0402WHC08 Onkyo TX-SR501E GT*

12/9/03

11:08 AM

Page 81

Group Test # Integrated Amplifiers

TX-SR501E 260

nkyo and Yamaha are locked in a pitched battle to determine who offers the cheapest, fully specified 6.1-channel home cinema amplification around. Onkyos TX-SR501E costs around just 260, although Yamaha products are more likely to be sold at cheap rates online. Like all the models in this test, the TX-SR501E is classed as a receiver as it also includes an AM/FM tuner. It delivers 85W to all six amplifier sections within its clean-looking case, and has neat touches like a proper aluminium front panel (many amp manufacturers are switching to plastic on cheaper models to keep costs down. This has a negative effect on sound and long-term product looks). Features include Onkyos Wide Range Amplifier Technology, which extends the frequency response of the amplifiers, making the SR501 a perfect amp for SACD or DVD-Audio and their high frequencies. It also sports high-capacity filter capacitors, needed to swing large amounts of power from channel to channel, and an over-engineered internal layout designed to lower noise and make sound more crisp. There is a very neat concession to home cinema simplicity on the TX-SR501E. The speaker terminals are colour-coded not simply red and black, but each speaker has its own colour, to make connecting up the system easier than most. If only everyone would adopt this as a standard, the wiring of speakers would be much less daunting. This aside, its easy to set up. It includes composite, S-Video and component video switching, and even has bass management settings in discrete steps from 60Hz-150Hz, to make it mesh with any subwoofer. There is something fundamentally solid about the sound from the Onkyo. It is exciting, with good clear treble and a well defined bass, but theres something more. The sound appears rooted; bolted down and stable in a reassuring manner, rather like a home cinema bodyguard. Its a very abstract concept to get across, but the Onkyo is so self-assured that it exudes power whatever you play through it. Normally, such a presentation comes with a THX badge and empties your wallet to the tune of 1,000 or so. TEST SCENE

LOTR: THE TWO TOWERS

RIOT CONTROL
As millions of Uruk-Hai go marching off to war, only something with power behind it can tame all this and the Onkyo manages admirably

Lording it

As you might imagine, the Onkyo is made for playing The Two Towers. Its hard to pinpoint a single part of the disc; it just bestows a forceful air on the whole proceedings. After playing the disc through the Onkyo, others in the test make it sound like the swords are made of cardboard. Perhaps not the most naturalistic presentation, the Onkyo is exciting, with a hint of zingy treble at times. It wont fill the room with mellifluous sounds, but tries to make every speaker seem larger than it really is. Although there isnt much of a price difference between the Onkyo and Yamaha, they are worlds apart. The Onkyos an upfront, explosive performer, perhaps lacking the richness and depth of the Yamaha, but it its more expressive. If you want oodles of power and the latest formats, without spending a fortune, Onkyo has it all. WHC

GOOD POINTS

Well-built, highly-specified and powerful amplifier with a sound as solid as the build. Enjoyable, too

BAD POINTS

Not the most natural sound around more excitement than accuracy

OVERALL

One of the meatiest sounds you can get for the money, with a build quality thatll last and last

RATINGS

Style Ease of use Features Build Sound Value Overall #######$$$ ########$$ #######$$$ #########$ #########$ ########$$ #########$
What Home Cinema February 2004

0309wv23 Onkyo TX-SR501

18/7/2003

11:11 am

Page 119

ONKYO TX-SR501E

AV receiver

Specification

FEATURES 6.1-channel receiver; 65W per channel RMS; 8 20Hz-20kHz 0.08% THD FTC; FM-RDS/MW 30-preset tuner; bass crossover frequencies 60Hz, 80Hz, 100Hz, 120Hz & 150Hz; cinema filter; tone controls; system remote control; DD 5.1 & DD EX, DTS & DTS ES, DPL II; DTS Neo:6; DSP modes SOCKETS AV ins 2 line & 2 tape with composite/S-video; audio only 1 line & 1 tape; 1 5.1-channel audio in, sub out; 2component video ins; 2 optical & 1 electrical digital ins; 6 speaker outs, plus 2nd front output for 2nd room; RI connector for system remote with other Onkyo components; aerial inputs DIMENSIONS 150(h) x 435(w) x 376(d)mm WEIGHT 9.8kg

