Onkyo A-9555

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Chimpkin

Active Member
I just pulled the trigger on this integrated amp. I ordered the silver model. I have been fighting a couple of vintage receivers for a while now and finally got tired of messing with them. I had a JVC that had the phono preamp go out. I paid to have it fixed and got it back worse than it was. My older Sony ES has developed some noises that are irritating me so i've been reading up on new gear.

There are so many positive reviews and user input on this amp. That's what made me decide to get it. I was looking at several other options that were more expensive but in the end, too many reviews to ignore. I should receive the unit on Tuesday. I will promptly test it out and let everyone know if it lives up to the hype.

Wish me luck.
 
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I hope you like it. i've had my eye on that and the matching cd player but I decided to replace my sorely underpowered subwoofer on the home theater first. Let us know what you think.

Matt
 
Give it at least a week to break in. Get some speakers that disapear and you can put an awefully good front end on that. I enjoy the heck out of music that runs through that amp,
 
Looks like a nice intergred. I have a TX-8522 with the same "WRAT" amp, it does sound very neutral, and well balanced in the mids and highs (bit soft on the highs-tube like I suppose) but it seems to lack significant power on the lower end-runs out of breath really quickly-but I suppose that is tube like as well. I use it to drive 1973 Large Walnut Advents-with Advent dome tweeter in my living room system. Low to low mid volume it's great. Runs on the warm side- so I assume they have the bias tweaked a bit.
I'm replacing the Onkyo with a H/K PT2300 tuner/preamp(remote as well) and a H/K PA2400. I lived with the Onkyo for 1 1/2 years and it's too much of a change between my main system-too bad it has lots of nice feature and a great remote-perhaps if they added a couple of larger filter caps-4 instead of two, they would have really had something.
But it seems like a lot of newer receivers and newer midrage audio equipment in general lack low end punch-large power supplys are expensive I suppose, plus they can market tube sound as well.
 
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The 8522 in comparison to the 9555 is like comparing the Ford Expedition to the Lincoln Navigator. There's nothing wrong with the Expedition but the Navigator has all the "uppity" stuff in it. The 8522, and subsequently the TX-8555, are great 2-channel receivers for their range. The amp section is reasonably good for what it is....

You'll like that 9555 integrated. I've been pondering it for awhile along with the CD player. I just wish the CD player read SACD then it would be a no brainer.
 
Yes it is Class D. A lot of people have mentioned that it reminds them exactly of tube gear. I find that to be an odd opinion about a class d amp. I have never listened to music through a tube setup so I will have nothing to go by. All I know is that everything i've read has been positive but I still wish I lived in a city big enough to go and audition one. I guess not being able to hear one is why I was comfortable spending $450 and not $2000 or more.
 
Let us know what you think of it after you've had a chance to use it for a while. I think it's an interesting hunk of gear.
 
I have the 9555 and its companion 7555 CD player and 4555 tuner, so far I am pleased with them all and hope to have them for several years. I do have a question for any of you guys using the 9555 though. Do any of you use the Hi-Fi Tuning replacement fuse for the 9555, I've heard good reviews about the change in sound clarity it makes. Also, without taking the 9555 apart, which fuse does it use, the large or small version of the Hi-Fi fuse?
 
If you read the back issues of stereophile they show a photo of it and it seems to be the longer variety. You may want to ask this in the thinking outloud area. they are a little more open to tweaks of this nature!
 
I had to take mine apart and measure the fuse.. it's the small one. Definitly worth it.
Clipping the red caps next to the inputs even a little better. Got this from a post on AA an actual modder did this to one so I tried it and it worked.
 

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I got my amp today. Unfortunately I threw my back out when lifting it. It's not really that heavy but I turned just the right way. You know that nerve that goes down your side that causes stabbing pain when you twist the wrong way?

Anyway, I opened it up and the build quality is amazing for the price. The knobs are metal. I can't remember that last time I checked out a piece of new box store brand of gear that had metal knobs. The only thing that looks a little sketchy are the binding posts. I have heard others mention that the binding posts are a little cheap. They probably aren't much worse than most other receivers but they aren't as nice as some of the higher end gear. I will try to get it hooked up tonight so I can give my first impressions of the sound.
 
IMO, the binding posts are the weak point on many consumer-grade modern amplifiers. I need to audition the 9555 one of these days. Keep hearing how good they sound. Congrats!
 
I got to listen to about 5 or 6 songs tonight. I had some friends over and we hooked it up and messed with it for a while. My vinyl setup sounds better than any amp i've heard in the sub $1000 range. I'm very impressed with the quality of the phono preamp.

The amp, in all it's glory, immediately pointed out the fact that my Old Technics 5 disc changer is a POS. I brought my Sony CDP-590 from downstairs and it was an immediate improvement. I think I am happy enough with the amp to invest in the matching cd player. I'll let you know more after a couple of days of more critical listening.

The styling is gorgeous. The pictures online don't do it justice.
 
Chimpkin said:
I got to listen to about 5 or 6 songs tonight. I had some friends over and we hooked it up and messed with it for a while. My vinyl setup sounds better than any amp i've heard in the sub $1000 range. I'm very impressed with the quality of the phono preamp.

The amp, in all it's glory, immediately pointed out the fact that my Old Technics 5 disc changer is a POS. I brought my Sony CDP-590 from downstairs and it was an immediate improvement. I think I am happy enough with the amp to invest in the matching cd player. I'll let you know more after a couple of days of more critical listening.

The styling is gorgeous. The pictures online don't do it justice.
Click to expand...

What are you using for speakers? Post a couple pics too. I was starting to get used to the idea that i'd have to wait a while to save up for this setup, but now I'm thinking I need to work on the wife to get this amp and cd player! DARN YOU!!! lol
 
Chimpkin,

Glad to hear you also like your Onkyo. I have been very pleased with mine. Don't hesitate getting the Dx-7555 CD player, it is wonderful as well!!

Gary
 
I finally got the amp into my rack. It was bigger than I was anticipating. I played 1 side of Hendrix in the West, Tori Amos Under the Pink and Steely Dan Royal Scam all on vinyl. I am extremely happy with the quality and sound of the product. I have heard a lot of other systems and I think the Onkyo stands up to any of them. I have read that it takes a few days to break in. Not sure whether I believe that, but if it gets better so be it.

This a-9555 sounds so much better than the Sony ES I was using that my wife actually got involved in using the turntable tonight. She set it up to spin the Tori. I didn't mind, that album sounds great.
 
Would also really like to know what you think of it. I may recommend it to a buddy who's in the market for an affordable but nice integrated amp.

Royal Scam - what an awesome album, BTW. That would sound good on most any system, but with HQ gear its simply a treat for the ears!
 
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