ONKYO 3400 vs. Onkyo TX-SR308 + Pure Acoustics dream nano

[sumitagarwal19]

Please suggest me to choose between the two:

1. Onkyo 3400 package - INR25K
2. Onkyo TX-SR308 AV receiver + Pure Acoustics dream nano speakers - INR35K

Or would someone recommend any other combo under 35K

Thanks

 

[saumitra]

I am no expert on HT. Still replying to this since I incidentally got a demo of exactly these two combos that you mentioned. I am planning to buy an entry level HTIB - those with the AVR & speakers combo. I was seriously considering the Onkyo HTS 3400 since I believed this was the best choice under 30k. So last weekend I visited the Onkyo showroom in Forum Value Mall and got a demo of HTS3400. I liked it, in general. But while playing the Guzarish (Hindi movie) audio CD that I had carried with myself, I somehow thought vocals were getting a bit suppressed. The guy saw my expression and asked my comments about how I liked it and when I mentioned this - he played the same from another system - basically the Onkyo Tx 308 AVR paired with Pure Acoustics speakers. It sounder much better in that system. The store guy quoted 36.9 k for that (you mentioned 35k). If I decide to increase my budget to 35k, I would like to go for that combo unless I find anything better within that price range (I think that is unlikely). I also tried the HTS5300 - it had much more punch, definitely that lack of clarity on vocals that I noticed in 3400 was not there. But somehow, per my first impression, I still liked that 308 + Pure Acoustics combo more for nusic.
Do share where you got these quotes for. For 3400, I got 24.9 k as the final quote.

 

[kneo]

What about movies - which of these is better for movies?

 

[saumitra]

What about movies - which of these is better for movies?

Out of this two the Onkyo AVR 308 + the Pure Acoustics speakers combo surely sounded better to me for both music and movies. The Pure Acoustics speaker set has an active/ powered sub-woofer, while the HTS3400s sub-woofer is a passive one.I actually felt the Onkyo AVR 308 + the Pure Acoustics speakers combo sounded much better than HTS3400 specially when listening to music. But then the Onkyo HTIB HTS3400 was not bad at all. Contrary to some of the comments I read in this forum I felt 3400 was very good for movies and ok for music. But then there is an 11k price difference between the two. And, if you take opinions of audio experts (or read the current/ recent threads), you may find instead of spending 36k for this combo, there may be better options within the 40k range.

 

[yahoo0212]

Get the Onkyo AVR 308 with speakers.... the former--HT package is not tat good compared to this one... You can buy the Pure Acoustics speakers... Anytime later you can sell these speakers and upgrade... But if u buy the speakers with HT 3400 chances are less that the speakers are sold easily...
Performance wise also Pure Acoustics speakers are better.

 

[anilkc2000]

Was browing the threads for info on Onkyo S3400 and stumbled on this intersting comparison - HTIB vs entry level AVR. The conversation seem to have stopped abruptly a few months back - just wondering how did this exploration finally conclude ( assuming it did). @sumitagarwal19: can you share an update of what finally happened - what did you finally buy ?...what made you decide ?...from which dealer and for how much...how is it faring now ?...and also any shareable insights of your setup...thanks in advance

 

[shah_ss]

hi all
thanks for suggesting practical thoughts about s3400. i am new one just wanted to upgrade to a new av and spkr packages around, visited stores in mumbai and heard s3400 and yamaha. but was disappointed of onkyo speakr that come with HTs3400 package at30k.
i am planning to buy one budget @35k. please suggest me some good combinations/or HTB.
had listened sony philips etc in 20k range,but they are not a match for onkyo or to yamaha.
Appreciate if anyone in mumbai has installed this system,pl share dealers

I wish to spend my hard earned money only once hence confused whether i shud go for a HTB or only receiver and seperate speakers.

I had my philips home theater systems, if i just buy the Onky Receiver,can i connect other spearkrs to it ,and which is the best match.

Also has anybody tried JBL,Klipsch .
ALso does it make sense to buy in india or import via a friend from abroad?pl share pros and cons.

A few detailed suggestions appreciated.
Regds

 

[tasanjeev]

I would suggest a Denon 1312 and a pair of good bookself to start with.If you can stretch a bit, then buy a powered sub along with this combo.