Onkyo TX-SR508 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black)
Onkyo TX-SR508 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black)
- 80 Watts per Channel at 8 Ohms, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.08%, 2 Channels Driven, FTC
- Audio and 1080p Video Processing via HDMI (4 Inputs and 1 Output)
- 4 DSP Modes for Gaming: Rock, Sports, Action, and RPG (Role Playing Game)
- Powered Zone 2 and Zone 2 Line-Out for Playback of Separate Source in Another Room
- Overlaid On-Screen Display (OSD) via HDMI
At Onkyo, our mission is to deliver outstanding audio and video quality to your home, no matter what budget you’re on. With the 7.1-channel TX-SR508, you get an entry-level home theater centerpiece built to unleash the potential of your favorite en
Rating: 
(out of 25 reviews)
List Price: $ 399.00
Price: Too low to display
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Review by DHA (Southern MD, USA) for Onkyo TX-SR508 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black)
Rating:
The sound from my ten year old Onkyo TX-DS474 was now inferior and I had read very good reviews of the Onkyo SR 507, so decided to pre order the brand new SR 508. It arrived from Amazon on April 29th. I used the built in equalizer to set up the speakers, connected the receiver with brand new HDMI v1.4 cables and connected it to my Dish satellite receiver, my Panasonic BluRay DVD player and my Panasonic HDTV. The sound was excellent. Whereas before we had to turn up the volume too loud to follow dialog on some shows, or else it was not clear, with the SR 508 the sound was so much clearer that we could keep the volume much lower.
After about three days I noticed that although I would assign the input as cab/sat, the receiver indicated ipod (now no ipod dock was connected to the receiver) but the sound still came through from the satellite box. Strange but no problem. Then exactly one week after receiving the receiver, in the middle of watching a show, the picture and sound went blank. No pushing of different buttons on the remote would make it work. My first reaction was a bad HDMI cable, so I changed it. Nothing. I switched to the DVD player, but again blank. So then I hooked up the satellite box and the DVD player directly to the TV by separate HDMI cables, turned on the TV speakers, and the TV works again. Obviously the SR 508 suddenly failed and would not even work as a pass through. I am returning the set to Amazon for a replacement. If the replacement works fine for a reasonable amount of time, I will update this review.
I chose Onkyo partially because of its RIHD feature in conjunction with Panasonic. In my experience that only works so-so. Turning on the BluRay DVD player did switch the receiver directly to DVD. But turning it off does not switch back automatically to cab/sat. Turning off the TV also turns off the Onkyo, but not vice versa. You still have to turn on the Onkyo receiver separately.
One unexpected problem with the receiver is that the zone 2 input works only with an analog signal. On my DS-474, I have set up output B to speakers in my screened in porch to be able to listen to CDs or TV there. The B speakers work with digital. Now all my signal inputs for zone 2 are digital, so it appears that the zone 2 feature is useless. Bummer!
I should specify that I am not at all techie, so there may be work arounds that I don’t know!
Update#1: The unit failed Thursday evening, I requested a replacement online from Amazon on Friday noon, it arrived at my house on Saturday at about 2pm. I’m sure everyone would agree that that is outstanding customer service from Amazon. I have now (Sunday) installed the replacement unit and again it appears to be working great. Provided it continues to do so, I will add a second update and change my rating to four stars. I remain disappointed that the zone 2 is not digital, hence not 5 stars.
Update #2: Four days after installing the second receiver, it also failed in the same way. However, at the bottom of the “Troubleshooting” page in the user manual, I found the following comment: “The AV receiver contains a microcomputer for signal processing and control functions. In very rare situations, severe interference, noise from an external source, or static electricity may cause it to lock up. In the unlikely event this happens, unplug the power cord from the wall outlet, wait at least five seconds and then plug it in again.”
That worked and it has not locked up again in the last ten days. However, I certainly take issue with the “rare circumstances” and “unlikely event” and I can’t imagine any special event that may have caused it. My receiver is in a cabinet with the plug behind it, so unplugging is quite inconvenient. This said, the sound from the receiver is really clear so, if this problem does not recur frequently, I will be happy with the purchase. I’m changing my rating from one star to three stars.
Review by Andrew J. Van Ness for Onkyo TX-SR508 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black)
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I bought this to replace my Sony receiver I purchased from Amazon 3 years ago (almost to the day). While there was nothing “wrong” with my Sony receiver, I quickly realized once I plugged the Onkyo in, that my surround speakers were not being utilized as they should be.
While I am not an audiophile, I do have some quality speakers, and I do like having a quaility sound while watching movies (and playing Xbox). The sound is so clear and crisp with this receiver. Further, the set up with the 4 HDMI inputs made my stereo cabinet so much cleaner, and I got rid of all of my YRW and RBG wires. I am sure I could have invested another $300 and really got some really high end equipment, but honestly, the Onkyo is worth it. The funny thing is, I spent the same amount on the new Onkyo as I did on the old Sony, and the difference is just amazing.
