Onkyo TX-SR503 or Panasonic SA-XR55 or Something Else?

[Deathwish238]

I need a new receiver for cheap . I'ld prefer to buy new rather than refurb but will go with refurb if I have a compelling reason to.

At any rate, which of these two receivers would you get and why? I'm probably going to power a set of Athenas with them. Is there another receiver I should be looking at? Thanks in advance.

 

[AIA]

Check out:

http://reviews.cnet.com/Onkyo_TX_SR503/4505-6466_7-31431599-2.html?tag=nav

and:

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/article.asp?section_id=3&article_id=1083

You have probably seen these, but if not, they may help.

 

[flexodude]

Try eBay, I noticed that the prices are great around this time of year, nobody wants to spend after Christmas. I was going to put a Yamaha HTR-5460 receiver up for bidding in a few weeks but decided to hold off a while because there was not alot of bidding going on for the receivers that were listed.

 

[malvado78]

I would definitely look at www.ubid.com they have some great deals on Onkyo refurbs. THey come with a 1 year manufacturers warranty.

Last Years Model but it is the 602 a step up from 500 series that you are looking at: $219
http://www.ubid.com/actn/opn/getpage.asp?AuctionId=10597017

Last Years Model but it is the 702 two steps up from 500 series: $349
http://www.ubid.com/actn/opn/getpage.asp?AuctionId=10594437
The 702 is an excellent deal. It is the sweet sopt in Onkyo's line up.

I am by no mean saying anything bad about the 503. I havet the 520 (Much like the 502 from last year but comes in the HT-770 HTIB). I think it is a great receiver.

 

[Deathwish238]

Thanks for the replies guys. Any opinions on the Panasonic receiver? Getting a refub receiver seems like a good idea as well.

 

[Deathwish238]

I would definitely look at www.ubid.com they have some great deals on Onkyo refurbs. THey come with a 1 year manufacturers warranty.

Last Years Model but it is the 602 a step up from 500 series that you are looking at: $219
http://www.ubid.com/actn/opn/getpage.asp?AuctionId=10597017

Last Years Model but it is the 702 two steps up from 500 series: $349
http://www.ubid.com/actn/opn/getpage.asp?AuctionId=10594437
The 702 is an excellent deal. It is the sweet sopt in Onkyo's line up.

I am by no mean saying anything bad about the 503. I havet the 520 (Much like the 502 from last year but comes in the HT-770 HTIB). I think it is a great receiver.

Any specific difference between the models that are significant? The power difference isn't much of a matter to me. Thanks for your help.

 

[Deathwish238]

No more opinions? I thought these receivers were popular entry level receivers!

 

[Deathwish238]

or perhaps they're not?

 

[brendy]

The 503 is a very good receiver,you will not go wrong with it.

 

[Leprkon]

Last Years Model but it is the 602 a step up from 500 series that you are looking at: $219
http://www.ubid.com/actn/opn/getpage.asp?AuctionId=10597017

Last Years Model but it is the 702 two steps up from 500 series: $349
http://www.ubid.com/actn/opn/getpage.asp?AuctionId=10594437
The 702 is an excellent deal. It is the sweet sopt in Onkyo's line up.

These are exceptionally good deals, especially if you don't need high-end video switching or the apparently soon-to-be broke XM radio. the additional power and on-screen display in the 602 are significant upgrades over the 503.

 

[learner]

You might want to throw the Pioneer VSX-815 into your comparison. I have this with my Athena AS-C1, AS-B1.2's and Micra's and it powers them nicely. Compare the features and you will see the Pioneer is loaded.

 

[oldgoalie33]

I've not auditioned the other receivers you mention, but I do have a Panasonic XR-55 that I've been using. I'm using it back and forth with a Denon AVR-3200, which though old was just one or two models below Denon's flagship model when it came out. I have to admit that it sounds remarkable for it's price. I've not owned anything made by Panasonic before that I'd consider even mid-fi, but I'm really impressed with this little receiver. I don't do any video switching with it, so I can't comment on that. All I can say is IMHO it just sounds way better than the $1200 (in 1998) Denon. For $229 or so it's worth a shot.

 

[Deathwish238]

Wow a $230 receiver sounding better than a $1200 Denon is impressive...no matter how old it is.

I wish I could hear the Panasonic compared to an Onkyo compared to a Pioneer in the same store.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Wow a $230 receiver sounding better than a $1200 Denon is impressive...no matter how old it is.

I wish I could hear the Panasonic compared to an Onkyo compared to a Pioneer in the same store.

I'd say go Panasonic over the Onkyo. Read every one of these posts, and you'll see why the little Panny has such a following:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=530504

 

[Deathwish238]

I'd say go Panasonic over the Onkyo. Read every one of these posts, and you'll see why the little Panny has such a following:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=530504

haha I've already been through most of that thread...I'm just looking for opinions from this forum.

 

[ruadmaa]

Panasonic XR55

Thanks for the replies guys. Any opinions on the Panasonic receiver? Getting a refub receiver seems like a good idea as well.

The Panasonic XR55 DIGITAL receiver is excellent and is going to make conventional receivers obsolete. AT 9.9 pounds it sounds every bit as good as my Yamaha RX V1400 (The Yamaha is 35 pounds). It is probably one of the best deals on the market today. I think the days of the big heavy receiver are coming to a close. I can't tell the difference in audio quality between these two receivers and you don't get a hernia moving it around. I'd highly recommend it.

 

[Deathwish238]

The Panasonic XR55 DIGITAL receiver is excellent and is going to make conventional receivers obsolete. AT 9.9 pounds it sounds every bit as good as my Yamaha RX V1400 (The Yamaha is 35 pounds). It is probably one of the best deals on the market today. I think the days of the big heavy receiver are coming to a close. I can't tell the difference in audio quality between these two receivers and you don't get a hernia moving it around. I'd highly recommend it.

wow that's very impressive.

So why have digital receivers been looked down upon in the past?