Plenty of inputs, ES-quality power section, plenty of soundfields (if that is your thing)aesthetically appealing

Remote is somewhat difficult to get used to (just give it a chance, though-you'll get used to it)no other weaknesses found yet.

I purchased the DB-930 a couple months ago to replace my Pioneer. Initially, when I began shopping for a new receiver, I wanted just something that had good sound with Dolby Digital and DTS decoding. I wasn't looking for something necessarily spectacular, since the pioneer is nothing short of worthless. I came across the DB-930 after reading the reviews posted, and because I could get a good deal through One Call. By the way, if you are hesitant about shopping online for a receiver, let my HIGHLY recommend One Call-great service, great price, quick delivery, no complaints whatsoever. Anyway, I hooked up the Sony through my MIT 6 cable, and fell in love immediately. Robust power, very low noise floor (no audible hum or his-I don't know what the some of the other reviewers are talking about). Bottom line, this is an outstanding receiver at a great price. I highly recommend it. I would give it 5 stars across the board if I hadn't auditioned the Marantz SR-18, but also remember the SR-18 costs about 4 times the Sony.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer Elite VSX-59

# of inputs/outputs, power, no hiss

none yet

I just got the system from OneCall. Setup does take some time and the manual helps but is much to thin for this piece of equipment.
I ran into some problems that weren't my 930's fault. ex. The decoding blue light wasn't coming on. I didn't have my DVD outputs set correctly. Stuff like that can be frustrating. Once setup, the sound quality and all of the available modes make this a great home theater or music receiver.
I've yet to tackle the remote....maybe next weekend.

Similar Products Used:

none

Power!! 4 ohm output. Hookups.

Confusing sound fields and remote.

Absolutely wonderful. I cannot believe the power and volume. The 4 ohm switch allowed me to buy some MTX monster speakers from a pawn shop for nothing and wow, will it rock. The 600 watt speakers will vibrate the whole house on 35% volume. No hum whatsoever. Blew my surrounds off the wall and I had to build a real mounting bracket.

The sound fields are too much and a lot of them do not have surround speaker usage. Some but not 27 would be better!

Got it for $399 from J&R Music. I am completely satisfied and yes, the DTS version of Saving Private Ryan is unbelievable. My eyes were vibrating just like the ground when the tank rolled by!

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer VSX series

Awesome receiver

None so far

This is one awesome receiver, great power, tons of connection options. With my infinity speakers listening to CDs was unbelievable, turning the volume past 3 was enough to get my neighbors attention! And playing DVD was even better the 5.1 was outstanding. I haven't had the hum problem that many complain about but I went with all monster cable connections and connected a monster cable line conditioner/surge protector, a very worth while investment. The remote isn't all that bad but is does lack a few options for some pieces of equipment even on other Sony components. Overall a great piece of equipment.

Similar Products Used:

Sony, Harmon Kardon

Complete receiver, with good sound!

Remote control, it's pre programmed and not learnable!

The receiver is really good!
People are complaining about that there is no on screen menu's. I read the manual carefully, measured the position of the speakers and "programmed" it in less than 5 minutes. Don’t let this be an argument buying this receiver or not, when “programmed” you maybe never used it again. When it must have the on screen menu, wait for the STR-DB940, but it will cost you more than $300 extra.
http://www.superfi.co.uk/sonyfol/strdb940/index.htm

The remote is a complete other story. It is not a learning type remote. He is pre programmed and you have to search for your other equipment in the menu's. I have only Sony equipment and i'm not happy with this remote. It isn't easy to switch between things and than to roll to what you want to do. I have a wide screen televison. In the Netherlands we often have sub titles on the screen. When using smart zoom on the TV (making a 3/4 screen fit in 9/16) you ALWAYS have to shift the screen 1 cm upwards. This buttons are not on the remote, so you still have to use your TV remote. Also SEARCH FF and RWD for the Video isn't working for sony Video. You have to use the FF and RWD buttons as long as you want to search. But the buttons are on the remote? My old sony TA-AV590 dolby prologic receiver is much beter in working with all the other equipment because his remote is from the learning type.

I ordered the RM-AV2100 after i tried the AV2000. For my family this is an usable remote (AV2x00), they can see for every device what button's can be used. The DB930 remote is to complex, when you don't use him often.
They tried to switch between DVD, VIDEO and TV. That is nearly impossible for them. They don't know where they can find the keys to switch between the input channels from the TV.

I gave twice 4 stars because the remote is not what you expect for this price. I have to buy an other remote because "only a audiophile without a wife and childeren can use it".

Similar Products Used:

Sony TA-AV590 dolby prologic

Complete receiver, with good sound!

Remote control, it's pre programmed and not learnable!

The receiver is really good!
People are complaining about that there is no on screen menu's. I read the manual carefully, measured the position of the speakers and "programmed" it in less than 5 minutes. Don’t let this be an argument buying this receiver or not, when “programmed” you maybe never used it again. When it must have the on screen menu, wait for the STR-DB940, but it will cost you more than $300 extra.
http://www.superfi.co.uk/sonyfol/strdb940/index.htm

The remote is a complete other story. It is not a learning type remote. He is pre programmed and you have to search for your other equipment in the menu's. I have only Sony equipment and i'm not happy with this remote. It isn't easy to switch between things and than to roll to what you want to do. I have a wide screen televison. In the Netherlands we often have sub titles on the screen. When using smart zoom on the TV (making a 3/4 screen fit in 9/16) you ALWAYS have to shift the screen 1 cm upwards. This buttons are not on the remote, so you still have to use your TV remote. Also SEARCH FF and RWD for the Video isn't working for sony Video. You have to use the FF and RWD buttons as long as you want to search. But the buttons are on the remote? My old sony TA-AV590 dolby prologic receiver is much beter in working with all the other equipment because his remote is from the learning type.

