Onkyo A-9555S Integrated Digital Stereo Amplifier (Silver)

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Product Details

• Item Weight: 35.1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 35 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B000J40PSE
• Item model number: A9555S
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #101 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)

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Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Digital amplification enables significant power efficiency savings and supports smaller, more compact designs—obvious benefits for today’s home lifestyles. However, at Onkyo, we believe that these benefits should not come at the expense of the most important consideration: sound quality. With the A-9555S integrated digital amplifier, sound quality takes precedence over all else. By using Onkyo’s exclusive Vector Linear (VL) Digital technology to remove any spike noise before it introduces errors into the inversion timing, it is possible to get a highly accurate analog-to-digital conversion. Also, at the heart of the A-9555 is a Pure Stream Power Supply—essentially a large power transformer—that ensures that you always have the on-demand power for the clarity and detail of a range of musical genres. By integrating the fundamentals of audio amplification with the potential of digital amplification, the A-9555 is a revelation in superior audio reproduction.

Key technology Features:
RI (Remote Interactive): With Onkyo’s exclusive RI (Remote Interactive) system capability, you can integrate and operate all compatible components through a single remote control. What’s more, RI capability enables you to simply connect the iPod® to your receiver through Onkyo’s RI Dock for the iPod (DS-A1). Your iPod effectively becomes another Onkyo component from which you can relish a fuller sound that just can’t be experienced through headphones. RI capability will also give you remote operability of your iPod for hands-off control over your digital music.

VLSC (Vector Linear Shaping Circuitry): Conventional D/A conversion methods reduce digital pulse noise at the conversion stage but can’t remove it completely. Previously only found on our high-end components, VLSC (Vector Linear Shaping Circuitry) employs a unique D/A conversion circuit to overcome this problem. Data is converted between sampling points and these points are joined with analog vectors in real-time to produce a smooth output wave form. The result — a virtually noiseless, smooth analog signal based on the digital source to bring out even the most subtle of nuances in your music, movie soundtracks and even MP3s.

Product Description

Onkyo Digital 85 Watt Stereo Receiver

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "stealth amp", April 26, 2007

By	J. Janssen (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I ordered this amp on a whim as a companion for an Onkyo DX-7555 (single disc "audiophile" CD player) since they share a sophistocated remote system. I owned, and still own, a somewhat esoteric AudioLab 8000S which I consider to be sonically flawless and offering great flexibility even though it's almost 15 years old and really didn't expect the Onkyo to be much other than a typical import amp with a lot of bells and whistles but not outstanding performance.....big surprise. This amp is easily the sonic equal of my "British hand crafted" AudioLab, is robustly built and very, very musical. A great bargain at less than $500.

Particularly rewarding is a better than decent MM phono section allowing me to retire a separate head amp for those rare occasions when only vinyl will do. Additionally, while the unit includes bass/treble/and a subtle "loudness contour", the additional circuitry can be bypassed for a "direct" mode which essentially provides a straight wire of gain to your speakers...very clean and powerful. With the companion CD player it's a knockout combination and I recommend it highly.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome sound, great value, January 1, 2007

By	vour - See all my reviews

I bought this amplifier after a very favorable review in the Nov, 06 issue of The Absolute Sound, and I'm really glad that I did. The dynamics of the sound remind me of Sonic Impact (another class D amplifier) but without the distortion, particularly in the upper frequencies. This amplifier sounds relatively warm, quite listenable and produces music effortlessly and cleanly. The silver chassis looks amazing; too bad the golden color is not available in the US, or the more powerful 9755 model. I highly recommend this amplifier.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice amp, but not a giant killer, August 27, 2008

By	Ryan Davidson "R. Davidson" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've been listening to this amp for a couple of weeks now and it is a very good amp. I wish I could give it 3.5 stars as I like it, but it isn't great. Don't get me wrong, it is much better than 90% of AV receivers out there, but if you're looking for true audiophile sound, this amp won't quite get you there, as some professional reviews may easily lead one to believe.

Good points:
-Smooth, somewhat lush "tube-like" sound that is forgiving and never bright or harsh.
-Very good midrange quality with some nice warmth that is very natural.
-Full bass.
-Nice overall build quality (except for the binding posts and other connectors).
-Simple, easy to use remote.
-Front panel controls have a high quality feel and the layout is very nice.
-The look is understated and elegant.
-Good to have a removable power cord for upgrades.

Bad points:
-The "tube-like" sound can be a litle too rolled off in the high notes. I don't hear all the detail and decay in the highs that I've heard from higher end gear.
-The bass, while full and tuneful, lacks definition and leading snap.
-Dynamics are okay. I don't get the attack and immediacy I've heard from other (high priced / audiophile) amps. The jump factor is toned down a little.
-The binding posts and RCA connectors work fine, but when connecting cables, they move quite a bit. I'm sure they're fine, but they don't exactly instill a feeling confidence that they'll hold together over the long haul.
-A product of this caliber should have pre-out / main-in jacks or atleast a pre-out for a subwoofer.

Overall I like this amp. I've just been spoiled by higher-end gear. I would say that the sound is very competitive with upper mid-fi integrated amps from NAD, Rotel, and Cambridge Audio to name a few. All these product brands have their strengths and weaknesses in general. It really comes down to preference, the type of music you mostly listen to, your listening space, and synergy between your other components. In the end, this amp is really quite nice and should easily fit into most people's criteria for good sound quality at a reasonable price.