Customer Reviews

Onkyo TX-SR508 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black)

5 star:		(60)
4 star:		(31)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(19)

 

 

The sound from my ten year old Onkyo TX-DS474 was now inferior and I had read very good reviews of the Onkyo SR 507, so decided to pre order the brand new SR 508. It arrived from Amazon on April 29th. I used the built in equalizer to set up the speakers, connected the receiver with brand new HDMI v1.4 cables and connected it to my Dish satellite receiver, my Panasonic BluRay DVD player and my Panasonic HDTV. The sound was excellent. Whereas before we had to turn up the volume too loud to follow dialog on some shows, or else it was not clear, with the SR 508 the sound was so much clearer that we could keep the volume much lower.
After about three days I noticed that although I would assign the input as cab/sat, the receiver indicated ipod (now no ipod dock was connected to the receiver) but the sound still came through from the satellite box. Strange but no problem. Then exactly one week after receiving the receiver, in the middle of watching a show, the picture and sound went blank. No pushing of different buttons on the remote would make it work. My first reaction was a bad HDMI cable, so I changed it. Nothing. I switched to the DVD player, but again blank. So then I hooked up the satellite box and the DVD player directly to the TV by separate HDMI cables, turned on the TV speakers, and the TV works again. Obviously the SR 508 suddenly failed and would not even work as a pass through. I am returning the set to Amazon for a replacement. If the replacement works fine for a reasonable amount of time, I will update this review.
I chose Onkyo partially because of its RIHD feature in conjunction with Panasonic. In my experience that only works so-so. Turning on the BluRay DVD player did switch the receiver directly to DVD. But turning it off does not switch back automatically to cab/sat. Turning off the TV also turns off the Onkyo, but not vice versa. You still have to turn on the Onkyo receiver separately.
One unexpected problem with the receiver is that the zone 2 input works only with an analog signal. On my DS-474, I have set up output B to speakers in my screened in porch to be able to listen to CDs or TV there. The B speakers work with digital. Now all my signal inputs for zone 2 are digital, so it appears that the zone 2 feature is useless. Bummer!
I should specify that I am not at all techie, so there may be work arounds that I don't know!

Update#1: The unit failed Thursday evening, I requested a replacement online from Amazon on Friday noon, it arrived at my house on Saturday at about 2pm. I'm sure everyone would agree that that is outstanding customer service from Amazon. I have now (Sunday) installed the replacement unit and again it appears to be working great. Provided it continues to do so, I will add a second update and change my rating to four stars. I remain disappointed that the zone 2 is not digital, hence not 5 stars.

Update #2: Four days after installing the second receiver, it also failed in the same way. However, at the bottom of the "Troubleshooting" page in the user manual, I found the following comment: "The AV receiver contains a microcomputer for signal processing and control functions. In very rare situations, severe interference, noise from an external source, or static electricity may cause it to lock up. In the unlikely event this happens, unplug the power cord from the wall outlet, wait at least five seconds and then plug it in again."
That worked and it has not locked up again in the last ten days. However, I certainly take issue with the "rare circumstances" and "unlikely event" and I can't imagine any special event that may have caused it. My receiver is in a cabinet with the plug behind it, so unplugging is quite inconvenient. This said, the sound from the receiver is really clear so, if this problem does not recur frequently, I will be happy with the purchase. I'm changing my rating from one star to three stars.

I bought this to replace my Sony receiver I purchased from Amazon 3 years ago (almost to the day). While there was nothing "wrong" with my Sony receiver, I quickly realized once I plugged the Onkyo in, that my surround speakers were not being utilized as they should be.

While I am not an audiophile, I do have some quality speakers, and I do like having a quaility sound while watching movies (and playing Xbox). The sound is so clear and crisp with this receiver. Further, the set up with the 4 HDMI inputs made my stereo cabinet so much cleaner, and I got rid of all of my YRW and RBG wires. I am sure I could have invested another $300 and really got some really high end equipment, but honestly, the Onkyo is worth it. The funny thing is, I spent the same amount on the new Onkyo as I did on the old Sony, and the difference is just amazing.

