Product Description: In the fast-paced world of home entertainment technology, change has become an understated word. Technologies now change so quickly that the new becomes yesterday's product before you barely become accustomed to it. Perhaps it's time to refocus on what's really important for quality audio: first-rate sound with high power output. Forget about over-hyped processing technologies. If your receiver lacks the fundamental amplifier design from the power supply through to the output stage, everything else is superfluous. The TX-8522 is built with this in mind. Incorporating Onkyo's proprietary Wide Range Amplifier Technology (WRAT) with an isolated power transformer and discrete output stage, the TX-8522 is focused on maintaining the purity of music, radio and video sources while bringing meaningful features to your system.
From the Manufacturer: In the fast-paced world of home entertainment technology, change has become an understated word. Technologies now change so quickly that the new becomes yesterday’s product before you barely become accustomed to it. Perhaps it’s time to refocus on what’s really important for quality audio: first-rate sound with high power output. Forget about over-hyped processing technologies. If your receiver lacks the fundamental amplifier design from the power supply through to the output stage, everything else is superfluous. The TX-8522 is built with this in mind. Incorporating Onkyo’s proprietary Wide Range Amplifier Design (WRAT) with an isolated power transformer and discrete output stage, the TX-8522 is focused on maintaining the purity of music, radio and video sources. Also, with the option to take up XM® Satellite Radio or to connect your iPod® to the system, the TX-8522 gives you the versatility for a sweeping range of entertainment options.
Key Technology Features: RI (Remote Interactive): With Onkyo’s exclusive RI (Remote Interactive) system capability, you can integrate and operate all compatible components through a single remote control. What’s more, RI capability enables you to simply connect the iPod® to your receiver through Onkyo’s RI Dock for the iPod (DS-A1). Your iPod effectively becomes another Onkyo component from which you can relish a fuller sound that just can’t be experienced through headphones. RI capability will also give you remote operability of your iPod for hands-off control over your digital music.
WRAT (Wide Range Amp Technology): Imagine turning up the volume and filling your entertainment room with noise-free, impressively powerful, true-to-life sound. That's the benefit of Wide Range Amplifier Technology. Originally developed for our most expensive high-end amplifiers to handle the sonic demands of today's digital age, you'll now find WRAT even in our lowest-priced A/V receivers. The WRAT family of technologies includes a broader frequency range with lower noise entering the signal path – perfectly suited for new high resolution DVD-Audio and SACD formats.
XM Ready: The XM "Connect-and-Play," is a revolutionary technology platform designed to integrate XM into virtually any home or portable consumer electronics entertainment device. By matching XM Ready® audio systems with a simple, elegant antenna/receiver, getting XM becomes even easier for home audio listeners.
I sent it back I wanted to replace a 35 year old Marantz 1060 amplifier that had started blowing fuses. I got this thing and set it up and played a record and it sounded like Clapton was singing down inside a big can with a clothespin clamped to his nose. I was stunned. I could get Eric to sing really loud, but he couldn't take off the clothespin or get too far up out of the can. I found a local guy who diagnosed and fixed my Marantz for less than $80. I gave it one star because you can plug it in and turn it on.
Broke after 2 months, service terrible After reading the reviews, I was looking forward to getting my new receiver (old one, Sony, broke down after 20 years of use, I can't complain!). New receiver broke down after less than 6 weeks! The service center was rude and unhelpful (hung up without telling me where to send it). Now I have to pay for shipping, will be without the receiver for at least a month since the service center in Colorado has a 14 day turnaround just on diagnostics, then 2 weeks to fix, then time to ship back. I am not a happy Onkyo customer and will not buy their product again. Hope this saves someone else my same grief. Buy Sony.
Everything you'd expect except a loudness contour Budget audiophiles rejoice. This receiver puts out plenty o clean swat. It is enough to fill my small listening space with plenty of warm vinyl sounds. While it is no way my deceased marantz 2270 it is a heck of a deal. Not too many receivers offer this amp and a phono input at this budget. I have this attached to two koss cm 1030 towers from 1981, an audio source dual 10 band eq, and a fisher 6330 turntable with a shure mx97e cart installed. It is hands down better than my previous kenwood integrated amp. However, one thing bothers me. With all the nice clean onkyo features they left out the loudness contour. Not a big deal to most... but.. with a small listening room in a town home it is needed. Okay now for the good stuff. The receiver is fairly transparent. It pumps out plenty o watts for the buck. It cost me a whopping 152.00 refurbished. The bass and treble controls are at a nice frequency as well. My vinyl sounds very nice through this piece. The features are also well laid out. I warn you, feed this guy some larger speakers because it will more than likely destroy most inferior models.
