Software upgradability, great sound

No 6-channel input, remote control

Everything sounds and works great & love the flexability of the EQ. I definitely want to get the 2.01 upgrade soon.

I saw that someone is selling one online, and claims that it's in excellent condition for $600. Not sure if I overpaid but even still I'm happy with it. By the way, the site is www.audiogon.com ... or directly, since the site's a bit large,
href="http://audiogo5.iserver.net/cgi-bin/fs.pl?homeproc"
>http://audiogo5.iserver.net/cgi-bin/fs.pl?homeproc

Now I'm thinking it's time to get a new remote! :)
Any suggestions? I'm thinking about one of the Marantz ones but not sure if I need to fork over the cash for the 5000. Thanks.

Similar Products Used:

B&K Reference 20 & Marantz SR7000 receiver

Great Surround modes, great sound and build quality.

Titanium color was not available when I bought mine.

After demoing other units and weighing performance to dollar value I went with the 9000. I was concerned about the warnings I read thru various threads but I found the only problem to be the remote and now that it has been upgraded I'm quite happy. The Denon sounded quite good too but it's Surround performance was not what I was looking for. The main use for this is Movie Soundtracks and Wow! does the 9000 deliver, and I was able to keep my ADA PTM6150 which sounds as sweet as ever. $1100.00 is a great price for a component of this quality.

Similar Products Used:

Denon AVR-5700, SDP-ES900

very, very, flexible for the price, tons of features, tons of inputs and outputs

remote, improved remote and new remote next to useless, no analog bypass, no 6 channel input, can't assign dsp or digital modes to inputs

For the money you will not find a more flexible and feature laden pre/pro. But for a few dollars more, about $500 more, you can pickup a full featured Dolby EX Lexicon DC-1. I think most will be happier with the Lexicon.

* Excellent sound clarity and dynamics above a certain volume setting.
* Volume dependent noise floor component is excellent (using headphones).
* Excellent construction.
* Integrated convenience for home theatre usage.
* 5 year warranty

* Excessive, volume independent noise floor component on pre-amp outputs (however much improved over any of the Sony ES receivers i.e STR-555ES).
* Excessive analog channel cross talk. For instance I can hear my analog tuner input even when the analog video component is selected.
* Excessive digital noise when using digital inputs.
* Inability to use subwoofer output in standard 2 channel audio mode (bypassing the AFD may alleviate some unnecessary signal processing noise).
* Remote control would be fine if the time to shutoff can be set by user.
* Inability to use the analog signal bus with the digital signal bus.
* Inability to "memorize" EQ setting per source selection.
* Can only put this component in "standby" mode via remote, not 0n the unit itself.
* Limited channel bandwidth (20Hz-20kHz). No sense in listening to 96 kHz DVD audio.
* Lack of support for user upgradeability. Taking this unit to the Sony service station everytime a firmware upgrade becomes available is very annoying.
* Does not do justice to the TA-N9000ES power amplifier.

My feelings on this pre-amp are a bit mixed. As long as I turn up the volume, I can really appreciate the music content at an elevated level. However, if the music is playing at low levels, the volume-independent noise floor is very audible and annoying. Analog cross talk (only occurs for analog sources) is also very annoying. The fact that I know it exists just makes me uneasy.

Despite these setbacks, I have decided to keep this pre-amplifier because the clarity, dynamics and musical details at my usual listening levels more than make up for these deficienies.

Similar Products Used:

None, this is my first high end component purchase (along with the TA-N9000ES power amplifier.

* Excellent sound clarity and dynamics above a certain volume setting.
* Volume dependent noise floor component is excellent (using headphones).
* Excellent construction.
* Integrated convenience for home theatre usage.
* 5 year warranty

* Excessive, volume independent noise floor component on pre-amp outputs (however much improved over any of the Sony ES receivers i.e STR-555ES).
* Excessive analog channel cross talk. For instance I can hear my analog tuner input even when the analog video component is selected.
* Excessive digital noise when using digital inputs.
* Inability to use subwoofer output in standard 2 channel audio mode (bypassing the AFD may alleviate some unnecessary signal processing noise).
* Remote control would be fine if the time to shutoff can be set by user.
* Inability to use the analog signal bus with the digital signal bus.
* Inability to "memorize" EQ setting per source selection.
* Can only put this component in "standby" mode via remote, not 0n the unit itself.
* Limited channel bandwidth (20Hz-20kHz). No sense in listening to 96 kHz DVD audio.
* Lack of support for the user doing the firmware upgrades. Taking this unit to the Sony service station every time a firmware upgrade becomes available is very annoying.
* Does not do justice to the TA-N9000ES power amplifier.

