Onkyo PR-SC5507 AV pre/pro

[Panayotis Melas]

Greetings to eveyone in the Audioholics communiy.

Although I was reading the forum for a long time, I had not tried to be a member. I decided that today, and this is my first message.

I am in search of this new pre/pro, which is now selling in Europe. It has replaced the PR-SC886, which was a 7.1 processor, while this is a 9.2 one. I have seen its features and specs in Onkyo web site, but I am also looking for an opinion of the actual users.

My current system setup consists briefly of the following:

- Denon AVC-A1SE Integrated Amp (the equivalent of the previous AVR-5800 in US - used only as an AV pre/pro), upgraded with the KAVC-A1SE card, which provided better digital processing, Denon Link, multi-ch digital input, DPL II, Dolby Headphone, etc.
- Two NAD S200 power amps, one for each Front L-R speaker (bi-amplified)
- Two Anthem MCA-5 power amps for the Front Center and Surround speakers
- Mirage M3-si, M5-si, MC-si and OM-C2 speakers for Front L-R, Surround L-R, Front Center, Back Surround respectively.
- Toshiba HD-XE1 HD-DVD player (the European equivalent of the US model HD-XA1) with 5.1 analog out (currently used with Denon's no. 1 multi-ch input)
- Panasonic DMP-BD80 Blu-Ray player with 7.1 analog out (currently used with Denon's no. 2 multi-ch input)
- JVC DLA-RS2 HD Projector (the equivalent with the JVC HD100 unit, but from the JVC pro series)

plus several other components, that don't play any role in this topic.

My questions:

1) Sound quality. How will it compare with the analog outputs of my two HD players, if I use the HDMI connection from them to the Onkyo?
2) In connection with above: Signal processing. I know that the 5507 is equiped with Burr-Brown 192 kHz/32-Bit DACs (PCM1795 x 6) for All Channels, but I am not sure if this a better processing that the one integrated with the HD-DVD and BD players.
3) Video processing. How the HQV Reon performs? Is it preferable to use it for DVD playback or use my Toshiba HD-DVD instead with a direct pass-through mode? How about comparing it with the Toshiba and Panasonic internal video processing on HD material?

I am sorry if this post went too long.

Thanks in advance.

 

[adk highlander]

Check out this thread on the Integra DHC-80.1 that is essentially the same processor. RMK (the OP) has quite a bit of experience with a previous model the 9.8 and has used both the analog and HDMI connections.

I have the 885 now and will be either upgrading to the SC5507 or the yet to be released emotiva top of the line processor.

I found the REON to be the best scaler of non HD material with all of my previous gear. My projector now has the same scaler so now I use that instead of the 885.

 

[Panayotis Melas]

Adyssey room correction issue

Thanks, adk highlander, I saw the thread.

The guys there are talking a lot about the Audyssey system. How it is succesful or not and so on.

I was also having a long discussion with three friends of mine, two of them have had the 5507 and one has the previous model, the PR-SC886. Their opinions are contradictory. Two of them said that the Audyssey has worked fine and one is not much pleased with the results.

It seems that there are not firm opinions on it, right?

No matter what, the important thing for me is now to decide if I go for the purchase or not. That said, I need to find out if the money to be spent is an honest purchase or an exaggerated one.

 

[adk highlander]

Audyssey has worked well for me but I don't like the complete "black box" that it seems to be. I would like to view the curves and make manual adjustments without having to get the pro kit.

I would say if you have a complex room or dual subs there may be better/different systems out there to try. I've only used Audyssey and Pioneer's MCACC and out to the two Audyssey gave me much better results.

What is your room like and what speakers do you have?

 

[jomark911]

Pr sc 5007

Hi pete this is John markou, how are ya?
Greek magazine hitech , the latest , has onkyo tx nr 5007 , as presentation.
And the comments i may add are extraordinary.It seems that onkyo has put awfully lot of convenient stuff in the new models.And since the pr sc and tx nr , are the same thing , with and without power amplification , i would say pr sc , is a very good pre pro , to consider.If you wish i can have a word with the editor, so i can get some info from inside.
Never the less i think pr sc deserves your attention , in every aspect.

 

[Panayotis Melas]

Hi, there

Hi pete this is John markou, how are ya?
Greek magazine hitech , the latest , has onkyo tx nr 5007 , as presentation.
And the comments i may add are extraordinary.It seems that onkyo has put awfully lot of convenient stuff in the new models.And since the pr sc and tx nr , are the same thing , with and without power amplification , i would say pr sc , is a very good pre pro , to consider.If you wish i can have a word with the editor, so i can get some info from inside.
Never the less i think pr sc deserves your attention , in every aspect.

Hi, John

A very pleasant surprise to find you here, too. Thanks for the suggestion.

I' ll give you a call one of these days.

 

[jomark911]

Ok Pete i'll be here

 

[Panayotis Melas]

Today's experience

This evening (it's night time now, here in Greece), I visited a friend's house and we both checked the 5507 in full operating mode.

I can say that I was impressed. Although the volume had to be kept at low levels (baby in the house), the sound was clear and holographic.

We used a Denon DBP-2010 Blu Ray player, a Denon DVD-3910 universal player and an Adcom 5-ch power amplifier, driving Opera speakers.

