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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
195 of 199 people found the following review helpful.
Good receiver with lots of inputs and features
By E. Van
I recently upgraded from an Onkyo HT530 receiver to the TX-NR509 for its HDMI and some of the fancy extras (networking, USB playback, etc.)
Some thoughts on the receiver:
HDMI issues from last gen of Onkyo receivers?
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Doing a little research before buying, I was worried that the HDMI handshake issues that popped up for the TX-SR508 and TX-SR608 owners would be present here, but so far so good. Currently using it with a PS3, no issues so far. Will definitely update this if I come across issues.
Easy Setup
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The old receiver didn't have the Audyssey EQ configuration, using it was interesting. The set up process ended up pretty darn accurate in terms of automatically configuring speaker distance and values I'd normally have to put in by hand on my old receiver. +1 for painless initial setup!
Great On-screen display
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The OSD is actually pretty clean and makes the menus easy to navigate. I'm not used to being able to configure so much without staring at the receiver's built-in display (which is actually pretty cool to look at). The OSD for network-based playback is a bit simple, but it gets the job done.
Mediocre Network-capabilities (Fixed via new firmware!! See update below)
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A large part of spending a little more for this model over others I was considering was the networking capabilities. It was very cool to have it connect online and download a firmware update. Hopefully this means there will be an improvement on the next part: the DLNA playback for the receiver. This is where I have the most trouble.
I have PS3 Media Server set up on my home server and it diligently serves media to the PS3 via the gigabit network without problems. The TX-NR509 is able to see it and connect to it, but that's when the problems start. I haven't pinpointed the cause of it yet, but from what I've noticed, folders that contain "lots" of sub-folders or files (I'm just talking about over 20-30 here) cause the receiver to error out and force you to go up a directory/level and try again. Some directories only containing 1 file refused to open (I couldn't figure this one out). Letting it sit there and populate the contents of the folders didn't help either.
I was hoping I could play music off the server without turning on the PS3 and television, so the DLNA problems I'm experiencing are a little discouraging. Luckily, it's possible that Onkyo can remedy this through a future firmware update.
From Rodney's review, I tried the free Android app OnkyTroller on my phone to control the receiver. It does the job, but the app looks pretty ugly and seems somewhat limited in terms of functionality. Still, very cool idea. I noticed simply browsing through DLNA directories using my phone caused skips in music when playing from the network (too much network activity for the receiver to handle?).
Additional thoughts
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-The TX-NR509 only gets warm after hours of use (way cooler than my old HT530)
-I love the 'Dynamic Volume' function of the receiver, it prevents opening theme songs of TV shows from blasting and helps us hear softer dialogue without fiddling with the remote
-This receiver is pretty tall compared to the one it replaced, plan accordingly if space is limited
Update: January 2012
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Onkyo has been pushing out several firmware updates since my review in May 2011. The small bugs in the DLNA network playback capabilities have been ironed out and I'm able to navigate through all directories on the server with no issue. That was my biggest issue with the receiver that made me give it 4/5 stars, so I've updated my rating as well.
Lastly, I highly recommend grabbing the free, official Onkyo Remote app for Android. Not only can you push music from your device to the receiver, you can use it as a remote to visually navigate through your network or Pandora/music stations without turning on your TV. The official app is available for Apple devices as well, but it's slightly different/stripped down, making the Android version the more robust of the two.
116 of 122 people found the following review helpful.
Very Good Receiver Overall, but Know All Features!
By I. Smith
Overall, this is a good receiver and I have come to be very happy with it. However, there are some very important things that a prospective buyer needs to know about it first; I didn't know these things when I bought it but fortunately I was able to work around them.
The receiver doesn't covert between video formats. This may be a standard thing with receivers, but it was unbeknownst to me when I bought it and then read about it with dismay in the manual. What this means is if you have, say, an HDMI cable in the video out source on your cable/satellite/DVD running into the receiver, and then a composite video cable going out from the receiver to your TV, you won't get any video because it won't convert between the HDMI and composite connection.
The above is very important because the receiver's on-screen display menus will ONLY work over an HDMI connection, meaning you must be running an HDMI cable out from the receiver to your TV as well as out from your video source devices. I have an older TV without HDMI and was initially unable to do this.
I was ultimately saved because my TV has a DVI input, so I bought an HDMI->DVI converter and now all is well. But be aware of these things before you buy!
The receiver's on screen menus are great and it makes it easy to configure the set up items as well as listen to Internet music sources or an iPod.
