Onkyo PR-SC5508 THX Certified Processor First Look

If you've been paying attention you might have known that Onkyo released a Pre/Pro in the UK about a year ago. If you wanted one here in the states, you were out of luck as it never made the jump across the pond. Your only option was to get the Integra DHC-80.1 which was similar product geared toward installers from Onkyo's sister company. We can only surmise that Onkyo didn't think we were ready for it yet. Well, apparently something has changed over at Onkyo HQ as we not only rate the import of the Pre/Pro but we're getting an upgraded version.

The PR-SC5507 was already a pretty impressive piece of machinery. The PR-SC5508 ups the ante by swapping out the HDMI 1.3a connectors for the more recent 1.4a versions ensuring compatibility with all the current 3D formats. We imagine that Audio Return Channel and CEC will be supported as well though that has not been officially announced by Onkyo yet. The other big change is from the standard Audyssey MultEQ XT room correction to the newer MultEQ XT32. The new Audyssey version includes 32x's the filter resolution plus correction for subwoofers making integrating both the supported subs much easier.

The PR-SC5508 is a flagship product so expect it to come stuffed full of features. Onkyo's budget offerings have been impressing us lately with the number and quality of the features and the PR-SC5508 is no different. To start with, it has THX-Ultra 2 Plus certification, it is network-capable, and supports 9.2 channels of audio. There are RCA and XLR outputs for all channels plus a pair of XLR inputs for integrating high quality two channel gear. There are two USB inputs (one in the front and one on the back) that support audio only. If you want to integrate the video from your iPod, you'll need to buy the extra dock and connect it to the "Universal" port. One thing we really liked seeing was not only Pre-outs for Zones 2 and 3, but dedicated subwoofer outputs for each. Zone 2 also has Component and Composite video output and there are two HDMI outputs. A front mounted HDMI input makes testing out new gear or streaming from one of many HDMI capable hand-held devices much more convenient.

You can't expect a networked receiver only to stream from your networked computers (it can easily with DLNA 1.5 and Windows 7 certification) and the PR-SC5508 doesn't disappoint. The system is configured for Pandora, Rhapsody, Mediafly, Slacker, Napster, VTuner, and Sirius Internet Radio as well as PC audio and Internet radio. If video processing is your thing, the PR-SC5508 has the top-of-the-line HQV Reon-VX chipset for 1080p upscaling plus individual ISF calibration capability for all video sources. If you've ever tried to dial in the video for more than one source, you know how important individual calibration settings can be. If not, you are forced to calibrate at the source, add a video switch, or use different inputs on your display for each source. This single feature can save you money or headaches in universal remote programing. 

While Onkyo doesn't have the full specs on their site yet, you can bet that a lot of what made the PR-SC5507 popular will stick around. Expect support for all the major audio formats including DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, Dolby TrueHD, and Dolby Digital Plus not to mention the newest DSPs such as Audyssey's DSX and Dolby's ProLogic IIz. The Burr-Brown 192 kHz/32-Bit DACs (PCM1795 x 6) for all channels will probably be around as will the Ultra-Low-Jitter PLL (Phase Locked Loop) Circuitry, the three TI (Aureus) 32-Bit DSP Chips for advanced processing, and the VLSC (Vector Linear Shaping Circuitry) for all channels.

Conclusion

Is the Onkyo PR-SC5508 the processor for you? Well, it sort of depends. While the price tag of just under $2200 is fairly reasonable in the realm of separates, it is by no means the cheapest. Does the PR-SC5508 have everything you need? Probably. As we'd expect from Onkyo, they've managed to shoehorn just about every feature on the market into this new pre/pro. The HDMI 1.4a inputs means you won't have to worry about 3D integration (at least for now), the multiple zone support including video output for Zone 2 means the processor can grow with you, and the Audyssey MultEQ XT32 room correction means you'll get the best sound you can from your speakers and room. THX Ultra 2 Plus certification, a host of network features, and both XLR and RCA outputs ensures flexibility and compatibility. We may have had to wait a year for Onkyo's pre/pro, but at least it came with a few upgrades.

For more information, please visit www.onkyousa.com.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.