Onkyo A-9555S Integrated Digital Stereo Amplifier (Silver)
By: Onkyo Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 13
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 On: 2008-06-23
I bought this amp from Amazon to replace a vintage Sansui AU717 that was purchased in the late 1970s. The Sansui was amazing, but lacked a remote control. I paired the Onkyo A-9555 with M&K bookshelf speakers and an Onkyo DX-7555 CD player. The Onkyo sound is truely incredible and the details of the music are beyond my expectations. I waited much too long to upgrade the old Sansui, but I am glad I waited to purchase the Onkyo A-9555. The build quality is excellent, the features are complete. If I could knock anything, it would be the cheap appearance of the remote control (however, it works well and supports all the features of the amp).
On: 2008-06-13
This unit is as good as or better than any high end separates I have ever used. A week after getting the Onkyo 9555, I sold my very expensive Classe amp and preamp. It also outperformed a $5K B&O ICE-based amp that I borrowed from a friend. Read between the lines on the Stereophile review and you will realize that this unit is as good as anything out there. Any differences are splitting hairs, and very tiny ones at that.
On: 2008-04-09
Ive had this unit for about a year now & think this is a great unit. I will not go into all the sonic adjectives that people use but will say without hesitation that it has a great sound. The bass envelops my room & it sells for a very reasonable price. Onkyo knows what its doing.
On: 2008-03-11
Dynamic is how I would describe the sound of the Onkyo A-9555, great amp for the price. The bass is punchy and precise while the treble is very revealing but easy on the ears. Midrange is what I would call standard Onkyo, neutral. Overall a very musical and smooth sound. The A-9555 seems to be getting great reviews recently, comparing it to much more expensive amps. This is also the case from my own experience. Compared to the entry level separates I use to have (a Parasound P/LD-1100 Pre/Pro and HCA-1000A amp) the Onkyo comes out on top. Finally I want to mention the nice remote it comes with, probably one of the best Ive used for any integrated/amp or player. The buttons layout is perfect and it has a good weight and feel to it. I am now considering getting a Onkyo CD player to match the amp and just so I can use the same remote for both components. I highly recommend the A-9555, you will not be disappointed.
On: 2008-03-11
Detailed and dynamic is how I would describe the sound of the Onkyo A-9555. The bass is punchy and precise while the treble is very revealing but easy on the ears. Midrange is what I would call standard Onkyo, neutral. The A-9555 seems to be getting great reviews recently, comparing it to much more expensive amps. This is also the case from my own experience. Compared to the entry level separates I use to have (a Parasound P/LD-1100 Pre/Pro and HCA-1000A amp) the Onkyo comes out on top. Finally I want to mention the nice remote it comes with, probably one of the best Ive used for any integrated/amp or player. The buttons layout is perfect and it has a good range and feel to it. I am considering getting the Onkyo DX-7555 CD player now to match the amp and so I can use the same remote for both components. I highly recommend the A-9555, great amp for the price.
 On: 2008-02-19
I just got off the line with their product support. They were very rude to me. It seemed they were trying to get me off the phone as quick as possible. Completely unwilling to help or stand by there product. Buy one and hope nothing ever goes wrong with it.
On: 2008-01-31
I replaced my Sony stereo amp (Sony STRDE197 Stereo Receiver) with this Onkyo amp. Wow what a difference. I would strongly recommend it.
On: 2007-12-23
Very clean, smooth sound,.. no heat,.. you will get what you paid for.
Hooked up nice with my LCD and 2 stand speaker.
On: 2007-12-22
Very clean, smooth sound,.. no heat,.. you will get what you paid for.
Hooked up nice with my LCD and 2 stand speaker.
On: 2007-11-19
I replaced my old Yamaha receiver with this Onkyo amp, and also got the related tuner and single-disk cd player. I used them with my old speakers while my new ones (Aperion) were arriving, and my reaction was "Wow!" All of a sudden the sound was bigger, clearer, and brighter.
If youre looking for a stereo amp in the $5-900 price range, and care about sound, you wont regret buying this component. Its all it promises to be.
On: 2007-11-18
I replaced my old Yamaha receiver with this Onkyo amp, and also got the related tuner and single-disk cd player. I used them with my old speakers while my new ones (Aperion) were arriving, and my reaction was "Wow!" All of a sudden the sound was bigger, clearer, and brighter.
If youre looking for a stereo amp in the $5-900 price range, and care about sound, you wont regret buying this component. Its all it promises to be.
On: 2007-06-05
My old separates amp died (again) so it was time to upgrade. I was using the NAD 1600 preamp with the NAD 2400 THX for 17 years. Also using Klipsch KD-5.5 speakers and a Paradigm PDR-12 subwoofer.
The sound using the Onkyo A-9555 is a giant improvement over the NAD separates in most reagards. The sound detail is lush especially in the midrange frequencies. I was surprised to hear how well I could pick out individual tracks in a dense rock mix that otherwise seem to wash out. The clarity is great for hearing subtle EQ and compression effects in the mix. The treble is a bit bright depending upon your hearing and taste for crash cymbol at high SPL with very slight distotion. Treble perfect for classical music. This issue with treble may be an artifacte of some rock mixes being pushed too close to digital over. It sounds stellar! I hope its rugged - I cant comment on that. A strong buy in this price range in my opinion.