I ordered the RM-AV2100 after i tried the AV2000. For my family this is an usable remote (AV2x00), they can see for every device what button's can be used. The DB930 remote is to complex, when you don't use him often.
They tried to switch between DVD, VIDEO and TV. That is nearly impossible for them. They don't know where they can find the keys to switch between the input channels from the TV.

I gave for the overall 4 stars because the remote is not what you expect for this price. I have to buy an other remote because "only a audiophile without a wife and childeren can use it".

Similar Products Used:

Sony TA-AV590 dolby prologic

QS Build Quality, features, Sound Quality in HT, looks.
Value for money, power.

This amp is hissing from 10 O'clock onwards
Lack of a second Coaxial input.
Remote cannot replace individual remotes, because only addresses basic Functions (even fro Sony Products)

Got my Sony STR-DB930 after a lenghty research on reviews on the net, magazines and Shops.

First impression was good, specially in HT, where in order to simulate a Cinema Theater and benefit from the effects, one has the tendency to turn the volume knob up. The DSP modes are amazing, I only have two front Speakers (Klipsch RF3) and a center speaker(Klipsch RC3) for the moment. The DSP mode Semi-Cinema A, B or C, really simulate the presence of absent back speakers, and I can tell you at my surprise that it works very convincingly.

However in Stereo, where it can be nice to listen at lower volumes, the hissing this machine delivers is not acceptable, even at relatively low volumes. Have tried an other 930 in the shop where I bought it, with similar results.

The lack of a second coaxial digital input is annoying (the only one available is for DVD only)

So if you want to buy an HT receiver only, this is definitively the machine to buy; however if in addition you want to listen CD's in Stereo with a better Quality than a 200$ portable combined Amp, CD, tape etc.. buy something else.

At the end of the day I have upgraded to a Sony STR-DA50ES, but this is another story. See my review of that other machine if you please.

Similar Products Used:

Sony STR-DA50ES

Great Value, Power, Features, Looks

HISSING!!! Sound is too bright

I don't care what the doubters say ... the fact remains it just shouldn't hiss even at loud (but reasonable) levels.

This receiver is the BEST VALUE if you think you will continue to be a casual listener ... but if you think you might get into this audio hobby/disease thing then don't by this receiver. Now I want to upgrade my speakers and I wonder if there's any point if my receiver will hold me back. If you're an obsessive, dedicated listener then this unit will disappoint you in the long run (as it has me).
This unit is a GREAT VALUE but simply cannot be the heart and soul of a system for someone that starts to really listen to music ... Yes, I'm one of many whining about the STR-DB930. This baby is GOOD ENOUGH TO KNOCK OUT ANYONE WHO'S NEVER HAD A GOOD STEREO but will only WHET THE APPETITE OF A SEMI-SERIOUS MUSIC LISTENER because it gives you a taste of just how good a good stereo can sound!

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo, NAD

Price, power, clarity, sound.

Sound fields.

Great receiver for the price. No hissing heard yet, but I havn't turned mine past the 11 o'clock position because there is no need. It has plenty of power.

Bass initially sounded weak when connected to my older (large) Infinity speakers when compared to my previous JVC receiver. When I added a Klipsch 15" sub and connected it to the L/R preamp outs, this problem was solved. The Sony really rocks. And with optical digital hookups to my CD player, the sound is crystal clear throughout the entire frequncy range using my Klipsch KSB3.1 bookshelf speakers. The surround sound performance is excellent and build quality appears to be solid. I like the Auto Format Decode feature.

Most of the other sound fields are a waste of time unless you do not yet have a complete surround speaker setup and want to fake it. I figure most people reading this are like me and will not bother with them too much. They end to color the sound way too much.

The remote isn't great, but I've seen worse. In fact, anyone can find something bad about most "universal" remotes. I have a One-4-All Cinema 7 w/learning that works great with everything I have, including the DB-930. It only cost me $18 and change.

When I bought my DB930, Oade Bros. and Onecall were out of stock with no word from the Sony distributers when more units would be shipped to them. So I paid a little more from Crazy Eddie to make sure I could get one before they disappear($450).

It's interesting that the newer model coming out, the DB940, will have on screen display like my previous JVC receiver. But if that is the main difference, then don't bother waiting for it. I honestly never used the JVC's on screen feature after the initial "play with the new toy" period. Once I learned the display on the receiver, it was never used again and diconnected.

Like any new equipment, you will need to be lucky enough to get a good one right out of the box. If so, you should be as pleased with the Sony DB930 as I am.

Similar Products Used:

JVC 884VBK, Older Kenwood.

name of Sony researches on the sound technologies

complex structure

I must say I bought very difficult to the Sony str-db 930. I used to other receivers for 5 days before than bought it. but thanks to sony. Spdif out data way developed with sony. And sony at the old models of str (ex-830) used wrong policy for customer. cheap mentality. So that people don't enjoy for sony. I think. in this model (STR-db 930). Sony wishies excuse. Because, this product is excellence . and I think for it: it is powerfull and pleasure in sound. Price is not cheap. but the price is cheap to according to quality. Because it is really ES series but, named that str-db930. Dolby digital and DTS and Sony digital sounds and others built-in. And big important. It is 32 bit data way-processor(DSP). People no understand that what is it? It is very important for engine of sound. ///Because, ý bought like quality ES series of sony. Especially I can offer human who asking.
Note:
to frend who write this letter (Joseph Saturnia) You said that str-db930's bass not quality, it is like fluffy. I will offering you JAMO speakers exampl.front. JAMO cornet 195. and center JAMO 7.2 you will hear and go deeps of bass sounds with Jamo.

Similar Products Used:

Aiwa, Onkyo TX 575