Onkyo PR-SC5508 / SC5509 vs Integra 80.3 ?

The Integra has a 3 year warranty. All are made by Onkyo.

I called Onkyo/Integra tech support to ask this very question and the answer that I got back was that "Integra uses superior parts"

I've heard that said about GMC trucks vs Chevy trucks.

It's already been covered before, the Integra 80.2 and Onkyo 5508 use the same parts except for cosmetics and the Onkyo adds a Pure audio function.

The Integra's do have a longer warranty and the high end Integra receivers support Audyssey pro calibration were as the Onkyo receivers do not. The Onkyo 5508 does support Audyssey pro, I have done a Audyssey pro calibration on my 5508.

Generally you can get a lower price on the Onkyo pre-pro's than the Integra's.

What a joke, several techs here on AVS and other sites have opened them up and looked at the internal parts and compaired the two and guess what? You got it: they are the SAME

I am in the process of checking out a 80.3 right now. Using it with a Halo A5 1.

Both are visually different incarnations of the (almost) same product line, but intended for different niches.
Onkyo is intended for the general market, whilst Integra is been distributed through a dealer network, called "Installers", thus the higher pricing for the Integra models.
Both use the same firmware + hardware, but employ a different design, to have them visually distinct. They show some minor differences in features and options, but in general we are talking about the same product, differently packaged.

What are the differences between the SC5508 and SC5509??

My understanding is that the SC5509 is equivalent to the DHC 80.3 - is then, the SC5508 equivalent to the DHC 80.2??

Based on what I've read (and remembered), there are differences (SC5508 vs SC5509) in the video processing....with the SC5509 capable of upscaling to 4k??

This info is scattered among several individual threads but this seems like the logical thread (based on title) to consolidate the differences...

the 5509 is an update from the 5508 , you can see the differences if you compare the data sheets for both pre amps , personally i would save a buck and go with 5508 if i could find one but seems that i am late to that party , will be a pocket breaking 5509 for now , i would go integra but i already have the 5500 and that will match best with 5508/9 for cosmetics 4k uppscaling is a marketing hype , lets be frank : how many got a 4k screen ? and if so is it 3D? passive or active? whats the HDMI standard that will be used on 4k screens? 1.5 ? 1,6? but still onkyo/integra is the one who offers great preformance and features, u will be happy with both

Based on what I know the differences between the 5508/80.2 and the 5509/80.3 are:

1. Video Processing (HQV Reon-VX vs. Vida)

The 5509/80.3 has the newer Vida; supposed real improvement on the Vida 1900 is improved mosquito/noise reduction for SD (HQV StreamClean) and HD inputs (i.e. make your super compressed cable channels look better). I imagine most would be hard pressed to detect an actual difference in the basic deinterlacing and scaling alone.

2. DTS Neo:X

The 5509/80.3 has the new DTS DSP to upmix 2.0/5.1/7.1 to 9.1/11.1

3. Improved Relay Clicking

The 5508/80.2 suffers from audible relay clicking in the event you desire to utilize the processor to always pass through the native stream (e.g. you allow it to switch from 5.1 to 2.0 as opposed to native 5.1 to ProLogic II/x/z).

Lastly, all the Onkyo Pro (or now Onkyo) products offer "Pure Audio" mode that disengages any and all processing circuitry (effectively just using the processor as a line stage) while the Integra offers the extra year of warranty. To be honest I'm not totally clear on how the "Pure Audio" and "Direct" modes differ given I'm not an owner......yet.

I am looking at both the 5508 and the 80.3. Correct me if I am wrong, but does Onkyo even have the 5509 out yet??

All I can find is information on the 5508?

Thanks..

Greetings,

Jeff, the 5509 is available in Europe and currently not available in North America.

Regards,

Thanks Ralph.

I am having a hard time finding a big enough difference between these two units to offset the price difference. Found a great price on the 5508, so I am trying to decide between the two...

I'm in the same situation Coach. The 5509 was rumored to be released for US soon but Onkyo has been silent.

Right now I am leaning towards the 5508 over the 80.3... Personally, I think the 5509 is ugly and cheap looking.

Seems like the 5508 has plenty of features and the price is right.

I wasn't sure if they supported it or not. The spec page on Onkyo's website wasn't very clear.

Have the 80.3 owners had any issues getting the Audyssey Pro to work? I was talking to a calibrator yesterday and he couldn't get it work on a newer 80.3. He even updated to the most recent firmware..

The 5509 seems to be the stable version of the 5508...
SQ-wise the latest firmware update for the 5509 / 5009 / 3009 has upped the SQ in general as several owners have mentioned already, although neither Onkyo nor Audyssey had given any hint to this.
Therefor a noticeable SQ difference should exist now between the 5508 / 5008 / 3008 and the latest firmware upgraded 5509 / 5009 / 3009.
5509, 5009 and 3009 all are supported regarding the Audyssey Pro Installer Kit, when the latest firmware (March '2012) has been installed.
And the design... i prefer the new clean and straight design much more than the earlier belly type one.

Thanks for the information. I am the opposite when it comes to the looks and prefer the look of the 5508 over the newer Onkyos..

