Absolutely fabulous with v2.01.Finally bass management,extra surround sound modes,easy upgrade,thanks Steve for the help on v2.01 buy.

What took so long for it?? Hey like they say, just come here to the latest about this pre/proc, not Sony. This item isn't even listed on thier website for support. No individual channel level setting ability

First and foremost I must mention the first thing I really wanted this upgrade for was the Bass management. The adjustable LFE-High-cut from 40hz to 200hz is what should have come with this pre in the first place. Wow, my Velodyne CT-120 and HSU don't sound bloated anymore. Tight and articulate are the order of the day here. In my environment with my B & W 603s2 and LRC6 s2 the crossover point I used was/is 70hz. Just gives the right transition I think for me at least. You still cannot adjust individual levels for each channel. Pretty disapointing that. At any rate, the setup menus remain the same in format that is except with the additional surround modes,and other extra features. I played around with the Matrix 6.1 and Cinema Studio EX.B and C and I like them the best so far. My Seven DVD takes on a more real convincing image than before. Playing the Eagles DVD was no less enjoyable. The bass management and level control with up to 6db above 0 is nice. The remote is on the small side with small buttons, and the profile of the remote is backwards in my opinion. I kept finding myself picking it up upside down. Hmm, maybe it has just been a long day,I have to get used to this one. My Pronto and Sony 2 way remote still function with the other standard modes. I will definately use the pre/proc more since I have all this additional control flexibility. I almost considered replacing it with a Lexicon DC-2, but came to my financial senses. Yikes, the price is an eye grabber, but it is a terrific processor. So for a $110.00 including shipping from OADE Brothers, that is WWW.OADE.COM, My Sony has new lease on life. Anyone who hasn't upgraded to the 2.01v, you got to do it. Definately worth the small bucks, in my humble opinion. Well, back to the Movies/Music. V.C.

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Just the Sony TAE-9000es

upgrade easy to perform,cost only $110.00 from OADE brothers,features set along with remote

Veil of secrecy and ignorance at Sony, didn't come equiped like this in the first place.

You owe it to yourself to upgrade to verion 2.01v. Nothing less than smashing the adjustable Subwoofer frequency set. From 40hz to 200hz there is a setting that is right for any speaker/subwoofer combo. Level setting of +6db above 0db is helpful too. Use of the additional center channel is great too helping in that enveloping feel of sound. The extra Cinema EX, and Virtual mode are fun to use and convincing on my collection of DVD, like Se7en, and all. The audio is great with my CD collection now that I have the Subwoofer level/crossover now "correctly" set. The only thing Sony could have done was impliment separate channel level settings. The remote could have been shaped better too with the wedge shape backward to the natural grip a hand would otherwise make. The titling of sources is a nice personalizing touch and easy to do. I think the best thing about the software is what it leaves alone, that is the EQ control and the other sound field modes I use from time to time. I game allot on my computer so the "GAME" mode is just right for my games. So all in all, with all that the upgrade has going for it and perhaps more I forgot to mention but am sure previous reviews have covered well, it was the best 10 minutes I have spent on an upgrade of any kind in a long time that made a meaningful difference. So for the price of decent audio interconnects, you can make an otherwise fine processor/preamplifier great again. See www.OADE.com for the Phone number and order yours today. You will be glad you did. Windows/PC based systems supported only, and kit comes with CD-ROM,instructions,warranty card,serial cable, and supplimental remote control with 2 AA-batteries. V.C.

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just This one.

Great processor, firmware upgrade ability, many features, great value.

???

This preamp performed flawlessly for me. Nothing but clean clear sound. I coupled this preamp with 3 TA-N9000es amps, driving my Snell 500THX speaker system @ 200w/channel. The result is just awesome!!! I even had the volume setting up to a deafening -17db (which is about 115db on the sound meter!) briefly and didn't experience associated noises. I had the Lexicon DC-1 also but kept the Sony instead because the stereo mode (2 channel mode) sounded much better with the Sony. The Lexicon MC-1 would be better than the DC-1 and the Sony but for the price. I got the TA-E9000es and 3 TA-N9000es for less than the cost of the MC-1, and got great sound too.
Regarding the remote, I turned it in to the Sony Service Center and got it back a week later, they changed the ic board and fixed the batteries drain problem.

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Lexicon DC-1

Pretty much everything

The remote & noise floor ( BUY A RC5000 / PRONTO & PS AUDIO PS300!!! )

After upgrading from a Yamaha A2 to this pre-amp + 2 Power Amp combo I'm more than happy with it's performance. Annoying having to listen to every single person I talk to about buying cables etc. telling me that all Sony stuff sucks and the Yamaha A1 is better ( hahaha )
Couple of things really, if you want to get a learning remote then go for the RC5000 or Pronto ( you can use the Philips software now as of two days ago ) the only difference is in the mains charger.
There will probably NEVER be a Dolby EX update for this or any other of Sony's amps due to THX Ultra specification being a REQUIREMENT for inclusion. It is possible that Sony will release an update one day with the EX sound field from their new integrated unit, but who knows?
If you wanted to add a new Power Cable ( PS Audio Lab Cable ) to the Pre Amp and Power amps what would you do?
I guess the noise floor is relatively high ( becoming evident above -35 on DVD's and -30 on CD's ) but this is easily solved with a PS Audio PS300 which pretty much doubles it's performance, dynamics etc. while no longer running hot. You can use a PS300 for the Pre-amp, a DVD Player and maybe a T.V as well but you'll need a PS600 for the Power Amps ( or a PS1200 for 2 ). I'll update the power amp reviews when I get one ;-)

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Yama

Easy to use.
Great sound.
5 year warranty.
Awesome remote.

