Summary: First I'd have to say that I don't quite understand why everyone is complaining about the Dolby Pro-logic II...I bought this to listen to Dolby DIGITAL and DTS. If I had wanted to listen to Pro-logic, I would have kept my old receiver!
Strengths: Power...it's got it. Channel separation is amazing in DD or DTS. Purchased a DVD-Audio disc and felt like I was in the middle of the symphony! AWESOME! Speaker setup is about as easy as it can get without on-screen display.
Weaknesses: The remote definitely has a learning curve but once learned it's not that bad.
Similar Products Used: Pioneer
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Rating Reviewed by: adam chinchiolo(Unregistered User)
(Audio Enthusiast)
Review Date February 21, 2003
Overall Rating 4 of 5
Value Rating 4 of 5
Used product for 1 to 3 months
Visitors rate this review 5.00 of 5,
4.00 votes
Review 2 of 7
, from Stockton, CA, USA
Price Paid:
$280.00
from Good Guys
Summary: This is my first real amp to go along with my first real component audio setup. I have this unit hooked up to a sony cd-dvd changer, my computer, and a vintage pioneer turntable. I can't say enough about how well this thing produces a realistic environment in 5.1 dvd mode. I don't even have a sub, but the Cerwin Vega e312 woofers seem to do the job for now. Setup was breeze but as mentioned in other reviews, the remote is kindof a bear to learn, but on the plus side, it will control pretty much any other device you are using. Sound output is excellent in surround mode, but inorder to get sufficiently "bumpin'" levels in 2 channel stereo you better have the volume up around 50. Also, i don't know if it's just my soundcard, but output is even less when running through that. As far as phono is concerned, you will need a preamp, but i've got no complaints on the quality.
Strengths: Plenty of inputs, great surround mode imaging and options, easy push button source selection, very clean sound.
Weaknesses: Could use more than a 6 db bass boost for those "extra ghetto" moments, wish i didn't have to crank it to 50 (max 74) to get REAL loudness from my LPs and soundcard
Similar Products Used: Pioneer sx-950 with random bose speakers
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Summary: Offers a quality av receiver at decent price. almost enough in/out ports - have dvd, digital cable, vcr hooked in nicely. however no extra for ps1 doh! need the 865 model for another port. dvd MUST be coaxl, so if you have an optical only dvd, you're out of luck unless you change to diff input. sub out. nice speaker hookups. however the display tag for each input is user definable yay. setup using the little display is not an entertaining task, but it does the job. once done - sound is excellent, have it hooked up to the cerwin vega 6 speaker home system and it rocks my condo. the only prob i have is that you really have to crank the vol knob sometimes to get much out of it. most programming on the digital cable box needs the vol cranked to 50 to have even moderate output. construction quality is usual sony quality and contemporary looks. 100w x 6 is great. its basically a pretty similar feature set to the higher models but more competitive price. the guy that designed the remote isnt exactly a usability genius, the buttons are a damn labrynth and make absolutely no sense.
Summary: after my last receivor was showin' signs of its age, i decided to change to a more modern recpetical. Camparing between different brands with Panasonics dvd-audio readyness spec's and marantz sounding quility. My choice was the sony model this was because of its shear features and my budget, so far i am not unhappy with my choice.
Strengths: power, features
Weaknesses: sometimes too crisp sound, comparing from my previous receivor
lacks in pro-logic 2: movie mode
Similar Products Used: Pioneer VSX-D510
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Rating Reviewed by: Anthony (Unregistered User)
(Audio Enthusiast)
Review Date August 13, 2002
Overall Rating 4 of 5
Value Rating 5 of 5
Used product for Less than 1 month
Visitors rate this review 3.86 of 5,
7.00 votes
Review 5 of 7
, from Interlochen,MI
Price Paid:
$239.00
from J&R
Summary: Replaced My Sony STR-DE835 with this,glad I did,less noise with the 685,pro-logic 2 not so impressive(ok though),good tuner,good amp,plays my B.I.C.'s loud enough,remote is O.K.,I use a sony learning remote with it though.
Strengths: power,low noise,lot's of inputs.
Weaknesses: remote buttons are small.
Similar Products Used: SONY STR-DE835
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