Power output, connects to everything you want, can be tweaked for almost anything, excellent Digital reproduction

Remote (tough to figure out), manuals (don't explain half the items), binding posts (don't accept spades).

Overall I am very impressed with the receiver. It is clean and powerful. I haven't noticed any hissing or extraneous feedback. For home theater this receiver is unbelievable. It is clear and concise throughout every DVD I've played.

For music it is very good. I believe the Denon was a bit more musical but not by much.

The remote is a semi-weakness. It has decent functionality but figuring it out takes awhile. The receiver's manual is much worse. You have to figure out for yourself half of the functionaliy available since it's not explained at all. I'm still trying to finish tweaking x-over & input levels, etc.

Overall the receiver is a great buy. If you have a bit of audio experience, you'll be able to figure out this receiver. It's value is superb for the price you can get it at. I will have no problem expanding my system with this receiver. A definite thumbs up.

Value is 5 stars
Overall is 4.5 stars because of the manual and remote

My system for info purposes:

Front: PSB Alpha's
Center: PSB 100C
Rear: PSB Alpha's or Optimus Pro-LX5's (still playing around with both sets right now)
Sub: Boston Acoustics VR500

Similar Products Used:

JVC RX-817VTN, Denon AVR1800, Marantz SR16

Power, Inputs, Build Quality

No CD Optical input

I've had the DB-930 now for several weeks. Starting with only 2 Tannoy Eclipse speakers and running pretty much as a straight stereo amp and then adding a set of Paradigm Monitor 3s and a CC350 (and moving the Tannoys to the rear), I've had a chance to use the amp as both a stereo and a home cinema center.

I'm using it in a relatively room, so there's a bucket of clean, effortless power. I'm running a Sony CD player in through the MD optical inputs and the sound I'm getting is superb. Surround sound via TV (using one of the gazillion sound fields, or from stereo video sources is equally impressive). No DVD yet, so the quality of the Dolby Digital and/or DTS decoding is unknown.

I've had no problems with either the manuals nor the remote. Compared to the truly horrific Japanese-English manuals that shipped in the 70's and 80's, the documentation is clear and concise. A couple of hours fiddling with the remote and I've got everything I want set up and working fine (one button system on and off, for example), and setting the surround parameters from the remote is a doddle.

The DB-930 also doubles as an excellent room heater, which is a bit of a worry for long-term reliabliity (particularly in a non-air-conditioned Australian summer), but only time will tell on that score.

All in all, an excellent product, particularly at the price point (A$1,000 - recommended retail in Australia is $1,299) - blows any of the competition out of the water at the price - and at considerably higher prices as well.

price,quality,features

owners manuals

Amazing receiver!!!

Replaced an 8 year old sony 720 pro logic receiver. Dolby digital with 5.1 sound can not be compared to pro logic, it in a total different class. It is an amazing upgrade. Got this receiver 1 month a go and have had no problems. Crystal clear sound, no speaker hiss at any levels. I began to think speaker hiss was normal with my old sony and that everybody had it, wow was I wrong. There is absolutely no hiss!!! Power is more than enough.

The only think I dont like is the manuals. For such a complex receiver what a piece of crap for a instruction manual. It basically doesnt tell you how to do anything in depth besides setting up and turning it on. Anyone can figure out the on/off switch, but what about tweaking the equalizer and sound fields? The remote manual is about the same, no real info. Not having a digitial connection for the CD player sucks but you can just use the MD connection and change the index to Cd player.

Overall, great and hard to beat quality and features in this price range. Got mine for $440 from OneCall.

inputs, sound, near es quality

none yet (except manual)...i like the remote

All great, no need to expand...still testing though. As for the remote, program "user 1" to operate your TV. It will give you more "SUB" options and allow you to control the volume without interfering with the receiver.

Similar Products Used:

strde935

Lots of inputs outputs, nice looking, appears to be well built.