The on-screen set up is great. It makes customizing the inputs and the equilizer so easy. And the speaker test really lets you know what where you need to place you speakers. What else can I say about this product? Honestly, this is the best purchase I have made in a long time. I think the 4 HDMI inputs alone make this a must-have over any other receiver similarly priced. I almost bought another Sony instead of the Onkyo (mostly because I have never purchased anything other than Sony receivers), but I am glad I made the switch. Now that I have experienced Onkyo, I think I have made a life long switch.

If you have any hesitations about buying this product, please feel free to send me a message, and I will try to answer your question before you buy. And if you have never bought an Onkyo before, try it first, and I am pretty sure you will like it (I would almost guarantee it). If not, return it to Amazon. They are really good with returns. But I doubt you will even want to return it once you get it set up.

My wife purchased this for me for my B'Day. Her review is on here as well. The receiver stopped working about 1 month and 1 week in to use. Being past 30 days I could not count on Amazons return. Onkyo USA tech support was contacted. Very rude to say the least. The phone is answered as if its someones home and they just rolled over in the bed to take the call. I had to ask if it was the right number. After clarifying that it was just a matter of putting up with the guys condescending tone until a repair request was issued. No information on the return for repair was given other than where to send it. Even though the item is under warranty, the $30 shipping charge comes out of my pocket. The unit arrives at the repair center on June 24. About 2 weeks later we call to check on the repair as we never received any notification it had been received or the status. We are told the part needed is on back order until the end of August!! So apparently the repair center was just going to let us sit in limbo for 2 months and not even notify us of the delay.

Onkyo Customer Relations is contacted. They must look for people what do not like to talk on the phone as this person also sounded bothered that he had to talk. I advised him of the situation and he said he would check on it and if the repair could not be completed in a timely manner they would issue a replacement. 2 weeks later I call the repair center and they still DO NOT have the part. I do not call that a timely manner. Onkyo was contacted again and I requested a replacement since the unit is not in repair for over a month and the part is STILL NOT THERE. Onkyo refused so I gave the guy a descriptive explanation of what I thought of him and Onkyo.

I have contacted Amazon hoping for some type of support since they are an authorized dealer. I would think they would want some say in how this has been handled. I have also filed a claim with the BBB in NJ, which is where Onkyo USA is located.

I hooked up the new Onkyo in about an hour and it sounded great! The next day it wouldn't work for anything hooked up through the HDMI input/output. I called Onkyo service and was greeted by an unhappy tecnician (well it was a Sunday)who told me to reset the Receiver. I asked how and he told me it's in the manual on page "x". I asked that he tell me to expedite the process and he reluctantly did and it worked. During the next 24 hours it needed resetting 4 times. I then read another review that had a similar problem and in it, it said, to pull the plug out of the wall and re-plug. I did, and it worked for another day and then needed reseting every few hours. Rather than deal with Onkyo service again, I just wrapped it up, back in the box, and returned it to Amazon. With Amazon reliability I can overcome an unrealiable product. btw, I saw the other bad reviews and said to myself "well thats only 4 or 5 out of dozens sold" - my bad!

2-MONTH UPDATE: I'm downgrading this from 5 stars to 2 because it's already starting to choke on us. Namely, the sound sometimes cuts out entirely, forcing us to cycle through the inputs (i.e. from DVD to VCR back to DVD) to get it working again. Usually it happens when navigating between a DVD's main menu and playback mode, though sometimes it's random. In any event, this P.O.S. is going back; thank you Amazon for being lenient with your "30-day" return policy!

Original review:

Onkyo receivers kick ass for a few fundamental reasons: their sound quality is at the top of the game (beating boring-sounding Sonys and Yamahas, and only equaled by Pioneer), their specs and features are competitive at every price point, they look good, and they have the best ergonomics. That last point is pretty key to me, especially since receivers can seem like pretty homogeneous and impenetrably complicated products to electronics rookies (there's at least one in most households). Case in point: I like the button layout, menu logic, and intuitive remote. I like how there are direct buttons for every input source on both the front panel AND the remote (meaning you can just press a button marked "DVD" or "Tuner" instead of cycling through them with a little knob). I like how the volume control was apparently designed by humans (crank it up and it reads 10, 11, 12 instead of cryptically counting -35 dB, -34.5 dB, -34 dB). I even like Onkyo's green font, and anyone can appreciate a user's manual that's easy to understand, as well as nice and skinny thanks to Onkyo's decision to put the Spanish/French versions in a separate booklet.

