Customer Reviews

Onkyo TX-NR5007 145 Watts 9.2-Channel AV Surround Home Network Receiver (Black)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I purchased the Onkyo TX-NR5007 in February 2010 to replace my Onkyo TX-SR806. Going from the 806 to the 5007 was like day and night. The sound from the 5007 is easily the best I've heard from any receiver. I work in an electronics store and I hear many units daily from the Denon AVR-4810CI and the Pioneer Elite SC-27 and they, in my opinion, can't match the Onkyo in terms of sound and features.

The new TX-NR5007 have 192kHz/32bit Burr-Brown DACs, and 4 independent power supplies for better sound. Along with those features for sound, this receiver includes the HQV Reon 1080p upscaling that even makes my HD inputs look better when compared to the Faroudja chip that was in the TX-SR806. For those interested in making the picture look even better, it's ISF certified and you can use this feature to professionally calibrate day and night picture modes for each input.

The networking features also great. I use Pandora radio a few times a week and am very happy with the quality. I had a problem setting it up though. None of the stations showed up on my internet radio until after I reset the entire receiver. This receiver can also stream music from media servers such as your PC, and it can also play music off of a USB hard drive or thumb drive.

I'm powering Klipsch XF-48's as the left and right channel, and three Klipsch XL-23's as a center channel, and left and right surrounds, along with a Definitive Technology Supercube Reference subwoofer (5.1 setup). What's surprising is that there is still room for four more speakers and one more subwoofer (9.2 setup). If you don't need a receiver that's capable of passing through 3D signals (HDMI 1.4), I would recommend that you get this receiver because I've never heard one that sounded better especially at this price point. Please make sure you can fit and carry this beast before purchasing though. It is gigantic and it weighs near 60lbs.

This purchase was made more than 3 months ago to replace a great functioning Onkyo 805. The 805 was passed down to family as a gift and they loved it. The 5007 is even better in many additional aspects. I have used Marantz, Yamaha, Pioneer Elite, Dennon, and Harmon Kardon in the past and this unit by far beats them all in quality, user friendliness, and price. Uncertain of all the criticism of clicking sounds as there are some occasional soft clicks when the device is trying to decode changing audio formats/codecs when the audio source format changes, but that is common with any other receivers of the same class required to decode this many audio algorithms. This actually can be completely avoided if each source is set up with a default audio program in the set up menu (if the user understands the overwhelming list of audio programs/codecs and bothered to check this out.) It is actually much less clicking and when click, much softer to the point of not noticible even close up than the 805... Uncertain if some reviewers who singled out this unit about the clicking but did not mention common clicking found in all receivers of this class got this unit as the first device of this class to decode multichannel lossless formats, and they are not expecting any clicking that is normal as they were comparing to receivers that can only decode older, compressed multi channel surround audio formats from DVDs and TVs? The net capability was also very easy to use and works well. It is a few pounds heavier than the 805 and a LOT heavier than any other competing receivers of the same price/feature class (close to a whopping 60lbs). Heavier means beefier power supply transformers for the amplifiers (try picking up some professional amplifiers such as QSC and you will know what I mean. I have a side professional recording/mixing system so I can compare to professional equipment). Usually you have to pay a lot more $ for this...The Pioneer Elite, using lighter digital amps, got some good reviews from most publications, but also a very poor review from Audioholics' professional technical test report as it cannot deal with multichannel speaker resistive load variations much under 8ohms. Furthermore, the inboard digital equalizer room correction system in Pioneer is just an 11 band graphic type, not a parametric one found in Audyssey in Onkyo. Furthermore, if you prefer graphic equalizer, Onkyo also has a 7 band graphic equalizer as an option additional to Audyssey for use separately for each of the 11 audio channels. The new Audyssey room correction equalization algorithm also got rid of the annoying mid high frequency emphasis and top end attenuation found in the older Audessey products, now sounding a lot more natural, airy, and open. Subwoofer cross over frequencies selections are from 40hz and up with a fine 10hz increment until 120hz then 150hz and then 200hz, totaling of 11 frequency set points! I also have the 9.2 set up with 9 Kilpsch Reference speakers and a pair of SVS subwoofers with a Pioneer 60" Kuro plasma. The various 9.2 surround effects vary from overly artificial to almost not noticeable and very subtle, to spectacularly large BUT natural, making common point source speakers (even horn loaded like the Kilpsch) sound more like super tall and large line source speakers. The remote, like any higher end Onkyo remotes, are the best. Programmable and learn-able with a host of logical macros and even back lit, it makes universal remotes unnecessary. Sound quality is pristine, natural, and effortless. SACD, DVD Audio (I have both), lossless FLAC audio, Bluray, HD DVD (I have that format as well) all just sound fantastic. I have used many, many electronic components, and I recommend this product with the highest regard and respect to Onkyo engineers!

