Rating  - Nice amp, but not a giant killer
I've been listening to this amp for a couple of weeks now and it is a very good amp. I wish I could give it 3.5 stars as I like it, but it isn't great. Don't get me wrong, it is much better than 90% of AV receivers out there, but if you're looking for true audiophile sound, this amp won't quite get you there, as some professional reviews may easily lead one to believe.
Good points:
-Smooth, somewhat lush "tube-like" sound that is forgiving and never bright or harsh.
-Very good midrange quality with some nice warmth that is very natural.
-Full bass.
-Nice overall build quality (except for the binding posts and other connectors).
-Simple, easy to use remote.
-Front panel controls have a high quality feel and the layout is very nice.
-The look is understated and elegant.
-Good to have a removable power cord for upgrades.
Bad points:
-The "tube-like" sound can be a litle too rolled off in the high notes. I don't hear all the detail and decay in the highs that I've heard from higher end gear.
-The bass, while full and tuneful, lacks definition and leading snap.
-Dynamics are okay. I don't get the attack and immediacy I've heard from other (high priced / audiophile) amps. The jump factor is toned down a little.
-The binding posts and RCA connectors work fine, but when connecting cables, they move quite a bit. I'm sure they're fine, but they don't exactly instill a feeling confidence that they'll hold together over the long haul.
-A product of this caliber should have pre-out / main-in jacks or atleast a pre-out for a subwoofer.
Overall I like this amp. I've just been spoiled by higher-end gear. I would say that the sound is very competitive with upper mid-fi integrated amps from NAD, Rotel, and Cambridge Audio to name a few. All these product brands have their strengths and weaknesses in general. It really comes down to preference, the type of music you mostly listen to, your listening space, and synergy between your other components. In the end, this amp is really quite nice and should easily fit into most people's criteria for good sound quality at a reasonable price.
Rating  - Great Sound From Onkyo
I bought this amp from Amazon to replace a vintage Sansui AU717 that was purchased in the late 1970's. The Sansui was amazing, but lacked a remote control. I paired the Onkyo A-9555 with M&K bookshelf speakers and an Onkyo DX-7555 CD player. The Onkyo sound is truely incredible and the details of the music are beyond my expectations. I waited much too long to upgrade the old Sansui, but I am glad I waited to purchase the Onkyo A-9555. The build quality is excellent, the features are complete. If I could knock anything, it would be the cheap appearance of the remote control (however, it works well and supports all the features of the amp).
Rating - An Undiscovered High End Audio GEM!
This unit is as good as or better than any high end separates I have ever used. A week after getting the Onkyo 9555, I sold my very expensive Classe amp and preamp. It also outperformed a $5K B&O ICE-based amp that I borrowed from a friend. Read between the lines on the Stereophile review and you will realize that this unit is as good as anything out there. Any differences are splitting hairs, and very tiny ones at that.
Rating - Cant go wrong
I've had this unit for about a year now & think this is a great unit. I will not go into all the sonic adjectives that people use but will say without hesitation that it has a great sound. The bass envelops my room & it sells for a very reasonable price. Onkyo knows what it's doing.
Rating - Good Sound
Precise is how I would describe the sound of the Onkyo A-9555. The bass is fast and punchy while treble is crystal clear. Vocals sound incredibly transparent and clean, stereo effect has dead on positioning. The sound is a bit more refined compared to the usual Onkyo HT receivers, which are already very good. Fantastic sounding amplifier for the price, comes with a great remote as well. I like it even better than the more expensive Parasound separates I used to own (HCA-1000A Amp and P/HP-850 Pre). Definitely follows Onkyo's tradition of high end performance and value for the money.
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Customer Reviews for Onkyo,A9555,751398007293,0751398007293,B000J0ORMS, |
