Pany XR55 in stock!

Jon L · « **on:** 10 Jul 2005, 12:36 am »

Perhaps it's time to finally set up that home theater of mine. Mods, anyone?

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product_Id=4032233&JRSource=stockalert.PAN+SAXR55-K.

Wayne1 · « **Reply #1 on:** 10 Jul 2005, 06:50 pm »

Send one out to me and I will be happy to mod it.

It will take a bit of time, but there would be a bit of a discount for the first person to send me one.

It has a different speaker connector set-up than any of the other Panny receivers. It will need a different plate machined for it to use 5-way binding posts. The connectors on the stock unit will only accept bananas or bare wire.

The 80 hz crossover feature is VERY nice.

I would be interested to see what they are using for a power supply.

The power supply used in the SA-XR50 and SA-XR70 were about the same as the one in the SA-XR25.

windwaves · « **Reply #2 on:** 10 Jul 2005, 08:19 pm »

whats the difference bw the 55 and 70 ?, I mean a part from power and apparently as you mention different speaker connections.

thx,.
gio

Wayne1 · « **Reply #3 on:** 10 Jul 2005, 08:51 pm »

The biggest difference is the SA-XR70 has HDMI inputs so you can use a Panasonic DVD player in full digital mode, including DVD-A

Otherwise, the SA-XR70 has an illuminated remote, the 55 doesn't.

The 55 has 3 component video inputs. The 70 has 2.

The 70 has a digital audio output. The 55 doesn't

The 55 has 7 audio inputs, the 70 has 5.

The rated audio output of both receivers is the same: 100 watts per channel.

The 55 has a 80 hz electronic crossover. The 70 only goes down to 100.

The SA-XR55 is also $50.00 cheaper through J&R right now.

windwaves · « **Reply #4 on:** 11 Jul 2005, 04:06 pm »

Quote from: Wayne1

The biggest difference is the SA-XR70 has HDMI inputs so you can use a Panasonic DVD player in full digital mode, including DVD-A

Otherwise, the SA-XR70 has an illuminated remote, the 55 doesn't.

The 55 has 3 component video inputs. The 70 has 2.

The 70 has a digital audio output. The 55 doesn't

The 55 has 7 audio inputs, the 70 has 5.

The rated audio output of both receivers is the same: 100 watts per channel.

The 55 has a 80 hz electronic crossover. The 70 only goes down to 100.

The SA-XR55 is also $50.00 cheaper through J&R right now.

Thank you Wayne. Should I conclude that unless I really needed 7.1 the 55 seems overall slightly more interesting (I am thinking inpouts, crossover..). What would you say ?

gio

Wayne1 · « **Reply #5 on:** 11 Jul 2005, 04:24 pm »

The 70 doesn't do 7.1 Both the 55 and 70 are 6.1.

They probably use close to the same main board. The 50 and the 70 DO use the same board. Just like the 25 and 45 use the same main board. The 45 used a better power supply board.

The main reason to go for the 70 is if you have a Panny HDMI ouput DVD player to hook into it for audio.

The 70 also can passively bi-amp the front two channels. I do not know if the 55 can.

I have been inside the 70 so I know it fairly well from a mod viewpoint. I have never seen a 55 so I am not sure what they use for a power supply.

CornellAlum · « **Reply #6 on:** 11 Jul 2005, 04:58 pm »

mmm, that crossover is REALLY appealing to me. I wonder how a modded unit would compare sonically to the xr-45, but that crossover may be my ticket when running the mains in small mode. HMM

klh · « **Reply #7 on:** 11 Jul 2005, 07:21 pm »

Have any of you heard if a 75 is in the works? I've heard rumors, but nothing concrete. If they could take the 55 and add HDMI, or even HDMI switching, and some form of digital room correction/bass management, that would be incredible. The 55 is already a big leap in many respects, but to add HDMI switching would truly make it a giant killer.

bikeman · « **Reply #8 on:** 11 Jul 2005, 07:29 pm »

Quote from: Wayne1

The 70 doesn't do 7.1 Both the 55 and 70 are 6.1.

The 70 also can passively bi-amp the front two channels. I do not know if the 55 can.

I have the XR55 operating manual and it does 7.1

Like the 70, the 55 does bi-amp.

David

Wayne1 · « **Reply #9 on:** 11 Jul 2005, 07:50 pm »

Bikeman,

You are correct. I was wrong.

It appears that the SA-XR55 DOES have 7 amplifiers inside.

Here is the pdf file for the owners manual

klh · « **Reply #10 on:** 11 Jul 2005, 08:07 pm »

Wayne, if you used the small binding posts, would you be able to keep all 7 channels (assuming one was ok with banana clips)?

Wayne1 · « **Reply #11 on:** 11 Jul 2005, 08:22 pm »

If you are talking about the SA-XR55, it appears that all 9 pairs of binding posts can be replaced by Eichmann Cable Pods (my current favorite binding posts). I have not seen one of these yet, so I do not know what it is like on the inside.

The SA-XR70 can have the main A & B connections replaced with full sized binding posts. The center and surround channels are spaced too closely to replace them all with binding posts. I can fit small binding posts in that space, but only for center, L & R surounds. Not the rear suround.

klh · « **Reply #12 on:** 11 Jul 2005, 08:23 pm »

OK... thanks Wayne.

soundboy · « **Reply #13 on:** 11 Jul 2005, 08:56 pm »

I wonder if the multi-channel analog inputs have been improved?

dvdvideo · « **Reply #14 on:** 12 Jul 2005, 06:31 pm »

According to the manual it has 5.1 analog inputs.

I just hope the XR55 sounds a bit less cold and clinical than the previous models.

Wayne1 · « **Reply #15 on:** 12 Jul 2005, 06:52 pm »

Quote from: dvdvideo

According to the manual it has 5.1 analog inputs.

I just hope the XR55 sounds a bit less cold and clinical than the previous models.

All of the Panasonic receivers have had 6 channel analog inputs. They all run through a series of op-amps and coupling caps to an electronic switch. The output of the switch is then run into inexpensive a/d convertors and then treated digitally through the rest of the receiver.

A pure digital input will always sound better than an analog input with these very inexpensive Panasonic receivers.

As far as cold and clinical, after mods they DO warm up quite a bit. But it does cost some money to get that sound.

soundboy · « **Reply #16 on:** 12 Jul 2005, 06:56 pm »

I have read that the sampling rate for the regular analog input was considerably higher than on the multi-channel inputs....at least for the XR50/70. Wonder if that will remain the case for the XR55.

dvdvideo · « **Reply #17 on:** 18 Jul 2005, 08:12 pm »

Quote

As far as cold and clinical, after mods they DO warm up quite a bit. But it does cost some money to get that sound.

People kept telling me it would change just with break in, and it never did. Does the Sonic Impact t-amp have a similar sound or is it warmer?
The mods put it out of my low price range.

I got lucky and picked up an old pioneer stereo integrated amp at a garage sale for $20. It's built like a tank, weights in at about 40 lbs, but most importantly it has a really nice sound to it. It has a really compelling sound, warm, with deep and wide soundstage, fantastic bass, and still crisp and clean up top.

Wayne1 · « **Reply #18 on:** 18 Jul 2005, 10:09 pm »

Quote from: dvdvideo

I got lucky and picked up an old pioneer stereo integrated amp at a garage sale for $20. It's built like a tank, weights in at about 40 lbs, but most importantly it has a really nice sound to it. It has a really compelling sound, warm, with deep and wide soundstage, fantastic bass, and still crisp and clean up top.

If that is the type of sound you like, the Sonic Impact will not suit you. The SI was designed for computer speakers with little to no deep bass responce. The value of the main coupling cap is such that it filters out the lows.

With mods, a small room AND efficient speakers, the SI can sound good.

If you like the mid to late '70s sound of the Pioneer gear, you should LOVE the sound of the same era Marantz receivers.

Go looking for a 2252 to 2385. All the controls will need a good cleaning and it may need power supply caps replaced, but it should give you the type of sound you crave.

All of the digital receivers will be a lot more analytical in sound compared to the older gear. Only you can say what is "right" for you.

dvdvideo · « **Reply #19 on:** 18 Jul 2005, 10:35 pm »

Thanks for the info. Will keep an eye out.

In all my playing with speakers I feel that matching an amp with speakers is important too. A bright speaker wants a soft amp, and a soft sounding speaker might be perfect for the digitals. (just as examples)

I do have a SI on the way to play with. I have a few sets of speakers here to try with it. I do have a powered sub too, so I may be able to fill in those lows using a crossover on the pc card.