Onkyo P80 preamp and M80 power amp

Introduction

To celebrate its 80th anniversary (est. 1946), Onkyo has launched the P80 power amplifier and M80 preamplifier as part of its new Icon series.

Receiving the pre and power amp reminded me of my youth in the 1970s, when I attended a hi-fi show in London and saw Japanese amplifiers with large, fabulous VU meters dominating their front panels. JVC was one of the brands etched in my memory, and I just drooled. VU meters have been in and out of fashion for decades, and currently they seem to be in vogue again.

The Onkyo M80 power amplifier sports two large VU meters whose sensitivity can be adjusted and whose illumination can be dimmed as desired. Retro chic indeed. Cool as they are, they are purely cosmetic. Power-wise, it’s a 130W class A/B design using a Darlington three-stage amplifier into an 8 Ohm load. It is a traditional design Onkyo has stuck with because it performs well.

The P80 preamplifier is a different kettle of fish, though, with up-to-date features to entice buyers to take the plunge. The P-80 has built-in versatility as a network preamplifier, with seamless connectivity to cater for modern listeners. These features include;

• Built-in Dirac Live Room Correction Suite Stereo
• Spotify Connect device to link with Spotify easily
• Support for Spotify, Tidal and Qobuz music streaming
• Apple AirPlay 2
• Amazon Prime Music
• Roon Ready Support built-in

The P-80 includes Dirac Live Room Correction Suite Stereo, offering frequency response correction from 500Hz to 20kHz and support for Dirac Live Bass Control via dual subwoofer outputs. This powerful feature adapts playback to your room’s unique acoustics, delivering a truly immersive, personalised listening experience. I didn’t dwell on this feature, preferring to concentrate on the duo’s stereo capabilities in their simplest form. A mic was provided to set up DIRAC, but the controller app was temperamental for me, so I didn’t use it and felt it was unnecessary in my situation.

I downloaded the Onkyo Controller app to my Samsung phone, and after a fair amount of fiddling, I got it working reasonably well. It wasn’t the slickest software I have used. I tried it briefly with moderate success using my Amazon Prime Music account, but streaming isn’t my main source of music. Software interfaces are vital, and if an application doesn’t perform well, then I tend not to bother.

The other inputs were far more useful to me. An onboard DAC, HDMI ARC input, MM/MC phono stage and a good range of network audio options if you so wish.

You can use the tone controls, but I left them in defeat.

Some Things Never Change

I had XLR balanced leads between the Onkyo P80 preamp and M80 power amp.  With my Audio Research CD5, I played Supertramp’s 1997 album Some Things Never Change. The opening track, It’s a Hard World, has a tremendous bass line that really tests your system and always makes me smile. The whole album is superbly recorded, as usual with Supertramp. The Onkyo responded well, with no lack of power, and filled my listening room effortlessly. Detail was abundant, and it laid out a good, deep soundstage. The sound never became harsh and felt easy and comfortable overall.

Robbie Robertson’s 219 CD Sinematic is a newer discovery for me, and it’s superbly recorded and a very interesting album. Equally interesting are the instrumentals on the album, such as the closing track, Remembrance, featuring the guest guitarists, Derek Trucks and Doyle Bramhall II. It plays as a lament. A beautiful, melodic, sad lament.

The phono stage also performed well and was versatile, having both MM and MC to cover all bases. I recently acquired Alison Krauss and Union Station Live on vinyl because it has a reputation as a superb recording. I’ve had it on CD for some years, but having the vinyl copy is a real bonus if you have a good setup. A twenty-four-year-old album, it truly highlights Union Station’s sublime musicianship and Alison Krauss’ voice. Bluegrass is hugely popular in the US but maybe not so much here in the UK. The concert opens with “Let Me Touch You for a While.” Kraus’ crystalline soprano (with subtle vibrato) is front and centre. Her emotional urgency is palpable, and the acoustic instrumentation is excellent. She joins her stellar band on violin for the classic bluegrass arrangement of Choctaw Hayride. Dulcet vocals and pop sensibility shine on The Lucky One, a long-standing Alison Krauss and Union Station staple. I never tire of this album and its sheer quality.

Outlandos D’Amour

In stark contrast, I put the Police’s first album, Outlandos D’Amour, released in November 1978. This raw-sounding LP roughly translates to “Outlaws of Love”. The breakthrough album featured massive hit singles including Roxanne, Can’t Stand Losing You, and So Lonely, launching the trio into global stardom. At 48 years old, this album makes me feel old, but the music still feels as fresh as it did back then. The Onkyo was smooth and detailed, with the intended vibrancy and the hypnotic Reggae beats so characteristic of the band’s style. I used both my Shure V15 iii with a Jico Super Analogue Stylus (SAS) Profile Tip (MM) and my Hana SL MK2 (MC) on my Technics SL1300G, and both worked without a hitch through the P-80 and M-80.

Overall

In conclusion, the Onkyo P-80 and M-80 offer a strong, well-specified combination for running your system. They offer great value at £1349 for the P-80 and £1449 for the M-80. Onkyo has retained classic 70s styling and updated it with modern features and technology to stay relevant. Onkyo subjects the Icon Series to over 150 rigorous internal tests, including extensive software verification and continuous-operation trials. This ensures every product meets the highest standards of performance and reliability.

With the Icon Series, Onkyo reaffirms its dedication to delivering audio equipment that exceeds expectations in both form and function. If you crave nostalgia with modern reliability and features, then look no further.