An addendum to my previous review, and another question.
I was able to add an IR repeater to solve my cabinet woes, and the solution works great. However, another problem with the pre-amp has surfaced and is quite annoying.

Everytime I select "function" using the remote control the preamp sets my television to "VIDEO 1". I have a Sony KV36FV1 (Wega) connected to the preamp vial the control cable. On my television I have composite in on video 1, S video in on Video 3 and component in on video 4.

If I am watching a DVD on video 4, then select any other component on the remote control my TV is set to Video 1!!!!! I would prefer if the preamp would NEVER change my video on the television, and I would change it occasionally when needed. The preamp altering it is downright annoying. I never use Video 1 anyway! Always 3 (dish, from s-video or DVD from component!)

Does anyone know a work around for this (besides disconnecting the control cable, I know that one!)

Chris

BTW, Still a great preamp :-) I actually like the remote, especially with the IR repeater.

A great big thank you for all who sent me the version 1.10C. I am very happy with the Sony electronics that is currently make up my system. DVP-7700, TA-E9000ES, (2) TA-N9000ES. By the way, I have 2 N9000ES to do HT at 200W. Orginally I bought the Sony amp only to drive my 2 passive Snell 12" subwoofers, because I already have the Sunfire Cinema Grand 200Wx5. However, after extensive comparison of the Sony to the Sunfire in my home, I found that the Sony in the 115W x 5 mode is close to the Sunfire. But, in the 200W stereo mode, the Sony just blew the Cinema Grand away! The music is so clear and powerful. I can feel the vibrations of the music, and I feel as if the band or the orchestra (depend on type of music) is playing in the room in front of me! I never felt this with the CG. And the bass from the Sony is louder, tighter, and much quicker than that of the CG. I was so surprised since the CG is rated 200Wx5, and to make sure, I took out the Radio Shack meter and measured the sound level of both amps at the same volume setting. Check this out, the Sony at 200W is putting out almost 10db more than than the CG! And, at 115Wx5, the Sony's sound level is about the same as that of the CG at 200Wx5! So, I sold the CG and got another N9000ES! And I'm very happy with the decision. If you are considering getting the CG or if you already have one, do the comparison like I did and find out for yourself. You can get 2 N9000ES for around $1800, much less than the cost of 1 CG, and for twice the REAL power!!!!

i just got back my preamp from sony. they installed version 1.10c and fixed the battery remote life problem. i tried several times to install the software myself but had no luck. i finally wrote sony a nasty letter about having this software more accessible to consumers. a consumer relations person called me and said sony does not recommend nor do they plan to make it accessible to consumers to do it themselves. it only took two weeks from the initial call from sony until i received it back. if anyone wants a direct phone number for this consumer relation advisor e mail me and i will give it to you.

First of all, would someone please email me version 1.10C and instructions?I have this terrific preamp for a month now and I do think it is great in both sound and value. Although I do wish the remote's batteries last longer.

Granted, I am a perfectionist when it comes to my hobby; but this is getting asinine. I have had this unit for four months, and although I must admit I am enamoured with many of this units wonderful qualitys; I am completely and utterly frustrated with my private Sony soap opera.
My unit was popping in the left channel with the initial firmware in Dolby Digital. I loaded v1.10c and the problem was corrected. No major headache thanks to the nice people that posted the upgrade for our convience. This was approximately one month ago.
Now the remote is making another trip to the Sony service center for repair. Upon receiving my remote back from Sony the first time, It was unable to recieve information back from the unit. Now once again, I am left with a unit that is not fully opertional.
Granted, nothing is perfect; but it is getting increasingly more difficult to recommend this piece to other audio enthusiasts.
If you have the patience to deal with Sony through this unit's evolution, then I think you will eventually enjoy it's performance. However, I am tired of waiting for my purchase to be operational.
It is extremely disheartening to have to constantly maintain a product that is marketed for its superior performance. Music and movies are my method of relaxation. It pisses me off to no end that I paid a grat deal of money for this product, and to this date have not recieved the performance I paid for.
I hope the many happy owners of this unit can appreciate my frustration.

