Onkyo C-7030 Home Audio CD Player

I ordered this player and a Yamaha CD-S300 at the same time. I expected to use the Yamaha as my primary deck, and either send this one back, or if it was halfway decent, keep it as a backup unit. Things didn't go exactly as planned.It turned out that this Onkyo unit sounded every bit as good as the Yamaha, and perhaps, just a tad better.I played Telarc DDD discs on this for evaluation purposes. This deck, and the Yamaha, were was plugged into an Apt Holman preamp/Apt 1 power amp, and output to Klipsch LaScala speakers. Cabling to the speakers is Vampire Wire (constructed of four 13AWG conductors. Each conductor is made from 277 strands of wire. Each of the four conductors is formed from three bundles of OFHC, and three bundles of silver plated OFHC. The four conductors are joined to make 2 conductors, which are rated at 10AWG. This cable is laid out in a Star Quad configuration, which is a superior method to attenuate EMI (electromagnetic interference). I also used the same type of RCA cables to connect the Onkyo and the Yamaha to the preamp. Essentially, with this test setup, you will hear ANY flaw introduced by a component.Both units were dead silent when the discs were between tracks, or when passages were as quiet as 3 db. Neither unit had the slightest hiss or hum. Bass was tight, midrange was clear, and the highs were bright without being harsh. Remember, the test speakers are fully horn loaded, so if a deck exhibits any harshness, it will be immediately evident. There was none.On some vocals, the Yamaha seemed just the slightest bit "muddy," but not so much that it would be noticed if it wasn't in a head to head, A:B comparison with another deck. The Yamaha is a fine deck, worth every penny. But here's the rub: The Onkyo is HALF the price of the Yamaha, and it is SOLID. It weighs in at about 12 lbs, compared to the Yamaha's roughly 10 lbs. The DACs are the same one used by Bob Carver(Wolfsons), while the Yamaha uses Bur-Browns. Both exhibit high quality.I put both units through their paces, playing a range of music, form classical to jazz to acoustic, and honestly, the differences were hardly worth mentioning.The Yamaha has a remote that is a horror show to use in low light (the labeling of the buttons is nearly invisible), and it has some firmware issues. The Onkyo exhibits neither of these problems. So really, why spend the extra money when the performance isn't any different.One thing that might make a difference to some people: the Onkyo will not accept a jump drive, and the Yamaha will. On the other hand, the Onkyo will play CDs in lossless format. That is more important to me than the USB port sported by the Yamaha. You might have different priorities.I did note one issue with the Onkyo, and I will be calling their customer support to see if it a problem. When I push the >> or the << buttons on the remote, there is a very brief electrical "pop" or static noise. It happens when I first push the button, and again when I release it. No other button on the remote exhibits this quirk. If this is a minor defect (and I expect it is), I will return the unit for an exchange, and buy a second one at the same time. The Yamaha is being returned tomorrow. It's not that it's a bad unit. It's not. I just hate the remote, hate the quirks with the firmware, and can't see spending $255 for a deck that has its performance duplicated by one costing $139. Having 2 units will allow me to queue up a 2nd disc, and it will also serve as a backup.Seriously, folks. I suspect you would be happy with either of these decks, and they both provide a level of performance unexpected in a deck costing under $600 . For me, the lack of a USB port is not an issue, but the ability to play lossless format CDs is important, so the Onkyo is a natural choice. And as I said, I am going to own two of them, so I am putting my money where my review is.Should anything change, I will update this review.Update: I sent my first back to Amazon because Onkyo said that little electrical pop was a defect, and I should return the deck. I purchased a PAIR of them, and they were tested today. Results: 1. BOTH decks have that little static pop when using >> or <<. It wasn't a defective unit, it is a design flaw.2. Occasionally, just before the music begins to play, there is a soft "click" from the left channel. It is in the exact same spot when I play the disc on the second deck. Almost every disc seems to have one or two of these. And when I play them again, the click is still there 90% of the time, and it doesn't matter which deck I am using.Seriously, Onkyo, you used top shelf components to build a sweet-sounding deck. How about going the last few steps to make sure the design is glitch-free? Do you even test the designs before they go into production? And do you test products coming off the production line?I know you have heard about these issues more than once. How about listening to your customers? We should NOT have to serve as your QA department.I deducted one star from my review because of these ongoing issues. I will keep readers posted if anything changes.Update 11/25/14 I am adding that star back.These decks sound simply wonderful. I now have one in my home theater setup, which is currently configured with a pair of Klipsch LaScala mains, a Belle Klipsch center,NXG 12 500W powered subwoofer, and two Klipsch Heresys for rear speakers, raised 3' off the floor. I plugged in a Yamaha RX765 for a power source for the day, and I spent a few hours today just listening to the subtle detail of which this deck is capable. I bought two in case one catches fire, blows up, etc. I really, really, REALLY love this CD player.The other is going into a pure audio system, with a Thorens turntable, Klipsch K-Horn mains, a Klipsch Cornwall center, and Klipsch Heresys for rear speakers on a digital delay. Apt Holman electronics. Seriously, I cannot say enough good things about this deck.

