Onkyo PA-MC5500 9 Channel THX Amplifier First Look

[admin]

When Onkyo released their PR-SC5508 THX Certified Processor, they didn't have to ask someone to build them an amp, they just ported over the THX Certified PA-MC5500 from the UK. The PA-MC5500 has nine channels of amplification rated at 150 watts each at 8 ohms driving a single channel into 1kHz. It may easy for some to dismiss the PA-MC5500 based on it's less-than-rigorous power ratings. Don't be dissuaded. At a paltry $1699 MSRP (and a street price sure to be less), the PA-MC5500 has plenty of power for most systems. Add to that the convenience of having all nine channels in a single box, the piece of mind that THX certification brings and the matching aesthetics to the new PR-SC5508 and you've got more than one consumer interested.

Discuss "Onkyo PA-MC5500 9 Channel THX Amplifier First Look" here. Read the article.

 

[dapack69]

I plan to get this by Christmas.

 

[ZeGhostbear]

German title includes "outstanding spatiality and enormous dynamics".

They give it a lot of pluses and only a couple of minuses (see very end of reivew). I guess they liked it a lot overall giving it their "Outstanding" seal.

 

[sholling]

150w @ 1khz w/1channel driven? That's a pretty dismal spec. I would think that something like a $700 Emotiva UPA-7 that does 125w @20-20khz w/all channels driven would just about have to eat the Onkyo's lunch. But who knows, maybe I'm missing something.

 

[dapack69]

Basically they just took the amp section from the 5007 and threw it into its own shell.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I think it looks great aesthetically, and 9 channels of amp is very cool.

It would have been nice if the power output is 150WPC x 9ch from 20Hz-20kHz @ < 1% THD.

 

[3db]

I'm not impressed by this amp and I think one can do much better else where. Personally, I would have liked to see more than 22000uF of capacitance on a 9 channel power amp. The other thing I find suspecty is their power rating at 1KHz. Why would they suddenly adopt this rating when their AVRs mention full audio bandwidth? The jury is out until thoroughly tested.

 

[kevon27]

This amp is for people who like to match their gear. If you have the newest onkyo pre/pro, you will get this amp to match. Now smart people will just go Emotiva and be done.

 

[dapack69]

This amp is for people who like to match their gear. If you have the newest onkyo pre/pro, you will get this amp to match. Now smart people will just go Emotiva and be done.

I have to agree with you there.