Onkyo tx-sr507b reciever-any good?

mrbofus wrote: »

All Very interesting opinions and suggestions here. Doing further research...

1)has any of you HK usere had any issues as stated in some reviews, static, update issues etc?
2) any issues with pre-owned or refurbished equipment?
3) reading specs, how do you tell or how is it stated it has pre-outs?
4) for some reason I keep looking at onkyo. There is a newTXSR607--input on this? ebay for under 400 bucks
---looking forward to the replies

I don't own a H/K but haven't heard very good things about them and their build quality, personally...that's not a bash on the company, just what I have heard (well, regarding their receivers). Now, I did buy an upconverting DVD player from H/K that didn't work right out of the box -- didn't send my TV a signal over component at all; returned it to Frys and exchanged it for a Panasonic, but this was years ago when Blu-ray first arrived and I hadn't jumped onboard yet.

Now, what I can say is that I disagree with all the "Onkyo bashing" from most regarding the musical performance of their lower-tiered receivers; my current 605 sounds absolutely fine in two-channel stereo mode with CDs playing, or even in Pro Logic II Music mode which creates a psuedo surround effect for two channel audio. I'm not saying this will destroy a million-dollar two channel dedicated setup, but it really does just fine with music in my opinion. My Marantz CD changer is connected to it, using the Marantz's DACs (via analog), and I don't have any burning desire to go run out and purchase an esoteric high end two channel power amp and the like; the 605 amplifies my music cleanly and greatly enough. And yes, I have demoed extremely high end two channel rigs before. Of course, this is all just my opinion.

To answer some of your questions, you will know if a receiver has preamp outs by reading its "features" list; it will be on the website, or wherever the marketing/advertising materials are.

With regard to the Onkyo 607, yes, this is their new model that replaced the 605 and 606 models before it; pretty much, now their midpriced offering with the same 90 watts per channel of the 605/606 and onboard high resolution surround decoding (TrueHD/Master Audio). This was also the first-ever (not any longer) receiver to offer Dolby's Pro Logic IIz "height" algorithm, which adds height channels to signals -- the jury is still out on that one.

mrbofus wrote: »

Hello and please forgive me if some questions seem obvious,

No problem at all -- we all started somewhere!

when listening to Music in 2 channel, thats the right and left speakers only?

Well, literally yes, 2-channel means left and right, but when you use a receiver's "STEREO" mode, it includes the subwoofer in your system if you have one.

If you have a 5.1 or 7.1 can you run music thru all speakers or is that more for the home theater experence.

Yes, you can run music through all five, six or seven channels -- Onkyo receivers have a mode called ALL CHANNEL STEREO, which sends the signal to every speaker in your system, or you can use the DOLBY PRO LOGIC II MUSIC mode, which creates a "surround effect" from stereo music but keeps the stereo mix's "feel" up front.

I understand that you need a 5.1 or 7.1 system for that surround sound, right? 5.1= 5 speaker+sub

Film soundtracks on DVDs and Blu-rays are encoded at usually 5.1 surround audio, unless they're old films and they have 1.0 or 2.0 mono tracks, or stereo surround mixes -- but for the most part, for surround sound, you should have at the least three speakers up front, two in the back and a subwoofer. SOME DVDs and Blu-rays are coming with 6.1 and 7.1 soundtracks, but they're still rare.

As other have said you can not have to much power, but Im not sure I need pre outs. Most all listening is low to mid volume. Can I achieve clear clean sound with a full 5.1 for movies and music with out an external amp????????????????????????????????

Is your question mark button broken? :eek: From what you describe for your listening tastes, a good-powered receiver should be fine -- something like the Onkyo 607. I wouldn't go lower than that in their lineup.

PS> Mike, you are the first one to mention YAMAHA. How is there equipment?

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when building a new sound system, receiver. cd, phono etc... is there any bennefit or disadvantage with going with the same brand.

I had a Yamaha stereo receiver in my 2-channel system years ago, and connected to a graphic equalizer, it sounded pretty punchy. A friend of mine from years ago as well swore by Yamaha receivers and hated Onkyo, so it's difficult to really say; I don't know much about their current AVRs but I put it on that list so you had something to choose from. I would stay with Denon or Onkyo, personally -- and DON'T buy a Sony receiver that's not from their premium "ES" line; they're a waste of money. I don't think the ES models are in your budget, though, from what you said.

I was once stuck on the "all from one brand" theory, where all my gear had to come from one manufacturer; but you'll learn in this hobby (audio and home theater) that you buy the brands that do the best at what you're buying them for -- in other words, I bought an Onkyo receiver because of their reputation, price, experience I had with them...but I bought a Panasonic Blu-ray player because it was the one to have at that time. I bought a Sony SXRD HDTV because they were highly regarded...bought a Marantz CD changer because I had one before that and thought it was a very good unit...wanted to replace my Marantz CD recorded that died with a Marantz Professional model, but turned to the TASCAM brand for CD recorder because of issues I was experiencing with the new Marantz CD changer, and on and on...

So, my rack is filled with mixed brands; I suppose it really doesn't matter.

This is an interesting subject, though -- how does everyone else feel about mixing brands in your racks?

Neschore wrote: »

I just bought a Onkyo 507. I especially like the amazingly clean, clear sound quality through a pair of Dynaco A25 speakers, for what that's worth. And yes, it has four HDMI 1.3a inputs (and one output), but no pre out for the main speakers (although it has for the surrounds and the sub).

Nice to know, Neschore -- I guess Onkyo updated the 500 series line to include HDMI 1.3a onboard, which I suspected they did.