The Onkyo TX-8255 Stereo Receiver is a bit of an odd little beast, Im not really sure what section of the market its aimed at. At the bottom end are those who dont really see the need for or the reason to have any kind of separates system and they are perfectly happy with radio built into their stereo system. On the other end are the power users who want a well specifed separate tuner for their system. So where then does a mid spec stereo receiver like the Onkyo TX-8255 stand? Who will buy it? What kind of home will it be used in? Well after playing with it for a little while it becomes obvious that it may not have an obvious market amongst those who are interested in “Hi Spec HiFi” but it certainly should find a home amongst those who appreciate quality stereo sound at a very moderate price.

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Removing the Onkyo TX-8255 from its box one could be mistaken for thinking one had just received a simple hifi amplifier rather than a fully speced receiver, the unit has a very “no frills” look with the very solid casing mounting bass, treble and volume controls on the right hand side. The tuner controls are mounted in a very unassuming manner on the right of the units display in a very simple and I have slightly delicate looking way. The keys are not very solid feeling and I thought that after extended use might be come a bit dodgy. Having said that most of the channel hopping is likely to be done via the simple and easy to use remote supplied.

Initial setup and tuning was pretty easy, no convoluted menus or anything obtuse to deal with plug in the unit, connect the antenna, hit the auto tune option button and away it goes finding all available channels. The Onkyo TX-8255 can store up to 40 of your favourite channels in its memory for easy access. The system is also RDS enabled so you can read off any information (station name, song name, etc) the station might be transmitting along with the AM/FM audio signal. As well as the amplifier the TX-8255 also has stereo inputs for CD, Tape (in and Out), Phono turntable, DVD, and a second spare input for any other analog unit you might want to use. The back also has two sets of outputs for connecting 2 sets of stereo speakers with appropriate control buttons for each speaker set on the front left of the unit and on the remote of course. This nice little added extra makes it easy to wire up 2 separate rooms with ease. Finally the back panel includes a Remote Interactive port which allows you to connect your iPod using the optional Onkyo DS-A2 iPod dock.

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Now though the TX-8255 is actually very good in terms of features I have to say that sonically is where the unit really shines. I really was not expecting such quality from such a budget unit. The TX-8255 manages to be both natural sounding and polished at the same time, bass is well handled up to quite loud levels of amplification. The units 50W per channel at 8 Ohms drove the Mission MV-8s we were testing with easily and with excellent results. Clarity was maintained throughout and I never had a sense that bass or treble was getting out of control or rough. Stereo placement was well handled and gave several CDs I tried the system with appropriate breadth. Kaki Kings excellent “Until we saw red” proved the TX-8255 to be a great performer with acoustic music. The only minor niggle was a slight bit of a peak that can be noticed on some more modern heavily compressed recordings at about the 1-1.5 khz range, weather this will be an issue for you depends entirely on the type of music you will be playing and your room acoustics. Overall though a very polished sound with a surprising amount of presence and finesse for such a meagre price. All in all if you are in the market for an integrated receiver/amplifier I’d highly recommend you check out the Onkyo TX-8255.

Manufacturers Specifications

• Stereo RMS Power: 50W per channel x 2, into 8 ohms
• Dynamic Range: 135W per channel x 2, into 2 ohms, 105W per channel x 2, into 4 ohms, 70W per channel x 2, into 8 ohms
• No. of Channels: 2
• Speaker Selector: Yes
• AM/FM Tuner: Yes, with 40 presets
• Input Analog Audio: – x5 Sets (RCA)
• Input Phono: – x1 Set (RCA)
• Input FM Antenna: – x1
• Input AM Antenna: – x1
• Output Analog Audio: – x2 Sets (RCA)
• Output Headphone: – x1 (1/4″ Phone)
• Output Speakers: – x4 Sets (Binding Post)
• IR Input/Output Port x1 (Mini)
• RI Port x1 (Mini)
• RRP: $249.00 (Check Amazon For Current Pricing)

Onkyo have built up a reputation over the last few years for producing quality AV receivers at extremely good price points on working with the new Onkyo TX-SR308 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver over the last few months I’d have to say that they are onto yet another winner. The Onkyo TX-SR308 is aimed squarely at the lower end of the market for people who want a quality product and solid results but cannot afford to shell out $1000+ for one of the many top end onkyo receivers currently available.

