirt as I stopped by there on the way home from work.) The long and short of it is, they found an e-commerce return 989ver2 at another store location about 20 minutes away. They sold me that unit for $2700 making it an even swap. I purchased a 5 year service plan on it as well which only cost $70 bucks. I had several months left on my service plan for the 939 and they applied what I had left to the 5 year service for the 989. Not bad eh ... $70 bucks out the door to upgrade from the 939 to the 989ver2 with a 5 year protection plan. I have not had much time with it yet, but I did finish initial setup and started testing it out with various audio sources. Can't wait to get home from work tonight and watch a movie from start to finish. Have not even messed with the remote yet other than to work the unit itself. Hopefully it should not be too difficult to program it. :-P
You are quite lucky to get it as a "swap-out"!

The TX-989v2 is an outstanding unit (I have one now for 3 months), and has superb performance, as well as a wide range of outputs and true THX ultra sound processing. I strongly recommend reading the owners manual cover to cover...settings are not too difficult - its just that there as so many things you can do, it takes time to go through them all!

If you've got the quality speakers to go with this industry-leading unit...you'll be VERY pleased indeed. I use mine to drive my 21' X 16" Home Theater with a Marantz DLP projector - incredible HDTV and THX sound.

Good luck - you should love this when you're all connected.

[57U]

The fact they can offer a warranty for $70, shows how very few problems there are with receivers.

[mikehbkwm]

man you got a good deal. very niceeeeeeeeeeeee...........

[fuzzy32]

Hi Lowpro. I have the Onkyo 989Ver2 as well. I've had it for just over 1 year and love it. You might of read about a 'fan noise' problem with this receiver that it runs too loud. Well Onkyo is aware of this problem and has a fix for it. By installing a zenor diode, the fan will run slower than before and much more silent. I have had this zenor diode installed (under warranty) and my 989Ver2 is whisper quiet. Happy listening. :)

[Lowpro]

Various quotes and responses incoming! :-)

"I strongly recommend reading the owners manual cover to cover...settings are not too difficult - its just that there as so many things you can do, it takes time to go through them all!"

No owners manual was included with the unit. I could have just downloaded the pdf once I got home, but CC printed out all 75 pages of the manual or so on their laser jet. Have a laser jet at home but heck, might as well use their paper and ink. :-) I know what you mean. Compared to my 939 it is a bit much. Having owned the 939 it was quite easy to get things set up, but the first thing I want to take time and do is read through the entire manual. Definately need to make sure I know all of what it can do so I can take the most advantage of it.

"The fact they can offer a warranty for $70, shows how very few problems there are with receivers."

Ain't that the truth! Most of the home audio products seem to be that way regardless of price point even. Same at BB. I actually had 4 months of service left on my 939. I think the full price for the 5 year was $100. They transfered my service plan from the 939 to the 989 basically and for $70 I extended it out for 5 full years of coverage. I assumed I would not be able to apply the 4 months left on my 939. Damn they pulled out all the stops for me. I think I'll wear my Best Buy uniform when I stop by CC more often!

"You might of read about a 'fan noise' problem with this receiver that it runs too loud. Well Onkyo is aware of this problem and has a fix for it. By installing a zenor diode, the fan will run slower than before and much more silent. I have had this zenor diode installed (under warranty) and my 989Ver2 is whisper quiet."

Very good information regarding this unit. Thanks. Any chance my unit might already use this zenor diode that fixes the problem or has Onkyo only been doing this for people that ask for it?

[fuzzy32]

I think you have to ask for it.

[Lowpro]

Thanks. So far this unit is quiet as a mouse. Well the fan that is. :-P I'm really in awe so far to tell you the truth. With the 989 it is like I've upgraded all of my speakers as well. They are really getting a workout and I've been amazed at the range of performance they are capable of. I thought I was really putting them to work with the 939. Boy was I wrong!

[fuzzy32]

Have you input any macros into your remote? It is AWESOME!!!! With the touch of a button I can turn my whole system on with every component set to the right input. Love my 989Ver2.:)

[Lowpro]

No macros as of yet. I actually programmed the 989 to my 939 remote I still have. I've used it for so long I'm really used to it. Already have the 989 functions down by feel on my 939 remote ... no backlit remote required. :-P I did program the 989 remote for everything when I first got it minus the macros. Will have to try that out for fun. Sounds neat.

[MikeRiley]

LowPro: I've had the 989 for a couple of years now, and had the fan-fix and the v2 upgrade. You are now the owner of one of the most amazing pieces of hi-fi gear ever.

The fan noise problem was noticeable during quieter moments in the audio; for example, when people are talking but music and FX are not playing. As the unit heats up (and it does; have you seen the capacitors in this sucker?!) the fan comes on more often, and you would actually hear it revving up and slowing down. After the fix, the sound of the fan is so low most people never notice it again.

As for the remote control for the 989, I can tell you this: I've used, programmed, beta-tested, and written about dozens of universal remote controls over the last five years, and I still prefer my 989 over all of them. It has a limited capacity for macros compared to some other models that have enough memory to start up a 747 one step at a time... but unless your gear has "discrete" input controls, you are generally limited to less exotic macros, like for powering on. I don't use macros much for that reason. Even for powering on, I know of only a couple of remotes that "remember" if your TV is on or off anyway.

What the remote has that makes it so advantageous is two sets of nav controls, and a complete set of discrete input buttons so you can switch between component inputs super-fast. And it learns almost any device command you throw at it.


But enough about remotes. Is that not one beautfiul sounding toy?

[Lowpro]

"But enough about remotes. Is that not one beautfiul sounding toy?"

Yes it is! Unfortunately I took it back for the TX-SR800 and liquated the rest of my CC store credit to use for other things. I needed the cash more than I needed the 989. The TX-SR800 is a step up from my 939 and I now have almost 2k in the bank I would not have had otherwise. I would like to get back into the 989 one day. Perhaps in a year or two. :-(