I have a Verizon iPhone 4 and I can listen to any audio source from the phone whether it's mp3 music via the phone's iPod app or streaming audio from the TuneIn radio app. You control the iPod music from the receiver, but control the TuneIn app from the phone. It also charges my phone when it's plugged in and I now use the receiver as my main charging source (the receiver has to be on of course though to charge the phone).
I've been using Pandora a lot and it works well. The on-screen menus let you pick a station, add new ones, and like/not like a song. You can do all of this from the receiver itself if the TV is off, but it's not quite as convenient as doing it on the TV screen. Entering the account information the first time through the receiver was hell; you had to type each character individually through a tedious scrolling menu (this was before I discovered my DVI input and got the on-screen menus working), but I discovered later that you can also input account information for Internet audio sources through the receiver's web interface. I would definitely recommend the latter for setting up your Web accounts.
vTuner is a nice option for Internet streaming audio too. The way I've mostly used this is I went onto the vTuner web site, I found stations I wanted to save for listening, and then I went into the receiver web interface using a computer on my local network (you just type the receiver's IP address into a web browser), and under the "my favorites" tab in the web interface you can copy and paste the URL's of the stations into a saved list of favorites that you can then play from the receiver. Not every URL I used worked (some would just fail to play for whatever reason), but I was ultimately able to find some of my favorite shows on different stations that had working URL's. You can save up to 40 favorite stations in this manner.
One thing I wish the receiver had is a screen saver for the on-screen TV interface. I have an older plasma TV that is subject to screen burns and if you leave music playing with the on-screen stuff on the TV, it will never go into a screen saver mode. For this reason I generally listen to music with the TV off.
I've played with the iPhone app for controlling the receiver some too. It was easy to set up. It offers more limited functionality compared to the receiver's actual remote but is a nice option for controlling from another room. When playing Pandora, it will show the artist/track information from within the app too which is cool.
I hope this information helps prospective buyers!
101 of 108 people found the following review helpful.
509 review
By KnRC
I bought this from another vendor when it was on sale. This receiver is a good receiver for the price, but you get what you pay for. It has great features which is why its such a big seller. These power some brand new Energy RC-10 speakers. Internet radio GUI is fairly plain and the search function does not retrieve the same results as when you search online through a PC. But other than that, it works great. USB works quite well, although once in awhile it won't play the next song. Easy fix though, all you have to do is press next. Setup is straight forward and easy. Audssey 2EQ makes things convenient also.
Now my biggest complaint...the receiver inherently has an audible noise floor. As the volume is turned up, there is a hiss that gets louder and louder. When I surf through my PS3 menu and the volume is about 35 (range is 0-80), you hear an audible hiss from the speakers. Keep in mind I am sitting about 5 feet away from the receiver. This hiss is much very apparent with all listening modes besides stereo and direct. It's not a problem with music, because the hiss is drowned out by the music. But, with movies where there are scenes that are more quiet (which happens pretty often) that hiss will annoy you to no end.
I've exchanged receivers twice thinking that it was a defect, but each time I exchanged it, the hiss was still there. I've ruled out every single possibility: speakers, wire, connection, grounding, and any possible source of interference. I've taken it to a neighbor's house and when everything is hooked up, that hiss is still there. I've unplugged every single input on the receiver to rule out my other devices, and the hiss is still there. I even went to a Fry's demo room to test out their demo model, and the hiss is there.
I would stay away from this receiver if you are an avid movie watcher. That hissing noise is unacceptable. Also, I didn't read too much into this issue, but I heard Onkyo has HDMI switching issues. Not sure if this applies to this model however. If you listen to music only and aren't too critical, music sounds just fine.
