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| Brand: Panasonic
Category: CE
This item is no longer available
Avg. Customer Rating:  59 reviews
Sales Rank: 12526
Color: Silver
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 9.9
Dimensions (in): 16.9 x 15.5 x 4.2
MPN: SAXR55S
Model: SAXR55S
UPC: 037988252206
EAN: 0037988252206
ASIN: B0009E1YPW
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| Customer Reviews:
 Good deal on a surprisingly good sounding reciever. February 14, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Amplification technology sure has changed (finally!). This uses a new digital "switching" technology from a company called Tripath. It's vastly more efficient than standard old transistor amps. Also, the sound quality is remarkable. Recievers like this one that use the Tripath technology are getting RAVE reviews by audiophiles everywhere.
Be aware that this model doesn't have HDMI switching or upconversion, however.
If you were looking for a simple 2 channel reciever STOP, get this instead because the market for 2 channels simply isn't large enough anymore to support the volume of sales needed to get this kind of value. If you think you might be wasting money buying a 7.1 channel when you only need 2 channels, that's not the case, this unit is better than what you're likely to get if you buy a 2 channel unit.
I bought one of these for my dad recently and he loves it. Before this he was using a Yamaha Class A integrated reciever.
If you get one of these and you don't think the sound is good let me know, I'd be curious to hear about it: critofur at yahoo dot com is my email address.
If you're interested in using it for 2 channel listening, and want a little more power, consider the next model up: the SA-XR57 which has a special feature which lets you use an extra pair of channels to provide more amp power to the main speakers.
Minor issue, good price, good quality February 9, 2007
I've had this unit for 2 weeks now. So far, the only issue I've had is reassigning the DVR's Digital input from Optical (default) to Coaxial won't work (I had to run out to buy an optical cable to get it to work). Other than that, I'm happy with the sounds, price, looks, and functionality of the unit. It's amazingly light for an amplifier.
 Defective Unit And Bad Support February 3, 2007
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
I bought this unit based on all of the good reviews. I am replacing a Harmon Kardon 700 that suddenly lost three speaker channels, which I understand now is common. Anyway, I was very much looking forward to receiving and installing the Pana. It took quite a while to unhook and remove the HK and hook up the Pana. After all that work, all I get is a brief "f76" flashing on the screen and then it turns off! The manual is no help; it only says to "consult your dealer." Likewise Pana's website support doesn't even appear to mention this problem. Their phone support line just kept ringing busy every time I called. I will call again tomorrow and try to keep an open mind, but I am very disappointed in receiving a product that won't even turn on!
Raises the bar in affordable home theater receivers. WOW! January 12, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I can't possibly praise this receiver enough - it truly sets a standard for other receiver makers to follow. What sets this receiver apart from the pack? Sound quality! While most competing receivers in this price range tend to "wimp out" when the going gets tough, this receiver sounds clean and effortless to the highest levels. I expected a airy high end, however midrange is "fast" with great dynamics and exceptional detail - even bass is good when driving full range speakers in 2 channel mode. Overall bass capability is the only chracteristic that sets this apart from receivers much higher in price. When the going gets tough, this receiver actually caused the lights in the room to flicker a bit. I haven't seen that happen since buying monster power receivers from the late 1970s.
Pros... Airy treble and dynamic midrange. Very respectable full range bass drive capability - outstanding at this price point. Bi-amp mode/capability for bi-wire capable speakers. Retains the expected level of inputs/outputs (less HDMI however). Good remote control.
Cons... Setup is a bit more complex than most receivers. I actually had to use that paper thing called an "owner's manual". The clean appearance of the front panel may look nice, but the simple looking multi-function control can be frustrating and takes extra time just to make a simple adjustment. No on-screen setup - which I don't expect at this price point, but it sure would have been a plus.
Overall I can't recommend this receiver too much - I'd give it 6 stars if I could. If you have one and it's not performing well, resort to that paper thing called an "owner's manual" and read through it, as it's likely you have a setting wrong.
 Pluses and Minuses January 12, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Positive
- Exceptional clarity on sound from digital sources
- looks
- full speaker post complement on back of receiver instead of clips
- ability to reassign different digital jacks among the source names
- did I mention the incredible clarity on digital sources?
- remote is hand/user friendly (if you use it)
- stays very cool, good for smaller enclosed area
- remembers some sound settings when switching between inputs (my kenwood 'forgot' most everything including center width etc.)
- bi-amp mode for audiophiles
Minuses
- Lack of overall control options beyond standard speaker setup and limited crossover settings
- Lack of settings on surround modes (my kenwood had about 5 different items to change under prologic II, this has 1 or 2)
- Can't change most settings from remote, need to be at stereo
- bargain basement fluorsecent display
- very hard to get bass right. need to balance out the crossover cutoff, subwoofer level, subwoofer's volume, speaker type setting.
Overall, if you want a 'set it and forget' receiver for mostly movies or digital audio sources (I stream mp3s over my tivo on optical digital) then this is for you. The limited configuration options and inability to set most of waht it has from remote will annoy most audiophiles.
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