Noisy, has the dreaded hum (see other reviews), and the remote should be used in industrial disign classes in how not to design something.

Well I bought the Sony after reading every review on this page. I thought "it can't happen to me". Well I was wrong. The thing hums like you wouldn't beleive. The sound is very bright to the point of being annoying. If you are used to semi high end or high end audio gear, do not buy the receiver.

The controls are hard to learn but work well once you get Sony's logic figured out. It does have a lot of inputs and outputs. Its pretty good looking and heavy, it also has plenty of power for almost anything.

The remote, what a disaster. I can program in "C" and I still had trouble with it. It is completely unintuitive. (just try the Marantz RC2000 for a day and you'll see what I mean).

Thank god I bought it locally so I had now trouble returning it. By the way this was a first quality sealed box unit from a very reliable retailer.

I got a Marantz 880mkII and I am in heaven. Sure its over $200 more, but the remote is worth the diference all buy itself. Plus the Marantz is almost as good as separates.

By the way, if you really have your heart set on the 930, save a few bucks and get the 830, you lose less then ten percent in power and one input out more then you'll ever need.

Similar Products Used:

Marantz 880mkII

Features, quality, power, price

Prologic Circuit in "Normal Surround" mode, Manuals

I've had my receiver now for several weeks. I bought it from OneCall, they were very pleasent and I received the unit in 2 days as promised.

It's a great receiver and I'm glad I bought it. I only have two small gripes. When watching TV in the "Normal Surround" mode, the rear speakers cut in and out. It appears that when there is music being played there is quite a bit of sound coming out of the rear speakers, but when someone on show starts to talk, the volume drops dramatically. In between words, the music in the background gets louder. I call the factory, and was told that the Prologic decoder sometimes has a problem in this mode if it is not getting a clear signal and to use a different mode.

The other gripe I have is that the manuals (all 3 of them) are really terrible. Just to figure out any one function, you need to jump all over the manual, and even then the explanation is very minimal.

These are the only complaints I have with this unit. There is not enough room here for me to tell about all of the really great aspects of this outstanding receiver. I would buy it again if I had to do it over, and would recomend it to others

many features for the price

quality control

Base on the numerous good reviews that I read from this site I purchased this unit about 6 months ago. I was extremely happy with it up until the third month when I notice a buzz coming from within the unit. It will usually start about an hour after I first turn it on and will last about an hour before it goes away. Based on my experience and the problems that I have read on this site I would not recommend this unit to anyone. If anyone out there knows how to correct this problem please e-mail. I'm giving it 3 stars, if it were not for the buzz I would have gladly given it 5.

Well... Darn close to EVERYTHING!!!

Here's one you'd expect- REMOTE. Also, probably just my unit, but a small humming sound coming from the power transformer.

Okay. I ordered the 930 through Buyersedge.com for a total price (shipping included) of 419 bucks. I had read many of the previous reviews (thanks) and did some research on Sony's outgoing commitment to put an end to internal resonances.
I found the 930 to meet Most of my needs, although some of my previous equipment that i had reviewed could easily outnumber the amount of I/O slots. (Linn AV-1 System)
I hooked it up and got what can be described as dissappointing, flat sound.
NOTE TO SONY - WHAT THE HECK WERE YOU THINKING WHEN YOU MADE THESE FLAT, DULL SOUNDFIELD PRESETS?
(You'd think they'd know that a consumer bases his/her opinion about a product on it's initial use)

ANYHOW...
this receiver performs outstandingly. There were only 2 problems i had, though and i fixed one of them.

1. I had a "tuner leak", where the sound from the tuner's internal circuitry leaks into surrounding wires, effectively making me hear the tuner on any function- turned it up past 4 and i could hear the radio.
-solution- using the AM Loop antenna tht sony provides, hook up one to the Signal Ground, and one to the AM signal- don't worry, AM will still work fine. it seems that all the unti needed was effective grounding, considering it didn't have a three-prong power cord.(speaking of power cord, the power cord on the 930 is a little too thin!)
2. I had a humming noise that came from my transformer within the unit - if anyone had a similar problem and they solved it, tell me how. It begins after the unit gets "warmed up" and steadily increases and then it stopas after about four hours.