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Editorial Reviews
From the Manufacturer
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Affordable Home Theater Centerpiece with Network Capability | |
At the entry level, the networking ability of the TX-NR509 takes you one step closer to fully integrated home entertainment. Audio files on your computer and streaming internet radio can both now be played through your main system, with fidelity far beyond what you're used to on a PC. When it comes to setting up the TX-NR509, Audyssey 2EQ® works to adapt the soundstage to the unique dimensions of your room. On-the-fly adjustments via user-friendly overlaid on-screen display and Onkyo's Remote App enhance control options. The A/V receiver's four advanced HDMI® inputs handle stunning high-definition audio from Dolby and DTS, as well as dynamic new 3D video. Further connectivity highlights include a new front-panel USB port that offers a clean digital link for both iPod®/iPhone® and USB storage devices, and Zone 2 line-outs that let you send a stereo audio signal to a second room equipped with an amp and speakers. All in all, the TX-NR509 offers a superb feature set for the value-conscious home theater fan. |  |
Onkyo network A/V receivers give you access to more internet radio stations than any other brand...period. | ||
|  | Streaming your choice of internet radio through your Onkyo A/V receiver gives you unsurpassed sound quality and access to a virtually infinite selection of world class music. Enjoy your own personal concert from anywhere in the world... right in your own living room. |
UWF-1 Wireless LAN adaptor | |
Onkyo's UWF-1 Wireless LAN adaptor removes unwanted cables. This small, optional unit is worth way more than its tiny price. Connect the UWF-1 to the USB port on any compatible 2011 Onkyo network receiver, and bring your music through your wireless router into your Onkyo system. Now internet radio and audio files stored on your PC can be played back with the superior fidelity of your main Onkyo system — with no cable clutter. A sensible and inexpensive solution. |  |
Onkyo's Remote Apps | |
 | Onkyo's Remote Apps for Android and iPod/iPhone turn your cell phone into a remote control. The Android app lets you Stream audio files from your Android to your Onkyo home network receiver. Set tone, volume levels and control input selection, as well as a number of other key features like controlling internet radio stations… |
Made for iPod®/iPhone® | |
Onkyo receivers allow you to and play audio files stored on your iPod/iPhone or even a USB flash drive. The on screen display lets you see exactly what is playing. As the audio signals are played back in digital form, rather than analog, there is much less chance for signal degradation. Onkyo's exclusive Advanced Music Optimizer also compensates for lost bit information and improves the quality of compressed audio signals. |  |
3D and ARC | |
 | All Onkyo A/V receivers support the latest in 3D technology. Play 3D movies, games, and broadcast content in cinematic quality in your own home and be amazed by the realistic quality. The HDMI® inputs let you connect multiple high-def sources, such as a Blu-ray player, a gaming console, and a cable/satellite tuner. The HDMI output, on the other hand, lets you send a pristine signal to a compatible high-resolution display. Audio Return Channel allows audio content received directly by your HDTV’s tuner to be sent “upstream” via HDMI to your A/V receiver, without the need for a separate S/PDIF audio cable. |
A Suite of Audyssey Technologies | |
Audyssey 2EQ tailors multi-channel audio for your home theater speaker set-up by measuring three room positions and applying a resolution filter to the satellite speakers to correct for room acoustics. Audyssey Dynamic EQ maintains a consistent bass response, tonal balance, and surround-sound effect at different volume levels, so you can enjoy the natural dynamics of your content regardless of the volume. Audyssey Dynamic Volume automatically compensates for volume fluctuations in different audio content (for example, during commercial breaks) while optimizing the dynamic range. |  |
Change Your Receiver's Settings Seamlessly | |
 | Thanks to Onkyo's overlaid graphical on-screen display (OSD), set-up menus appear on top of the video image you're watching, so you don't have to switch to a blank screen background. Easily navigate intuitive menus to maximize all of the features and benefits of your Onkyo A/V receiver. The OSD and Graphical User Interface (GUI) both operate over HDMI, making excellent use of that versatile interface. |
Comparison Chart
Model | Watts/Ch | 3D Capable/ | Front Direct USB | OSD Setup Advanced | Network Function | THX Certified | Audyssey | Dolby Volume | Wireless Ready |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TX-SR309 | 65 x 5 | 3/1 | ✓ | (Basic) | - | - | - | - | - |
TX-NR509 | 80 x 5 | 4/1 | ✓ | (Basic) | ✓ | - | 2EQ | - | ✓ |
TX-NR609 | 100 x 7 | 5+1/1 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Select2 Plus™ | 2EQ | - | ✓ |
TX-NR709 | 110 x 7 | 7+1/2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Select2 Plus™ | MultEQ®XT | ✓ | ✓ |
Specification
Number of Channels | 5.1 |
Power | 80W/Ch (8Ω, 20Hz-20kHz, 0.7% THD) |
Network Capable | Yes |
Audyssey Room EQ | 2EQ |
HDMI I/O | 4 in / 1 out |
Overlay On-Screen Display | Yes- via HDMI |
Made for iPod®/iPhone® | Yes (Supports Album Art) |
Multiroom | Zone 2 Line Out |
Component Video I/O | 2 in / 1 out (HDTV capable) |
Composite Video I/O | 5 in (1 front) / 2 out |
Digital Audio Input | 2 Optical & 2 Coaxial |
Analog Audio I/O | 6 in (1 front) / 1 out |
Subwoofer Pre-out | Yes |
Color-coded Speaker Terminals | Yes |
AM/FM Presets | 40 |
RIHD (CEC via HDMI) | Yes |
Onkyo Exclusive Gaming Modes | 4 |
Advanced Music Optomizer | Yes |
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