Onkyo HT-S5305

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AndyR

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#79340 16-Mar-2011 11:19

Hi all,

Looking to get myself a home theatre system, but on a budget and have noticed the Onkyo HT-S5305 - http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/home-theatre/onkyo/5-1-home-theatre-av-receiver-pack-sku-12265/ at $591

Currently only in a small flat so dont need anything powerful, but want seperates like this and not a DVD home theatre as I have a PS3, Xbox, AppleTV to run through it.

Has anyone got this model, and if so care to share any opinions on it?

Thanks,

Andy

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#448838 16-Mar-2011 11:37

The 305 isn't even listed on the Onkyo site, I think it's an older model. The 309 is the current model.

I got the TX-SR508, which is one step up from their cheapest. I did it to get Audyssey, which balances the speaker volumes to suit your room. It works ok, though my rear speakers are too loud, I haven't tried to do anything about it yet.

Overall, I love it. Paired with Wharfdale Vardus speakers it just sounds amazing. The simulated surround from a stereo source is good, but on some music it moves people between the front/rear speakers not quite right. Mostly though it somehow puts the lead singer mostly out the front speakers, and the backup singers mostly out the rear speakers. I have no idea how it does it.

Better processing is the only reason i'd upgrade. Very happy with my purchase.

AndyR

73 posts

Master Geek

#448839 16-Mar-2011 11:39

Thanks.

This is it listed on the Onkyo site - http://www.intl.onkyo.com/products/system_components/home_theater/ht-s5305/index.html

timmmay

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#448856 16-Mar-2011 12:28

Oh ok it wasn't it on the grid of products I found. I think it's an older model, the x05 series, compared with the x08 I have or the x09 that's available. The 305 is probably still good, but I prefer to buy current models.

Jaxson

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#448860 16-Mar-2011 12:32

timmmay: I did it to get Audyssey, which balances the speaker volumes to suit your room. It works ok, though my rear speakers are too loud, I haven't tried to do anything about it yet.

A good point here. The mic auto setup feature allows the receiver to listen to your speakers and make some equaliser decisions to make them sound better. This is especially good if you mate your receiver with some average speakers that aren't very linear in their response.

It's a starting point only though and you're free (well on most receivers anyway) to tweak the settings to your own personal taste. The mic usually does a very good job at measuring speaker distances for delay settings etc. For instance, with young kids in our house I always go back and up the centre speaker level though so I can hear the dialogue in a movie without having to have all the other speakers up too loud.

I'm picking these decisions have already been made and the sound optimised in a package that includes the speakers. If you opt for a receiver only option instead then the mic setup is something I'd recommend.

Spec wise that unit covers all the main bases, as in it has some hdmi inputs, can handle the 3D stuff and it decodes the new Bluray HD audio formats. Seriously that's a pretty good buy I think.

semigeek

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#448862 16-Mar-2011 12:40

I have the pack before that, no TrueHD though. Mine came with Audyessy which is easy to do, just put a mic on a tripod or stand at ear height in 3 different listening positions in the room and it sets it up for you. I still adjusted my receiver manually though to suit my preferences.

The speakers themselves are average, they sound ok, but decent floor standers or bookshelfs attached and you will find the sound pretty damn good. I swapped out my front speakers for Panasonic SB-PF800's which I chose over Wharfedales.

My system has HDMI etc, but unfortunately no Audio over HDMI so I have to run it through Optical or Coax. One of the reasons I am going to upgrade to a different receiver in the future.

But overall, I think Onkyo is pretty good. Like I said the speakers are average, but at least with a system like the one you are looking at, you can change components. For the price its a good buy.

timmmay

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#448879 16-Mar-2011 13:42

Oh I didn't notice the speakers. At that price they can't be great, but probably still better than most home theatre in a box systems. I think my receiver was about $600 and the speakers about $1200 (less a 20% discount), which I think is a steal given the sound quality.

AndyR

73 posts

Master Geek

#448886 16-Mar-2011 14:11

Thanks guys, will probably go for it I think.

Used to have a Pionner HTS-GS1 (xbox 360 edition) back in the UK which I picked up cheap and also used with my PS3 via optical. For the price and size it worked great and made a massive improvement over nothing, but I didn't bring it with me when I emigrated to NZ last year. Have started to miss having a HT now as the built in TV speakers suck.

Not got much room to play with and being in an apartment I couldn't have it up too loud anyway so speakers will probably do the job for now.

Next question related to this, know anywhere to get some cheap speaker stands? Will need some for the rear speakers as cant wall mount them as renting.

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stevonz

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#448919 16-Mar-2011 15:45

I have the HT-S5205 (an older system) and it rocks!

Cheers, Stevo

wasabi2k

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#451061 23-Mar-2011 10:59

I bought the HT-S5305 just before Christmas.

As mentioned it lacks the Audyssey auto setup stuff, but it has a great feature set for the money.

4 HDMI Inputs
Large number of formats supported
Doesn't run Hot

I have MySky and my Laptop plugged in via HDMI and Wii via Composite. Works fantastic. Have HDMI Control through the TV (so turning off TV turns off amp).

It doesn't do the conversion of Composite to HDMI if that's something you are after.

Speakers are fine for me. I am currently only using 3.1 (front 3) as I haven't mounted the rear two. I'm by no means an audiophile and kids mean I rarely get to crank it.

I'm very happy with it, great kit for the money. "Serious" people will tell you to spend $1000 on an amp and $1500 on speakers but that's way out of my budget for benefits I probably wouldn't notice.

AndyR

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#451064 23-Mar-2011 11:02

Speakers are fine for me. I am currently only using 3.1 (front 3) as I haven't mounted the rear two. I'm by no means an audiophile and kids mean I rarely get to crank it.

Have you got the sub connected too? Still tempted to get this but space at the moment is tight so might not be able to connect everything up initially.

timmmay

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#451067 23-Mar-2011 11:05

Interesting you say about not running hot. With the TX-SR508 if I put it in an enclosed cabinet it gets really hot to touch when the volume is above about 30-40% on a 5.1 source. Running the tuner at a reasonable volume it barely gets warm though.

Mine's driving a 5.1 speaker system though, probably 12-14 individual speakers plus sub, so that might be why. I had to install a cooling fan in the back of my av cabinet, I put in a 140mm fan in each section (receiver in one, PS3 in another), usually I run them quite slow and they do fine, quite quiet too. I have to turn the fans up a bit for loud movies though.

Dunnersfella

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#451313 24-Mar-2011 08:30

Definitely run it with the sub, those speakers will offer very little in the way of bottom end...
Meaning the sub will help close up the frequency gaps quite nicely.

AndyR

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#451322 24-Mar-2011 08:50

Yeah I'd want to run with the sub too but my current area might not allow me the space to connect it all up straight away for a few months. At the minute though the TV speakers are so crap I have to turn the TV up to 40% just to hear dialogue on a movie, then whack it back down when something happens as it'll be too loud.

Once I get my apartment moved around and sorted out I'll be able to have everything connected up nicely :)

wasabi2k

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#451415 24-Mar-2011 12:53

yeah front 3 + sub.

Yeah no heat issues with my enclosed cabinet, but as I said not all speakers connected and not really high volume!

Jaxson

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#451417 24-Mar-2011 12:58

timmmay: Interesting you say about not running hot.

Most Onkyo's seem to run very hot. I have the 576 unit and it gets pretty warm. Apparently there is some rather dumb component layout inside some, with cards horrizontal above hot areas too. I've had no problems though I open the front of my cabinet once the kids have gone to bed if I watch a movie etc.

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