Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I purchased this receiver a year ago as the centerpiece of my very first 5.1 setup. To this day, I can still awe my friends with its performance and features. I am using an inexpensive satellite/sub combo by KLH (a brand which I recommend if you are looking for quality, affordable, entry-level equipment), and this system rocks my house! There are enough DSP modes for most applications, even though I use the A.F.D. (auto format decode) most of the time, and plenty of settings to mess around with and customize if you like to "tinker" as I do. Overall, I am very happy with my purchase, and would definitely recommend it to anyone in the market for a good Dolby Digital/DTS system that doesn't cost a fortune. P.S. That blue light is the best thing ever... gives you that warm fuzzy feeling every time a movie starts. :) And I haven't looked into the 685 but it seems like a 675 with more features and a cooler-looking remote... only 4 stars because 685 came out THE DAY AFTER my 30-day exchange window was up! lame..

Strengths:
DD and DTS sound great, plenty of power and great DSP modes, S-video switching, multiple analog and digital multi-channel options, and the blue light rules!

Weaknesses:
EQ is a bit limited (just Bass & Treble), No A/B speaker option, No composite input on front - 685 came out a month after I bought this with both of these options...

Price Paid:  $330.00 from local audio-store

Summary:
I bought this reciever to replace my 22 years old reciever (jvc 2x100watt@16Ohm). The reason was mainly to connect my pc digitally to the reciever. I have it hooked up with 2 tannoy mx2's and 2 jvc boxes for surround. If you are a lover of pure music listening, this amp is a very good choice. It produces VERY clear and powerful sound. However, if you like playing with the equaliser, you will find here a weak point. It can only be set as far as 6db+. I used to have an equaliser that could do 12+, plus a loudness function. If you own a sub, which you probably all do, it doesn't matter. But having spend al my money on this baby, i will have to do some time without an overwhelming bass. No big deal though, because the sound is really great. I haven't spend a lot of time yet in the surround modes, cause i don't have a 5.1 set-up, but 2 channel mode is very good, so i am convinced that 5.1 channel is at the same quality level (with dts and all).

Strengths:
Clarity; Plenty power so it gives a very stable freqency character, even if basses come through; Switching power supply so you can hook up your cdplayer on it.

Weaknesses:
eq doesn't have a big range, but what it does, does it clear.

Similar Products Used:
No HT systems, this is my first one

Price Paid:  $120.00 from Sears

Summary:
I use this reciever with a set of yamaha speakers and an Acoustic Research sub. I bought the speakers bigger than my reciever (more power handling then needed for this reciever). I can put this reciever on full power and ALL channels come out crystal clear. Voices aren't overpowered, the action and soundtrack are well balanced, and the sub rocks my house. Setup is easy with or without the remote. However some common sense and the ability to read the words on the remote are necessary. ALL options are available to access by the units console (buttons on the front). I also did not find much use for the preset EQ's. It remembers the settings for your devices dvd, vcr, cd player, etc. All are customizable to your taste, setting up for music and not having to change your setting when going back to DVD. Solid decoding for DTS and Dolby Digital, and really nice speaker posts. I especially like using "banna plugs" so thats a plus for me! Your system is only as good as your leakest link, remember that when shopping. A really nice reciever can sound cheap on bad speakers (as the case in some reviews)

Strengths:
5x100 watts Clear Sound with nice Transistion Nice speaker posts Plenty of connections (opticals in&out) Awesome blue light and dimming display Overall you can't get a better deal for the money. Just don't put it on cheap speakers then blame your receiver for the cheap sound!!!

Weaknesses:
useless preset eq's and a small lacking of customizable eq settings.

Similar Products Used:
Sony ES reciever, Onkyo, Yamaha... I'm sticking with the soney str-de675 (in bed room) and my Sony ES in the "Movie Room". You can't beat the either sony for the money.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Overall, this is a very exceptional reciever. It can handle everything I throw at. For example, the Nutcracker sounds simply awesome. Classical music is no problem. As for rock, it is not any different. Movies, the different sound channels are extremely well=presented with any movie. Try Lord of the Rings dvd........you'll be impressed. The musical score in 5.1 brings the whole movie to life.

Strengths:
almost everything

Weaknesses:
some useless surround modes, delay in in sound output when switching from one source to another

Similar Products Used:
Main L/R speakers: Sony SS-MF600H Center: Sony SS-CN495H Surrounds: Sony SSM-B100H Subwoofer: none yet.......base is good enough from the mains (they are incredible.....SOny has a sleeper on their

Price Paid:  $189.00 from DILLARDS

Summary:
my wife got this unit for me for christmas after the pioneer unit we were using finaly gave out and so far i like the unit (cant say much for the remote and the book tho)

Strengths:
ease of use

Weaknesses:
REMOTE REMOTE REMOTE

Similar Products Used:
cant realy compare the pioneer!