I have had this unit for close to a year and a half. At first I tolerated the quirks and really dug into the manual to assure that I understood the unit better. My initial problem from day one was that the unit would freeze up to the point where it wouldn't change functions or even turn off. Had to unplug the unit and perform a hard reset which by the way resets all settings where I have to recalibrate the Audyssey speaker setting. For whatever reason the problem seemed to clear after a software upgrade or perhaps it was replacing the weak batteries in the remote with new ones. Since then the unit will freeze up every 2 to 20 days and require me to turn it off, unplug it, then plug it back in. This is ridiculous.
Now every day when I turn on the unit there is no sound. I have to perform a hard reset. I am a bit disappointed. My Yamaha receiver is still doing just as well now as it did when I purchased it several years ago.

Update: I discovered that if I let the receiver warm up for 8-10 minutes then press the standby/on button off then on the sound will resume. The next day I recalibrated the Audyssey speaker setting and now the receiver has sound without having to warm up. However I expect this problem to occur again.

I hope that ONKYO has overcome these problems with the newer models.

When you compare specification amongst receivers, this Onkyo model is unrivaled. Its not an inexpensive receiver by any means, however, if used properly, it can server as the central hub to your entertainment.

When I first received the receiver, I was shocked at how heavy it is. Make sure you have a sturdy entertainment stand/rack for this receiver. Being an I.T. guy by trade, I dove into the manual and all of the features. When attempting a firmware upgrade, I encountered some serious problems. A call was placed to Onkyo support and the tech was able to get me up and running.

Two month update:
This receiver is garbage! I am going to contact Onkyo to see if they will take this back. As one comment mentioned, there are endless clicking noises from the receiver. The funny thing is, I can live with that. My AV equipment is in a closet and the clicks, though audible, are easy to forgive. The big flaws: Whenever the unit loses power, it craps out. Half the menu's become inaccessible and this is what I initially called Onkyo about. They walked me through doing a factory reset. I have since had to do several of these resets. The real problem here is you have to spend about 30 minutes setting everything back up again. I have a Monster power conditioner hooked to the unit since day 1. On a few occasions, I have had to reset the unit even though power was never compromised.

One day, the receiver just turned off on its own. When I went to turn it back on, it didn't think there were any speakers attached to it. No sound no matter what. Again a factory reset. I have the latest firmware but the problems are endless.

I love having networked access to the receiver and being able to listen to Pandora. My advice - avoid this receiver at all costs! I am going to contact Onkyo to see if they will take this junk back! Will post updates after I speak with Onkyo.

A long time has passed since this review. Here is the final verdict. I could care less about the clicking noise. Again, my receiver is in a dedicated AV closet. I spoke with Onkyo and my options were to send the unit to Onkyo or an authorized service center. I believe a service center would be more objective than Onkyo, who has been of very little help thus far. I researched service centers in the Midwest and spoke to several of them. I found the following place:

SPECTRUM SOUND INC
3440 WEST 30TH ST
INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46222

I chose this outfit because they repair cones inside speakers and all types of DJ equipment. I UPS'd my receiver to them and spoke with the actual tech who was working on the unit. The gentlemen had 25 years of experience repairing audio equipment. The gentleman diagnosed a faulty main board and faulty HDMI board. He had to absolutely fight with Onkyo to get replacements boards. He also explained like C. Wang did about the clicking being normal operating sounds.

I received my unit back and have had several months of uptime with no issues whatsoever. I no longer regret buying this receiver but am disappointed in one major feature. The receiver was supposed to operate multiple zones however, this applies to analog sources only. If you have a DVD player or Satellite or Cable DVR that comes in through HDMI, that source will work in zone 1 only. Zone 2 and 3 will only support analog sources.

