Tons of Power; Excellent Sound Reproduction; the sound fields really add to the environment

Remote is a little tricky but once you get used to it it's not so bad

I just got my DB930 from Onecall.com, shipped for $431.00. This receiver is nothing short of extraodinary. I have not experienced a hiss or hum exen using some rather inexpensive interconnects and speaker cable. I will be upgrading most of that shortly. I have the Klipsch Quintet MicroTheatre setup (These bad boys kick hard!) and am using a no-name custom built subwoofer.

I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of power this receiver pumps. Past 10 o'clock on the volume becomes fairly loud and when no sound is playing through it there is no hiss. I begin getting hiss past the two o'clock position but there's no way you could stand to listen to anything that loud so I count this as a plus.

Movies: pure utter enjoyment. 5.1 makes my heart flutter. Watching the DVD's Armageddon (Criterion), Matrix, Iron Giant, and Contact were new experiences and I have seen these movies too many times.

Music: Music is enjoyable but lacks the clarity and warmness that I have heard in other higher end receivers but I didn't buy this receiver to listen music anyway. It's good enough for playing at a party but it's not as impressive as the Dolby Digital feature.

Effects: VERY Impressive. I was surprised at how much difference you can hear with the different effects. I have a favorite though (I cannot think of the name of it at the moment). It essentially adds additional rear surround speakers in your environment so instead of 5.1 you essentially have 6.1. It is definitely interesting and makes or breaks a few of the movies I mentioned above. It works well with some but not so well with others.

In closing I just want to assure you that you simply cannot go wrong with this receiver. It has all the bells and whistles a movie lover wants and it is an excellent value at under $450 dollars. Order it from Onecall.com and be sure to tell them Andrew Black sent you.

Similar Products Used:

Technics, Kenwood

Excellent Value....that damn hissing is to much though

Slow Remote

Just to further build upon my review that I made two-three months ago.

It is with regret that I gave up my 930. As mentioned numerous times in these posts, there is a definite hissing problem. I was going to live with it, but I just spent over $3000 on Paradigm speakers and the hissing just became intolerable. So I decided to take it to my Sony Dealer to exchange it for a new one. They had two in the store. However, I asked them to let me "audition" them to ensure that there was no hissing. Sure enough, both 930's exhibited the problem. Extremely dissapointed, I decided to take a giant leap into the ES Series. As such, I traded the 930 in for a STRDA555ES for about another $600 CDN--it retails for $1599.99(which I just added a review of). What a difference...1st rate construction and componentry, breathtaking sound quality, palm pilot like remote, more power, more optical connections,etc... and the best part....no hissing at any volume level.

For those with the 930 and are still unsatisfied with the well documented hissing problem, I fully recommend upgrading to the STRDA333ES or the STRDA555ES if you can. You wont be disappointed and really appreciate the addional features.

I am going to have to reduce my original score of 5 to 3 because hissing at this price point is unacceptable as well as the fact that all 3 units I tested had the same problem...Poor quality control I guess.

Similar Products Used:

STRDA555ES

Price, Sound quality, Features

Remote

I upgraded from my STR-DE915 to take advantage of some of the new features in the DB930. Purchased from OneCall. Great receiver, but I'm very disappointed in the REMOTE. With the 915 I was able to program it in learning mode so that it could control my subwoofer etc. The 930 is not programmable, and has some annoying features. I have Sony XBR2 TV, and the remote can only turn on the PNP, with no way to turn it off! Why can't Sony products all get along!!! Also, when choosing DVD control, on the 915 I used to be able to go back to the TV to switch inputs without affecting DVD, but now have to do a Macro to accomplish this. I really wish there were some more brands to select from so that I could also control my Velodyne with this remote.

Overall a great sounding reasonably priced receiver!

Similar Products Used:

Sony STR-DE915

Features
Performance - this bad boy rocks
Build quality - this is a strong, beautiful unit

Hiss problem - DSP Manufacturing Defect - which I can shed more light on
Remote - a good idea poorly executed

First, thanks for this site and all the reviewers.

I use this as a combo HT and music system with following:

NHT SuperTwo's, SuperCenter and SuperOne's Speakers
Panamax line conditioner
Sony DVP-S650 DVD/CD
Sony SAT-A1 DSS
Sony HiFi VCR
JVC HiFi SVHS VCR
JVC TV
Yamaha CD-700 CD Player
Yamaha K-1020 Casette Deck
Energy Pro Monitors for 2nd room
NAD Amp driving Energy's

The Sony rocks! The Sony has excellent power and control for the NHT's. The Sony is a beautiful beast and has unbelievable features and flexibility. I traded up from Yamaha top of the line separates Dolby Pro Logic system to this and the sound quality of DD and the flexibility of the Sony are unbelievable.

I bought from J&R (authorized dealer) for $410 +S&H, I think that is one of the best deals going.

However, the Hiss problem is a real manufacturing defect of Sony and unacceptable for any product to put on the market. As soon as I got the unit set up I noticed that there was a significant noise in the rear channels even with no input and at moderate volume settings. This occured in any surround mode (but not 2 ch.). I have seen numerous other postings to the same effect. This is clearly a problem in DSP manufacture/quality control. I run everything through the line conditioner, thus this is not a line problem. I also have multiple other audio setups in the house with no hiss problems from any other units. So I returned it to J&R (they pay shipping for returning defects). They confirmed to me that this was a defective unit from testing in their lab. They promptly sent me a fresh unit for no additional charge. The new unit has been set up for several weeks with no hiss problem. Sure - if you put it to no source and turn to "10" you may get a small hiss - that is not what I am talking about, I am talking about a manufacturing defect that Sony has.

