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Onkyo TX-8511 2 Channels ReceiverWhy save the best stuff for home theater? Every model in Onkyo's receiver line, starting with the TX-8511, utilizes high-current,...
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Why save the best stuff for home theater? Every model in Onkyo's receiver line, starting with the TX-8511, utilizes high-current, low-impedance amplifier design for superior performance. Humbly priced, but made for music fans who appreciate great sound, this is no ordinary stereo receiver. A look inside reveals Onkyo's attention to detail in every aspect of construction. The transformer: oversized and shielded for maximum power capacity and stability, and minimum hum. The filter capacitor is oversized for clean sound during your music's most demanding dynamic peaks. The cast aluminum heat sink is oversized for efficient heat dissipation, and thus longer life from your receiver. Discrete outputs are designed to run cooler, and to keep your music cleaner, under high-volume, low-impedance conditions. Anti-resonant chassis and aluminum front panel are highly rigid to fight distortion-causing resonance. So how does it sound? In a word: impressive. The TX-8511 drives 100 clean, muscular watts to each of your...
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10 Reviews from Shopping.com
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Very Nice Stereo Receiver
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Pros: Excellent sound quality, phono input, switching versatility
Cons: Speaker selector doesn't work from remote control
The Bottom Line:
If you don't need digital surround sound, this is an outstanding plain stereo receiver.
I purchased the TX-8511 to replace a 10 year old, 150W per channel Carver receiver that was starting to fail. I have a very inefficient speaker setup, an old pair of Magnapan MG-II's and a big RH Labs subwoofer, relics from the days before the power crisis. I doubted very much that the TX-8511 (at 100W per channel) would have the power to produce good sound with these speakers. Consequently I paid full retail list price at a local store so that I could easily return it if needed, fully expecting to do so. Boy, was I surprised. The TX-8511 produces sound that is easily comparable to what the Carver did in it's good days, and possibly even better. I listen mostly to classical music and like realistic reproduction. Sound quality from the TX-8511 is very clean and uncolored across the entire range. The FM tuner is surprisingly good, pulling in the local classical station with excellent clarity using only a wire antenna, again, at least as good as the old Carver.
It's difficult to find just plain stereo receivers in these days of digital, multi-channel, audio/video surround sound. The choices are limited, and some of them don't even have a phono input (I still have some old LPs and don't want to throw them out, just yet). I am pleased to report that the TX-8511 has a phono input and my old records sound better than ever.
The TX-8511 appears to be solidly built and has all the inputs I need. I have my turntable, 3 tape decks, a CD changer, a graphic equalizer, a mini disk player, and my TV connected to it (with the help of some switching built into the equalizer). Speaker connectors are the clip type, but work well. Input selection and tuning are easy with the well laid out remote control. My only gripe is that the remote doesn't allow for switching speakers on and off, so I have to manually switch it to enable or disable the second set of speakers.
Overall, I couldn't be happier with this receiver.
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