To be fair receivers are to my mind what Onkyo does best. Their design teams have experience of building these products in spades (see the onkyo tx-sr608 or tx-nr808 as examples) and the expertise gained in designing these flagship models has certainly been applied and carried over into this much more affordable piece of kit.

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The TX-SR308 looks almost identical to the onkyo tx-sr608 in terms of its construction its faceplate and its styling. Onkyo receivers may not be the pettiest girl at the party but dammit if they aren’t reliable, solid and capable of doing almost anything you ask of them. The TX-SR308 is no exception to this. The knobs and switches all feel solid and reliable, the unit as a whole is well constructed and is more than capable of dealing with most day to day stresses you might but it under.

Performance wise the unit is very robust gives a clear and powerful sound (65 Watts per Channel at 8 Ohms) with very decent audio and HD video performance. Ok so its not going to win Stereophile Receiver of the year in terms of audio clarity but if you want that you are looking at spending 5 to 10 times what you will be able to pick up the TX-SR308 for. The unit runs HDMI Version 1.4 which allows for 3D Video Format support, amongst its other features are HDMI 1.4 Audio Return Channel, Deep Color , x.v.Color , LipSync, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio and 1080p Video Processing via HDMI 1.4 of which it has 3 Inputs and 1 Output. The TX-SR308 also sports two optical inputs, composite inputs, and several more options including a universal port for connection of the optional Onkyo dock for iPod or HD Radio Tuner.

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We found the setup for the TX-SR308 to be relatively easy with no real issues being evident in configuration, all the checkpoints you need are covered in the manual. As we have come to expect from Onkyo the core functionality of this unit gives a pretty rock solid performance in day to day use with all the formats we threw at it. If you are interested in the “bells & whistles” side of things then you might be a little less enthused. The extra sound modes/FX are not really up to scratch, the integration with other components can be a little awkward and will probably be best if you have a separate truly universal remote for using all your components together. Also the unit has no configuration leeway in terms of 5.1 sound handling you need to have a proper 5.1 speaker setup or you are not going to get the best from this unit.

In the end you need to decide what you are after, if you want a ton of extra functions, convertion options and so on then the Onkyo TX-SR308 is probably not the unit for you. But if you are after a solid 5.1 receiver that will do exactly what it says on the tin with quality sound & vision and at an amazing price point then the TX-SR308 is definitely a unit you should check out.

Manufacturers Description

At the budget-conscious end of the home entertainment spectrum, you’re looking to maximize performance and features without putting undue strain on your finances. Onkyo understands that, which is why they’ve redefined the entry-level A/V receiver with the high-value TX-SR308. Not only is it ready for the 3D video future thanks to its HDMI 1.4 specification, but it also handles high-definition lossless audio codecs from Dolby and DTS. Advanced A/V processing on a bedrock of classic Onkyo engineering is complemented by a bevy of convenient features like a new overlaid On-Screen Display for easy adjustment of settings, a Universal Port for single-cable connection of peripherals, and a front-panel audio input for direct connection of iPods and other MP3 players. With the TX-SR308, you get a simple but powerful home theater centerpiece that’s ready to drive the latest high-def entertainment sources available today and beyond.

HDMI allows you to connect your high-definition sources to the Onkyo TX-SR308 receiver HDMI® 1.4a Support for 3D Video and Audio Return Channel

The TX-SR308′s three HDMI inputs let you simultaneously connect high-def sources such as a Blu-ray player, a gaming console, and a cable/satellite tuner. As the latest version of this connector, HDMI 1.4a adds the exciting possibilities of 3D video and an Audio Return Channel. 3D video is the next big thing in home entertainment, with movie, game, and broadcast content on the increase and 3D-compatible HDTVs on the near horizon–the TX-SR308 gets you ready for this next generation of content at a surprising value.