The on-screen set up is great. It makes customizing the inputs and the equilizer so easy. And the speaker test really lets you know what where you need to place you speakers. What else can I say about this product? Honestly, this is the best purchase I have made in a long time. I think the 4 HDMI inputs alone make this a must-have over any other receiver similarly priced. I almost bought another Sony instead of the Onkyo (mostly because I have never purchased anything other than Sony receivers), but I am glad I made the switch. Now that I have experienced Onkyo, I think I have made a life long switch.
If you have any hesitations about buying this product, please feel free to send me a message, and I will try to answer your question before you buy. And if you have never bought an Onkyo before, try it first, and I am pretty sure you will like it (I would almost guarantee it). If not, return it to Amazon. They are really good with returns. But I doubt you will even want to return it once you get it set up.
Review by evo for Onkyo TX-SR508 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black)
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For $350.00, you can’t ask for more. The Audyssey 2EQ Acoustic Room Correction is an awesome, Onkyo did a great job implementing this feature in their receiver. No more guess work when it comes to speaker calibration. I was up and running after 10 minutes, it can’t get any easier than this.
Review by Herschel Greenberg for Onkyo TX-SR508 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black)
Rating:
Very rarely is there something I am willing to label as “perfect” when it comes to electronics. There is always something that can be improved/changed/modified to fit one’s needs. However, I am willing to say that the Onkyo TX-SR508 is a “perfect” piece of electronic equipment. Quite simply, if you compare all of its features, ease of use, quality of sound, and its price, there is nothing better out there.
Some of these features include plenty of ways to connect audio and video (it has every imaginable combination of audio inputs I need, making it “perfect” for me). This includes HDMI 1.4, 4 HDMI inputs, 2 fiber-optic audio, many standard audio inputs, and even the ability to output the receiver’s menu and setup displays onto your TV via HDMI. It also has the Onkyo port for the iPod doc. It is possible for someone out there to need MORE that inputs than this receiver has (I am using a DVD player and DVR box), but it has everything I need in terms of features and future-proof connectivity.
One of the most impressive elements of the TX-SR508 is the ease of use. Within seconds, I was accessing the menu and making the changes needed for my system. I have another Onkyo receiver from a Home Theater in a Box set, but this TX-SR508 is significantly easier to use. Without the manual, I understood each menu and what was contained in the sub-menu. I was able to set my system for 3 speakers, their size, and their distance from my ears. I was even able to adjust the sound level from each speaker (I keep the center louder than the left and right). I was able to select the different Dolby settings for my preferences, and the receiver will automatically detect any digital inputs I am using (like a DVD compared to different settings that TV stations use). I could not ask for a simpler device.
Of course, we buy receivers for sound, and I have always been impressed with the way Onkyos sound (which is why I own 2 of them). I am using Klipsch speakers–the front is the Klipsch WC-24 and the left/right speaker is the Klipsch XB-10. Paired with the TX-SR508, this makes for a HUGE improvement over anything else I have had in the past, since I was using the TV’s speakers. Sounds are clear, responsive, and distinct. Voices come out the center loud and clear, and ambient noise and music come out the left and right. I am currently using the Dolby Digital Pro Logic II Movie setting, since I feel it gives all TV shows the most audio depth. I have cranked the volume up a few times (like for a music video and some sporting events) and I hear no flaws from the speakers and the receiver. I am picky about audio, and in all of my research, I found that Onkyo receivers match nicely with Klipsch speakers. I could not be happier with the sound quality.
With all of this said, compared, and processed, you can see why I label this as “perfect” when you think about its cost. I have been to stores with high end receivers on display costing over $1,000. I have listened to them and compared their features. And I honestly believe the features, ease of use, quality and price on the TX-SR508 make this receiver a best choice out there for a home theater system.
Review by Rafael Lopez Macedo for Onkyo TX-SR508 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black)
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This might not be a big deal, but I think that everyone should be aware before buying.
From Onkyo’s website
“Dear Customer,
It has been brought to our attention that under certain circumstances the Surround Left/Right channels of the following AV receivers may switch during playback of PCM multichanel sources.
TX-SR308, TX-SR508, HT-R380 (HT-S3300), HT-R580 (HT-S5300)
This only occurs when the audio output of the source device (e.g. Blu-ray player) is set to “multichannel PCM” mode
In the event you experience swapped surround channels with the aforementioned connections and listening mode, please contact the ONKYO Customer Support at 1-800-229-1687″
Now, this can be fixed with a firmware update but the receiver will need to go to Denver, CO to be service (at least if you live in the USA, West Coast).
In Onkyo’s customer service opinion “Upgrades are issued at anytime after a release of a product and it is at the customer digression to take advantage of the upgrade or not. An upgrade does not make a product defective”.
In my opinion, when a product doesn’t work properly it is defective, if the problem can be fixed with a firmware update (or patch) doesn’t change the fact that it is defective from the factory. If not, why Onkyo pays for all the cost related to “take advantage” of this firmware update. Onkyo should recall all the defective receivers from their dealers and fix them before they are sold and avoid its customers from going through all this trouble. But I guess that they know that a lot of people will never find out anyway, as they don’t contact you automatically when you register your product at their website. I don’t even think that Amazon is aware of this problem.