I am looking to purchase a 9000, but I would like it to have all the upgrades done (latest production run). Dose anyone have info on production serial numbers or dates in which the upgrades have been done?

I had the opportunity to hear the Theater Grand/Cinema Grand combo in an A/B comparison with the Sony 9000 Pre/Amp combo. Previously I had been comparing the Theta Casanova, Parasound 2500 (Big Dissapointment) and the Proceed AVP. I went into the comparison with the expectation that the Sunfire would blow the Sony away...BOY WAS I WRONG. The Bass and Midrange performance of the two were both acceptable with the Sony having an un-expected amount of detail and clarity. The Sony Combo was flat and clean the entire time. The Sunfire combo also did well with detail, but the same clarity was just not there. The Sunfire just lost it with me on the top end. I would have to say that it was borderline Grainy and un-natural. Since it my intention to build separate 2 channel and home theater systems, the Sony has become the obvious choice for HT. I have yet to hear a better, strictly HT combo than the Sony.

New Sony TAE 9000 ES Remote. I got mine yesterday from some outfit in New Jersey. Here is the scoop: Same case and markings. The TAE 9000 designation shows during the startup on the remote screen. Contrast is significantly improved with room lighting. Also much better with back lighting. About a 15 second auto turn off on the back light. Some non-Sony remote codes may have been updated. It looks like RCA DSS codes are now generation 2 but not im[proved to generation 3 which has been out over a year. What can you expect from a Non-Sony code in a non-sony product.

HERE IS HOW TO TELL IF YOU HAVE A NEW REMOTE: In the battery compartment, a small portion of the inner white PC board shows through slots in the case. An entirely new unit has the white board marked with a red/purple marker. The older upgrade, that did not fix anything, has a green marked board. The original remote has no mark.

How do you get one:

You have to notify Sony Direct Response Center at their toll free number found on the www at Sony.com. Get a case number and return your old remote to the Sony Service Center. If you've already had your remote serviced, you are on the list and should automatically get a new remote. It probably wouldn't hurt to write the service center, give them your work order number, and remind them.

THE TAE 9000 ES is a FIVE STAR unit. The remote is now a 4 star unit. I probably won't order a Pronto now.

IF YOU HATE THE SONY TP-501E REMOTE, that comes with the TA-E9000ES, you are not alone. I have found the solution to the problems of limited backlighting, and a healthy battery appetite. Throw it away and buy either a Philips PRONTO or a Marantz RC5000. (HINT!! they are both the same product) Evidently Marantz purchased the rights to sell the Philips PRONTO under their name. They both feature the ability to make changes to your remote on your PC and download that configuration to your remote for use. The software which you can down load from the Philips WEBsite, also contains a simulator so you can try out your new configuratIons on your PC prior to downloading. (THIS IS ONE GREAT PRODUCT) I have created, with help from some of you out there, a TAN9000ES.CCF file which when downloaded into either of the two remotes almost perfectly imulates the SONY TP-501E Remote. (PS: There is a bug in the Marantz version of the Configuration Editor: IT ONLY DOWNLOADS A FILE WITH THE NAME OF DEFAULT.CCF TO THE REMOTE. THIS DROVE ME NUTS UNTIL I FIGURED OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS)

Thanks for the V1.10c upgrade it helped the sound quality out a little bit. Does anyone have the new 2.0 upgrade? Or know when it is coming out? Is that version going to include an spectrum anilization feature to use with a mic and the mic input on the unit?

John, Thanks for the information. I was wondering how to tell the difference. My unit has purple marker, so it should be the latest. I still don't care for this remote. It is still hard to see and eats batteries. I recently bought the Phillips Pronto for $288.00 (no charger). Worth every penny. Does everything I ever wanted to do. PS, I consider the Sony 9000ES excellent for the $$. There are better units out there, but when you factor in price, this unit is one of the best. Excellent smooth sound on my Martin Logan SL3's. I would rather put my $$ towards other needed components.

REMOTE UNIT:F...k the remote! I myself is tired of it. It consumes "cash" literally therefore I don't use it much. It's not like you need this remote to change your setting all the time. This remote is not as useful or as important as your sole tv channel remote. I mostly used it for volume control but even that, I now use my DVD remote for volume after all I still have to get up and change my DVD disc, audio tapes or video tapes. For me, it's no big deal. If I ever decide it, I will file my remote unit under "g". :-)

RECORDING:
You can not record digital multichannel surround audio, you may however be able to record digital audio. Sony has deleted the "SET" button that were present from its predecessor namely the 2000ES and the 1000ESD. The "SET" button is useful when you are watching a different program while recording another. Too bad, this feature is not available on the TA-E9000ES, it would have been great. I suppose it is complicated to do that with all the digital multichannel surround but of course, I don't know that!

THE TA-E9000ES PANEL:
Sometimes the pre-amp panel displays "DOLBY PROLOGIC" by mistake even though it's not! As I mentioned it before it is a minor text bug and it does not alter the way the pre-amp works and performs. The important thing is that the panel correctly indicates the corresponding letter of the speakers or channels separately and discreetly. If you are bothered by this intermittent problem just press the "Auto Format" or the "+" or "-) buttons but not the "±" knob and it will correctly identify or display the right mode.

