Onkyo A-5VL Integrated Stereo Amplifier

2014 UPDATE 4-STARS:---Fast forward three years, I still own this little unit and have grown quite fond of it, warts and all. Yes the very slight power-on buzz is still there, but just like the buzz from my Panasonic plasma, that no longer bothers me and I would need to put my ear very close to hear it. Of the three inputs, I find the highest quality in the following order: Analog (for SACD), Coaxial, Optical. For headphone listening, as long as I turn the volume knob no higher than 10 o'clock, there is no background hiss or noise. Just a few days ago, I played the mighty "Also Sprach Zarathustra" (Van Karajan/Berlin Phil) on my little Boston CS26II Bookshelf driven by the A-5VL and it blew both me and my friend away (fortunately not the speakers). The clarity and precision of the orchestral sound were just incredible, and the bass was full and cleanly articulated with no fake boominess (bassheads could always use the tonal control if they find the sound too sterile, but I am a purist audiophile).There are still few 2-channel amps with digital input at this $200-300 price range. Outlaw 2150 is a great unit but at $700. The AVR's of today have much improved over the last 3 years in terms of audiophile quality, I am quite fond of Denon AVR-X2000 ($300, 5-star review by Whathifi)...but it's a big hunk of a unit compared to the slim, sexy and fantastic-sounding Onkyo A-5VL.That's why I plan to keep it for the foreseeable future. It offers an amazing value to this day.ORIGINAL 2-STAR 2011 REVIEW:---I went through two units, first one refurbished, second one brand-new. Both had the same problem with noisy volume knobs and 'silent noise' when i cranked the volume to max on a silent track -- though the brand-new unit showing less symptoms than the refurbished. I got the same noises whether using optical or coaxial/RCA inputs. I then checked the connections, power cords, etc. to make sure there was no interference, but the symptoms persisted. I loved the Onkyo sound that's noticeably warmer than my old Sony receiver, but the noises (pops & clicks when moving the volume knob) were insufferable! I had no choice but to return both units.Also, both units had a slight hum/buzz when powered on. Don't think that's normal either.Now I am looking for a good 2-channel amp with optical input that is NOT an Onkyo. If anyone has any suggestion please let me know!

I have always been an Onkyo fan and have bought several Onkyo components over the years. This purchase was a big mistake. Sound is fine, build quality is fine, but there is a significant chronic buzz coming from the device that is noticeable during quiet passages and particularly noticeable when the CD ends and the device is in idle mode. I was not happy. For newbies, the term is magnetostriction and the buzz is most often emanating from the transformer. Better designed transformers do not have this problem, but it is a common problem in low cost electronics where the design is based on hitting a manufacturing cost point (and of course a retail price point), rather than hitting a quality threshold. Thus it is very hard to find really well built stereo components under ~$500.I sold this for $50 and replaced it with a Cambridge Audio AM10 integrated amp which I am much happier with and is dead silent.

This Onkyo amp has so much promise, and when I first got it I was excited about it. I let it burn in over 100 hours, and I just could not eliminate the persistent hum it has. This actually interferes with quieter passages of music, such that I had to return it.Not sure, as other reviewers have said, whether this is an inherent problem with this Onkyo. I tend to think not, and yet I also don't want to try another unit either.I am done with Onkyo. I bought a refurb receiver a couple years ago and the thing literally blew up on me (actual smoke coming out of the unit, after which it died). It was "repaired" under warranty, yet it never worked again. Should have sent it back again, but it just gets into so much trouble and shipping costs for these heavy units it just isn't worth it. Bought a Sony and am a happy camper; it's been perfect now for close to 3 years.Sorry for the aside; just a commentary on Onkyo. About the A-5VL, you should be hyper-aware of buzz from the unit. I didn't have a scratchy volume knob like another reviewer, but the buzz from the unit is intolerable in my opinion. It actually interferes with the music.Sorry Onkyo. I wanted so badly to like and keep this unit, but I couldn't. I gave it two stars under the assumption that not all these are flawed...but mine surely was.