Price Paid:  $0.00 from J&R

Summary:
I bought this unit to enjoy Dolby digital sound from my DVD player,had a Pro-logic set up prior. For the first 8 or 9 months I was not too happy mainly due to the remote. Not very user friendly esp. if your gear isnt mostly Sony. Dim remote display, necessity to scroll too much etc. It does have a VERY extensive array of sound fields and the ability to set up speaker equalization and levels. The newer Sony receivers have fewer options in this area, even the Sony ES units. I rarely get the volume past 12 o'clock and have had NO problems. I guess my new Sony touch screen remote took care of the remote issues so all in all I am plesed with my units performance. It dosent have long to go in the living room as I plan to buy a 7.1 receiver soon, prob. a Yamaha or Pioneer Elite

Strengths:
Ample power, many sound fields, equilzation abilities, a real tweakers friend.

Weaknesses:
I never liked the remote. very unfriendly remote, and Oh yeah the remote isnt too good.

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer, JVC, Kenwood

Price Paid:  $0.00 from C&S Pawn

Summary:
I performed some work for a local pawn shop and as is our usual arrangement I was offered either mechandise or cash for the work. The shop had a Sony STR-DE945 on the shelf listed for $150. I chose that. The remote for it is missing but most all the features are available from the front panel, and I can change the input and volume from my TV's universal remote control. This reciever replaced my Denon AVR-3300 which recently gave up the ghost after I unkowningly had the right channel speaker wire shorted for god knows how long. At first I was rather surprised at the build quality of the unit. It seemed sturdy enough and has good ventalation. 4 digital inputs is enough for me, and the front mounted A/V input is another good bonus. Apparently the unit is rated for 110wpc RMS. That figure seems ambitious so far. I would say it is more likely an honest 75 or 80 wpc. I do not fault Sony about this method of measuring power, as every other more popular mass-market brand (Pioneer, Technics, Kenwood, JVC) seem to be doing it too. The unit memorizes the EQ and Surround settings for each input which is a nice touch, and the tone controls are, to say the least, thorough. In terms of sound my old Denon had a more mellow, almost tube-like quality compared to the Sony. The Sony seems easily muddled and at times muddy at intermediate volumes, but better at lower and higher volumes. Perhaps I just need to set the EQ a little better. This unit also seems to have a fairly good OSD system, which I have only been able to activate in demonstration mode; apparently the remote is necessary to activate the OSD. The user guide is just the bare essentials: It lacks the depth and details of the features to make proper use of those features. 3-way binding posts for the main left and right speaker terminals are a nice, higher-end touch, but it seems it is mostly for looks. The more common spring-terminals for the rear and center channel speakers could have been replaced by binding posts if a little more thought went in to the design. The binding posts are spaced too far apart to use dual bananna jacks, which for me necessitaed buying a new set of single bananna jacks. S-Video capabiliy with more than a single S-Video input is another nice feature, as while my TV has two s-video inputs, I have 3 s-video devices. One feature that would have been nice is component video switching. My Denon reciever had it, and although I currently have only 1 device that can take advantage of it, it would have been a nice bonus none the less. My main HT system has been significantly downsized recently due to the majority of the equipment being sold off to fund a small recording studio I am building behind my home. My current setup is as follows: TV - Zenith/Inteq 36" HDTV VCR1 - Sony SLV-750HF VCR2 - Sony SLV-595HF VCR3 - JVC HR-S3600U DVD - GoVideo/Sonic Blue DVP-855 Tape - Denon DR-M34HR CD1 - Yamaha CD 2000 CD2 - Sony CDP-C245 L/R Main - Wharfedale Diamond 7.2 Anneversary Edition Center - Klipsch RC3 Rear - Wharfedale Valdus 200 SE Sub - home made dual 8"/dual 10", 300 watt For that particular setup it works very well. The 2nd audio our/room 2 system is a very nice little bonus that my "Big" Denon (AVR-5800) has. The AVR-5800 now performs duty as a monitor amp in the studio. Once I get the remote (I am currently bidding on one on ebay) I am sure it will only get better, as I can then adjust the tone settings among others from my listing posistion. My only real complaints about the reciever are the poor manual and the annoying blue light that comes on when it recieves a digital signal. If it were brand new and selling at the retail price of $550, I would probably hagle on the price just a little, but end up buying it in the end. And having got it for a illte more than an hour's work, well, that is the base definition of a good value. Now only if I could get a remote for it the same way...

Strengths:
Good power, versatility. Good build quality for a mid-range reciever. A deluge of surround modes. Multi-channel 5.1 input. Two Sub-woofer pre-outs (unusual). Digital record out.

