Recommendations for Stereo Receiver or Integrated Amp?

[anamorphic96]

Good catch KEW.

 

[PearlcorderS701]

Jeesh!

From pg 22 of your owners manual:



Yeah, it isn't perfect, but thinking of your mixer as being "docked" to your system would work for me.

Thanks KEW,

I must have seen this when I first read the manual, but for the reason you stated at the end of your post -- that the method or name isn't perfect -- I didn't decide to rename the input(s)...

I will play with this and report back...

Thanks.

P.S. It's ridiculous IMO that they didn't include an "AUX" option when renaming one of those inputs...

 

[its phillip]

Wow. Regardless of what the inputs are named, they have zero effect on the function or capability of the unit.

 

[KEW]

The Marantz PM5003 inside.

Power consumption, 110 watts. Stereophile measured it's output, 22 watts RMS per channel. Based on the layout, it's a Sherwood factory creation. It's measured performance syncs up with that assumption.

As a owner of Marantz gear, it is kind of sad to see them drop to this low of a standard!

 

[KEW]

It's ridiculous IMO that they didn't include an "AUX" option when renaming one of those inputs...

That definitely would have been the obvious thing to do.

 

[PearlcorderS701]

Wow. Regardless of what the inputs are named, they have zero effect on the function or capability of the unit.

That is 100 percent correct -- and completely undisputed.

We're just talking about how I don't personally care for the input names and wish the unit was more audio-centric than video-oriented, especially being a stereo receiver.

 

[PearlcorderS701]

As a owner of Marantz gear, it is kind of sad to see them drop to this low of a standard!

As the owner of Marantz stuff myself (namely a CD changer), I too am saddened to see this...

 

[PearlcorderS701]

That definitely would have been the obvious thing to do.

Indeed. I think it was a design mistake.

 

[Seth=L]

As a owner of Marantz gear, it is kind of sad to see them drop to this low of a standard!

And it doesn't even have preouts. For $500 I think it's pretty obscene.

 

[PearlcorderS701]

And it doesn't even have preouts. For $500 I think it's pretty obscene.

Is this unit we're talking about an integrated amp? I believe so...

I was going to go with a Marantz before I decided on the Onkyo 8555...in retrospect, I should have probably gone with my first instinct, the Onkyo A-9555 integrated...

 

[FattyMcFatFat]

Is this unit we're talking about an integrated amp? I believe so...

I was going to go with a Marantz before I decided on the Onkyo 8555...in retrospect, I should have probably gone with my first instinct, the Onkyo A-9555 integrated...

Wow, i'm so glad I didn't go with the Marantz. I was debating (originally) between that exact Marantz amp, and the NAD C326BEE amp, and I was thinking about going with the Marantz because it looked so nice... but dang, I'm glad I got a really good deal on my C355... I think that Marantz must have spent to much on the aesthetics, and not the actual product... whereas NAD is the opposite I think

by the way, that amp is pretty cheap now - $450 shipped at amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-Integrated-Digital-Stereo-Amplifier/dp/B000J0ORMS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1288319962&sr=8-1

 

[PearlcorderS701]

Wow, i'm so glad I didn't go with the Marantz. I was debating (originally) between that exact Marantz amp, and the NAD C326BEE amp, and I was thinking about going with the Marantz because it looked so nice... but dang, I'm glad I got a really good deal on my C355... I think that Marantz must have spent to much on the aesthetics, and not the actual product... whereas NAD is the opposite I think

by the way, that amp is pretty cheap now - $450 shipped at amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-Integrated-Digital-Stereo-Amplifier/dp/B000J0ORMS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1288319962&sr=8-1

Indeed; thanks for the news and link, Fatty -- I don't think the A-9555 was too much more than that when I was shopping it; unfortunately, even now, $450 is still too much for me...

It's a killer looking piece though...wish I could have it in my rack...

I wonder how its 80 or 85 watts per channel would stack up against my 8555's 100 watts per channel...

 

[FattyMcFatFat]

Indeed; thanks for the news and link, Fatty -- I don't think the A-9555 was too much more than that when I was shopping it; unfortunately, even now, $450 is still too much for me...

