Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: Panasonic SA-XR50 Receiver by jonbee

Model:	SA-XR50
Category:	Receiver
Suggested Retail Price:	$300
Description:	Digital HT Receiver
Manufacturer URL:	Panasonic
Model Picture:	View

Review by jonbee ( A ) on May 17, 2004 at 13:32:10
IP Address: 216.58.198.66

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My wife asked me to re-do the bedroom system into a smaller "better looking" package, so I bought this receiver and the Toshiba 3960 DVD to compare to my Sony 7000 DVD> Monarchy Dip 24/96 upsampler> Bolder modded ARTDIO DAC> Audio Refinement Complete (plus B&K 108 tuner). I've posted earlier my impressions of the Tosh, that it is not quite as dynamic and incisive as the bigger rig, but that as a transport I couldn't readily distinguish between it and the Sony (a pretty amazing outcome).
Here's what I found about the Panny. First, no one has mentioned the tuner. It is not as sensitive as the B&K (so is a bit noisier on weak stations), but is very smooth and listenable. I'm not a tuner maven, but I found this one to be acceptably good sonically, nearly up to the B&K, which I found to be better than a number of well regarded tuners in the past. FYI, this receiver samples all analog input to digital at 24/192.
The first amp comparison was to the NAD 340, which I think of as a standard for inexpensive amps.
Plugging in the Tosh after 30 hours of breakin, I was a bit disappointed. The sound was ok midfi, but sounded a bit rough overall compared to the AR Complete and the NAD, and not nearly as musical. Compared to the NAD, the sound was more upfront, detailed and immediate, but not as enjoyable and musical overall. I found this outcome to be true using the Tosh as a complete player and with the coax digital out into the Panny
I then inserted the Monarchy DIP upsampler, which reduces jitter and outputs 24/96 into the Panny. WOW! The difference was greater than with any other digital device I've used the DIP with. The sound smoothed out, ease and musicality improved greatly. The upfront detail remained. This was much more like it. The quality leaped ahead of the NAD, and could rightly be compared to the Complete. It was more dynamic than the Complete, but the Complete soundstage was a bit more natural. Also, there was a small lack of top end focus, and the bass was solid and deep, but seemed a little woolly with the Panny. Not big differences, but consistent. Overall, my conclusions were very similar to those in the Stereo Times review (www.stereotimes.com/amp040104.shtm).
Also, I'm running the amp into Aerial model 5s, which are a bit of a tough load. It drives them well enough in a small room, but I think the "100 watts" is not a real-world figure. I felt it was about as powerful as the 50 wpc Complete.
I've sold all the other gear other than the Panny. I think all in all it's of similar sound quality to the 7x as expensive amp, tuner, and processor, in a small package. My wife is happy. Time will tell if it holds up.
All in all, this is a keeper (for me, with the inclusion of the DIP). It is very inexpensive and small, but has a clean, in-the-room, dynamic sound, even with demanding, high resolution speakers. I'm not as over the top positive as some, and I'm not sure you could drive a big system with it, but for the right application it's a very cool receiver. I can't imagine doing better for your $250 (J&R price, w/ shipping). Modded, there may be a lot more to be gotten from it as well, but the value equation may become more of an issue. That's how I see it

Product Weakness: Slightly fuzzy top and bottom, hard to understand programmability and remote. Runs warmer than I expected. Make sure to shut off the sub output and 5ch speaker setup (the default), or you'll have no bass.
Product Strengths: Clean, dynamic. Compact. Cheap. Listenable tuner.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	see review
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	none
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	see review
Speakers:	see review
Cables/Interconnects:	Mapleshade golden helix
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	lots
Room Size (LxWxH):	16 x 12 x 8
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1 week
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	adcom 515
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Slightly fuzzy top and bottom, hard to understand programmability and remote. Runs warmer than I expected. Make sure to shut off the sub output and 5ch speaker setup (the default), or you'll have no bass.
Product Strengths:	Clean, dynamic. Compact. Cheap. Listenable tuner.