REVIEW: Panasonic SA-XR55 Receiver

Video Asylum

TVs, VCRs, DVD players, Home Theater systems and more.

Model: SA-XR55
Category: Receiver
Suggested Retail Price: $300
Description: 100 watts times 6 channels CLASS-D home theater reciever
Manufacturer URL: Panasonic
Model Picture: View
Review by budget minded (A) on October 13, 2005 at 07:40:39
IP Address: 4.156.3.101 Add Your Review
for the SA-XR55
my system sounds much more relaxed yet at the same time detailed with the panasonic. every time i play a disc, i'm hearing things i've never heard before. sudden dynamic sounds have ALOT more impact. tracks that i'm familiar with surprise me now. *kaboom*!
not only that, the panasonic has a nice digital system. when listening to 2 channel music in surround mode, the panny sounds alot better than my onkyo does doing pro logic. the panny D/A converters are less digital sounding. they also image much wider than the onkyo which tends to push images towards the center where i've finally heard sounds extend past my speakers with the panny.
the ONE thing that i'm still trying to get a grip on is that everything sounds more like it was recorded in a well damped room. i think it might be that i'm comparing the sound to my old system. the new sound is very much like the sound on the "planet drum" disc by mickey hart. it's considered to be a state of the art demo disc, but i always thought it was a little polite. maybe i'm just not used to a "just the facts" sound and need to adjust.
i'm loving the speed and detail retrieval (and wider center spread in the image) along with near planar vocals but am coming to grips with what seems like a less ambient sound. planet drum isn't that ambient either. maybe i'm hearing what i'm supposed to hear and am just not used to it. regardless... when i hear a sexy feamale vocal or a nice bass drum thwak under a cowbell... i'm a happy camper. i'm guessing that what i'm hearing is ironfisted control of my speakers for the first time.
i'm not a big fan of the "i hope you have banana plugs or REALLY small fingers if you want to use pins" speaker connectors or lack of a switched power outlet for subwoofing and my RF converter, but those are minor gripes. it's the sound that matters. the display that looks like a mirror (silver model) when powered down is realy cool too.
the bottom line is this reciever has killer bang for the buck. i thought my onkyo did, but it's been spanked by panasonic.
Product Weakness: terrible closely spaced "2 way" binding posts which won't accept spades, no power outlets, front AV jacks ruin looks a little, no phono preamp and "multi mode" switch takes some getting used to.
Product Strengths: speed, detail retrieval, bass extension, image width, runs cool, low power consumtion, price, slim profile, and the silver model looks very classy
Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: onkyo 55wpc for 12
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): none
Sources (CDP/Turntable): onkyo DVD player via coax
Speakers: NHT superzero
Cables/Interconnects: monter cable 10 guage
Music Used (Genre/Selections): acoustic to electronic & films
Room Size (LxWxH): 17' x 9.5' x 8
Room Comments/Treatments: egg crate foam on front side walls
Time Period/Length of Audition: 5 days
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Sonic Craft

Topic - REVIEW: Panasonic SA-XR55 Receiver - budget minded 07:40:39 10/13/05 (12)

Panasonic SA-XR55 Receiver - JimOfOakCreek 07:20:13 11/08/05 (0)

Panasonic SA-XR55 Receiver - JayNYC 14:45:24 11/07/05 (1)

Re: 3 channel mode - budget minded 03:31:19 11/18/05 (0)

Panasonic SA-XR55 Receiver - thoriated_tiger 11:13:50 11/03/05 (0)

Panasonic SA-XR55 Receiver - Newbie 12:31:24 10/15/05 (4)

Speakers - thoriated_tiger 11:37:40 11/03/05 (3)

Re: Speakers - Newbie 17:37:59 11/04/05 (2)

Re: Speakers get magnepan MMGs! - budget minded 12:53:36 11/05/05 (1)

Thanks a TON ! - Newbie 06:19:09 11/14/05 (0)

Tried Biamp/biwire or "dual amp" feature? - Jon L 13:52:04 10/13/05 (2)

Re: Tried Biamp/biwire or "dual amp" feature? - thoriated_tiger 11:33:18 11/03/05 (1)

Re: Tried Biamp/biwire or "dual amp" feature? - budget minded 13:06:18 11/05/05 (0)

You can not post to an archived thread.

Model:	SA-XR55
Category:	Receiver
Suggested Retail Price:	$300
Description:	100 watts times 6 channels CLASS-D home theater reciever
Manufacturer URL:	Panasonic
Model Picture:	View

Product Weakness:	terrible closely spaced "2 way" binding posts which won't accept spades, no power outlets, front AV jacks ruin looks a little, no phono preamp and "multi mode" switch takes some getting used to.
Product Strengths:	speed, detail retrieval, bass extension, image width, runs cool, low power consumtion, price, slim profile, and the silver model looks very classy

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	onkyo 55wpc for 12
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	none
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	onkyo DVD player via coax
Speakers:	NHT superzero
Cables/Interconnects:	monter cable 10 guage
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	acoustic to electronic & films
Room Size (LxWxH):	17' x 9.5' x 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	egg crate foam on front side walls
Time Period/Length of Audition:	5 days
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner