Panasonic SA-XR57 available now

Tubo · « **on:** 17 May 2006, 01:47 pm »

I just ordered mine from Amazon for $303.89, free shipping, no tax. It ships on May 18. Other vendors also have it, including J&R, for a bit less than Amazon but they charge shipping. Club Panasonic has it for the list price of $399 minus 10%, which is no deal at all.

The SA-XR57 has HDMI, the ability to bi-amp, good speaker connectors (unlike the SA-XR70), and, I hope, superior sound.

Tubo · « **Reply #1 on:** 17 May 2006, 02:07 pm »

Amazon is selling only the 70, not the 57. I cancelled my order.

The 57 is available from Panasonic Direct, for the list price minus the Club Panasonic discount. That seems the only outlet right now.

klh · « **Reply #2 on:** 18 May 2006, 12:00 am »

That's exciting news. I didn't even realize it was in the works. I'm waiting for the SA-XR700 / DMP-BD10 combo. It'll be expensive initially, but prices will go down.

Jon L · « **Reply #3 on:** 18 May 2006, 01:54 am »

This is not such a great deal.

The audio side is the exact same as SA-XR55.

The only "advantage" of XR57 is the HDMI video input/output, but it looks like it only has one HDMI input and one HDMI output, so it can't do HDMI-switching. So this feature is not necessary since your TV will have HDMI input.

The price has gone up by $100 MSRP over XR55.

soundboy · « **Reply #4 on:** 18 May 2006, 11:04 pm »

Quote from: Jon L

The only "advantage" of XR57 is the HDMI video input/output, but it looks like it only has one HDMI input and one HDMI output, so it can't do HDMI-switching. So this feature is not necessary since your TV will have HDMI input.

In this case, HDMI v1.2, which Sony/Philips approved last September for transmission of DSD/SACD datastream. The owner's manual of the XR57, which is available online, clearly states the HDMI v1.2 input/ouput. What is unclear is whether Panasonic, a DVD-A supporter, will support such transmission in its receiver.

klh · « **Reply #5 on:** 20 May 2006, 11:27 pm »

Does anybody think it's funny that Panasonic is anti SACD but pro Blue Ray? I would have expected them to go for HD DVD since they back DVD Audio.

tschanrm · « **Reply #6 on:** 27 May 2006, 06:53 am »

Quote from: Jon L

This is not such a great deal.

The audio side is the exact same as SA-XR55.

The only "advantage" of XR57 is the HDMI video input/output, but it looks like it only has one HDMI input and one HDMI output, so it can't do HDMI-switching. So this feature is not necessary since your TV will have HDMI input.

The price has gone up by $100 MSRP over XR55.

Do you have any proof that the audio side is the exact same? Panasonic could be using new TI chips with a better modulation scheme, which means better sound (less reliance on power supply quality).

Grayson73 · « **Reply #7 on:** 30 May 2006, 02:41 pm »

Can someone who has the XR57 open it up and let us know which chips are being used?

XR57 can also dual-amp the main speakers in 5.1 mode.

Grayson73 · « **Reply #8 on:** 1 Jun 2006, 05:40 pm »

Here are some pics of the internals courtesy of mad3d on avsforum.

Can someone who knows the XR50 and XR55 interpret the differences?

http://www.gemsgenethics.com/xr57/

hanguy · « **Reply #9 on:** 2 Jun 2006, 05:21 am »

Don't know about the XR50, but from the pictures most of the components are the same between XR55 and XR70:

- Power supply board
- Yamaha YSS944 digital receiver and processor
- TI TAS5076 PWM processer
- TI TAS5182 PWM controller
- Same output cap

It appears the only difference is HDMI input.

Mike

Grayson73 · « **Reply #10 on:** 6 Jun 2006, 07:45 pm »

Did you mean the XR57, XR55, and XR70 have those same parts?

The XR45 has a better power supply, right?

hanguy · « **Reply #11 on:** 6 Jun 2006, 08:14 pm »

The XR70 appears to have a different DSP section from XR55/57. Don't know what PWM processor or conroller it uses. The DIR and processor section of XR70 appears to be the same as XR45.

I own the XR45 so I know the power supply in the XR45 has significantly more parts (especially number of capacitors) than XR55/57/70. Haven't done a side by side comparison so I don't know if this implies a better quality power supply with more parts in it or the new models have a more advanced power supply design that requires less parts.

Mike

Tubo · « **Reply #12 on:** 7 Jun 2006, 09:14 pm »

I ordered a 57 from J&R last Sunday. Should arrive Friday June 9. I plan to pair it with my new Oppo 970 universal player (terrific player, BTW) and my 42-inch Panny plasma in my bedroom HT. Should be able to connect all three units via HDMI.

Interim speakers will be AE Aego2 with some leftover Sony TV speakers as rears until I get a decent set of HT speakers.

Paid $299 plus shipping.

In addition to J&R, B&H Photo has the 57. Etronics has them backordered. Panny Direct has them at list ($399) minus 10%.

John151 · « **Reply #13 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 10:53 pm »

I just picked up a 37" Panny Plasma, and a Panny Diga (DVD player, recorder, VHS combo with HDMI. The Diga and plasma talk to each other via HDMI, which is a feature Panasonic calls HDAVI. The benefit is that the various components will automatically configure themselves based on events, such as a DVD being started, or the TV being turned off, etc.. I have something similar on my previous JVC rig using the Compu-link system.

This HDAVI helps greatly with the WAF. I am also very happy with the PQ from the panny DVD. It upverts the DVD signal nicely, resulting in a picture that look like HD. The VHS and built in tuner also output via HDMI, which simplifies things greatly.

I plan on getting an XR57 to complete the picture, so to speak, but am a little conerned about the performance. Can anyone comment on how the quality of this model?

Feisal K · « **Reply #14 on:** 24 Jun 2006, 06:13 pm »

Quote from: John151 on 17 Jun 2006, 10:53 pm

I plan on getting an XR57 to complete the picture, so to speak, but am a little conerned about the performance. Can anyone comment on how the quality of this model?

since it shares the same guts as the previous XR55 model, I'd say the sonics are a safe bet.

gevorg · « **Reply #15 on:** 16 Jul 2006, 06:47 pm »

So no other receiver uses better TI chips than XR55/57 as of now?

tschanrm · « **Reply #16 on:** 26 Jul 2006, 06:03 am »

Quote from: gevorg on 16 Jul 2006, 06:47 pm

So no other receiver uses better TI chips than XR55/57 as of now?

Well, not entirely. The XR70 used discrete components for it's front channels, and the original XR10 used discrete components on all it's channels. However, there is a lot more to sound quality than component selection. One of the main advantages of the xr57 (and xr55 i believe) is that during two channel playback, the amp uses all the channels to power the front speakers. I believe Panasonic calls it their 'dual amp' feature. This helps out with impedance loads lower than 6 ohm, one of the issues with the earlier panasonic models.

Ears · « **Reply #17 on:** 24 Sep 2006, 01:46 pm »

Theres a newer Pany model on the way...that supposed to be 1k and has dual hdmi.

Its supposed to be marketed along with the Pany BD player.
Anyone know any more info on this one...sa-xr 700?