Price Paid:  $800.00 from tweeters

Summary:
spoke to second level escalation [james] told him how the 200 sucks and has since dec 2002 when I bought it and have called tech several times about it. now I see a 300 out and got pissed off that they would offer a new version that does not reset the custom list before addressing the problem in the ones that we already own. his answer, if you want one that does not reset go by the 300. I told him I just paid 800.00 for this piece of xxxx that does not work how about sending me a exchage 300 unit even refurbished he said no way...........sony sucks even their support. they will never see another dollar from me. hope others have better luck................

Strengths:
none

Weaknesses:
read reviews

Price Paid:  $688.00 from Brandsmart

Summary:
This review is for the HD-200. Expensive unit but delivers amazing HD picture quality. I have never seen anything this crisp, colorful and detailed. I am using this unit along with the Sony KV40-XBR800. Channel surfing is a little slow but tolerable. This also produces great Dolby Digital sound as well thru my Marantz SR-18EX surround receiver. The Sony receiver is sleek looking and attractive in its silver frame. The Sony can convert pictures to just about any possible format you want - 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i. It has a DVI output for pure digital (but copy protected) link to my TV. Otherwise, you can use the component video cables instead. Non-HD channels also look very solid and clear. I also got a separate antenna for the off-the-air local HD channels - it easily gets integrated into the Sony's remote programming - which is on-screen and easy to use. I am happy with this unit as it has brought my TV to the next level, as HD is everything they said it was. It was pricy, but worth it. This was the way TV is meant to be seen, no question about it, but at a price.

Strengths:
Produces ridiculously amazing HD picture quality; looks; versatility; DVI output; converts 480i to 480p & 720p to 1080i (if necessary); Sony quality

Weaknesses:
Price. Considering how much less Direct TV receivers are without HD, this is a lot of money on top of an already expensive HD capable TV. Unplugging unit or power failure can cause you to reset some unit features.

Similar Products Used:
none.

Price Paid:  $800.00 from tweeter

Summary:
Sony sat-hd200,I had to bring Back unit for new one 3 times:singal on sat.A 95-100,B 80-85,C 80-85. station`s breaking up no signal

Strengths:
When You get picture it`s great

Weaknesses:
For 800.00 dollars it`s junk

Price Paid:  $650.00

Summary:
sony sathd200 First off, This is the best of the worse.... If the power goes out at all it has no memory,,, so all the setting are gone.... My cat ran in to the power cable 3 times... Each time it went off and reset,,, It only takes me 45min to set it up each time...(cat for sale)Remote has to be pointed right at it to change channels, volume for amp is under the top buttons, *** Wait for the sat HD300 coming in August for $600.00 retail

Strengths:
Picture outstanding, Cool looking, changes channels fast

Weaknesses:
cat

Price Paid:  $799.00 from Good Guys

Summary:
Huge disappointment.

I have eight DSS receivers, dating back to the early days of DSS: Sony SAT-A1, Sony SAT-A2, Sony SAT-A3, Sony SAT-A65A, RCA DTC100, Mitsubishi SR-HD500, and now I just purchased two pieces of the latest greatest Sony SAT-HD200. The last three models are all HD compatible.

I was looking forward to the new Sony since I find the interface of both the Mitsubishi and RCA models cumbersome at best; my older Sony's had better features and functionality. So I assumed Sony would be adding HD functionality to that strong feature/ease of use heritage. However, the Sony SAT-HD200 is a bomb. After seeing continuous improvement in features over the past decade in Sony DSS receivers, this is a GIANT leap back. They omitted an event timer, which every DSS recevier I own (dating back to 1992) has had, and they also lack many convenience features of the SAT-A65A (their current non-HD model costing $199 or less) such as multiple favorite groupings, channel marks (the convenient screen with your 9 favorite channels), and descriptions of the channels when you are setting up favorites. As a feature set, it is vastly inferior to all my other Sony DSS units including the original SAT-A1 vintage 1991. What was Sony thinking?

Unless you desperately need the HD functionality (in which case you should buy a different brand), the Sony SAT-A65A is vastly superior in functionality at 25% of the price.

I wish I hadn't bought this. I assumed that timer functionality was included - after all I can't remember buying a VCR, DVD player, DSS, receiver that didn't include ALL the funcitonality of the model it was replacing. I even called Sony to ask if I was missing something in the manual, and after appealing it 3 levels up their hierarchy, they admitted that the timer feature was omitted.

Sony is in trouble if this is how they think they should compete.

Strengths:
HDTV compatible

Weaknesses:
Woefully lacking in BASIC features that are in models costing 25% as much

Similar Products Used:
Sony SAT-A1, Sony SAT-A2, Sony SAT-A3, Sony SAT-A65A, RCA DTC100, Mitsubishi SR-HD500