Hello, can anyone confirm if there is really a difference in the relay clicking on any of these models from Onkyo and Integra? I have an Onkyo 5507 and I'm just about done with the relay clicks and plan to sell it and buy something else. I bought a Marantz 7005 and loved the lack of constant relay clicks! But the SQ wasn't as good as the Onkyo 5507 and there was an audible electronic processing noise output at high freq that I could hear within 2' of my L/R main tweeters. You know, the kind of electronic noise like I've heard from cheap MP3 players and mobile phone analog audio outputs that are coupling digital noise and amplifying it? Well I heard that out my speakers even with a digital input on pause! It's dead silent with the Onkyo as it should be.

Anyway, I like the features and SQ of the 5507 except for the relay clicks. I'm trying to confirm if this poster's statement is true that either the Onkyo 5509 or Integra 80.3 do away with the ridiculous relays.

The relay problem is that if a digital input such as HDMI is carrying encoded audio such as dolby digital, and that stream is interrupted for even a tiny fraction of a second, the Onkyo prepro clicks one or more relays back into a default standby position, and then returns them to the normal operational position once the digital stream resumes, causing a series of 2-4 relay clicks per event. Typical satellite or cable TV boxes with DVRs painfully highlight the issue since many common events result in brief interruptions in the digital audio stream. Events include channel changes, DVR pause/play/skip/rwd/ffwd, or very brief < 1 second signal dropouts that do seem fairly common with DISH. The result is very frequent clicks, an associated sound dropout, and I also enjoy a low freq pulse to my subwoofer if using XLR. I don't think the relay click issue occurs with already decoded PCM bitstreams so if you set your other piece of equipment to decode to bitstream you won't hear the prepro click but I don't think this is possible on the typical cable/sat boxes without dropping everything back to stereo and losing the 5.1 digital audio.

So, I'd very much appreciate if someone who has a 5509 or 80.3 use this scenario description to test statement (3) of the author? Preferably using a DISH network DVR such as the 722 but really the relay clicks should be reproduced (or not) with any sound source passing encoded dolby digital directly to the prepro. Try pausing and playing the signal multiple times and I expect you will hear at least one relay click each time you pause or play.

If not, I would be so happy to buy one of these newer models!

Otherwise if Onkyo still can't get a clue after years of complaints, I'll have to find another make and model. Other than Marantz due to the SQ issues I recently experienced. Oh, and I also have had to shun Denon because my previous $2K Denon AVR developed a temp sensitive issue a few months out of warranty and now cannot output video until it heats itself up for 10 minutes! /sigh

Thanks!

I had a Integra 80.1 that I had to get rid of due to relay clicks which drove me nuts but the Onkyo 5508 and 3008 in a second system don't suffer the same problem. There are small clicks but there not noticeable unless you really listen for it.

I had the same experience with the Marantz AV7005 that you had, it was better for music than the Onkyo 886 I was comparing it to but for movies the 886 was so much more dynamic. The 5508 is a big improvement musically over the 886 so I would have to venture to guess it is at least the equal of the Marantz for music but still retains the dynamics I crave for movies.

I'm in the proces of getting a new pre pro. Did anyone find out more about this "pure direct" and "direct" mode? I read through the manuals and Pure Direct on the 5509 is without subs, not sure if "direct mode" on the Integra is without subs? says 2.2.

Anyone have any experience with the Integra DHC 80.3 using it just for 2 channel audio and direct mode?

Most importantly is that the 5508 has a design flaw that leads to complete failure. The 5509 is said not to have this problem. I've had my 5508 for thirteen months and its already having symptoms of this flaw.

I see. I'm getting a good deal on a DHC 80.3 but was just concerned with the pure direct feature missing from it. I do listen to some 2 channel music and wanted to find out if the "direct mode" on the integra is decent enough.

I've tried pure direct with my 5508 and there was no discernible improvement in sound. I find the stereo mode perfect for stereo sources I don't want to put through DPL.

Kind of like buying a Ferrari to go 30mph... what is your source equipment? What are your speakers and amps?

Looks like Kal R will be doing a review of the Marantz av8801 and will be comparing it to the integra 80.2 .... so before you upgrade/change...

This is in so far unfortunate, because the 80.2 is not the current Integra model.
So we don't know then, if the current models Integra 80.3 and its brother Onkyo 5509 are not better sounding and how they compare.

Not sure I understand?

Dynaudio Contour S5.4 speakers with Nordost blue heaven cables. They are powered by a Primare A30.5 amp, just running LCR and my current reciever doing the 4 surround channels. Source is HTPC with Jriver/foobar. Also using two 18" subs.

It's a bit silly, I had an onkyo 3008, which I sold and bought an Anthem MRX 300. That didnt live up to my expectations, so returning it. The MRX seemed like a sidegrade from my onkyo 3008. Infact I simply prefer the Onkyo sound from Anthem, atleast from their recievers. A friend of mine has the AVM50, but that is another pricerange, but that unit sounds very good to my ears.

So, I'm returning to Onkyo/Integra sound.

Eventually I might add a dedicated 2 channel amp for stereo only I just wanted to find out more about the Integra's stereo capabilities.

So basicly there isn't a stereo mode without subs and EQ? without going into the menu and switching it off?
Edited by clausdk - 12/6/12 at 12:18am