Beginners luck

New to home cinema? If so, you could do a lot worse than Onkyos price-busting TX-SR501E, says Alvin Gold
Selling for just 300, Onkyos TX-SR501E offers an impressive array of features including six channels of discrete power amplification; Dolby Digital EX, DTS ES, Pro-Logic II and DTS Neo: 6. There are other home cinema amplifiers at this price, but none with a 6.1-channel amplifier, or with Dolby Digital EX and DTS ES. The question is, have any corners been cut in the performance to achieve such a competitive price, or elsewhere in the SR501Es makeup? Physically, it feels solid enough, and the front panel is brushed aluminium, not moulded plastic. The power amplifiers are all discrete
where others use cheaper ICs (integrated circuits). The design allows for a wide frequency bandwidth and the power supply is generously endowed. Soundfield processing, courtesy of a 24-bit Crystal CS49326 DSP, is powerful enough to cope with ES and EX 6.1-channel operation, while AKM AK4586 24/96 DACs are used on each channel. Bass management is flexible, but there are some limitations in the speaker setup, such as a rather large 30cm resolution on the speaker distance settings. Disposable features like onscreen menus are omitted, but the front-panel setup procedure is quick and transparent. The range of inputs and outputs is adequate, but there is no digital output. Neither is there conversion of composite video to S-video, nor analogue-to-digital audio (or vice versa) to help when taping. Input assignment options are also very limited. The remote control is simple and relatively feature-light, but its as user-friendly as some more costly and elaborate designs.

PERFORMANCE

Slightly cramped, but clearly labelled and it will cope manfully with a complete Onkyo system
Inevitably, there are some obvious limitations to the SR501E. It wont drive some speakers to reasonable volume levels without clipping peaks, leading to a particularly
obvious form of harsh, gritty distortion. In our test, some recordings were badly mauled though large stereo speakers. Luckily for home cinema users, switch to five- or six-speaker operation and the sound fills out, becoming sweeter and more attractive, perhaps because each channel is working less hard to achieve the same overall volume level. The SR501E is happiest with good-quality sub/sat systems, where the satellites are limited to 100Hz and above (eg the Ruark Vita system used for this test). In this case the subwoofers own power amp helped take the strain. Otherwise its all sweetness and light. Image steering with DTS and Dolby Digital is clean and precisely articulated. There is more than a hint of subtlety and image depth, while detail levels are particularly impressive. The SR501E copes manfully with most mainstream soundtracks, though inevitably some of the noisier blockbusters do challenge it, especially when played at very high volumes. Overall though, you get a whole lot of receiver for an incredibly low outlay. Strongly recommended s
CONTACT c/o Jamo TEST DATA Manufacturers output: 65W per channel (20Hz-20kHz, 8, 0.1% THD) Power output at 1kHz: (2-chan.): 80W (8, 0.1% THD); 95W (4, 0.1% THD) Power output at 1kHz: (5-chan.): 35W (8, 0.1% THD); 50W (4, 0.1% THD) Fid. firewall: 75W at 0.05% THD (8) Distortion at 50W: 0.01% (8, 1kHz) Freq. response: 20Hz-20kHz 0.05dB

What we think

WHATS GOOD Superb value; Dolby Digital & DTS surround performance WHATS BAD Stereo performance; few features SOUND. FEATURES. EASE OF USE VALUE.77777.77777.77777.77777

Also consider.

DENON AVR-1603 Good performance at modest volume levels, but messy user interface Reviewed December 02 YAMAHA RX-V430RDS Basic feature set but warm, attractive performance Reviewed December 02

Verdict 77777

Great price with impressive surround sound performance
September 2003 s WHAT VIDEO WIDESCREEN ENTERTAINMENT 119