Onkyo TX-8020 Receiver

I was assembling a music system for a bedroom about 18 by 13 feet and did not want to spend an inordinate amount. But the system had to sound good without taking up much space. I came across a pair of refurbished satellite Focal Domes available at a steep discount and decided to take a chance. The Focals have some excellent professional reviews in a 2.1 configuration but several reviews recommended an amp capable of 4 ohm output to drive the Focals.This is a tall order at a budget level. This was when the Onkyo came in. The 8020’s manual states that it is capable of driving “low lmpedence” speakers and could be configured for 4 ohms. It is the only receiver selling for $120 I found that is capable of this.I was also impressed by one owner review here that said he was driving a pair of Magnapans with the 8020. These speakers have a reputation for great sound matched by the difficulty it presents to amplifiers.The 8020 makes my Focals sing. CD’s and vinyl sound great. It delivers as much power for a level of loudness I or my neighbors can stand, it is simple to set up and use and it’s great to have a subwoofer output, sparing me the hassle of running an additional pair of speaker wire.An additional bonus is terrific FM reception which had been horrible in the bedroom with a 20 year old receiver that was about to give up the ghost. Many stations now come in with pristine clarity.The only things I’ve found to be less than ideal is the lack of a convenience outlet and the tiny and difficult to read labels for the controls. But this is really nitpicking.The 8020 has been perfect for my intended application.

I'll confess, I'm an Onkyo fan. I had the TX-8255 Onkyo receiver, and happily listened to it for years. I then got the A-9010, and love that int/amp, and still have it. I've got a Schiit Vidar/Saga amp/preamp in my main listening room now, and it's more powerfull than the 9010, but the 9010 does sound more livelier and sweeter really, and I'm always thinking of putting the 9010 back in the main spot, and putting the Schiit system back with my computer, where the 9010 is at now. I recently sold my Onkyo TX-8255 to a friend that wanted something to hook to his big screen TV for better sound. Well I seen this TX-8020, which is an updated version of the 8255, and thought what the heck I can always use a receiver with a AM/FM tuner around the place, so I bought it, and at $119 it's a real steal. I've got it setup in my smaller computer room with a pair of NHT SuperZero 2.1 speakers, and it sounds fantastic. I'm going to get a pair of NHT SuperOne 2.1 speakers to go with it for a little more bass. In a smaller room the Onkyo 8020, and the NHT Zeros or Ones are a hard combo to beat. I tend to listen to music more in my computer room now with the Onkyo/NHT system. I plan on putting the 8020 in service with my computer, and using the 9010 with the NHT Ones as my extra computer room system, and it maight become the main system really, because I can get better sound in my computer room.Update 8-3-2019:I've got a pair of Elac UB5's hooked to the TX-8020. The Elacs are known for for needing a good amount of power to drive, but the 8020 is handling good so far. The Elacs are 4 ohm, and the 8020 is not rated for 4 ohm as far as I know, but I've got the volume is set at about 63, and the Elacs are playing pretty loud in my computer room which is 16x16. The top of the 8020 is getting pretty hot with the Elacs playing at high volume.Update 8-9-2019:Got the Onkyo TX-8020 hooked to a pair of Elac UB5's and a DOT 2nd gen that is hooked to the Onkyo with a 3.5mm to RCA splitter streaming amazon prime music, SiriusXM, and Spotify, and have Bluetooth from my PC going to the Dot to play audio from the computer. Man, what a Jukebox. Modern times suck in a lot of ways, but we got great music options. Love it!Update 8-10-2019:Just moved my TX-8020 to my computer with a AudioQuest Dragonfly Red DAC and Cambridge Audio SX-50 speakers, and it sounds fantastic. I have a Onkyo A-9010 integrated Amp that I had hooked to my computer, but it's sound quality is better, It's one hell of an int/amp. I moved the 9010 to the other side of the computer room with the Elac UB5's, and it handles the 4ohm Elacs better, and runs cooler. Don't get me wrong, the TX-8020 is a steal, and it sounds amazing. I could be totally happy with just the 8020, it's great, plus it has FM radio, and I get pretty good reception with it. If somebody asked me what stereo to get with the best sound for the best price, I'd say the Onkyo TX-8020 and the NHT SuperOne 2.1 bookshelf speakers. That'll give you a real Hi-Fi sound for not much money.

The Panasonic boombox I used as my bedroom stereo finally died so instead of buying another boombox, or a small bookshelf sized all-in-one (and risking inferior sound quality) I decided to rebuild my home stereo, most of the components having been in storage for several years. First up was replacing my retired Denon stereo receiver (RIP!) with the Onkyo TX-8020. And what a wise investment, particularly for the price! I hooked up my Mirage M-190 speakers and a Panasonic DVD/CD player I had in storage – an incredibly basic set up - and could hardly believe the crystal clear sound. Though I have a Yamaha subwoofer and 10 band equalizer in storage, there was absolutely no need for them. Not only does the TX-8020 sound awesome, but it is a sturdy, durable and handsome receiver. My wife quipped that it was “sexy”. I’m not sure what that means, but like other reviewers have said, this unit really does harken back to the old receivers/stereo units of seemingly bygone days. Simple to set up, simple to navigate, no frills and, as mentioned, it has a good heft to it, weight-wise, in a sturdy metal casing. I could go on and on, but if you’re looking for a simple stereo receiver with great looks and sound with ample inputs (including phono), nothing fancy – and not breaking the bank for it, this is definitely for you. One thing I would suggest, though, is to get some decent mid-price speakers to optimize its sound. At 50 watts per channel the TX-8020 can drive some nice speakers.ADDENDUM: After several months use I should add that the TX-8020’s FM radio has proved to be very satisfying. I play a weaker-frequency college radio station (rock, jazz, blues, classical, avant garde, you name it) and the signal, using the provided antennae, comes thru crystal clear with the excellent sound quality that I have come to expect from the TX-8020. I should also add that I have since switched out my CD player with the Onkyo C-7030. This, after reading the steller reviews. It pairs beautifully, not only aesthetically, and has the solid no-frills functionality that makes the TX-8020 such a success. The only drawback I can tell with the TX-8020 is that there is no optical input. The C-7030 CD player has an optical output and it would be preferable to connect it to the receiver that way. I don’t think of myself as having too discerning an ear (well, maybe a little more than the average Joe), so not sure if connecting via optical versus RCA would make THAT much of a difference, but it would be nice to have the option.