Anyway , after setting the equalizer and setteing for all 27 (!!!) soundfields, i finally had decent sound coming from my speakers.

I beleive that this unit is well worth 420 dollars.Anti resonant front panel, double thickness top plate, and beefier internal circuitry adds up to excellent sound. DD is excellent, along with DTS!!!
Great Job, Sony.

Similar Products Used:

Other Sonys, Onkyo, Pioneer Elite, Sone ES, and others.

Where do I start: Build quality, Nbr of component inputs, sound detail..........everything!!!!!

None

Wow, what a unit, after 3 months of solid use I'm still majorly impressed with it. Compared to the STRDE515, this is streets ahead. Sony has done themselves proud creating this unit just below the ES series. You would have to have had pretty good confidence in it when you base a whole new series around it called QS. I have thrown everything at it from DVD's to CD's, Records to Minidiscs, it plays them all magnificiently. If you are looking at getting into Home Theatre, or maybe looking to upgrade, then have a long hard look at this baby, you will be hard pressed to get anything better for the price (It retails in NZ for only $1,400).

Similar Products Used:

Sony STRDE515

Lots of options for the cost.

Remote, too much navigation required.

Have to throw my 2 cents in. I have been a big Sony fan for a number of years, just couldn't see a real price/value ratio that made it desireable. Now that I can afford to spend a little more, I went full out. Sony XBR, Sony DVD, Sony Hi-Fi VHS, and finally the STR-DB930. Liked all the options available and the very favorable reviews on this site. Ordered it from Victor's (399.00 + 20.00 shipping). Hooked it up and was immediately hit by this hum or buzzing without any input selected. I know all stereo systems have some hum or hiss, but normally it is only obvious when you are right up against them. This was noticable from fifteen feet away at a mid volume setting. Even in mute it was very noticable and increased in with the volume (again in mute). When played in DTS (Antz) the hum was definitely there and again increase with the volume. Tried different locations, Sony booklet says 10 feet from the TV, with the same result. Tried another room without any television near and had the same result. The speakers are fine, RM7500 (tried the speakers in stereo with a HK3500, no hum) and in the second room, AR9LS (again with the HK no hum). Don't know if I got a bad one or what. I thought at first I was expecting too much from a mid priced receiver. The HK never had this problem and I also have a Carver m1.0t with a Mod Squad Line Drive preamp which never had this problem with any input. Both of these costs considerably more than the Sony a few years back. You get what you pay for? Anyway, while moving it back the first room, I heard something rolling around loose inside the receiver. So it is probably defective. Sony Quality control needs some work. Needless to say, I did not try it again. I went to Ken Crane's to listen to their surround setup. With a Marantz receiver I did not hear any noticable hiss or hum from a normal, ten foot, listening distance. Decided to return the Sony. Tony at Victor's was very understanding and said no problem on the return. Cost me $28.00 shipping and insurance to return. Asked if I could upgrade to a Yamaha RX-V995 and he said just pay the difference after they received the return. So I'm out the $28 to send it back. Hopefully the Yamaha will deliver better sound and quality. One last item. Ever try to contact Sony via e-mail? After a week, they responded with call the 800 number. Two times, once when I asked why the STR-DB930 cannot be found on their site and then with the humming on the STR-DB930. Call the 800 number and you get a non technical person who tells you to take it to a Sony authorized repair facility to check it out. Sony, get real.
Again, based on other reviews, I am assuming I got a bad unit. I just didn't want to take a chance on another one, especially with other comments that match mine on the site. Value, if it works, for the money I would say a five. Mine didn't work, so I have to say 2. Overall, based on my experience (defective and definitely a hum/buzz)again, only a 1.