None of this is news to me, having already owned the three-years-ago version of this model, the 2007 TX-SR505. But I had to upgrade because it wasn't until last year's model (TX-SR507) that Onkyo threw in two crucial updates: the ability to decode the new Blu-ray sound standards, Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio (which are superior to Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1, the Laserdisc/DVD standards that have been universal since the 90s) and ***REAL*** HDMI ports, instead of that "HDMI Pass-Through" crap that Onkyo had been scamming us with for years (in case you missed it, HDMI Pass-Through required a supplemental coaxial/optical audio connection, which was not only annoying but limiting, since those audio cables lack the bandwidth to handle the aforementioned new sound formats). Anyway, now that these features have trickled down to this "$400" model (heh, subtract about 160 by Amazon standards), the true Blu-ray experience can at last be enjoyed by the masses. Thanks to this new toy, I just experienced high-definition sound for the first time, and let me tell you, it sounds GRATE: clearer dialogue, punchier bass, and just more all-around aural substance. There ain't nothin like uncompressed, lossless, 5.1-channel sound -- it's at least as obvious as the difference between CDs and MP3s (same principle at work, too).

As far as comparing the TX-SR508 to the other receivers within Onkyo's overcrowded 8-man lineup, I think this second-from-the-bottom model hits the price/features sweet spot for most non-hardcore-geek folk. It only costs about $40 (in Amazon dollars) above the bottom-end TX-SR308 yet adds all this good stuff:
-80 watts per channel vs. 65
-4 HDMI inputs vs. 3
-2 coaxial audio inputs vs. 1
-front panel composite inputs (the old school kind)
-higher-quality speaker connections (screw-down binding posts vs. cheap wire clips)
-7.1 channels vs. 5.1
-bi-amp capability for front speakers
-Dolby Pro Logic IIz (if you want to add 2 extra ceiling-mounted speakers)
-Audyssey Dynamic EQ & Audyssey Dynamic Volume (levels out the volume extremes)
-WRAT - Wide Range Amplifier Technology (whatever that means)
-"All-Discrete Circuitry" (say what?)
-192 KHz/24-Bit Video Digital Audio Converters
-Zone 2 (for powering speakers in another room)
-SIRIUS radio ready
-an auto setup microphone

On the other hand, the next-up model, the TX-SR608, costs a whopping 140 Amazon dollars more to add:
-PC input
-6 HDMI inputs vs. 4
-second subwoofer input
-100 watts vs. 80
-THX certification (I think that just means it's "powerful enough" to drive THX-certified speakers -- sounds like a THX branding circle-jerk)
-Faroudja DCDi video upconversion
-analog-to-HDMI conversion (magazines say this doesn't work well)
-3-Stage Inverted Darlington Circuitry (???)

Nice, but not necessary. Likewise, going even farther up the price scale seems to buy superfluous amenities like excess wattage, hookups for 10 speakers (whatever marketers tell you, 5.1 has been the only standard since the 90s and most movies today are still encoded that way), and a few other pieces of non-essential technology.

So basically, in the wide world of audio-video receivers, Onkyo's the best brand and this is the best Onkyo. What more do you need to know?

I have had this unit for a few months now and I have to say, being a first time owner of any receiver, I am impressed. The ease of set up, the documentation, and the price are just incredible for what this puppy offers.

It was up and running within 30 minutes (would have been 5 if I wasn't so anal about wiring). The documentation included is phenomenal as well, covers pretty much anything you'd ever want to do with this unit, ranging from the very basic (plug you stuff in here and hit power) to the advanced (dealing with today bleeding edge technologies).

