This may be an obsession about virtually nothing but:

I bought a Onkyo TX-SR501501 on line and it works fine. Today I found a TX-DS595 at a yard sale for $35 and was wondering how they compare. I want to give the not quite as good one to a friend.

So far I have noted Onkyo's rating of 65 watts RMS 6 channel for the 501 and 75 watts RMS 5 channel for the 595.

The 595 only does 5.1 while the 501 does 6.1 - not a big deal for me either way at this point.

Both are listed at 0.08% distortion.

My guess is that 10 watts RMS per channel won't make a big difference on my speakers. I think I hear better fuller sound with the 595 but I am not sure.

The 595 also does not list a crossover to sub level. Because it lets the sub handle it and does not mess with it? The 501 has an adjustable crossover frequency level.

I guess I should explain - I don't trust my ears for one or two listens. Over a few months I would know which was better, but it seems on any given day I can get pretty subjective. Plus it is hard to set up a receiver and then unset it up, etc. A/B comparisons cannot be done without buying two sets of every speaker.

Also, maybe one day I would realize that the subwoofer cross over or some other feature is really needed and would kick myself for giving away the wrong receiver.

I'd stick with the 501. In my opinion, adjustable crossover is important as well as alot easier than using the sub crossover. Plus, the 501 probably has other bells and whistles that the other reciever doesn't have. Also, receiver companies aren't always consistent with their wattage ratings. The 501 can push 47 watts continous. The other reciever probably can't push 57 watts continous unless Onkyo put a better power supply in the 5 channel reciever.

and I love it. It is wonderful for me matched with the M22's. I think it is a steal for less than 300.00. I only use it for stereo though. I have not used in for HT.

Thanks for the responses. One other thing I noticed:

The 595 allows me to adjust the size of the speakers when in multichannel mode. The 501 does not. The 501 doesn't let you adjust much of anything when in 5 channel mode.

Though I still don't know what the crossover is set at in the 595 - there must be one if you can change speaker size, right?

Not neccessarily, my old Sony reciever could do time delay, distance, and bass management but it had a fixed crossover of 120 hz. Just too high for me. I also can't believe that the 501 won't allow you to adjust the size of the speakers.

From Hifi Choice Review

"With five channels driven simultaneously - as happens in 'real life' - the maximum output peaks at 5x55W with near-instantaneous limiting back to 5x35W/8ohm should the amplifier judge that it's getting into trouble... "

http://www.hifichoice.co.uk/review_print.asp?ID=1880

So the 595 can do continuous output of neat 55 watts compared to the 501's 47 watts? Or am I misunderstanding?

I don't think it is that big a deal. Your talking like 10 watts. Now if it was between a 5 watt and 15 watt amp then there would probably be a big difference.

From Cheap Home Theater:

"While their has been a bit of concern over the new impedance switch and the loss of weight between the 575x and the 595, we can find no difference in amplifier performance between the two. We were unable to tell the two receivers apart in blind testing, which says good things for the 595. We aren't sure why the 595 weighs less than the 575x, but it doesn't seem to hurt it any."

http://www.cheaphometheater.com/onkyo-tx-ds595.htm

The 575 clips at 71watts. See:
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Hollow/3401/ratevsac.htm

So the 501 clips at 47 watts and the 595 clips at about 71 watts - a difference of 24 watts? Quite a difference!

I am still not sure I am reading this right. And maybe the greater wattage is only helpful iof I have it in a large room - which I don't.

Anyone care to help a poor ignorant audiophile a little more?

Addendum - some of the Onkyo 600 series clip at about the same watts as the 501. So who knows where the 595 clips at.

How could you set your speakers to small and the receiver not have a crossover? It just doesn't do anything to the sub line? It affects only the mains, center and the surrounds?

Thanks for putting up with my "navel gazing" by the way.

Donaldekelly,

It seems you are just sweating some small stuff here.If the 501 clipps at 47 watts and the 595 at 71 watts that would only be a difference of about 1.8db,which I doubt you would even notice the difference.Keep the 501 at least you know its history.Assuming you bought it new.

OKAY - You convinced me.

I fold

Y'all can read some more useful threads.

Thanks for the input.

Its always good to ask questions.Never be afraid to ask,we are all here to help each other.

I have read that some reviewers think the 501 is detailed but somewhat laid back - so it would match the M22s well I take it.

Don, your first line in this thread sums it up; relax. Among other points that could be made, that list of watts at "clipping" isn't really at clipping; it's at an arbitrary 0.3% distortion which is below audibility on music and far, far below actual clipping. The numbers are fairly meaningless, in particular when they relate to all channels driven simultaneously. The statement from HiFi Choice that this is what happens in "real life" is nonsense. Driving all channels simultaneously at full power for at least five minutes(which would satisfy the FTC reg)can be done in the testing lab but would never happen in usage in the home.

One last gasp

JohnK - you don't think the inability of the 501 to change size on speakers when in multichannel mode is significant? I am guessing it is not a big deal but might swing me toward the 595.

I will probably decide based on which features are more important to me. I now do have a couple months to play with it cause my in laws, to whom I will give the lesser receiver, are moving in November and don't want it till then.

Don, if by "multi-channel mode" you mean when the six analog inputs are being used for DVD-A or SACD, then there's very few receivers that provide for bass management with those sources. It's done either in the player or a separate device such as the Outlaw ICBM. For other situations the 501 can set the main or all speakers small/large by choosing the various subwoofer modes .

It does seem funny that the 595 which came out in 2001 I think has this bass management in 5.1 channel mode but the 2002 or 2003 501 does not have it in 5.1 or 6.1 mode.

I am trying to think if this will come in handy. I have some SACDs that have no sub track - so bass management in the receiver would be good since the management in my dvd/sacd player is not great. Crossover is unchangeably set to 200hz for dvd-a and 120hz for SACD I have been told.

Again - I have no idea where it is set at in the Onkyo 595.

Okay, Don, now that it's clear that by "multichannel" you didn't mean DVD-A/SACD, but just the regular 5.1 video DVDs, note that the 501 does have bass management for this. Page 25 of the manual points out that when you select subwoofer mode 1 it plays the low frequencies(selected by the crossover frequency as detailed on page 26)of all channels. Although it doesn't use the common small/large language, it has to be read between the lines, and when the sub plays the low frequencies of all channels that's the same as saying all the speakers are set small.

Hmm - I will have to reread your post and the directions again. I actually did mean DVD-As and SACDs that come in 5.1 or 4 or 5 channels. I didn't know there was a difference between these and other 5 channel material. Maybe you mean stuff encoded in DTS or some other acronym that gets translated into 5 channels?

I meant the stuff that comes through the six cables that run between the dvd/SACD/DVD-A player and my receiver.

Thanks for the input - somehow this is slow in sinking in. I think I missed the stereo electronics 101 class.