Onkyo PR-SC885

Phish56466

I've always wanted to go pre/pro. I realize this will require more amplifiers. Has ANYONE here used the Onkyo PR-SC885? Does it have the same issues as the Onkyo AVR's with the video board(mine does WEIRDNESS after it's been powered up for a while, several people have said it's due to heating issues-when upconverting any video signal, after a while it will split on the monitor). More importantly, how does it sound in comparison to using the AVR's in a similar manner?

I'm thinking the video issue should be resolved due to the fact there isn't as much heat from power amps being inside it. ALSO thinking the audio is probably cleaner in part to the same deal(no power amplifiers leaching the power supply).

zane77

I have had two Onkyo receivers, the first one had the HDMI board fail. The second one I put a small usb powered variable speed fan on top of it and have never had a problem with it. The PR-SC5508 that I have in my HT has never had an issue in the over two years I have owned it. I think all of the HDMI board issues are heat related when the amps are all crammed into the same AVR chassis. I think you would be fine with the pre you are looking at.

DaveHo

I have the 885. It's been the processor in my rig for I'd guess 4+ years now. I'm the second owner & it's never given me any trouble. Sounds better than the Outlaw 990 it replaced.

rtart

I've owned the 885, 886 and PR-SC5507. No issues for me with any of them, but I upgraded after a couple years with each, so my length of ownership may have saved me. There is an enormous amount of info over on AVSForum.com on all of these units, including info on how to do a DIY fix if you have an HDMI board failure. I can share that the 885 runs hot.....hot enough to make you remove your hand if you put it on top. I ran mine in an enclosed, forced air ventilated, temp controlled rack, so that may have helped as well. Many users who have used ventilation fans have reported good luck....so it may be worthwhile for you if you can do it.

I can tell you my 886 sounded better than the 885 and the SQ of the 886 and 5507 are about equal. At the time it was new, it was nearly impossible to match its value for the price. At used prices, its a screaming deal....seems like I saw one for sale for around $300 somewhere recently.

Have fun.....buy a good amp!!

Phish56466

SERIOUSLY? It ran that hot? I'd think it'd get warm, but this sounds like component frying heat. NOW I'm wondering if it's a design flaw. Did you ever run it out of the cabinet and monitor it? Did it STILL get that hot? As for power, I'm currently using a GFA-555 Adcom. I've been fairly impressed so far, and as such I'm basing the 5 channel amp to probably be an Adcom also.

DaveHo

It does run pretty warm. Not as hot as some amps I have/had, but I wouldn't put it in an enclosed cabinet without some form of forced air ventilation. That said, mine sits on the top shelf of my equipment rack, nothing stacked on it, and has been fine without any further cooling.

-Dave

jon s

The problem is that the HDMI processor generates a LOT of heat. It is not the amps that cause the problem. The excessive heat dries out the caps on the HDMI board causing failure. While placing a fan helps, it only delays the inevitable. My Onkyo had a fan since day one and it failed after three years...

cnh

jon s wrote: »

The problem is that the HDMI processor generates a LOT of heat. It is not the amps that cause the problem. The excessive heat dries out the caps on the HDMI board causing failure. While placing a fan helps, it only delays the inevitable. My Onkyo had a fan since day one and it failed after three years...

This is pretty much the case. Don't be lulled into complacency because you "think" not having "amps" will save you from an Onkyo HDMI failure.

That said, my TX-SR 805, five years and still plugging away NO fan, but a healthy amount of space (a foot and half of free space above it). Does it get HOT! Yeah you can cook EGGs over that HDMI board. I'm not sure though, if my caps, etc. in that 805 were replaced and SAFE because I bought it "refurbed" by Onkyo on their site. So I might have lucked out on that? Fingers crossed! But five years is a LONG time! Long enough, I'd say, for NOT one problem. Pound for pound, at almost 51lbs. Those 805s were really SOMETHING. Spectacular "value" since they pretty much shared the same amps as models costing twice as much. (Could put out an HONEST 130 watts x 5 in the surround mode, no loss of power-@ 8 ohms, of course) And! You could often get them for almost half price which is 1/4 the price of the higher model siblings? Those were the days!

cnh

Phish56466

I have NO doubt that board gets warm. BUT getting the internal amps AWAY from it can do nothing BUT help! I have done some reading in other spots about the caps drying out. IF I could just find a service manual, I'd re-cap it myself(Onkyo is kind of picky about that info). On the note of the PR-SC885, IF I can convince the wife to let me get it-do you guys suggest putting some heat sinks on stuff?

zane77

I did add a couple of heat sinks that I put on a couple of the processors on the HDMI board that I picked up at RatShack along with some heat sink compound

Phish56466

Did it seem to help at all?

JuanR

I have an Onkyo PR-SC885 sitting in the closet for the last 16+ months, tried to sell it here but no takers at the time....send me a pm if you are interested....will let it go cheap....

I stopped using it because I went all Sunfire...TGP-401 pre and Sunfire Sig amp.

Juan

ansh2122

Hello people i own an onkyo prsc5508 but on turning it on after 15mints it heats a lot why so?

honestaquarian

@ansh2122
Welcome to the forum.
I had the PR-SC5508 and now I have the PR-SC5509. The heat is normal. What you would need to worry about is the HDMI board issue and the audio chip issue that they had with them. Onkyo had a free fix program for years, but it lapsed. I had my HDMI board go south on my 5508 and then Onkyo decided to replace it with a 5509 even though it was out of warranty!!(there was a six month backlog on the parts at the time) A couple of years later the audio chip issue reared its ugly head with the 5509 and I had it fixed for free under the program. No problems since then.
From what I was told by the guy at the repair shop, Onkyo had been using a sub contractor who had cut corners. Which resulted in a very large amount of their receivers and preamps going down with those two issues.
Just make sure the thing is well ventilated.

dagame27

Hook a USB fan to it. I had one for years with no issue.