It's a killer looking piece though...wish I could have it in my rack...

I wonder how its 80 or 85 watts per channel would stack up against my 8555's 100 watts per channel...

Seeing as your receiver has a bunch of other stuff in it (phono stage - tuner, etc), and an amp has more discrete components, it will put out much cleaner power and a better signal than your receiver. Wpc isn't really indicative of good sound, imo.

Edit: When I had your receiver, I had to turn it up about halfway - 65% to get to a listenable level. With the current amp I have now, which is only 80 Wpc, I usually have the volume <10 - 15%... haha... then again NAD is very generous with their power ratings, so I dont know.

 

[KEW]

And it doesn't even have preouts. For $500 I think it's pretty obscene.

Wow! I was assuming they were positioning this for entry budget buyers say $250 to $300. At $500, it is pathetic. The PM8003 looks a bit better :

http://www.amazon.com/Marantz-PM8003-Integrated-Amplifier/dp/B001I7868C

 

[PearlcorderS701]

Seeing as your receiver has a bunch of other stuff in it (phono stage - tuner, etc), and an amp has more discrete components, it will put out much cleaner power and a better signal than your receiver. Wpc isn't really indicative of good sound, imo.

That may be true about the wattage, but I do know my 8555 does put out a ton of clean power...

The 9555 may be just as clean or cleaner though...

BTW -- the 9555 integrated amp has a phono preamp built into it as well...

Edit: When I had your receiver, I had to turn it up about halfway - 65% to get to a listenable level. With the current amp I have now, which is only 80 Wpc, I usually have the volume <10 - 15%... haha... then again NAD is very generous with their power ratings, so I dont know.

This is a common "complaint" if you will by first-time Onkyo owners who experience this "low volume" phenomenon with their surround and stereo receivers -- there is a feature in the Setup Menu of Onkyo receivers which is called "INTELLIVOLUME," and it acts like a power amplifier's "gain" control, whereby you can increase or decrease a certain input component's sensitivity and volume. On my 8555, I have brought the "CD" and "Tuner" inputs up to "+9dB" on IntelliVolume, and this makes the receiver VERY loud at a lower volume number on the display screen -- on the 605 receiver I run in my home theater, I keep the "DVD" input for my Blu-ray player connection at "+10dB" on IntelliVolume. These settings allow the receivers to really get louder at lower perceived volume values...

So, I am not finding anything lacking about my 8555's power output; in fact, I can't get the unit way above "30" on the absolute volume readout without annoying my wife...

 

[merlin1952]

Has anyone seen a direct comparison between the Onkyo A-9555 and the Yamaha A-S700? I would be very interested in hearing opinions about those two Amps.

 

[PearlcorderS701]

I personally haven't had any experience with either amp back to back or individually, nor do I know offhand of any comparison I could even link you to -- but both amps offer very cool and sophisticated retro-esque looks with seemingly solid build quality; if the 9555 is anything like my 8555 stereo receiver, it will be solidly overbuilt with a very nice tactile response and touch to the controls, namely the great heavy and solid volume knob...

 

[anamorphic96]

The funny thing about the 9555 is the inside. There isn't a whole lot to it since it's a bit of a hybrid amp borrowing from traditional and digital amps. There are some photos online of the insides. It was surprising how little there was.

 

[merlin1952]

So what does everyone think of the current selection of reasonably priced (reasonable to me is $400 to $700) amplifiers? I’ve seem Onkyo and Yamaha for sure but what else is out there in this price range and how do they all compare with one another as far as options, quality of components, and of course sound? Thanks,

 

[PearlcorderS701]

The funny thing about the 9555 is the inside. There isn't a whole lot to it since it's a bit of a hybrid amp borrowing from traditional and digital amps. There are some photos online of the insides. It was surprising how little there was.

Really? Interesting. That amp sure does look cool though...the blue LEDs surrounding the volume knob, the orange indicator for the input selector...sweet...

I'm kicking myself for not tappin' the change jar to try and save up for that amp...I really wanted it, in black...

Anamorphic, honest -- what do you think the sonic differences would be back to back between the 8555 and 9555; would the 9555 sound basically the "same" as the 8555, do you think?