Strengths: Detail, clarity, beautiful midrange, smooth remote volume control. Beautiful build and finish.
Weaknesses: treble can be a bit brittle at high SPL for crash cymbol; remote only controls Onkyo brand CD players via RI link. NAD separates had smoother sound.
One thing I wish it had: RCA plug for subwoofer (must run A+B outs with sub).
On: 2007-06-04
My old separates amp died (again) so it was time to upgrade. I was using the NAD 1600 preamp with the NAD 2400 THX for 17 years. Also using Klipsch KD-5.5 speakers and a Paradigm PDR-12 subwoofer.
The sound using the Onkyo A-9555 is a giant improvement over the NAD separates in most reagards. The sound detail is lush especially in the midrange frequencies. I was surprised to hear how well I could pick out individual tracks in a dense rock mix that otherwise seem to wash out. The clarity is great for hearing subtle EQ and compression effects in the mix. The treble is a bit bright depending upon your hearing and taste for crash cymbol at high SPL with very slight distotion. Treble perfect for classical music. This issue with treble may be an artifacte of some rock mixes being pushed too close to digital over. It sounds stellar! I hope its rugged - I cant comment on that. A strong buy in this price range in my opinion.
Strengths: Detail, clarity, beautiful midrange, smooth remote volume control. Beautiful build and finish.
Weaknesses: treble can be a bit brittle at high SPL for crash cymbol; remote only controls Onkyo brand CD players via RI link. NAD separates had smoother sound.
One thing I wish it had: RCA plug for subwoofer (must run A+B outs with sub).
On: 2007-04-27
I ordered this amp on a whim as a companion for an Onkyo DX-7555 (single disc "audiophile" CD player) since they share a sophistocated remote system. I owned, and still own, a somewhat esoteric AudioLab 8000S which I consider to be sonically flawless and offering great flexibility even though its almost 15 years old and really didnt expect the Onkyo to be much other than a typical import amp with a lot of bells and whistles but not outstanding performance.....big surprise. This amp is easily the sonic equal of my "British hand crafted" AudioLab, is robustly built and very, very musical. A great bargain at less than $500.
Particularly rewarding is a better than decent MM phono section allowing me to retire a separate head amp for those rare occasions when only vinyl will do. Additionally, while the unit includes bass/treble/and a subtle "loudness contour", the additional circuitry can be bypassed for a "direct" mode which essentially provides a straight wire of gain to your speakers...very clean and powerful. With the companion CD player its a knockout combination and I recommend it highly.
On: 2007-01-19
I am returning this item because it does not include a receiver. On the description of product line on the website it is listed as a receiver ("Onkyo Digital 85 Watt Stereo Receiver"). My understanding, based on information on the website, was that it was both an amplifier and a receiver. Since I need a unit that performs both functions, I am returning it.
On: 2007-01-02
I bought this amplifier after a very favorable review in the Nov, 06 issue of The Absolute Sound, and Im really glad that I did. The dynamics of the sound remind me of Sonic Impact (another class D amplifier) but without the distortion, particularly in the upper frequencies. This amplifier sounds relatively warm, quite listenable and produces music effortlessly and cleanly. The silver chassis looks amazing; too bad the golden color is not available in the US, or the more powerful 9755 model. I highly recommend this amplifier.
On: 2006-12-25
Bought the Onkyo to replace a Pass Aleph 3 (30 watt class A) high end amp that listed for four time the amount. I was looking for simplicity, and of course a remote control - which on the Onkyo is a joy to use.
The sound, oh the sound. It is clear, full-bodied, transparent, lush, and offers deep and taut bass that makes my toes tap.
I connected a NAD 531i CD player to the Onkyo and the sound is immensely satisfying across the sonic spectrum.
Not quite as satisfying with my VPI turntable rig running into the Onkyos phono stage, but not a bad showing for a full-featured amp that sells for around $700.
I did, however, replace the stock power cord with a PS Audio AC cord and that deepened the already deep bass and made vocals even more coherent. Nice improvement. Am running this amp with HD-14 speaker cables (see [...]). Overall, Im really happy with the sound quality with this amp. A touch of high end sound at a low end price.
On: 2006-12-24
Bought the Onkyo to replace a Pass Aleph 3 (30 watt class A) high end amp that listed for four time the amount. I was looking for simplicity, and of course a remote control - which on the Onkyo is a joy to use.
The sound, oh the sound. It is clear, full-bodied, transparent, lush, and offers deep and taut bass that makes my toes tap.
I connected a NAD 531i CD player to the Onkyo and the sound is immensely satisfying across the sonic spectrum.
Not quite as satisfying with my VPI turntable rig running into the Onkyos phono stage, but not a bad showing for a full-featured amp that sells for around $700.
I did, however, replace the stock power cord with a PS Audio AC cord and that deepened the already deep bass and made vocals even more coherent. Nice improvement. Am running this amp with HD-14 speaker cables (see [...]). Overall, Im really happy with the sound quality with this amp. A touch of high end sound at a low end price.
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