The Latest Hi-Def Audio Decoders for Rich, Lifeike Movies and Music

The Onkyo TX-SR308 A/V receiver can decode Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio™–two lossless formats that enable delivery of a bit-for-bit soundtrack identical to the studio master track. Previously available only on mid-range and high-end receivers, now you can take full advantage of your Blu-ray movies for a true cinematic audio experience. The TX-SR308 also handles Dolby® Digital Plus and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio™.

The TX-SR308′s overlaid graphical On-Screen Display makes changing the receiver settings more seamless than ever.

Changing your A/V receiver’s settings is now more seamless than ever, thanks to the TX-SR308′s new overlaid graphical On-Screen Display (OSD) feature. Simply press the Home button on the included remote controller, and semi-transparent graphical set-up menus appear overlaid on the video image you’re watching. This means you can adjust the settings immediately, without having to switch back and forth from a blank screen background.

The optional Onkyo UP-A1 dock for iPhone/iPod lets you connect directly to your TX-SR308 receiver Universal Port for Single-Cable Connection of Optional Onkyo Dock for iPhone™/iPod® or HD Radio™ Tuner

A proprietary Universal Port located on the rear side of the Onkyo TX-SR308 lets you connect an optional UP-A1 Dock for iPhone/iPod or UP-HT1 HD Radio Tuner (both sold separately). If you have both peripheral devices, they can easily be “daisy chained” via an input on the UP-HT1. A key advantage of the Universal Port is that it accepts video and audio signals through the same cable that sends a power supply from the receiver to the devices. Net result: more connectivity, less cable clutter.

Playback of Different Audio Sources in Two Different Zones

With Powered Zone 2, you can enjoy surround sound entertainment in the main room, while playing back a different stereo source in a second zone equipped with a pair of speakers. Alternatively, you can use the Zone 2 line out to send an unamplified audio signal to an amplifier (and speakers) in the second room.

Easily select from four different game modes for a more realistic audio experience

These four gaming modes create an audio experience with more realism and impact. You can select from Rock, Sports, Action, or RPG (Role Playing Game) modes to match your gaming content.

Onkyo’s Music Optimizer improves the quality of compressed audio siganls.

While MP3 or AAC files may sound fine on a portable digital player, the limitations of these compressed files can be exposed when played back through a home entertainment system. Onkyo has designed onboard Music Optimizer technology to improve the quality of compressed audio signals. Compressed music loses a substantial amount of bit information at higher frequencies, so the Music Optimizer technology works to overcome this limitation and enhance audio quality.

Onkyo’s Theater-Dimensional cicuitry lets you experience surround sound with as few as two speakers

Onkyo’s exclusive Theater-Dimensional circuitry takes the complexity out of conventional surround-sound set-ups and lets you experience the excitement of surround sound from as few as two ordinary speakers. Want more? Theater-Dimensional’s unique multi-speaker modes let you place up to five speakers conveniently by the TV, for the most realistic virtual-surround sound possible.

Remote Interactive over HDMI (RIHD)

Onkyo A/V receivers offer integrated system control with certain HDMI-compatible high-definition displays, DVD and hard-disk recorders, and Blu-ray Disc players. With one remote control, you can control functions such as Standby, Volume, and Direct Change.

Front-Panel Audio Input for Portable Devices

If you have an iPod® or other MP3 player, you can connect it to the TX-SR308′s front panel for quick and convenient audio playback. Your player’s compressed digital music files can then receive a quality boost from the receiver’s Music Optimizer technology.

Product Description
At the budget-conscious end of the home entertainment spectrum, you’re looking to maximize performance and features without putting undue strain on your finances. At Onkyo, we get it. That’s why we’ve redefined the entry-level A/V receiver once more, with the high-value TX-SR308. Not only is it ready for the 3D video future—thanks to its HDMI 1.4 specification—but it also handles high-definition lossless audio codecs from Dolby and DTS. Advanced A/V processing on a bedrock of classic Onkyo engineering is complemented by a bevy of convenient features: a new overlaid On-Screen Display for easy adjustment of settings; a Universal Port for single-cable connection of peripherals; and a front-panel audio input for direct connection of iPods and other MP3 players. With the TX-SR308, you get a home theater centerpiece ready to drive the latest high-def entertainment sources, today and beyond.

RRP: $299 (Check Amazon for Current Pricing)