Quality 7.1 at low price
Written: Oct 10 '05 (Updated Oct 12 '05)
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Pros: Clean appearance, nice remote, decent power, Onkyo reputation and support.
Cons: It doesn't do everything, but what would for this price?
The Bottom Line: This is a great buy if you're in the market for a budget 7.1 receiver and still want to maintain a high quality sound.
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| compuwhiz's Full Review: Onkyo TX-SR503 7.1 Channels Receiver |
Overview
I purchased this receiver to act as a surround amplifier for my computer sound card, a SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS. I'm using the Athena Point 5 speaker set with a JBL E250P 12" subwoofer.
This is not my first purchase with Onkyo; I previously used the Onkyo TX-SR502 as a home theater receiver before purchasing my current Pioneer VSX-1015 model. I sold off the 502 model a while ago but didn't hesitate at all to go with Onkyo again for my bedroom surround setup.
Changes from the 502 model
The new Onkyo 503 receiver has some small improvements over last year's model. The most significant is the number of channels: now there are 7 at 75 watts each instead of only 6 at 75 watts. 7.1 is quickly becoming the desired standard for all but the smallest of surround sound setups. The other significant change is a complete redesign of the remote control. If you've read my 502 review you will note that one of the complaints was a confusing remote control layout, with too many buttons. The new remote is about 25% smaller, lighter weight, and has a cleaner, more intuitive interface. Onkyo also threw in an extra component video input, since there are more devices utilizing this higher-quality connection. The bandwidth is sufficient for up to 1080i video.
Another additional change, while not useful to every person, is the addition of iPod capability if you buy the optional Onkyo base station. It allows you to charge the iPod while playing music through the receiver.
Onkyo did remove one thing from this model, the front s-video input. I didn't even notice it until writing this review, but it's not a big problem for me and I'd rather have the extra channel of amplification for the same base price.
Features
* 7.1 channel audio/video digital component receiver
* 7 x 75 watt, 8ohms, 20Hz-20KHz @ 0.08% THD
* 4 audio/video, 2 audio only inputs
* Built-in AM/FM tuner
* 3 digital optical, 1 digital coaxial input (rear)
* 3 component video inputs, 1 output
* 3 s-video inputs, 2 outputs
* 4 composite video inputs, 2 outputs
* 5.1 analog multichannel input
* Dolby Digital / DTS decoding
* Dolby Digital EX / DTS-ES decoding
* Dolby ProLogic IIx / DTS:Neo6 decoding
* 7 built-in custom DSP modes
* 192KHz / 24bit DACs
In the Box
In the box you get the 503 unit, remote control, FM wire antenna, AM loop antenna, 2 AA batteries, instruction manual, warranty card, miscellaneous Onkyo advertisements, and a cable label sheet.
Design
The familiar Onkyo style is back again: flat black, clean front panel layout, and the green fluoroluminescent display. All of the input selections get their own dedicated button, and they are grouped into audio+video and audio only sections. The frequently used mode selections are accessible via the secondary row of buttons, and the configuration menu gets its own directional-pad and navigation buttons.
The back is also very clean with sufficient spacing between RCA connectors. The color-coded binding posts are somewhat tightly spaced if using bare wire, so banana plugs are recommended for fast connection. The included wire labels are helpful if you tend to forget which wire goes to which device.
As mentioned earlier, the remote control has been improved with a more intelligent design. There is still not a complete backlight; only the input selection buttons illuminate, but this is a budget receiver so some missing features are expected. Onkyo does put a white background behind the frequently-used buttons so it's easier to make them out in a dark environment.
Interface
Onkyo receivers remain to this day the easiest to navigate in my experience. The setup menu is broken into submenus with specific options and you use a combination of up/down/left/right/enter/return to set all of the parameters. There is a test tone for setting equal volume to each speaker, a distance menu, crossover adjustment, speaker size selection, and miscellaneous options for mono audio and Dolby Prologic II.
Speaker configuration: you can select subwoofer on/off and select Large, Small, or None for the connected speakers. The selection is divided into front, center, surround, and surround back zones. If you specify Small for the front speakers all of the other speakers must be set to Small or None.
Distance setting: you can adjust the distance of each zone in increments of 1ft from 1ft to 30ft. The center channel and subwoofer must be within +/- 5ft of the front distance. The rear zones must be within +5ft / -15ft of the front distance. Hence if your front speakers are 5ft away your surround speakers can be a maximum of 10ft away, not 30ft.
Level calibration: you can adjust each speaker from -12dB to +12dB in 1dB increments. The subwoofer can be adjusted from -15dB to +12dB. You get a completely separate level adjustment for the 5.1 analog multichannel input which is great if you use a SACD or DVD-Audio player which may have different output levels from the receiver's built in DAC.
Miscellaenous: you can adjust bass multiplexing (if you have Large main speakers and a subwoofer, choose to send the low bass to one, the other, or both), how to handle mono signals (Left only, Right only, or L+R duplicate), and panorama/dimension/center width/center image adjustment (for fine-tuning surround effect from Prologic II).
The 503 also allows for two main speaker outputs, A and B. You don't get binding posts for set B, just spring clips, but you can output 5.1 in one room and stereo in the other room simultaneously for the same input source.
Impressions
I've been using the 503 for a week now with about 80% music, 20% movie listening. The available power is overkill for my 12x13 room but it's always nice to have extra. I always liked my older 502 receiver for music (even moreso than my current Pioneer 1015 receiver) and the 503 sounds just as good. Highs are not as sharp as a typical Yamaha or Pioneer receiver, although it is not as warm as a Harmon Kardon amplifier. DVD-Audio sounded great as did high-bitrate MP3 audio files. I tried driving my Point 5 speakers full-range without the subwoofer for a while to see how the bass response was, and it gave them a good amount of punch at medium to high volume levels. Best results will of course be attained when using a separate powered subwoofer and setting the speakers to Small with an appropriate crossover. This removes some demand from the internal receiver amplifier and will generally give higher-quality sound especially at high volume levels. When used properly, with 8 or 6 ohm speakers, the 503 will crank with very low distortion to very high volume levels. If you have 4 ohm speakers and intend to run at high volumes you should look for a high-power, high-current amplifier design.
One thing that you will notice about the 503 is that it puts off a good amount of heat when being driven at medium or high volume levels. Make sure you have sufficient ventilation above and to the sides of the receiver. This is normal behavior for this type of receiver.
Support
Onkyo provides a 2-year parts and labor warranty when you buy from an authorized Internet or Retail dealer. This is very important, because if you buy from a non-authorized seller you won't get warranty support. You can check Onkyo's web site for a full approved list. Once you get the unit, Onkyo provides easy registration through the mail or web and a tutorial online for connecting your receiver.
Conclusion
For my purposes, the Onkyo 503 was a no-brainer. I wanted something quick and painless to hook up for high-quality multimedia sound for my computer. I did also consider the new Panasonic XR55 pure-digital receiver, which is one of the primary competitors in this price range, but I'm not a big fan of Panasonic and wanted to stick with a conventional analog design.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 229
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Epinions.com ID:
compuwhiz
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Member: Jeremy Gillow
Location: Melbourne, Florida, USA
Reviews written: 21
Trusted by: 3 members
About Me:
System administrator and computer information systems graduate student.
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