Onkyo does not just make amazing AV receivers but they also design fantastic integrated amplifiers which deliver exceptional sound quality at an affordable price. The Onkyo A-9110 is a worthy successor of the once popular best budget stereo amplifier the A-9010 and has taken all its strengths with a few improvements of its own. Still, no matter how talented an amplifier may be, it is nothing without a matching pair of speakers.
The Onkyo A-9110 needs to be matched with compatible speakers so that they can sound their finest due to their matching sonic characteristics. This is also why we need to learn more about the A-9110 amp, by further understanding its strengths and merits, we will then be able to list out the best speakers that you can go for and pair them with Onkyo A-9110 later on.
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Sonic Characteristics and Important Specifications of Onkyo A-9110
We love how clean and minimalistic the Onkyo A-9110 looks, allowing it to fit in nicely with most homes whether they are modern or minimal design. Furthermore, the aesthetics of the A-9110 makes it easier to match with most speakers as well but how good it sounds will matter more though. As a budget integrated amplifier, it has a decent power output of 50 Watts into 4 Ohms per channel and the frequency response is not bad as well, at 20Hz-20kHz. The frequency response with the Direct Mode activated is truly impressive which is at 10Hz to 100kHz (+1dB, -3dB). The limited power does only allow us to go for bookshelf speakers and will be scraping away the idea of pairing floor-standers to Onkyo A-9110. Fortunately, there is a subwoofer output where you can connect to an active subwoofer to boost the overall bass performance and reproduce deeper bass frequency.
Just like its predecessor, the Onkyo A-9110 doesn’t have a built-in DAC and it is analog only. It does have a MM phono input though so is good news for turntable users. The remote control does come in handy and is a neat feature to have. Is a pity that the A-9110 is not compact in size which would make it an ideal amplifier for listening rooms that have space constraints. The features may be limited but at this price point, we really can’t complain much.
More Details at Amazon – Onkyo A-9110 Integrated Stereo Amplifier
The class A/B amplifier of Onkyo A-9110 is no slouch, it is more than capable of delivering a clean-sounding music presentation with surprisingly weighty bass. The soundstage that it can project is wider than expected and has highly defined stereo imaging which precisely places each instrument on stage. At a higher volume, the Onkyo A-9110 remains composed and still sounds clean but some of the subtle musical nuances are not as clear. The music delivery becomes more detailed once we turn on the Direct Mode and the low frequency becomes a little more polite.
Without the Direct Mode, the bass performance of the Onkyo A-9110 is taut and agile, not to mention, there is scale and weight when it comes to very deep bass reproduction. To fully appreciate the A-9110 low-frequency prowess, it is recommended to integrate an active subwoofer into the mix. The vocals are cleanly delivered as well with a nice timbre. The highs are crisp and clean, can be bright-sounding at times but fortunately, it never reaches a level of cringe. When playing vinyl, we do find the overall sound reproduction lacking a little warmth, other than that, it is still enjoyable to listen to.
In terms of sonic performance, you are getting quite a lot of value from this budget integrated amplifier. The Onkyo A-9110 overall sound quality is better (not by much) than its predecessor A-9010, and if we were to choose, we will definitely go with the former. We will also definitely mix in an active subwoofer so as to fully utilize the A-9110 bass reproduction capabilities. These data will be enough for us to start sharing with you the best speakers that you can match with your Onkyo A-9110. The prices of these speakers will also be taken into account and they will be as close to the price range of this Onkyo stereo amplifier as possible.
Onkyo A-9110 Specifications
- Power Outputs: 50 Watts per channel at 4 Ohms
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz, 10Hz–100 kHz (+1dB, -3dB, Direct Mode)
- Inputs: 1 MM Phono input, 4 Analog inputs
- Outputs: 1 Headphone output, 1 Subwoofer output, 1 Analog output
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 435mm x 129mm x 330mm (17.1″ × 5.1″ × 13″)
- Weight: 7kg (15.4lbs)
Best Speakers to pair with Onkyo A-9110
The Q Acoustics 3010i is one of the best speakers to pair with the Onkyo A-9110. The 3010i is one of the very top bookshelf speakers with exceptional sound quality at a price that will fit most budgets. These are expressive speakers with plenty of energy and are eager to entertain their listeners which complements the Onkyo amp really well. The Q Acoustics stand-mounters also have a good sense of musical timing. They may be compact in size but they are capable of delivering ample low-frequency reproduction. The Q Acoustics 3010i is pretty refined as well which makes them ideal for stereo music playbacks.
