Digital Drive: REVIEW: Onkyo DX-7555 CD Player/Recorder by Frank I

Model:	DX-7555
Category:	CD Player/Recorder
Suggested Retail Price:	$699
Description:	Audiophile grade CD player
Manufacturer URL:	Onkyo
Model Picture:	View

Review by Frank I on May 20, 2009 at 06:31:43
IP Address: 68.32.151.53 Add Your Review
for the DX-7555

The DX7555 is a well built CD only player from Onkyo. My Classe CDP .5 has been my reference player for the last 12 years. The Classe was 2k new when I purchased it and was one of the finest players built in the marketplace. It was a 20 bit HDCD player built like a tank that served me well and not wanting for more over the 12 years it was in my system. I decided after reading some rave reviews I wanted to listen to the Onkyo Dx7555 figuring it wouldnt compete with the Classe. Boy was I wrong.

The Onkyo is touted as an audiophile CD player supporting the Wolfson 24/192 dacs with a super clock to reduce jitter. It has two digital filters one slow and one sharp. The clock is also adjustable for the people who want to fiddle with that. I tried both filters and preferred the sharp setting in my system. The differences in filter setting are dramatically diffferent, The slow setting is more laid back and some people make like the setting better. Sharp gives me more transparency and good definition in my system.

I played everything from jazz,vocals anbd classical music throught the Onkyo. I burned in the unit for 72 hrs and it noticibly got better. The stage opened up and it became a truly amazing player at this price point. It sounded very good right out of the box but blossemend after 72 hrs. It provides a very detailed and defined sounstage without any indication of grain or digital nastiness. The sound is extremly transparent. The bass is well extended and very deep and tight. It gives recordings with percussion the necessary thump and you can hear everything on the recording.

The midrange is well defined and really shines on female vocals. Tremble is not nasty and all the highs are dynamic. This player plays all types of music exceptionally well. I was hearing more on all recordings including HDCD even thought there is not HDCD chip to decode. On classical recordings it presents the enite orchestra in layers of accurate soundstage and you cvan hear the differences between a cello and violin and know which instrument is playing. String are very smooth with no metal sound. Acoustic guitars sound very lifelike.

Aftrer listening for a montgh I compared to my Classe. I definitly was hearing more information being presented on the Onky. I heard more transparency and a more detailed bass and tremble. I kept going back to the Classe and wanting it to sound better. The price of the Classe in todys dollars would be about 3k the Onkyo at 600.00 bucks sounded much better in transparency Whe I changed the filter to slow it was very hard telling any differences. The sharp filter gave the Onkyo the edge in a big way.

As my auditioning period was coming to an end I had to either return the Onkyo or buy it. Ater three days of playing and comparing the CXlasse and the Onkyo I decided to purchase the Onkyo. I have since sold the Classe. For the 399.00 I paid at J@R Music I couldnt resist. IAnyone in the market for a great redbook only player should audition this player. It will easily compete with player costing much more and I dont believe in my system I could do any better. It handily beat the Classe and think of all the music you could purchase by buying this player. Great player and another triupm for Onkyo.

Product Weakness:	none
Product Strengths:	Transparency bass midrange

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Outlaw 2150
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): none
Sources (CDP/Turntable): VPI HW19 JR with Rega RB300 and Benz Glider high output MC, Classe CDP.5, Sony 999es
Speakers: Revel F30
Cables/Interconnects: MIT 750 tube terminators
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Jazz,Cllassical Rock and POP
Room Size (LxWxH): 20 x 13.6 x 8
Time Period/Length of Audition: 30 days
Type of Audition/Review: Home Audition

Amplifier:	Outlaw 2150
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	none
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	VPI HW19 JR with Rega RB300 and Benz Glider high output MC, Classe CDP.5, Sony 999es
Speakers:	Revel F30
Cables/Interconnects:	MIT 750 tube terminators
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Jazz,Cllassical Rock and POP
Room Size (LxWxH):	20 x 13.6 x 8
Time Period/Length of Audition:	30 days
Type of Audition/Review:	Home Audition