Incredible Value My friend has been running this puppy for about 6 months now. It just doesn't quit. Throw it rock, opera, jazz, youtube; whatever, just great amplification. The built-in diagnostics prevent you from ruining your speakers. I follow the rule of spend no more than $1,000 for an amp; this puppy is resetting my understanding.
Dismal product and so is the Onkyo customer support I bought a reconditioned TX-8522 from an Onkyo's authorized dealer in January 2008. As I turned on the unit for the first time, there was instant shutoff with overheating. I called the vendor and was explained that I should try again, connecting speaker wires through banana plugs to avoid possible short-circuiting by a loose thread of a speaker wire. I followed the advice and the problem disappeared. In a month it came back. Following the trouble-shooting guide, I have disconnected all the wires and kept the receiver unplugged for 24 hours. It returned back to normal. In a couple of weeks, a persistent shut-off reappeared again. This time, nothing could remedy the problem. In a week of trying, I engaged with the customer support. This takes me to the second and most horrible part of the saga.
The first contact person explained that this could be happening because of a faulty transistor. She asked me to send the receiver to their regional repair center in Syracuse, NY. I asked several times whether they had any licensed repair shop in Maryland/DC, where I live (could not believe, there would not be one), but she insisted there was none. I went to their website and found out there was a shop in Silver Spring, MD. - Hence, the first feature of Onkyo's unfriendly style: they seem to try to misguide you about their repair network, to get you to pay the cost of shipping to NY, figuring this might deter the complaint.
When I brought the unit to the repair shop, I tried to demonstrate the problem. First time I plugged the receiver in and turned it on -- it stayed on. When I tried again in several minutes, the receiver shut off. I pointed the problem out to the front desk lady and she nodded. In two weeks, I heard from the repair shop. They were assuring me that the equipment worked perfectly, and therefore they would not do anything to address my problem. They explained that Onkyo pays little and does not pay anything for diagnostics unless there is a clear malfunction. I elevated my complaint to the customer support Onkyo/USA.
Mr. Don Philips (tel: 201-785-2632) is the Onkyo/USA front line of defense. He said they would arrange for the unit to be transferred from MD to NY. Three weeks later I got a call from NY, saying the unit was working fine in their facility. I explained the problem and asked to diagnose it a little in-depth. As time went by and there was no news, I called Mr. Cooper again and requested a refund. This was in late May. He asked me to send him a fax (201-934-7823) explaining my problem and requesting a refund. He promised a response within 3 days. I called back in a week only to find out that he concluded there was no problem with the unit. He also noted that the unit was returned to me in working condition. When I pointed out that I actually have not seen it for about two months, he corrected himself saying it was in the process of being returned.
Clearly, he neither managed the situation nor intended to. I asked where I could escalate my complaint. He gave me the name and contact info of Jack Cooper but refused to share his phone number. He requested instead that I sent a fax for Cooper at the same number that I faxed to Philips. On the Web, I found Cooper's phone number (201-785-2629) - slightly different from that of Philips, however Mr. Philips picked the phone.
So now I am waiting for a response from Mr. Cooper. I was not sure whether he existed at all, or whether Mr. Philips cloned himself to confuse and exhaust disgruntled customers. - There are scores of them in on-line blogs, and somebody mentioned that he actually spoke with Philips and Cooper - both equally rude and unhelpful. I can certainly confirm this impression from my fruitless talks with Philips.
Bottom line: Onkyo's equipment can be good or bad, I guess. However, if it turns out to be unreliable (as in my case), prepare to be stuck with the totally ineffective customer support service. I am sure Mr. Philips can afford to BS the public because he has support from Onkyo corporate. My advice - avoid Onkyo brand unless you are prepared to join the enraged crowd of cheated customers.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