Remote never saves personal settings when changing the battery.

This is my first Pre-Amp. Right now I am driving it with a Sony ES receiver. That is until I can upgrade to the TA-N9000ES Amp.

Like most users my only compliant is with the remote. Otherwise I would rate it a 5 with no hesitation. Still, my CD's sounded better when I started using the TA-E9000ES. The bass management is excellent!

I brought it from Onecall.com for under $1,300, without so much as one audition. This is truly a great sounding Pre-Amp for it's price.

Awesome soundstage and clean

Bass Management

O.K. so you are all correct, the 2.01 upgrade is sent out by Sony and Sony's tech support hotline is filled with dopes that don't know their products. The upgrade came neatly packaged in a Sony box, with a Sony remote and Sony CD. Also, I admit the 2.01 upgrade is worth the $110 fee from aode.com. The remote makes the interface much easier and friendlier to use. The new upgrade also allows the user to adjust the sub-woofer crossover down to 40Hz. That is awesome!

Still, my only gripe is that you must set the front speakers to small to have the sub on in all DSP modes. I realize that you can adjust the low bass in the fronts when they are set small, but it stops at 40Hz. I have a side firing 12" aluminum driver in my RBH speakers that are more than capable of acurately producing 20Hz, but the Sony only allows me to have 40Hz with the sub in DSP. If I switch to large, the sub is turned off for DSP. I admit, it is a small price to pay for how awesome this processor is, but I would suggest that Sony allow the user to adjust down all the speakers (front, rears and center) to 20-Hz and just eliminate the idea of small or large. If the user has small speakers they can just adjust the bass crossovers for each speaker according to the capabilities of the speakers. Who cares if it says small or large, as long as you can have 20-Hz in your fronts with the sub-woofer on.

Right out of the box, especially with the original remote and the extremely lousy manual, the unit seems cumbersome and confusing to use. It took me about two weeks to learn all the features, and the implimentation of the new upgrade to finaly realize how awesome this unit is. I absolutely love the Jazz Club DSP mode when listening to CD's or Digital Radio music. It is one of the best DSP modes I have ever heard in any receiver and processor.

As for movies, the Natural Surround for 5.1 offers the ultimate detail, and cleanest sound stage compared to any other processor I have used (Anthem and Act III). For a three/four year old unit, there is still nothing in the market place that comes close, even with the minor annoying flaws explained above. As 6.1 and DVD Audio are still not making it in the market place, these features are useless and not missed. The new upgrade adds some virtual 6.1 features, but I like my DSP as clean as possible, so I probably will avoid them.

All in all, disregard my message about three reviews down, as it was my initial view of this unit out of the box. I have decided to join the Sony Fan Club and will stay with the 900ES. To all those that nicely critized by first review and e-mailed me with some helpful suggestions, thank you. For those a-holes that were nasty, get a life and spend more time with your family and not on the internet.

Happy Listening,

Best Regards,
Steve

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Anthem II, DSP-A1, Acurus ACT III

I think 'Ole Steve bit off more than he can chew. I'm not a ES9000 owner, but I do own a 777es which shares many simularities. It appears to me that many people are buying this expensive stuff and never fully undertsanding the capabilities. Someone else posted here that the 9000es (it may have been the 777) could'nt record from a CD to tape. When I see such statements, I just cringe. To Steve's credit, I can understand his frustration with Sony's web site, as there really is very little information to be gleaned, and often it seems they know less than the customers using their products. If Steve is interested, he could check out the Easyboard web site and learn much more about his 9000es. If Steve's only interest is HT, the Denon may indeed be a better choice for him although a major step backwards in equipment. After all why spend all this money on something you are not fully capable of utilising? Three stars here so I don't interfer with the previous rating.

purchased this item in september of 99....hoping
someone can tell me if this unit
has the 1.18v upgrade? also how to figure this
out on my own. have plenty of bass with my klipsch
and no noise floor that i can hear. will the sony service
center download the upgrade as a courtesy or will they
tell me to "f" off? the remote was supposedly fixed but
i never use it. doesn't communicate whatsoever. please help!

I have some questions about the 2.01 upgrade that I am hoping that those that have done this can help me with.

(1) Can the originally supplied remote be used with to activate the menu additions contained in the 2.01 upgrade.
(2) having used the original remote and the new remote that comes with the 2.01 upgrade, what are the advantages / disadvantages of each?
(3) Is the new remote so much better that I won't miss using the original one. (i am one of those rare people that don't have a problem with the original remote.

Thanks

Tom

it as a speed of the sharc 32bit chip and will decode doldy digital dts and mpeg multichannel and also provide firmware upgrade via rs232 port.

no 5.1 channel input. and no 24bit/192khz dac for use with sacd/dvd audio format

tae900es is the best home theater system ever.

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