I would recommend this unit highly on the condition that you buy from an authorized dealer, with a good return policy. J&R did me well (I am not affiliated with them.) This unit is a great unit if you get a properly working unit, if you don't - return it! Don't tolerate poor manufacture and quality control. Sony - you need to improve your act in this area.

I give this unit 5 stars for value and 4 stars overall due to the Hiss defect. Without the Hiss defect, I would give it 5/5.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha

Good Receiver with an awesome amount of features

Hissing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I only wanted to tell you, that my sony str-db 930 hisses too. I am going to exchange it fo another one and if the problem is solved, i write an review here. At the moment (with the hiss) the receiver is a very bad.

Power, design, prisce!!!

Is there any weakness with this? I don´t think so!

This cool revciver has a cool design! its so beutiful, I can´t... find any words... and it even sounds better than it looks! Belive my, with 5x100 w, perfects speakers and a subwoofer, you will blow your room up! anot7her good thing is the 2 way remote! It was a little LCD-screen and it´s very comfortable! (looks like a mobile-phone!).
in music it´s briliant! I have got a lots of surround programs that you WILL have use for! for example the song Nothing else matters - Metallica sounds so good in "Live House" and "Church" or try the To the moon and back - Savage Garden? things like never sounds at other recievers!
Are you thinking of buying it? well don´t just buy it!

amazingly clear sound at normal (sane) listening levels

what hiss? i don't hear no stinkin hiss.......
(it's minimally audible around the "3" position, which is pretty darn loud people)

i've had this receiver now for two weeks and i tell you what, you can not and will not beat this receiver at twice the price. dolby digital is simply amazing. if you haven't watched Terminator 2 on DVD then it has to be next on your must-see list. one earlier review noted the difference between dolby pro logic and dolby digital on dvd, and i must agree with his observation, there is absolutely, positively no comparison between the two. for those who haven't loved this receiver i'm not sure what you want out of a receiver that you're not getting out of this one. as for the hiss, maybe it's the wind tunnel in your head.

still one million stars.....

stuff used:

Klipsch KSB 3.1 mains
Klipsch KSC-C1 center channel
Klipsch KSW 15
Advent surrounds
Sony 530 DVD Player
Sony VCR
Sony cd-changer (8 yrs. old)
Hughes Digital Satellite
Sony Playstation

DD, DTS, AFD, clean sound with good power, multiple optical and digital audio inputs, well built, looks great, Sony feel

2-way remote stinks, too slow, goes to sleep between basic commands, no S-video on Video2, no Component video in/out

After 3 months of use, I like this receiver a lot.

Pros:
* Very affordable, less than $500.
* Nearly the same quality and sound as their ES equipment, which is to say, clean and accurate-- basically an entry-level ES receiver.
* AFD (AutoFormatDecode) soundfield, which interprets the audio signal and automatically switches to the best default setting.
* Speaker size/location and room settings; sub pre-outs.
* Optical inputs for MD/DAT, CD, DVD/LD and digital in for DVD.
* Integrates well with other Sony equipment with S-link, etc.

Cons:
* No S-video on Video2 (which is why I'm getting a 333ES or 555ES instead); also no component video in/out.
* No separate inputs for DVD and LD (for those of us who've been into HT for more than a year!).
* Speaker terminals are spaced too wide for dual banana plugs and can't accept spades.
* Remote stinks: doesn't have DishNetwork commands, can't learn, 2-way is too slow, goes to sleep even between basic commands like changing channel on VCR, etc.
* It is a very complex, but capable receiver that needs a lot of user learning to get the most out of all the possible configurations.

Bottom line:
I'm planning on an S-video digital recorder (ReplayTV probably) in addition to the S-VHS deck I already have. But without S-video in/out on Video2, I need to upgrade to at least the STR-DA333ES (don't know why I didn't catch that before I bought it). Otherwise, I'd definitely keep it. If you don't have the same requirement, this is a great unit.

The remote problems are many, and I'll get a good univeral remote anyway, even with the ES line. Really interested to see reviews on the new MX-1000 from Universal Remote (see www.remotecentral.com), which has both LCD and tactile buttons, including joystick operation of DVD, satellite, etc (what, change channels or menu items in the dark without having to LOOK at your remote??).

Giving it 5 stars for value, 4 overall because of the S-video and remote issues.

Similar Products Used:

STR-GSX800ES

Plenty of Power, Variety of Cinema modes

No Multiple channel stereo mode(not a big deal)

I have had the 930 for about 2 weeks now and am glad I purchased it. Hooked it up to my new pioneer DV-525 DVD player and it sounds great. Right now i'm using a mix of speakers, Mitsubishi towers up front and just added a Infinity CC-3 center(it allows you to match pretty well to non-infinity speakers with adjustments). No sub yet but the fronts have pretty good base to hold me over until I get some matching speakers. The 930 has enough tweaks so that using non-matched speakers you can make your system sound good. The variety of cinema modes gives you plenty of options to experiment with to find what you like - I found that Cinema Mode A sounds very good.

This unit has plenty of power, can't go past 4 without making your ears bleed! No Hiss at high levels and no distortion.

The only thing lacking is a 4 channel stereo mode to use all of your speakers. You can use a misc DSP mode but they add effects to the music(HALL, stadium, JAZ Club....). You can use Pro-logic but then it sends too much to the center channel and loses it imaging. Not a big deal to me since normal stereo mode sounds good.

For the money, excellent receiver, like everyone has said, ES quality for a lot less money!

DTS, Plenty of power, great seperation, easy to use,
looks good, sounds better

remote is not learnable, other than that its pretty cool

I think this rec sounds very good for the price, actually
sounds better than my old NAD seperates (110 watts per channel) Lots of DSP settings to play with although I usually listen without EQ. Remote is pretty good although
not learnable. Great DTS and 5.1. I'm satified with this one.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha, NAD`