Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Its a powerfull receiver with very clear sound.
It has a wonderfull DAC -CXD8505BQ- (same as CDP XA20ES) that is perfect for those who like to get the best of de CD's. Only runs 44,1 and 48khz but has a really good soudstage and very detailed sound.
What I've made is a pre-amp out and bi-amp with active xover plus dual monoblocks and a W&Puppie custom made with vifa-peerles drivers. you can feel the music as if you were in the set!!!.
As for the heat, yes it has a poor desing.
As others did, I recomend you to open it and put a heatsink on the nec 2581 drivers that are absents and keep it as free-air as you can. Remember that you have 100W x5 and if you use the DSP you may ad 10db or more what means 10 times plus the power its running!

Price Paid:  $570.00 from Circut City

Summary:
When it works it's fine. Purchased in Dec. 1997, In Nov. 2003 sound quit. Ordered Service manual and schematics from www.servicemanuals.net $21.00.

I replaced Q503 that burned open on surround board with 2 UN4111 transistors (ordered from Sony $1.33 each) I installed one above CB and one Below CB to share load.

Then about mid 2004 rear and "B" speakers quit. The schematic was a reprint from somewhere and had penciled notes, one on the rear amp board noting "symptom: no rear output, replace Q701 and 703 with DTA114ES transistors. Q703 parts list shows UN4111, wrong use DTA114ES."

This last month decided to replace Q701 and Q703 with DTA114ES transistors and it fixed the rear and "B" speaker output. However, after reassembly the display is now blank, all other functions and front panel led's are ok. I opened it up again and checked the three ribbon wire connectors to the front panel and all are tight.

Any Ideas what to check for the inop display?

Richard

Strengths:
Fine when it is all wowrking.

Weaknesses:
Too many failures.

Similar Products Used:
Sony TV, Sat receiver, VHS, 200 CD changer.

Price Paid:  $599.00 from Crutchfield

Summary:
Was a decent A/V unit . . . . . that is when it worked. Two years after the purchase it died and was sent for repairs at an authorized dealer. The rear channels went out and improved transistors were installed. Well recently the amp section would cut out about 10 minutes after the unit was turned on. I would turn the unit off and then back on and it would work normally after that, although it would it reset to Video 1 when turned back on. The LED's on the front panel were dimming severely the last couple weeks intermittently. Well 2 days ago it finally went. I am not sending it back to be fixed again. Once was enough. If I didn't already have a Sony suite of components then I'd switch to another manufacturer like many of the people here. However, I will likely go with the Sony STR-DA3200 ES for it's replacement and keep everything Sony.

Price Paid:  $550.00 from Probably Best Buy (8

Summary:
The prior reviewer doesn't seem to be writing about the STR-DE915 model. The price, age, and power claims don't fit.

I regularly used this product for a little less than two years. Up to that point, I had consistently bought Sony integrated receivers for about eight years (1989-1998). The first one was a four channel; remember the days just before Dolby Pro Logic?

Maybe I'm lucky or have not use it enough, but my copy of the STR-DE915 is still pulling occasional bedroom duty. I use it in 2 channel these days so I guess I wouldn't know if the rear legs have given out by now.

I mentioned the prior receivers in order to note that even as a buyer, I felt Sony quality was declining in that period. I consistently purchased the upper end of their US mass market receiver lineup. Even at the top end, the quality was trending downward. I left Sony for Denon in 2000 with no intent of returning to Sony (except maybe for ES top end units).

I did once have a Sony run repair center fix a grounding loop problem in a four channel unit. It turned out to be a re-soldering issue caused by routine moving induced frame flexion (a quality issue). Mostly I was annoyed by the need to be without it for about a week. Overall, that service experience was a positive one.

Strengths:
Still works for me! :)

Weaknesses:
The STR-DE915's features were quickly overtaken by the late '90's very rapid pace of home theater sound field standard evolution.

Chassis isn't very rigid; Sony reserved that for their ES lineup.

Similar Products Used:
Several of the Sony comsumer lineup of receivers dating between 1989 and 1998.

Price Paid:  $700.00 from dont know

Summary:
i dont know why people are having bad luck with thid str-d915 becouse minz iz about 13 years old and i dont have not one issue wit it yet it was given to me i got 12 inch woffers hooked up i will only buy sony from now on they have never let me down and if your unit said protector it mean your wires are crosed dats all just make shure thers no open wires and your fine

Strengths:
about 1000 watts overall out put power great sound stages a well built as usual sony quality u can customize it like put your name in it

Weaknesses:
will get hot but not that hot it takes hours ta get hot and its not as hot as people iz sayin

Similar Products Used:
phillips stereo but mostly all sony