The only reason this didn't get 5 stars is because I did have the HDMI video out issue occur for me after a week of use. It took me a grand total of 5 minutes to solve and it HAS NOT occurred again. I don't understand the complaints from people who claim to be audio and videofiles on here, saying they had no option but to send it back for repair, or replacement... It took me 5 minutes of google searching to figure out how to reset the unit (believe it was the tv button and the power button for 5 seconds). Issue resolved. And that fix worked for everyone that responded in the thread I read about it on AVSforums.

Seriously don't count this receiver out because of a few bad reviews. I have read of lots of people having this issue and having NO issue fixing it when/if it occurs. All the 5 star reviews here are definitely for good reason.

As for the overheating, just for giggles I have not turned the unit off in about a month (nope it's probably not good for it, but I wanted to see if these units do heat up to the point of flames or danger). The end result is NO THEY DON"T and anyone who has said that either had a truly defective unit, or truly hates Onkyo.

Just do yourself a favor people and read all the reviews on something before buying, if you have no patience at all, then maybe dish out the extra few hundred for a unit that doesn't have minor issues that might cause you 5 minutes of frustration. All hardware will have a negative review on it, some units come off the line flawed, it's just how it works. If you get a bad one that's definitely a drag, but it's no reason to condem a company and a product line.

Hopefully this was helpful.

Cheers

Very rarely is there something I am willing to label as "perfect" when it comes to electronics. There is always something that can be improved/changed/modified to fit one's needs. However, I am willing to say that the Onkyo TX-SR508 is a "perfect" piece of electronic equipment. Quite simply, if you compare all of its features, ease of use, quality of sound, and its price, there is nothing better out there.

Some of these features include plenty of ways to connect audio and video (it has every imaginable combination of audio inputs I need, making it "perfect" for me). This includes HDMI 1.4, 4 HDMI inputs, 2 fiber-optic audio, many standard audio inputs, and even the ability to output the receiver's menu and setup displays onto your TV via HDMI. It also has the Onkyo port for the iPod doc. It is possible for someone out there to need MORE that inputs than this receiver has (I am using a DVD player and DVR box), but it has everything I need in terms of features and future-proof connectivity.

One of the most impressive elements of the TX-SR508 is the ease of use. Within seconds, I was accessing the menu and making the changes needed for my system. I have another Onkyo receiver from a Home Theater in a Box set, but this TX-SR508 is significantly easier to use. Without the manual, I understood each menu and what was contained in the sub-menu. I was able to set my system for 3 speakers, their size, and their distance from my ears. I was even able to adjust the sound level from each speaker (I keep the center louder than the left and right). I was able to select the different Dolby settings for my preferences, and the receiver will automatically detect any digital inputs I am using (like a DVD compared to different settings that TV stations use). I could not ask for a simpler device.

Of course, we buy receivers for sound, and I have always been impressed with the way Onkyos sound (which is why I own 2 of them). I am using Klipsch speakers--the front is the Klipsch WC-24 and the left/right speaker is the Klipsch XB-10. Paired with the TX-SR508, this makes for a HUGE improvement over anything else I have had in the past, since I was using the TV's speakers. Sounds are clear, responsive, and distinct. Voices come out the center loud and clear, and ambient noise and music come out the left and right. I am currently using the Dolby Digital Pro Logic II Movie setting, since I feel it gives all TV shows the most audio depth. I have cranked the volume up a few times (like for a music video and some sporting events) and I hear no flaws from the speakers and the receiver. I am picky about audio, and in all of my research, I found that Onkyo receivers match nicely with Klipsch speakers. I could not be happier with the sound quality.

With all of this said, compared, and processed, you can see why I label this as "perfect" when you think about its cost. I have been to stores with high end receivers on display costing over $1,000. I have listened to them and compared their features. And I honestly believe the features, ease of use, quality and price on the TX-SR508 make this receiver a best choice out there for a home theater system.

