Price Paid:  $0.00 from best buy

Summary:
We've had satellite for about 6 years now, and using this receiver for 4. The two other receivers are 16 bit, and menus/remote are bad.
This unit is great, don't have a temperature problem as other people have said, and I use radio frequencies from the remote (insted of infrared) to change channels, which means I dont have to point it at the remote, and I can use it in my second room (other room connected to this satellite receiver). I love the menus as well.
I leave it on 24/7 because its connected to a replaytv. Thanks to the serial port in the back, I connected it directly to the replaytv.
I had chosen this one because it had a digital output.

Strengths:
Remote Control. Menus. Digital Out.

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
three other brands of satellite receivers. two have stopped working. This sony one is still going strong.

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Circuit City

Summary:
I purchased the Sony SAT-A55 1 1/2 years ago as a bundle package with 2 additional RCA standard recievers, oval dish and installation. The unit has great on screen programming with a ton of optional programming. The remote runs all of my Sony products and them some. The remote was well designed all around. The unit runs hot and at times "gets stupid" and needs to be unplugged for several minutes. Several times I needed to unplug it for several hours in order for the remote to work properly. A learning curve! Unfortunately it only offers fiber optic output for 5.1 processing. A coax output would have been nice. I use a very good quality S video cable direct to my Vega with great results.

Strengths:
ON and OFF screen programming ability. Remote - two thumbs up. Small enclosure.

Weaknesses:
Lack of coax output for 5.1. Runs HOT. Need to unplug unit when it gets locked up.

Similar Products Used:
RCA DRD420RE (not 5.1 capable)

Price Paid:  $299.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
I had high hopes with this system. Took the machine back to Best Buy five times with problems, in the shop 4 1/2 months out of the 12 I've owned it. Sony fixed the overheating problem but reports that there's nothing wrong with it controlling my VCR's or the Dolby Digital decoding. I've tried four VCR's and bought a brand new Harman Kardon receiver with the same digital malfunction results. Lost money on this deal hand over fist.

Besides, there are only about two stations that transmit in Dolby, don't be a fool like me and jump out to buy an overpriced piece of equipment because it has an optical output on it.

Strengths:
Preview picture while scrolling through menu is good. Downloads data quickly.

Weaknesses:
Unit Overheats easy. Does not control VCR. When picking up Dolby Signal through optical cable, will not decode signal having no audio when SAT-A55 set to digital automatic.

Similar Products Used:
Hughes Gold 4th Generation