Price Paid:  $600.00 from Sony Center (Summer

Summary:
This receiver lasted a few months past 5 years. Later I knew that's the usual period of guarantee for ES series. Besides only Sony Service can repair it, and the Service Manual is impossible to obtain.

Strengths:
Power; Number of Inputs and Outputs

Weaknesses:
FM Tuner. Integrated circuits (ICs) in the output stage are prone to fail.

Similar Products Used:
Yamaha DSP-AX620

Price Paid:  $1250.00 from crutchfield catalog

Summary:
hello, how can i get a operating instruction for sony receiver str- ga8es

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
The GA8ES provides a good choice between Home Theatre and Music-only setup. It has all the features you can want in a HT receiver such as S-video switching, tons of DSPs (although I tend not to use any of them), parametric equalization (set how large your room is from small to large, set what kind of wall type you have from small to large, specify the position of the listener relative to the speakers, etc), and more. The only thing that is missing is Dolby Digital decoding but I was able to solve this by using a DVD with DD decoding. As a music lover I also appreciate the Direct Line feature that bypasses all of the filtering circuitry. I''m still debating if the Direct Line feature (when connected to the CD inputs) sounds better or worse than using the Dolby 5.1 inputs when hooked up to the DVD player. As some of you may know, there''s a "trick" where you can bypass the DVD''s DAC by using the digital 5.1 inputs on the receiver. Of course, you should only use this if you find the receiver''s DAC is better. I don''t have enough time to evaluate this but I may submit an update on this topic at a later date. I find that speaker set up is very important and wonder if some of the other reviews (not just on this receiver) have them set up correctly. For my TV and sound calibration I use "Video Essentials DVDI 0711". With my current set up I find that I no longer experience listening fatigue compared to my older system. My current setup is: Sony STR-GA8ES Receiver Sony DVP-S500D DVD player Axiom M3Ti bookshelf speakers all around Silver Sonic T-14 Speaker cables Silver Sonic BL-1 Series II Interconnects

Strengths:
Most of the Home Theatre features you would ever want including S-video switching, DSP, and parametric equalization. For music lovers, there''s the Direct Line feature.

Weaknesses:
No Dolby Digital decoding

Similar Products Used:
Harmon Kardon, other Sonys

Price Paid:  $125.00 from Vogelweh Post Exchange

Summary:
Most of my equipment is on the higher end of the scale - multiple pre-amp/amp configurations. I bought two of these units in Germany prior to returning to America for use at my computer desks. At $125.00 a stab, why not?

The GA8ES at my desk is used for several hours daily with a pair of 'bookshelf' JBLs, augmenting a Carver TFM-15CB (which powers a 10 CuFt Cerwin-Vega subwoofer, Thiele-Small tuned flat to 22 Hz). Never skipped a beat or gave me any problems whatsoever. The other unit was wasting away at the wifey's desk, so use it as a small system in a lounge setting - powering a pair of Bose 901 'watt-sponges'. No problems there either, which is a pleasant surprise - the Bose EQ can strain an amp at higher levels. Sound quality is good, tuner sensitivity and selectivity are adequate, DSP is clean and all functions are intuitively easy to use.

Neither of these units powers a 'main' stereo system, though I believe they'd do a fine job amplifying mid-high efficiency speaker systems with higher impedances.

Strengths:
Reliable workhorse.

Weaknesses:
None at all, really - for the price

Similar Products Used:
None. Home system consists of separate Amp/Preamp/Tuner/processor components (Carver/Yamaha/SAE).

Price Paid:  $600.00 from local stereo store

Summary:
I'm reviewing the GA7ES, not the GA8ES. Basically the same except for less DTS modes and maybe less power.

I use my Nad for about 8 years with Boston Acoustic towers and a Sony ES CD changer. More often than not, I hooked my Cd player directly into the Nad amp, bypassing the pre-amp. I controlled volume with the CD players variable out signal. I loved this set up. By no means an audiophile set up but enjoyable for me.

I purchased the GA7 after graduating college, looking to upgrade and integrate home theatre. A 'Direct line' feature was the clincher for me. It seemed logical enough and was perfect. A home theatre set up which was easily converted to a CD/Amp/2 Speaker setup.

From the get go, I was not please with the acoustics of this amp. But I was patient and took a full 30 days to ensure the electronics were broke in. Sure enough, I didn't notice much improvement and to this day, continue to be disenchanted with this product. I should have known better than to buy sony, but I thought this was a new era for them.

More so than sony, I'm sore with the hifi store that sold it to me. They were willing to help me, but only at great economical adavantage to them. Had I accepted their offer, I would have gotten into some high end electronics that I was not interested in nor able to afford.

Bottom line, be careful who you buy home audio from and don't buy the Sony GA7ES.

Strengths:
solid build, enough power and features

Weaknesses:
amplifier acoustics, remote control layout

Similar Products Used:
Nad 705