One thing that had to be checked was the ability of the Onkyo to let the HD video signal from the player pass through, without being affected by the preamplifier's internal scaler. This was true and it is a benefit to my opinion.

We listened to Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby True HD 5.1, DTS Master Audio 5.1 and as we were going up from format to format, the sound was becoming better and better.

All in all, I was very pleased with what I received. It seems that I will soon be a 5507 owner.

 

[adk highlander]

Excellent. I'm glad you were able to text one out. I'm sure that will make your purchase much easier.

Please post some pics when you get it.

 

[Panayotis Melas]

Pictures

Excellent. I'm glad you were able to text one out. I'm sure that will make your purchase much easier.

Please post some pics when you get it.

I sure will, including my whole HT space. Just wait a little bit.

 

[Panayotis Melas]

Some pictures from Onkyo

I sure will, including my whole HT space. Just wait a little bit.

Meanwhile, I thought it would be good if I post some pictures from Onkyo site. The link for the 5507 is:

http://www.eu.onkyo.com/products/PR-SC5507.html

I tried to post the pictures, but they pop-up very big in size and they cover the whole screen. Half of each picture gets out of the screen borders and it would be difficult for someone to see them, so I removed them. It is better if you check them in the above mentioned link.

My space photos shall be available sometime next week, by the end of it.

 

[subhash]

any idea of what the price of 5507 be ?

 

[subhash]

i too am on the look out for a processor , am currently using the onkyo 875 as the pre for HT with external power amps ( vincent sp331mk for L/R , carver tfm35x for centre and L/R sorrounds) , optoma hd65 pj , pioneer bdpLX52, and def tech trinity sub

what about the marantz AV8003 pro , any idea on this ?
emotiva UMC-1 ?

both i guess is 7.1

will using a seperate pre/pros do a better job then the avr onkyo 875 as the pre , my concern is mainly for HT

 

[adk highlander]

any idea of what the price of 5507 be ?

I was given a price quote from proacousticsusa.com that seemed reasonable. They don't post the price on their site so I won't post it here but if you PM me I'll give you the price or just to to their site and they will email it to you as well.

 

[Panayotis Melas]

Onkyo vs Marantz

i too am on the look out for a processor , am currently using the onkyo 875 as the pre for HT with external power amps ( vincent sp331mk for L/R , carver tfm35x for centre and L/R sorrounds) , optoma hd65 pj , pioneer bdpLX52, and def tech trinity sub

what about the marantz AV8003 pro , any idea on this ?
emotiva UMC-1 ?

both i guess is 7.1

will using a seperate pre/pros do a better job then the avr onkyo 875 as the pre , my concern is mainly for HT

They are both great processors. The Marantz sounds great and for its (retail) price it still offers a lot. However, the AV8003 is a model, which runs now for more than one year (may be two) and it lacks some important features and specs (it is a 7.1 model, while the PR-SC5507 is a 9.2 one, it fells a little shorter than the Onkyo in advanced audio setup and more), compared to PR-SC5507. I would say that the AV8003 could be compared to the previous Onkyo model, the PR-SC886.

But then, yet its price is still higher. I am talking for prices in Europe, since I don't know how the prices run in USA. If I were you, unless I find the AV8003 considerably cheaper than the PR-SC5507, I would not consider it. But this is my personal opinion, only.

 

[subhash]

They are both great processors. The Marantz sounds great and for its (retail) price it still offers a lot. However, the AV8003 is a model, which runs now for more than one year (may be two) and it lacks some important features and specs (it is a 7.1 model, while the PR-SC5507 is a 9.2 one, it fells a little shorter than the Onkyo in advanced audio setup and more), compared to PR-SC5507. I would say that the AV8003 could be compared to the previous Onkyo model, the PR-SC886.

But then, yet its price is still higher. I am talking for prices in Europe, since I don't know how the prices run in USA. If I were you, unless I find the AV8003 considerably cheaper than the PR-SC5507, I would not consider it. But this is my personal opinion, only.

will it be worthwhile to upgrade from onkyo 875 (used as only pre) to the marantz AV8003 pre, wud there be a considerable difference? also i have this problem with the onkyo 875 as pre ,it kind of shuts off @ reference vol levels , this happens only on brd play back, checked all parameters but still this happens

the AV 8003 is available here in india for a good price than the onkyo pr sc886
almost @ half the price

the emotiva umc-1 too may be worthwhile , but theres not any user reviews as of yet

 

[AVRat]

If you don't mind global bass management and use your BD player to do the decoding of the hi-rez audio sent via LPCM to the processor so that Audyssey isn't bypassed, the Marantz 8003 is an excellent option.

 

[subhash]

If you don't mind global bass management and use your BD player to do the decoding of the hi-rez audio sent via LPCM to the processor so that Audyssey isn't bypassed, the Marantz 8003 is an excellent option.

cudnt get this one

 

[ryankenn]

Does anyone know how to get vTuner back into the listing on Internet Radio stations? I reset the unit, now they are gone, and I have no idea how to get them back.

Network is working, if I type the IP in my URL it sees the unit. I can use the web app to copy Vtuner where it should be but it won't save. It gives error message 203.

My vTuner is gone! Ack!

Oyremote is still working as well, so I'm sure its network portion is up and running.