More Details at Amazon – Q Acoustics 3010i Compact Bookshelf Speaker
This is another expressive bookshelf speaker delivering a more exciting music presentation of your favorite tunes, the Dali Spektor 2 is a fantastic match to your Onkyo A-9110 amplifier. It has the alacrity and finesses to deliver music with such impressive dynamics that engages you and simply makes you want to keep feeding them with more songs. Their musical timing may be a bit more confident but the overall music presentation is still balanced. The Dali Spektor 2 are energetic performers and their treble does not sound harsh at any volume, complementing the Onkyo A-9110 and providing you an entertaining sonic performance.
More Details at Amazon – DALI SPEKTOR 2 Bookshelf Speaker
The Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 is another award-winning bookshelf speaker that provides excellent sound quality at an affordable price. More importantly, it helps to add some warmth into the overall sound reproduction which suits the Onkyo A-9110 amp really well especially if you are planning to play your turntable/vinyl via this sound system. The Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 is capable of delivering a smooth-sounding music presentation and is also forgiving to bad recordings. The fluidity of the music delivery also comes with plenty of details which makes it even more pleasant to listen to this pair of talented speakers.
More Details at Amazon – Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 Black Oak Bookshelf Speaker
The beautiful and stylish KEF Q350 is able to project a spacious and open soundstage that can easily fill it with rich musical details. The level of clarity of this pair of KEF bookshelf speakers is impressive, able to clearly produce subtle details. Other than their amazing insights, the KEF Q350 is also capable of delivering large-scale sound with clean deep bass reproduction. The sonic characteristics of the Q350 stand-mounters are well-suited to be used by the Onkyo A-9110 and we will recommend adding a high-quality subwoofer into the mix, and with that, you got yourself a really remarkable 2.1 sound system.
More Information at Amazon – KEF Q350 Bookshelf Speakers
Klipsch R-41M is a pair of bookshelf speakers that have garnered plenty of praise over the years, all thanks to its high sonic performance at a very affordable price point. It is one of the very best budget speakers to partner up with your Onkyo A-9110 especially if you want more clarity and like to crank up the volume. The high speaker sensitivity of the Klipsch R-41M enables the Onkyo A-9110 to drive these compact stand-mounters with ease. It is really rare for such a small and affordable bookshelf speaker to have such high efficiency. Integrate an active sub and you can play your favorite music at high volumes all day. They can be bright-sounding and we will suggest hearing them out first.
More Details at Amazon – Klipsch R-41M Detailed Bookshelf Speaker
It is highly recommended to add an active subwoofer to pair up with your Onkyo A-9110 as most budget/entry-level bookshelf speakers are unable to dig deep into the bass extension and/or produce a satisfying level of bass output. For most music genres, a sealed subwoofer will suffice and you can go with the same brand as your speakers for seamless integration, but if you want more performance and power, then you might want to check out SVS. They are one of the top subwoofer brands in the world, and all SVS subwoofers are solid performers at their own price range. You can check out their entry-level SVS SB-1000 Pro, better yet, have an audition with SB-1000 Pro, and find out how powerful it is.
More Info at Amazon – SVS SB-1000 Pro Sealed Subwoofer
To Sum It Up
These speakers are some of the best that can be driven by Onkyo A-9110’s limited power and are close to the price range of this integrated amp. The listed speakers may be affordable and most of them are considered budget options but their sonic prowess is above average and can even beat some other speakers that cost more than them. You should shortlist a few of these listed speakers and arrange an audition to hear them out, only after listening to how they sound then you can start seriously considering.
