Home > Consumer Reviews > ONKYO TX-8511 Stereo Receiver

The TX-8511 Onkyo Stereo Receiver is an affordable, efficient way to upgrade the quality of your sound system. This receiver even made my old set of speakers sound great. I recommend this receiver for people who just want the basics for their sound system. For me, it was important to have a phono input, because I listen to records. The TX-8511 has the phono input as well as inputs for anything else you might want to hook up (e.g., CD players, multiple tape decks, etc.). It is also really quiet, with no buzz or hum whatsoever. It is clean, lean, and mean. The 100 watts per channel is more than sufficient to raise the roof, if you feel the need.

Besides its excellent performance, I also appreciated how easy it was to set up. The instructions were clear and written with simplicity, and everything is labeled clearly on the receiver itself. It only took a few minutes to get everything working. This is such a great unit that I hope that Onkyo doesn't do something ill-advised like discontinue it.

If you are in the neighborhood for a new stereo receiver, but are not really looking for the extra expenses and features of a "home theater" receiver, than look no farther than the Onkyo TX-8511. This has got to be the best receiver I have ever owned. I bought it back in early 2000, and thus far, it has never let me down. Truly, it is a highly dependable rock-solid receiver. The sound quality is amazingly crystal clear with no distortion. Pull it out of the box, hook it up, and be prepared to hear your music in a whole new way. Also, with an FM sensitivity of 11.2 dBf, you'll be able to tune into your favorite radio stations easily with minimal interference.

It has 4 inputs (including a phono input for turntables that do not have a built in phono preamp) and 2 video inputs (which can be used for other uses too -- as I said, this is not a home theater receiver so it does not have the "home theater" features like Dolby Digital).

It also has some really nice features with it like:

*30 AM/FM presets plus the ability to "name" those presets up to 8 characters. (Example: instead of seeing "94.9 FM" on the display, you could program in the call letters of the radio station, or something else.)

*Direct access tuning (from unit's front panel only)

*Motorized volume control

*Telephone-style alphanumeric keypad on the unit's front panel

*Tape 2 Monitor loop for connecting either a 2nd tape player or a graphic equalizer

*4 speaker channels, so that you can run two sets of speakers (A, B, or A and B)

*Two switched power outlets on back (This works great for audio components that do not have an on/off button on their remotes)

*Impedance selector for setting up 4 or 8 Ohm speakers

*Analog volume, bass, treble, and balance controls (I like this better than the digital controls because it is alot easier to fine tune the sound.)

No other stereo receiver has managed to stand the test of time quite like this one. It may be a bit more pricy than some other standard stereo receivers, but it is well worth it! If you buy it, you will NOT be disappointed.

Despite the current fad for multi-channel audio/video recivers, most people still listen to music with just two speakers and, therefor, only need a two-channel stereo receiver. The Onkyo TX-8511 is a very good stereo receiver with plenty of power -- 100 watts per channel -- good performance specs, and all the features you really need. It's also quite reasonably priced. No matter how much you may be impressed with the cool concept of a multi-channel "home theater" system, if your budget or available space dictate just two speakers why not stick with a good stereo receiver? And this is a very good stereo receiver for the price.

Looking for a great sounding two-channel stereo receiver at a reasonable price?

I did a lot of research on receivers prior to deciding to go with the Onkyo TX8511. I found that the ratings all over the web for this unit were very good for a basic stereo receiver, I do agree. Features I wanted in a unit was, multi-zone, 2-channel stereo, phono hookup. It had to be a basic stereo system with good quality stereo sound. I decided to purchase the unit a few day's ago at Circuit City on 2/2/04 based on reviews, I paired it up with my newly purchased Bose Acoustimass 5 speakers. I rushed home excited to here the unit for the first time only to find myself disappointed, at first. The sound from the unit was harsh and lacked base response. I decided to run a burn-in on the unit, thinking it needed a break-in period as many new components do. I loaded up the CD deck with 6 CD's, set it to loop and let it run at half volume for roughly 50 hours with the speakers switched off. WOW what a difference, I'm glad I gave the unit a chance and time to burn-in, the sound amazes me each time I listen. The Bose are still in there break-in phase the sound just keeps getting better each time. The receiver drives good crisp highs and more then ample bass response, a few tweaks to the speaker arrange and viola awesome sound system. I have been overly impressed with the sound from this receiver in all aspects. I do notice a low hiss occasionally when playing CD's in my collection; I believe it is due to poor replication/recordings that have been digitally re-mastered. The FM tuner is weak; I live in the suburbs, which contributes to the week signals received. Though my Pioneer CX770 tuner and amp that I swapped out for the Onkyo TX8511 had no problem-receiving signals. The Onkyo TX-8511 is a good solid unit; paired up with the right components I believe there is no better unit for the price. Other comparable units I considered where Denon, Harmon Kardon and Yamaha which where priced towards the $500 dollar range, I wont compare apples to oranges. I give Onkyo credit for blowing all other competition away within the $300 price range.

Other units: Pioneer CX770 tuner and amp that was replaced with the TX8511. A Sony Home Theater, which is wonderful for deep sound while viewing DVD's. Technics and Onkyo that are roughly 20 years old also exhibit signal strength issues in my area too, which I would expect from units that old.

Strengths
Great fullness & precision of sound
Neutral low distortion
Ease of use
Build quality

Weaknesses
Spring-clip speaker connections
Weak FM reception

I researched my receiver purchase for a 2X system with phono input and almost bought the Harmon Kardon, but got advice from friends that Onkyo was far more reliable. Although the lack of a subwoofer output necessitates more speaker cable, I am very happy the purchase. The overall sound quality and usability of this unit exceeds my expectations for the price. It is very heavy and solid and looks much better than the web photos indicate. Plenty of power and deserves speakers three times the price of the receiver.