At the end of the day, the receiver just got bumped up to 4 stars. To all of the people who added to this review with their own issues, THANK YOU! To all of the people who claimed firmware updates fixed the clicking sounds, or that it was user error, REALLY?

I purchased this unit back in late June and initially it was an awesome experience, with plenty of power.
I hooked up all nine channels and the sound was clear , articulated and just awesome. This unit does weigh alot so make sure you have enough room to hook up the wiring.

I have no regrets for this purchase, but have been experiencing alot of problems with the Server function, for some reason sometimes the unit doesn't connect to my server, I have reset my modem and even switched router ports, but ultimately the only thing the works is resetting the unit. This is a pain in the R#$%#$% cos it erases the speaker equalization settings and everything else. I have done this two times in the past two months and its a bit annoying.

After calling Onkyo, they said that if this problem persist it would have to be serviced. I wish they really addressed this problem with a firmware or something.

So if you dont care about the internet compatibility either ignore this function or downgrade to a lower unit in Onkyo series.

This is why i give it a 4, but when it works 100% it's awesome!


Setup:
oppo blu ray
samsung 40: lcd 120htz.
bose acoustimass 16 and satellites
center and left/right wides: infinity cascades
rears: bose 161's

Update: 9/15/10 The Network functions keeps on having issues-it just doesn't work!

Best Receiver I've ever owned. It's the Ultimate!!
The only feature that it lacks is an a/c outlet (switched) on back of unit. The receiver is extremely versatile and fulfills all my power and accessory requirements. I highly recommend this Receiver!
James W

I did need to do a firmware update to this unit, but once accomplished.... Fantastic performance. The video processing and audio capabilities of this unit are unrivaled at this price point. No regrets whatsoever. Two things... 1) Make sure your firmware is current and is installed correctly- follow the instructions, 2) Make sure you have room for adequate air circulation- the unit runs warm and MUST have ventilation.

After two months I'm happy with the quality sound and the conections from the Onkyo TX-5007. My speakers KEF iq90, iq60, iq8 and Martin Logan Dynamo subwoofer, sounds spectacular with my oppo SACD and Sony BD-1000. The only problem with Onkyo is the bad package, arrived broken.
Thanks Amazon for the price I paid.

this reciever has everything you could want in a home a/v unit. i'm not going to regurgitate product specs, just state fact and opinion i haven't seen on this thing.

first, you'd better have a hell of a cabinet for this reciever. it is insanely heavy. make sure all your wires have plenty of slack so you can get everything connected then slide it into your cabinet.

it does get a little warm, make sure you have adequate ventilation. this isn't a negative, anyone having dealt with heavy duty electronics knows heat is a byproduct of power.

the amount of adjustability with this reciever is amazing. it is pretty intuitive, and easy to work with.

I've been a loyal Sony consumer for years, and I started getting tired of their hard to read/understand manuals, and issues I've had with a tv. I was searching for a new receiver that had HDMI ports on it and wanted something that had Audyssey. I was stuck between an Onkyo and a Harmon/Kardon. I chose the Onkyo because of reviews I've read about it.

I read that some people have had problems with it, but the only thing that I have with it that makes me scratch my head is that occasionally, I will get a 'pop' or 'crack' out of a speaker. It usually was the subwoofer, but then I thought I heard it from a speaker tonight. I don't know if it's the audio track I was listening to, if my speakers aren't great for the receiver, or if it's the receiver. I have a pretty good feeling it's the speakers, but we'll see.

Love the fact it receives firmware updates. Many companies will provide the ability to, but never update the firmware.

Other stuff I'm happy about is the Audyssey and how much of a breeze it was to use. Some say that it makes the music sound strange, but I believe it's because people are use to the over-use of the equilizer to make it sound like they want it to and not what an instrument should sound like.

Amazon was great with getting it to me. The price was right and they shipped it ASAP. Not a single problem with amazon.

Overall, I haven't had the opportunity yet to put this receiver to use to it's full capacity, but I can't wait to and I have a feeling that I will be happy with it. I'm moving shortly so I have a lot of my gear in storage...but I'm looking forward to setting it back up soon.