The below is in response to Chris questions:When you select 2ch surround off mode, selecting large front will not redirect any bass to sub even if sub is set to yes. If you select small front, then bass will be redirected to sub (must be set to yes) depending on crossover selected. In this case, your sub's crossover should ideally be set to bypass or to its highest crossover point and let the Sony do the internal crossover.
Now, if you listen to 2ch using auto format mode, if select front large, bass will always be supplied to sub as well as to front. Therefore, you should either turn off the sub if your front is capable of deep bass or set your sub crossover to the lowest cut-off point depending on the front and match it accordingly. If not, selecting small front will be ideal as bass will be cut-off for front and redirected to sub.
Lastly, the processor runs hot because of its high speed processing chips and efficient top plate heat sink. Do not worry as it goes to show that the heat sink top plate is doing its job perfectly well. If you don't believe me, touch the bottom part of the processor and you'll be amazed how cool it is, likewise the interior is also very efficiently cooled. Your only worry is when the top plate is not hot after 2hrs as such a design does not dissipate heat very well.
One final note, there is no best or preferred setting of front large or small. It all depends on your capabilities of your main front, room condition and matching of subwoofer. Happy listening, again thank you for selecting Sony as your choice of processors.

FIRMWARE VERSION 1.10A AND 1.10CThere is "NO" need to move up to 1.10C from 1.10A. Ugrading software from within the same numerical value and with different character value is not worth it. If there is any improvement on the 1.10C from the 1.10A version, it would only be minimal and often undetectable or unrecognizable. I have version 1.10A and never did install version 1.10C, although I do have in hand version 1.10C

Version 1.10C or any upgrade is a "ZIPPED" executable file that contains all the necessary manual and instructions on how to install it. Run 110c.exe and it will unzip or extract itself into five files:

1.) E9000ES.EXE (this is the flash executable file to reprogram the TA-E9000ES BIOS)
2.) V110C.BIN (this is the actual file to be installed and used by the flash executable file)
3.) MANUAL (contains the instructions needed to install the V110C.BIN file)
4.) VER_UP (contains notes stating the modification made since version 1.01A)
5.) CUSNOTE (contains instructions and notations regarding remote capability)

I heard that there is already a VERSION 2.10A, but I can not confirm that yet for sure! :-)

REMOTE CONTROL:
The main problems on the remote would only be the fact that it consumes power more than anything else and the fact that it is too hard to read the information from it. Other than that the remote works fine.

Whenever the batteries of the remote is changed, It is recommended to SETUP and REPROGRAM it to work with the TA-9000ES. If it just came from the service center, it should also be SETUP and REPROGRAMMED properly to work with the main unit as the memory maybe changed or erased.

1.) SETUP/TOUCH PANEL then ADJUST
2.) SETUP/AUTO POWER/OFF
3.) SETUP/SYSTEM STANDBY/ONOFF
4.) SETUP/FUNCTION & USER IR to configure the components that are connected and to configure USER PROFILES if you want to control equipments independently without changing FUNCTIONS that are currently being used with the main unit. This is useful, for example when you want to control a DVD player while watching a DSS or CABLE input. You continue watching DSS/Cable while controlling your DVD player.
5.) SETUP/FUNCTION HOOK UP to tell the TA-E9000ES and the remote what components are connected.
6.) SETUP/DOWNLOAD to download information from the main unit.

PEACE TO ALL! :-)

I am requesting advice from my fellow TA-E9000ES owners: 1. I am considering the purchase of a Pioneer Elite DV-09 DVD player. Has anybody experienced any interfacing problems between these two components using a digital coaxial connection(lip synch anomalies)? Should I look at a diffrent DVD unit?
2. Could some benevolent being please give me specific instructions on how to install the 1.10c upgrade(currently have the Sony installed 1.10a, and I cannot live another month without this preamp)? I am not well versed in computers.
I still consider this pre/pro one of the best deals the a/v universe has to offer.

I bought my TA-E9000ES through a Sony executive I know, guess what, my is in the repair shop after 1 month of use. It had software 101A. The reason I brought it in was a problem with the switched outlets, they did not work after a month. In addition to that the 2 way remote was not recieving all of it's signals from the reciever once I switched to both one way and two way remote operation.
Has anyone had this problem?

I was also told I am getting another software update, has anyone had one higher than 101A.

George asked if anyone had ever had a problem with the switched outlets. YES, I had this problem. Everything worked great, but the outlets would not work. The dealer wanted to send it in for repair, but I refused and insisted on a trade. Since the dealer didn't have any in stock, I had to wait a couple of weeks and it was worth it.
I love this pre-amp, especially with 1.10c.