Introduction
To clarify, the Onkyo TX-SR502 is not a THX certified receiver and does not do THX EX decoding as indicated by Epinions.
It does however, decode every other format currently available aside from the obscure Logic7 format that Harman Kardon endorses. Dolby Prologic IIx, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital-EX, DTS, DTS-ES, and DTS:Neo6 are all included. Prologic IIx has a Music, Movie, and Game mode while DTS:Neo6 has a separate Movie and Music mode.
This is a discrete 6.1-channel digital audio/video receiver with 75 watts RMS per channel from 20Hz-20KHz, all channels driven. Onkyo rates the "dynamic" power as 95 watts per channel but the FTC continuous RMS ratings are what really count, and this receiver will truly output 75 watts.
Setup
Onkyo includes the usual quick-connect diagrams and labels so you can organize the rat's nest of cables that usually accompany any surround setup. The audio terminals on the back are color-coded and clearly labeled, although the speaker terminals are spaced pretty close together and you might need a flashlight if trying to thread bare speaker cable on the posts. The setup menu on the receiver is very straightforward and it only takes a few minutes to set the number of speakers, sizes, distances, and relative volume level. The setup options are also available via the remote.
Features
The numerous technical details and specifications are available on Onkyo's web site so I won't go too in-depth here. The 502 basically supports 4 different video/audio combination inputs and 2 audio-only inputs, with the third being the built-in AM/FM tuner. Onkyo provides 3 digital optical Toslink connections and 1 digital coaxial RCA connection for either PCM or surround audio, so all four A/V inputs can be assigned a digital connection if necessary. In order to get 5.1 or 6.1 surround from DVD movies either optical or coaxial must be used, and the receiver will automatically determine which surround format is being used (DD/DD-EX/DTS/DTS-ES).
This receiver also has a separate 5.1 channel input for a SACD or DVD-Audio player. I have my
Sony DVP-NS775V DVD/SACD player connected to this receiver via both optical and 5.1 channel connections. This allows me to take advantage of the Onkyo built-in surround decoders for movies while using the Sony unit to decode SACDs in 5.1 surround. The 5.1 channel input can also be connected to a computer sound card with the appropriate mini-plug to RCA cables.
The speaker connections on the back of the receiver are binding posts so they are compatible with banana plugs, spades, pins, and bare wire. Banana plug is the easiest connection to use and also provides more surface area contact than the other terminations. The subwoofer connects with a standard line-output RCA plug and has an adjustable crossover (60, 80, 100, 120, 140Hz).
Video & Audio Quality
This Onkyo unit was an upgrade from my old
KLH R5100 receiver so the difference in quality was tremendous. I use S-Video switching for my DVD player and Xbox and the video no longer exhibited motion artifacts and color blurring like it did with the KLH receiver. Onkyo has obviously put as much focus on the video switching segment as the audio processing and amplification components. The 502 does not do any video upconversion although the 602 does s-video conversion.
For audio playback, the first thing I noticed was the amazing bass response on this receiver. I had to lower the volume on my subwoofers by about 50% just to compensate for the difference from the KLH receiver. Secondly, the 502 has what Onkyo dubs the "Wide Range Amplification Technology" which means the frequency response actually reaches from 10Hz - 100KHz which is beyond the limits of human hearing. SACDs also have an extra-wide frequency response up to about 50KHz which is supposed to capture additional "presence" detail that, while technically inaudible, can effect the perceived tone of the music. SACDs played through the 502 seemed much cleaner and more dynamic than with my previous amp. I encountered the same impression with DVD movies using the built-in Onkyo decoders; music and sound effects, particularly in the surround channels, had much more impact than before, and the low bass frequencies (20-50Hz) had less attenuation. For standard audio CDs I tried both an analog and digital connection and found that the DACs in the Onkyo receiver were slightly better than the Sony player, so I use the optical connection for that as well.
The built-in tuner on this receiver is also exceptional with a low signal-to-noise ratio. The local jazz station came in crystal clear with great stereo separation. DTS:Neo6 music was particularly effective for creating an enveloping surround field with stereo material. Dolby Prologic II music was also good but de-emphasized the vocals a little too much for my taste. Onkyo provides some DSP modes including All Channel Stereo if you don't care for the Dolby or DTS varieties.
Drawbacks
One peeve I have with this unit is that it will not allow you to adjust the speaker SPL of the 5.1 channel input directly. Instead you must adjust the output level for each speaker on the source device that you have connected. Onkyo does this to ensure the highest quality transfer from input to amplifier but it would be nice to have the control if desired. Also be warned that bass management is deactivated for the 5.1 input so any subwoofer redirection has to be enabled on the player itself.
Also, the remote control is intimidating just to look at. In my opinion they tried to do too much by making it a 9-function universal remote instead of focusing on the receiver functions. My ESA television was not compatible with any of the included manufacturer codes even though there were about 200 different companies listed. The basic functions on my Sony DVD player did work properly with the Onkyo remote. The remote illuminates the currently-selected function but not the rest of the keypad which makes it very hard to read in the dark.
Warranty
Onkyo offers a 2-year parts and labor guarantee on their surround receivers. I purchased this unit open-box from Circuit City and I have had zero problems so far.
Conclusion
Onkyo has been regarded as one of the top names in home audio and they obviously intend to continue the tradition with their current line of surround sound receivers. The Onkyo TX-SR502 is every bit as excellent as I expected and is surprisingly very affordable. You could go with Sony, Pioneer, Kenwood, etc, but why bother when Onkyo is the same price with better quality. Onkyo receivers are also known for being compatible with a wide range of speakers and able to drive low-impedence loads.
Update - 1/27/05
I retract my comment about the 502 not allowing you to adjust the speaker volume levels of the 5.1 channel input. As it turns out you can use the Ch Sel button on the remote to adjust the levels for the 5 speakers and subwoofer from -12 dB to +12 dB independently. If you use Ch Sel in any of the other input modes it is a temporary adjustment that is reset when the power is turned off, but for multichannel the Ch Set values are retained. Note that this is completely separate from the "Speaker Level" adjustment done with pink noise in the setup menu.
Another thing I have discovered is that the multichannel sound input can only be used in combination with the DVD video input. So for instance, you cannot use Video 1, Video 2, or Video 3 with the 5.1 analog input. The digital inputs for optical and coax are of course assignable to any video source.
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