My feelings on this pre-amp are a bit mixed. As long as I turn up the volume, I can really appreciate the music content at an elevated level. However, if the music is playing at low levels, the volume-independent noise floor is very audible and annoying. Analog cross talk (only occurs for analog sources) is also very annoying. The fact that I know it exists just makes me uneasy.

Despite these setbacks, I have decided to keep this pre-amplifier because the clarity, dynamics and musical details at my usual listening levels more than make up for these deficiencies.

Similar Products Used:

None, this is my first high end component purchase (along with the TA-N9000ES power amplifier.

Sound

Remote Sucks Big Time

Hi All, I am posting to ask anyone if they can recomend a universal learning Remote for this Pre-Amp. The Remote is realy a nightmare. I have a Sony TV (Wega XBR250) and every time I change menues on this remote like changing DVD to MiniDisk or anything else, the remote turns on the darn TV also. It keeps turning on the TV and its driving me crazy. This Remote is like having Satan himself control your system. The Pre-Amp Rules but whoever designed this remote should be prosecuted and banned for life lol. Has anyone experienced any possitive results from the remote after Sony Repair and is there a different remote on the market that can do it all without killing the batteries & weighing a ton. Is there a solution to this REMOTE!!!!!!!
By the way is there any upgrades released from version 1.10v , I heard Dolby EX is out and that this Pre might be able to handle it with a sofware upgade. Thanks for all the help.

Similar Products Used:

All Others costing in the thousands

I noticed a dip in the volume when the attenuation crosses the -15 to -12 dB range, noticeable if the volume control is moved slowly. I talked to my dealer, who tried out and observed the same apparent artifact in his showroom unit. Has anyone else observed this? I plan to contact Sony Tech support (wish me luck??) but would appreciate any feedback.
Other than this oddity, I like the unit and its build quality and performance.

Similar Products Used:

Marantz preamp

Sound quality is matched only by its build quality!

What else...the remote!!

I am using the TA-E9000ES/N with the matching amp TA-N9000ES/N. Both units together make agreat combination.
I am more than happy with the sound quality. My main speakers are Sony's own SS-M7. The sound from this combination is very smooth and liquid. I really do not have any major problems with the preamp. The remote is a weak link. I was previously using an RMAV-2000 remote for my previous system. Since the 2000 can learn I coded what I needed from the TP501 and set it aside once I set up my 9000 system configurations.
Having used the pramp for a couple month I have a good apreciation for its strenghts and weak spots. Build quality is awesome. If some "high end" company had built this it would probably cost 3-5 times Sony's retail. Set up and use is a breeze. Thanks God they did not include on screen displays...they are a pain in the butt. You just set it and forget it!
I find the inclusion of MPEG decoding and the equalizer of dubious value. Hind sight being 20/20, it seems that even DTS decoding is questionable. I guess time will tell.
Since I am a laser disc user I am glad Sony put an AC3 RF decoder on board.
What's up with all the DSP modes?? Wow! some are neat and actually sound descent. But so many? Why?
There are plenty of digital inputs. Only the most die hard user might not have enough.
I only have 3 complaints. 1. No analog pass thru. Everything going into the 9000 is digitized. 2. A 5.1 channel input would have been nice. I hear there might be an add on box the gives 2 5.1 inputs. We'll see. 3. No record out select. Not abig deal for most I suspect, but a pain when you want to listen to one thing and record something eles.
Overall I am very happy with my decision to buy these two units. They should give me years of great listening!!
If you are thinking about buying one, don't think...just buy it!!! You will not regret the purchase.

Qualidade sonora & recursos.

Ergonomia do controle remoto, funcionalidade do controle remoto,aparencia, tamanho.

O TA-E9000ES foi por mim adquirido para substituir um SDP-E800 (tambem Sony) por possuir mais recursos & ser "dts".
Sonicamente não é muito superior, mas em termos de recursos é um "show". Meu aparelho é versão 1.10A. Como critica vai a pouca praticidade/utilidade de seu controle remoto, muito grande inclusive. Sua aparencia tambem é um ponto fraco, pois parece mais um "receiver" do que um pre-processador.
Eu o utilizo com o amplificador de potencia de 5 canais Sunfire Cinema Grand. Caso mais alguem no Brazil o possua, por favor entre em contato.

Similar Products Used:

SDP-E800

Incredible detail, ease of use, beautiful to just look at

THE REMOTE IS AWFUL.. but who is buying this piece for the remote anyway. You will get used to it like I did

System Design:
ATI 1505 AMP
SONY PRE-AMP
SONY 7000 DVD
B&W CDM7SE Front
B&W CDM Center
B&W CDM1 Rear
Veloydyne FSR 1500 Subwoofer
Monster 950 Interconnects
Audioquest Midnight Hyperlitz Single Bi-Wire Speaker Wires