MULTICHANNEL SURROUND AUDIO:
All the sound fields are "SURROUND" variations and not only apply to Pro Logic mode but they also can be Dolby Digital, DTS, etc. The small yellow indicators of the pre-amp's panel displays the correct decoding or processing mode.

All movies and/or musicals recorded in Dolby Digital, DTS, and other 5.1 recordings and played on multichannel sound setup and multi speaker setup, the result is a multichannel sound output using any of the available sound fields on the TA-E9000ES and I am not just talking about the Auto Format function of the pre-amp but all of the sound fields. Play a Dolby digital musical or movie and make sure to play it in Dolby digital audio mix then toggle the "+" or "-" (not the "±") and look closely at your pre-amps panel. Now most of the sound fields are 5.1 and these are distinguished by the letters inside a SQUARE that correspond to your speakers. All the virtual enhanced... and V. Semi... modes surround channels are simulated, in this case you'll see that the letters that correspond to your surround speakers are not inside a SQUARE. When the surrounds are simulated there is no output from your surround speakers.

All movies and/or musicals recorded in Dolby digital, DTS, Dolby Stereo surround, 2 channels, etc and played in Dolby stereo surround can not be output as 5.1 channel. The surround channels are mono and in some cases the surrounds are simulated and always stay mono. Some modes are in 4.1, 3.1, 2.1 and 2 channels, it depends how the sound is processed using different sound fields.

The TA-E9000ES is a sophisticated decoder and sound processor. When a 5.1 encoded program is feed into the pre-amp and Auto Format is used, the TA-E9000ES will decode the 5.1 encoded program as separate from each of the 5.1 channels. At the same time, it will do the same on Normal Surround. When a 2 channel stereo program is feed into the pre-amp, the pre amp will decode it using Auto Format as 2 channels while on Normal surround the pre amp will "PROCESS" it as 4.1 channels or prologic, hence the surround channels are not discreet, not stereo, not separate.

Whenever you see the letters corresponding with your speakers inside a square, it means that the channels are separate or discreet or stereo. Hence whenever you see on your pre-amp's panel the LS and RS in a square, the left and right surround channels are discreet, separate or stereo. Whenever you see the surround designation letters not inside a square it means that the surround channels are virtual or simulated. Whenever you see a single surround channel corresponding letter S inside a square then the surround is mono, not stereo, not discreet, not separate channels.

Superb and excellent decoding of multichannel surround sound.

The remote, although other remotes are usable.

DOLBY SURROUND EX:new Cinema Studio EX DSP Mode. This process enlarges the room size "psychoacoustically" in order to increase the perceived distance between the listener and the speakers. This new mode decoding is still to be seen on later firmware upgrades. It is not in the 1.10C software version. The latest Sony flagship receiver STR-DA777ES has this capability and has also improved the functionality of its preprogrammed two-way LCD Remote Commander® controller by adding macro and learning capabilities. The controller also provides touch-panel operation and even displays control menus for virtually every system component.

Similar Products Used:

Sony 1000ESD, SONY 2000ES

Hello,
I have listened to this pre amp anlong with the matching n9000es amp. I thought it sounded great. I want to purchase it, but every place I go to tells me not to buy it. I am considering this unit, but its competition is the DSP A1, dennon 5700, and the B&K 202. Has anyone done a comparison between any of these units Vs. the 9000? I just want to know if this is realy an upgrade from a receiver, or just a split receiver. I have also heard that there is a e9000es out there with 6ch in's. Is this true? What amp goes best with this pre? I enjoyed the sound out of this unit. It sounded bright, but I could hear alot of things I had never noticed before. I noticed that this was not a brightness problem after awhile because I could not hear a hiss that usulay tag along with the highs. I even liked the remote, Very solid feel and had enough options for me. The receiver I had was a Yamaha 2095. I appreciate any feed back on this issue. Please feel free to email me...

CLEAN AND CRISP SOUND,EASY TO WIRE UP

THE REMOTE "UGH". WHAT WERE THEY THINKING? HIROSHIMA!

HEY ANDRE HUGHES FROM ALTA DENA, WHAT'S UP NEIGHBOR? -32DB'S IS THE LOUDEST I'VE HAD IT UP(WELL MAYBE 28). I'VE GOT KLIPSCH ALL AROUND(GREAT EFFIN' SPKRS.)ALSO COUPLED W/TAN9000ES AMP. NO HISS AND NO HUM. SORRY TO HEAR YOUR PROBLEM. ANYWAY, GREAT PRE-AMP. WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO ALL WITH A LOW BUDGET. NOW I HEAR THAT THERE IS A "6th" CHANNEL AVAILABLE? IS THAT LIKE THE MONO CENTER FOR THE REAR(LIKE THE FRONT CENTER IS FOR PRO LOGIC, MATRIXED MONO )OR THAT AN ACTUAL DISCRETE CHANNEL. DOES THAT MEAN I HAVE TO RIP UP MY CARPET AGAIN?