Onkyo TX-SR502 Black | 6 Channel Home Theater Receiver Home Theater Receivers review

Compared to last year's model, the TX-SR501, Onkyo's entry-level TX-SR502 receiver offers more power, improved surround processing, and Dolby's newest treat, Pro Logic IIx. Beyond the added features, we noted that the SR502's solid build-quality standard exceeds the levels that we expect in affordable receivers. At $300 (list), the TX-SR502 competes with models such as Pioneer's VSX-D914-K, which costs a bit more and offers an automatic setup feature. If you feel comfortable setting up the SR502 yourself, it will nicely fulfill your basic A/V receiver needs. The Onkyo TX-SR502 has a distinctive, gently concave curved front panel, for a look that's more contemporary than those of the latest models from Sony or Yamaha. It is available in silver or black. This bad boy weighs 22.5 pounds, although its 14.8-inch depth is a little easier to manage than the 16-plus inches of the more typical receiver.

Onkyo's large, easy-to-maneuver remote is partially backlit and offers direct access to A/B speaker switching, volume levels for individual speakers, and bass and treble controls. It's among the best remotes that we've seen included with a budget receiver.

As we mentioned, the SR502 lacks automatic setup for speaker levels and delay. Manual setup chores proceeded smoothly, but would have been a little easier if the receiver had been equipped with onscreen menus. Instead, setup info appears on the SR502's main display, which is easily readable from across the room.

We took a peek under the Onkyo TX-SR502's top cover and were mightily impressed by the receiver's build quality. The amplifier offers the sort of generously sized heat sinks that we associate with higher-priced components. The amps deliver 75 watts to each of the SR502's six channels, for 8-ohm or 6-ohm speakers. Surround-processing options include the newest bauble from Dolby, Pro Logic IIx, which produces 6.1-channel sound from CDs, MP3s, and the radio. Onkyo also includes Dolby EX and DTS ES surround.

This receiver's bass-management skills are unusually flexible. You can select 60Hz, ideal for large bookshelf or tower speakers, or 80Hz, 100Hz, 120Hz, or 150Hz. The higher settings are for use with smaller satellites--a particularly useful feature in a receiver that will likely be mated with a set of wee sats.