Onkyo TX-NR509 5.1 Channel Network A/V Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I recently upgraded from an Onkyo HT530 receiver to the TX-NR509 for its HDMI and some of the fancy extras (networking, USB playback, etc.)Some thoughts on the receiver:HDMI issues from last gen of Onkyo receivers?
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Doing a little research before buying, I was worried that the HDMI handshake issues that popped up for the TX-SR508 and TX-SR608 owners would be present here, but so far so good. Currently using it with a PS3, no issues so far. Will definitely update this if I come across issues.Easy Setup
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The old receiver didn't have the Audyssey EQ configuration, using it was interesting. The set up process ended up pretty darn accurate in terms of automatically configuring speaker distance and values I'd normally have to put in by hand on my old receiver. +1 for painless initial setup!Great On-screen display
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The OSD is actually pretty clean and makes the menus easy to navigate. I'm not used to being able to configure so much without staring at the receiver's built-in display (which is actually pretty cool to look at). The OSD for network-based playback is a bit simple, but it gets the job done.Mediocre Network-capabilities
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A large part of spending a little more for this model over others I was considering was the networking capabilities. It was very cool to have it connect online and download a firmware update. Hopefully this means there will be an improvement on the next part: the DLNA playback for the receiver. This is where I have the most trouble.
I have PS3 Media Server set up on my home server and it diligently serves media to the PS3 via the gigabit network without problems. The TX-NR509 is able to see it and connect to it, but that's when the problems start. I haven't pinpointed the cause of it yet, but from what I've noticed, folders that contain "lots" of sub-folders or files (I'm just talking about over 20-30 here) cause the receiver to error out and force you to go up a directory/level and try again. Some directories only containing 1 file refused to open (I couldn't figure this one out). Letting it sit there and populate the contents of the folders didn't help either.
I was hoping I could play music off the server without turning on the PS3 and television, so the DLNA problems I'm experiencing are a little discouraging. Luckily, it's possible that Onkyo can remedy this through a future firmware update.
From Rodney's review, I tried the free Android app OnkyTroller on my phone to control the receiver. It does the job, but the app looks pretty ugly and seems somewhat limited in terms of functionality. Still, very cool idea. I noticed simply browsing through DLNA directories using my phone caused skips in music when playing from the network (too much network activity for the receiver to handle?).Additional thoughts
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-The TX-NR509 only gets warm after hours of use (way cooler than my old HT530)
-I love the 'Dynamic Volume' function of the receiver, it prevents opening theme songs of TV shows from blasting and helps us hear softer dialogue without fiddling with the remote
-This receiver is pretty tall compared to the one it replaced, plan accordingly if space is limited

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New at the entry level, the networking ability of the TX-NR509 takes you one step closer to fully integrated home entertainment. Audio fileson your computer and streaming internet radio can both now be played through your main system, with fidelity far beyond what you're used toon a PC. When it comes to setting up the TX-NR509, Audyssey 2EQ works to adapt the soundstage to the unique dimensions of your room.On-the-fly adjustments to audio and video settings are simple, thanks to the user-friendly overlaid on-screen display. Additional system controlis provided by Onkyo's Remote App, which lets you use your iPod/iPhone as a remote controller. The receiver's four advanced HDMI inputshandle stunning high-definition audio from Dolby and DTS, as well as dynamic new 3D video. Further connectivity highlights include a newfront-panel USB port that offers a clean digital link for both iPod/iPhone and USB storage devices, and Zone 2 line-outs that let you send astereo audio signal to a second room equipped with an amp and speakers. All in all, the TX-NR509 offers a superb feature set for the valueconscioushome theater fan.

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