Panasonic SA-XR55S Home Theater Receiver (Silver)

Average customer rating: 4.0

Not what I expected
Nice chip amp
It's a quality product
A Unique Value in Home Theater Audio
Nice Unit

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Panasonic SA-XR55S Home Theater Receiver (Silver)

Manufacturer: Panasonic
Product Group: CE
Binding: Electronics
ASIN: B0009E1YPW

Related Categories:

Audio & Video

| Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics

Receivers

Home Theater Receivers

Product Description

Panasonic SA-XR55 Home-Theater Receiver for A/V surround sound - If you use a DVD player on your TV or plan to upgrade to HDTV soon, having multichannel surround sound is extremely important to complete the truest home-theater experience. Though HDTV offers a 5.1 channel surround mode, this receiver can deliver76.1 channels for new DVD output. So you've got the choice of your surround mode. This receiver also has a stereo mode for your audio recordings. Let's call this a receiver for all seasons! Rear Audio Inputs - RCA - 4, Coaxial - 1, Optical - 2 Rear Video Inputs - Composite - 3, S-Video - 3, Component - 2 Selectable DSP modes Port for adding external FM antenna Slim Design - 2.9 H x 16.9 W x 14.7 D Weighs 8.8 Pounds Includes Remote Control Silver Finish

Amazon.com Product Description

The Panasonic SA-XR55S Home Theater Receiver delivers clear, powerful sound through outstanding digital amplification. With this sleek silver receiver Panasonic has coupled the benefits of digital technology with a high-quality amplifier. Digital amplifiers are much more efficient than traditional analog amplifiers, generating less heat and taking up less space while delivering an even larger amount of clean output power. Sound quality improves with the elimination of digital-to-analog conversion when connecting a digital source device (such as a DVD player) to an analog amplifier. With the SA-XR55K, all the processing and amplification is done in the digital domain, resulting in low distortion and extremely low background noise.

With the crisp, clear sound amplification of the SA-XR55S, you will be able to experience the latest in surround sound formats. The amazing image quality of DVD is only half the movie-watching experience. Most DVD movies have high-impact, theater-quality Dolby Digital or DTS soundtracks that require a powerful audio system for faithful reproduction. This receiver can process these technologically advanced soundtracks so you can get the most out of your viewing experience.<P> When MP3s and movie soundtracks are created, higher frequencies are lost due to the limited frequency response of compressed digital audio. Most of these frequencies can't be heard by human ears, but their presence conveys subtle nuances. When they're missing in a digital recording, the sound and music just doesn't sound quite the same as in a live performance. This receiver answers the call for better sound with Panasonic's multi-remaster feature that examines the audio signal and compensates for those lost frequencies. The end result is an improved sound quality that is much closer to the original performance.

The amplifier built into this receiver pumps out high power levels for head-bobbing, satisfying volume levels with remarkably low distortion. You'll feel like you're in the front row of a multiplex cinema as the Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks surround you. The SA-XR55K has plenty of audio/video inputs to handle all your source devices (five video inputs, four digital inputs, seven audio inputs, and three S-video inputs). It even functions as a source selector, allowing you to connect multiple video sources to the receiver and then run a single audio/video connection to just one of your TV's audio/video inputs--no more flipping through multiple video inputs on your TV with this receiver.

Last, but not least, Panasonic knows that fumbling through a pile of remotes is the last thing you want to do. Clean up the mess on your coffee table and take control of your system with the included universal remote control. You can command many different brands and types of components after some simple programming--and the remote even lights up so you can see the buttons in the dark.

<b>What's in the Box</b>
Receiver, deluxe universal remote control, and user's manual.

Customer Reviews:

Not what I expected.......2007-05-23

This amp sounds great, but it lacks power and punch. It just doesn't provide consistent steady power.

Nice chip amp.......2007-05-21

The sound that comes out of this unit is not bad. I have not cranked it up passed 1/3 volume, it has been plently loud around that level. The sound quality doesn't destort at that level either. The major down side to this amp is the fact that it doesn't have enough input/out put pairs so splitter may be needed. Also there is no HDMI in/out. I don't really like the controller but I'm using a universal remote now anyways.

It's a quality product.......2007-05-13

Pros-Low energy consumption and yet plenty of volume
Many connections. Two digital coax and two optical.
Whenever the input is digital, the display shows which speakers are receiving information from the source so you know if you are truly getting dolby digital 5.1 or dts etc.
Does well with analog sources but fantastic with digital inputs.
Cons-S-video inputs are a bit flimsy but once you get the signals going through it doesn't require further adjustment. Not much else.

A Unique Value in Home Theater Audio.......2007-05-07

Panasonic receivers are "special." They are one of the few that employ Class-D amplifiers, which run cool, are inexpensive, and, according to many, are the future of audio amplification.

Because it is inexpensive and utilizes less-conventional amplifier technology, Panasonic receivers are actually "controversial" among audio/home theater enthusiasts. Reviews of this receiver run the gamut from rivaling the sound of Krell separates to being completely unlistenable. What I concluded from these opinions was that the Panasonics probably sound much like any other receiver. That is to say, just fine.

Well, I've lived with the unit for awhile now and can report that the XR55 does, in fact, perform just fine. It produces what I consider to be excellent sound, and does everything it needs to. (Which in my system consists of dutifully switching from stereo to Dolby Digital 5.1 when the source calls for it.)

I do not use the receiver for any video switching whatsoever, as I have a stand-alone video processor for that. As such, the XR55 was a good choice for me, providing solid, no frills audio for a low price. It is also a particularly good choice for enclosed installations where heat may be a problem. (The XR55 may be the coolest-running receiver you can get.)

There are some drawbacks with going with such a bargain receiver. There is no on-screen-display, making menu navigation a little cumbersome. The speaker binding posts aren't the greatest, but are serviceable. All in all, though, this is an excellent value.

Nice Unit.......2007-04-03

Real good system, works well. I already had the full speaker sytem in place so all I had to do was hook the wires up. It didn't work at first. I had replaced the DVD player also and it used the five wire connection. I went back and read the manual and it said for the five wire you needed to chage the mode. I did so and it worked. Other than that everything when smooth. And it works great.

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