Weaknesses:
A deluge of surround modes. Very expensive remote ($140+). Lack-luster manual. Annoyinng blue light. Binding posts for main L/R channel only. Too many unexplained/useless features. Gets pretty hot under "normal" conditions. No multi-channel preamp output.

Similar Products Used:
Denon AVR-3300, JVC RX-778VBK, Denon AVR-70.

Price Paid:  $200.00 from The XChange

Summary:
I purchased this receiver as a replacement for my JVC RX-8000V for a couple reasons: all of my other current equipment was Sony, and I was looking at this receiver when I purchased the JVC. Also, I have never had a single problem with Sony's brand of home A/V equipment. And this receiver is no exception. (The last CD player I bought from Sony was 7 years old when I replaced it, and it still works like new. I wanted some digital outputs when I upgraded to the JVC.) I was completely taken back right after my speakers and DVD player were hooked up. I should mention that I bought the STR-DE945 on a whim for the reasons mentioned above as an 'open box' sale. As soon as I popped in Nirvana's 'Nevermind' and cranked "Smells like teen spirit," I knew this machine was awesome. It took my breath away. The power this receiver puts out is unbelievable. I have not turned it up past the 10 'O clock mark yet. I am running a pair of Cerwin-Vega RE-25's as my mains, and the music sounded pristine. It was better than the JVC ever sounded, and none of the settings were even adjusted yet!! The bass and treble were perfect after slightly adjusting them using the front panel. (There was no remote available with the unit.) I have a programmable Sony Learning remote, so that will solve that problem. Also, I downloaded a copy of the receiver's manual online. After enjoying a test CD, I put in 'The Matrix' to set up the surround parameters. All I can say is that this receiver is the single best piece of equipment I think I have ever owned. Amazing machine. There is a large amount of options and sounds fields to mess around with....more than enough to keep even audiophiles occupied for quite some time! Far better than I imagined, too. The sound fields are incredible when watching movies. Another plus about the DE945 is that I was finally able to use banana plugs for my front mains. Huge difference! Bottom line: if you are looking for a great receiver at a great price that puts out big, clear, (seriously) and great sound, then look no further. This receiver will not disappoint.

Strengths:
POWER, POWER, clarity of music at high levels.....and INPUTS.

Weaknesses:
None as of yet....I did not get a remote with my receiver, but who cares? The remote has received bad reviews anyways. So the only thing I cannot use is the OSD, but the front panel works fine for me.

Similar Products Used:
JVC, RCA, Kenwood, Sherwood....other Sony components.

Price Paid:  $499.00 from Dillards Department

Summary:
I purchased this receiver after my old 915 finally crapped out. As expected the rear speakers went for no reason at all. Anyway, I've been using the new 945 for a few months now and so far I have little to complain about! The remote everyone is talking about is really not that hard to use once you read the directions! I think it's actually eaiser to use than most A/V remotes. I have really crystal clear sound quality and excellent bass comming from my subs. I like the inclusion of 2 sub outputs plus all of the digital audio in connections. So far the only thing I dislike is the blue light on the front when in DD mode.

Strengths:
Sound quality, Remote!, ease of setup, Remote!, all the hookups one could wish for, and did I say Remote!

Weaknesses:
The annoying blue light that comes on when I try to watch my movies! Its brighter than the TV!

Similar Products Used:
Sony STR-DE915 (POS!)

Price Paid:  $300.00 from Ebay

Summary:
I wanted to upgrade my top of the line Sony STR-D2020 Pro Logic to DD. I liked the features of 845, and was delighted when the 875 came out, lowering the price of the used 845''s and 945''s. (for the additional money, the number of discs encoded with 6.1 [the x75 series'' only advantage as far as I can tell] is minimal even now, so I can live without it) I first started by getting a brand new Denon AVR-1800 and the thing kept popping out of digital when I would search so I got rid of it and bought the 945. I finally waited until I found one for $299. I couldn''t tell a sound difference from the Denon at all, and the additional features made this a hands down winner. I really love the volume compression for watching movies as I am in an apartment and have to minimize the volume spikes. The per-channel EQ makes the center channel control a snap. Voices are clearer than I''ve ever heard them. the controls are easy to set up and use. The remote is pretty bad. It does everything you need it to, but it takes 2-3 times as many key presses to get anything more than basic functions. I would have rather had a mass of buttons like the 2020 had. The mass of buttons was way easier to work than the scrolling menus of the "remote commander". overall, though the unit is among the best.

Strengths:
Sound, controls, price

Weaknesses:
Remote

Similar Products Used:
Denon avr-1800, Sony STR-D2020