Price Paid:  $400.00 from Tweeter

Summary:
Very nice for the price. Some of the peoples complaints are some what valid but I found as I played around with the options (and there are tons of them) I got to a real nice sound that was think but not boomy in the base (wich I hate. I found with some recivers you have to turn down the sound when you know loud base is coming to save you from having neibours at my door). Once you get it the sound tweeked it has a nice sound without overdoing it. I bought this thing as a floor model so for the money I spent I have no complaints.

Strengths:
Good sound once some tweeking it done with the options, Lots of options, lots of inputs, 6.1, smooth sound, good power for the price

Weaknesses:
crappy remote (get a universal), Sound is a little strange out the box must mess aournd with to get good sound, manual is less than informitive.

Price Paid:  $389.00 from uBid

Summary:
I use the Sony as my office HT system, I listen mostly to Fox News during the day, and digital cable new age music in the evenings. Once in a while I'll throw in a CD or watch a movie. I have a modest Zenith Progressive Scan, HDCD, DTS DVD player, 4 Michaura M55 speakers in the front and side positions, a Merak MC6H center (2x6.5" drivers and a great big 7" horn tweeter) a Mission 77ds back speaker and a Kenwood SW300 10" sub. For those who find this receiver underpowered, I suggest either set it up correctly, or get more efficient speakers. This receiver has SLAM and is very musical. I have an Onkyo TX-DS 797 THX receiver in my home system. This is a great receiver, but the Sony is comparable at less than half the price. The Onkyo is more musical, but the Sony has more impact (and is very musical in its own right.) I've had Harman Kardons (AVR65 and AVR310) and prefer the Sony to the HKs. I've had no problems with the Sony, and am very pleased with it.

Strengths:
Slam, musicality, 6 channel Home Theater.

Weaknesses:
Be careful of the difference in volume output between Cable/Sat setting and DVD/CD. It needs some automatic adjustment to assure that by switching sources you don't go from normal to ear shattering output. This is no joke - this can hurt your hearing.

Similar Products Used:
Onkyo TX DS 797 (Sony comparable at less than 1/2 the price), Harman Kardon AVR65 and AVR 310 (I like the Sony better), Technics SADX-940, Sony is comparable better slam.

Price Paid:  $425.00 from Eatons

Summary:
While shopping for a new receiver, I had quickly discounted the Sony DB1070 because of the less than favourable reviews I have read here. As it turns out, I was presented an opportunity to purchase it a great price, as well as a offer to 'try it out' for 30 days with a full refund if I wasn't happy. What the heck, I took it home. I've had it for about three weeks now and I'm keeping it! True, when I first set it up I was very unimpressed with the thin, tinny sound it produced for music. However, this reciever is loaded with different options to adjust for speaker performance and room accoustics - and after a lot of experimenting and fiddling around - I am now very happy with the sound I am getting. I use it to power Energy C2's, XL15's, and two S8 subs. I have no problems creating a very rich, full sound through a combination of speaker size adjustment (all set to large) and emphasizing the higher bass and lower mid range frequencies on the front speakers. Movies sound great too - in either 5.1, 6.1, or DTS modes.... On the downside, you will need to be patient and persistant, because there are so many sound options that it will take you a long time (it did me) to find the right combination for your equipment and room. As well, power can only be described as average, at best. I would expect a bit more meat for an amp that usually retails between $600-700USD. Bottom Line - If you can find this reciever for under $500 USD - buy it. Any more than that, I would be looking elsewhere.

Strengths:
Features and Options

Weaknesses:
A little light on the power for it's price. Remote is nothing special.

Similar Products Used:
Rotel, Panasonic

Price Paid:  $700.00 from Hippos in Albany, NY

Summary:
I have had the DB1070 since March and to be frank, I cannot believe that so many reviews are so negative. First of all, my listening room is small and my speakers can only be positioned in one place, there are no other options. The 1070 has numerous ways to tweak speakers / listening room. These include speaker distance, EQ, speaker levels, etc. I have found these features extremely useful in compensating for the limitations (and they are many) of my listening room. This receiver is replete with useful features. Secondly, it is organized well. Although it took a couple of weeks to discover what the features were and how to use them, once I became familiar with the 1070, operation was very easy. Now to the issue of sound. I own the Sony CDP CA70ES CD player. The CDP CA70ES reproduces music with warmth & detail. I listen to music through a pair of Athena S2 speakers (also have velodyne sub) or a pair of ADC 240M head phones. The S2 speakers are (as has been reviewed professionally and by comsumers) also warm and detailed and punchy as well. I mean "punchy" in a good way i.e forward & dynamic. Well low & behold thats how the S2s sound when being feed by the 1070. The sound is never thin or edgy. The lateral sound stage is fine though the sound stage on classical music is not as deep as I would like. This can be a combination of factors including the speakers and their less then ideal placement. The AKG 240M headphones have a very flat neutral sound. Once again, that is how they sound when using the 1070. Most of the use this receiver gets is for music (classical, jazz, folk, & rock). I have my DVD player hooked up optically to the 1070 for surround sound and the sound is characteristic of the S2s and Athena's companion center speaker. It's true, I don't own audiophile grade equiptment but by the same token, I don't own junk either. The combination of receiver, CD player, & speakers sound just fine especially given the hostile listening room they are forced to occupy. All this to say that I am very pleased with the 1070's features, cosmetics, and sound.

Strengths:
Solid build, useful features & flexibility, and fine sound for both music & HT

Weaknesses:
Honestly, none that I've incountered.

Similar Products Used:
The DB1070 replaces a SAE R9 receiver I purchased in the early 80's. Other components: Athena S2 front speakers Athena C1 center speaker Velodyne CHT 8 sub Sony CDP CA70ES Panasonic DVD -RV31

Price Paid:  $600.00 from Sevenoaks

Summary:
It was my first amp which led me into home cinema. Because i didn't know any better i accepted the sound quality as 'good'. In retrospect it's far from great. Movie sound is good but nothing spectacular. But music, inclusing music in films is thin and tinny. My advice is to opt for a Denon. They have much better music reproduction.

Strengths:
The silver version looks great.

Weaknesses:
Poor music sound and uninspiring movie sound. Crap remote. No DPL2

Similar Products Used:
Denon 3802