I was really torn about getting this vs. the 608, but after reading about some issues with the 608's signal processing, I decided to save some dough and get the 508 (I really only need 2 HDMI inputs for my media room anyway). Boy am I glad I did. I used the microphone Audussy II tuning feature, and was completely tuned in 10 mins. I have a Panasonic ae4000 projector, and on a 11 foot screen, this is like IMAX at home (BETTER!). The sound and picture are absolutely incredible (the PS3 is one of the best Bluray players out there, so you do not need your AV receiver to process the signal). I can't believe how powerful this 80 watts per channel sounds on the inexpensive BIC speakers I purchased at Amazon (DV64, DV62, V-1220, and HT8W). The room is 15X20, and I really can't turn up the volume above 65 without it being too loud (60 is about right, but loud; 100 is max). It also made me realize how UNcalibrated my Denon 1803 without Audussy is in my living room. On the 508, I can hear the dialog perfectly - even in low volumes; I have to crank the old Denon, and I still have problems hearing speech clearly. For 250 bones, I am seriously thinking of getting another 508 for downstairs. The AV pairs perfectly with the PS3 via HDMI, and I have not had any problems with it being able to pull the sound from the Bluray in loss-less form (dolby true HD). I really don't understand how this thing can be so inexpensive.

On the downside: if you are connecting to a TV, you will have to power on the receiver to get the HDMI signal to pass through - not a concern for me since a projector does not have its own speakers - but if you want your TV speakers only (maybe to save electricity), you will have to run another cable directly from your source to the TV.

Secondly, I noticed it getting very hot when placed in an enclosed cabinet (open in front with holes in the back and 2" clearance around). I ended up cutting a hole in the back of my cabinet, and attaching a cheap computer fan blowing out. This completely solved the problem as it runs very cool now - even for 8 hours cranked - without any noise. I suspect many failures noted here may have to do with placement and overheating.

All in all, an unbelievable bargain!

UPDATE:

I just had to buy another 508 for my downstairs main TV set up. I only have an up-converting DVD and a Dish 722, so I used the optical and coaxial audio instead of HDMI. After trying to Audussy cal about 6 times unsuccessfully due to speaker error, I hooked up an HDMI to read the detailed on screen menu (if you don't use HDMI, you will have limited information on the receiver screen). My front left speaker was shot, and the Onkyo figured it out! I replaced the speaker, and it calibrated the first time. It sounds AWESOME - and this room is quite a bit bigger than my home theater. The boomy sub-woofer I had become accustomed to, and could easily locate in the room, disappeared into the complete sound field; bass was everywhere, not just in the corner anymore. I guess if you knew what you were doing, you could calibrate your own speakers to do this, but I obviously had no clue. I also have my outdoor speakers running through the zone 2. I ran regular L/R composite concurrently from my Dish and DVD player to the receiver so I could deliver a stereo signal to the outdoor speakers (usually digital signals will not output to zone 2 - at least it didn't on the Denon - I didn't try on the Onkyo). VERY HAPPY CAMPER. Can't wait for the Superbowl...

I read the reviews before i purchased and chalked up the bad reviews to hopefully a bad shipment. I had faith as i owned an Onkyo for 10yrs that worked flawlessly. I wasn't that lucky with this one ... 2hrs into using it the picture began to flash then eventually went black. I shut the unit off powered it back up everything was fine until the next day when it started to do it all over again. Seemed like the unit gets confused when changing channels when the signal switches from a lower 480 or 720 up to 1080. Once the receiver gets confused once it would eventually occur no matter what the resolution then go black. Items being returned. I have sworn by Onkyo in the past now feel like i could have recommended garbage to allot of people over the last 10 years. Best bang for the buck if it actually worked.

I have had two onkyos before this and they were fine. This one however, aims high for a low budget and obviously does not have good enough quality components to do the job. I am exchanging the one I bought and am getting another one hopefully soon. It does come with stickers to label your cables, but that does not make up for horrible HDMI video pass through. I don't understand how companies can get away with inefficient and defective items. With receivers, it either works 100% or is deffective. I set up this one, and after figuring out the testing process, did that. This ended up being the last process that I could do without pulling my hair out. After work, I came back wanting to watch TV and my HDMI 1 input with my TIVOHD was flickering. I am now working straight from HDMI to TV until I get another receiver. I was a bit hesitant about buying one of these receivers and now I realize why. If my exchange does not work, I will add to this review. Receivers should not have to be exchanged. Hassle and a half.