Well, not really. I couldn't afford to buy Onkyo but I did end up buying TWO C-7030's. And that's after buying a couple of Onkyo's S5VL SACD players. Now, SSD's insanely clever review made me take notice of the C-7030- again, this is after I had already fallen in love with the S5VL Player. I really thought that one would have been my last player-but I have to admit that SSD hit a lot of pertinent technical issues that swayed me into buying this unit, and then buying a back-up. The main issue, of course was sound. Although I did not have the 7030 and the S5VL set up side by side, some of the Classic Rock and Jazz I listen too, I know backwards and forwards, and I've got particular cd editions 'sound' burned into my brain. So when I put into the 7030 the Canadian MCA issue of The Who 'Who's Next', the one mastered by Steve Hoffman, and hit the play button, I knew that at the very Least, the 7030 sounded as good and 'Smooth' as the S5VL. What put this unit permanently into my stereo rack instead of the S5VL, is it's human interfaceity......(Yeah, I just made that one up....but it works!)#1-I absolutely LOVE the electronic power button! After powering on ONCE, and setting the 'auto off' feature (in the set up menu) I never have to touch the power button again! It turns itself off after 30 minutes of no activity-brilliant! When i want to play a cd, I just hit the 'eject' button, the unit turns on and I go to town. AND,,,,,,,AND......IT ACT'S LIKE A CD PLAYER! THE #1 thing that bugged me about the SACD player is that ever present hesitation after pushing a button before it does anything. SSD confirmed for me that it is the familiar characteristic of a DVD transport as opposed to a transport designed just for the compact disc. And I'm sorry, after I hit the 'Skip' button on my player I don't want to wait 1/2 second for the unit to respond......it just plain drives me nuts. Now, I am keeping one of the S5VL's for the future, even though I don't have very many SACD's. But what I will do is start replacing the couple of Good SACD's I have with either Hybrid discs of those titles, or just bag it. Heck, to me the SACD of Stevie Ray's 'Texas Flood' sounds EXACTLY the same (excellent fidelity) as the recent two disc Sony 'Legacy' Redbook edition. And I really mean that. And my Rolling Stones Abkco Hybrids Sacd Layer does NOT sound much different/better than the CD layer. If the SACD layer sounded Much better than I wouldn't be typing this right now.So, again, As SSD said something about how the whole, and how it's been put together, being much better than a 'normal' player in this price range is in my case true. And also, I think the remote is just fine, kind of classy if you ask me.....better, much better than those all too familiar short stubby remotes that look like a squashed canary bird. Oh, and the second player I bought from Amazon...........$151.......One heck of a deal!!My amp: Onkyo M-282My Pre: Yamaha C-80My speakers: Mirage OMD-28's (yeah, the big Daddies!!)My TT: Music Hall MMF5.1 w/AT120E Cartridge (what a deal THAT cartridge was at $69!!)Happy Holidays to Everyone!!!!!!!Gerard MastersJanuary 2013 Update:Well, I just bought my 3rd 7030 last night off of WarehouseDeals-$133 and free shipping! How a can a you a beat that? I've also decided to sell the last SV5l SACD player as i'm never going to be able to live with the ergonomics of it. And Now that i've lived with the 7030 for months now, it's an absolute Joy. I'm listening to the Dave Brubeck Quartet right now and the player continues to impress me at it's honest and full bodied (when playing a well recorded and mastered cd) character. Very Smooooth sounding without any, and I really mean ANY hint of Treble/High End Harshness or lack of good solid Bass when it's there in the recording. I actually toyed with the idea this past weekend of buying, for schrins and giggles, the Marantz CD5004, which I could get a refurbed on line for $249 + $13 shipping. But in reading the limited reviews out there two posters in the Steve Hoffman site stated that their 5004 units would not play the Redbook Layer of a HyBrid SACD. In Fact, one of them said that he tried 20 of his discs and the Marantz would not recognize 11 of them! That was the straw, because even if it did sound marginally better than the Onkyo, why would I limit myself to such frustration when the Onkyo literally takes any disc I throw at it and plays it without a whimper? So, now I have a third unit and again, couldn't be happier. Getting something this good sounding with this kind of build quality at a ridiculously low price is making this 54 year old feel like a kid in a candy store all over again. And......my wife didn't argue at all because of the price!!Gerard Masters