Cheap

Inadequate power supply, grossly overinflated power ratings because of this.

I'll chip in my two cents on this receiver. I've had it a while now. I bought this thing new, when I myself was new to the audio scene. Time's gone by, and I've tried various other receivers... considering I only use it to listen to music, I would have expected it to do a little better, power wise. Look on the back, max power draw is 220W. It's physically not possible to do the full rated output, much less continuous. Indeed, my old 45 wpc stereo Technics managed more before going into distortion than this, because it has the current behind it. Sonically, the Sony isn't too bad, it just lacks the guts. Admittedly, I demand too much for something of this price range, but I'd rather see Sony scale back the power ratings to something the product is capable of actually producing. I imagine if it has as much difficulty as it does with two channels, five driven at once at realistic theater levels would likely be a no go unless you are using efficient speakers (96+ db/w). For a beginner it's enough, but it's always better to have more amp than not enough because you're less likely to torch the tweeters of your loudspeaker due to distortion if you've got it turned up. It doesn't suit me.. the old '84 Sansui integrated amp I have has much better control over the speaker.

Similar Products Used:

Sansui AU-G99X, Kenwood KR-9600, Kenwood KR-9050, Technics SA-404

Price, performance, overall sound quality, appearance

Remote, lack of inputs, speaker terminals, no s-video switching.

Well I've tried to add a new product to review on this web site but the newpage.html won't load. So I've decided to write my review on this generic sony listing that I found. So here it is.

The product I would like to write about is the Sony STR-DE 435. That's Four-THIRTY-Five.

BACKGROUND

I purchased the Sony STR-DE 435 receiver just over a month ago. I decided to go with this model because I already had a Sony SDP-E800 Dolby Digital processor and I wanted to go for cheap. Also, I could not find anyplace locally that had the STR-DE 535 in stock, although I saw it on sale for the same price I got my 435 at. I figured the only difference would be features and not performance since the amp section had the same ratings. I got it at Best Buy as an open box for only $199.65 (reg $249.95, list $300.00). Fortunately, It looked pretty much untouched. The unit and all of the accessories were still sealed in their plastic bags. I'm guessing it was a chrismas present where the giver just got the wrong model or something.

Of course wouldn't you know, the following week all the unopened 435's were all on sale for $199.95 plus you got free KLH center & surround speakers. I don't need any more speakers (at least not ones this cheesy) but I went back and got the free speakers anyway.

I know that for $50-100 more I could have gotten a receiver with a built in processor and even DTS (Fry's had Kenwood VR 309's on sale for $249.00 last week), but I wasn't all that concerned with that. I already had a processor that I was happy with, so I figured I'd keep using it and save the extra cash for something else.

Prior to purchasing the SDP-E800, I always thought Sony sucked. I never had any Sony products that would perform at the level I expected or the thing would just break. But the SDP-E800 had served me very reliably for almost 2 years so I figured I'd give sony another shot.

I am very pleased with the performance of the STR-DE 435. It's sound is clear and warm. It sounds right for a sub $500 receiver. Not that there aren't better receivers out there in the sub $500 range but I think sound quality is subjective, to the listener and to the other equipment he has. To me this receiver sounds very good and mates well with the other equipment I have.

My speakers are CSW Ensemble III's as the mains and center, CSW surround II's and an Optimus Pro-SW100P. You can read my review of these elsewhere on this site. My sources are a Toshiba 2107 DVD player, a Samsung VCR, Technics 5 disc CD changer and Techics dual tape deck. My television is a 32 inch Magnovox.

Prior to getting this receiver I was using the SDP-E800 as a pre-amp and feeding the signals into some small JBL amps and into an old Techics receiver. This configuration sounded good but was plagued by problems like "pops" when the amps would turn on and off. Also this system was very inconvenient to use. So that was another factor that persuaded me to get a new receiver.

If the E800 had more analog in's, it would make a great preamp and would work well plugging straight into a 5 channel amp, provided the amp didn't pop the speakers when it turned on. But of course a descent 5 channel amp cost alot more than $200.

Anyway, back to the 435, the sound is warmer than my previous system yet still remains relatively clear. The bass is pretty solid, of course I have a powered sub so bass is not really an issue. The highs are not too harsh. My speakers lean toward bright, but this reciever does not aggravate that quality.

FORM & FUNCTION

Function-wise, this receiver integrates into my system well. It does not have as many bells and whistles as the more expensive Sony recievers, but it has all the features I need and then some. Actually, with the E800 in play, I've got just as many DSP's and control features as Sony's top of the line DE receivers. They sure did pack alot into that little processor.

I like the look of the 435 and it matches my dd processor. It has a very heafty look. I like it's height better than those low profile receivers you usually get at this price.

It does lack inputs but when combined with the dd processor I've almost doubled the inputs that the receiver comes with and have more digital inputs than most receivers with on-board dd processors come with. The E800 has a coax in, three optical ins and an AC3 RF demodulator for laser disk players. There are composit video ins but no S-video switching, but then I only have one S-Video source so far (DVD player), so it doesn't matter. I figure when I do need S-Video switching, I'll get the switcher made by RCA. I've read great reviews about it and it can learn your remotes signals so that when you switch the input on your receiver, it will switch too. So for only $100 ($80 at Fry's) more you get a lot more S-Video inputs than a receiver that would cost $100 more would give you.

I once read a magazine reviewer say that it would be nice if a particular reciever had at least one S-Video input, but if it had only one input, how could it be a switcher? Wouldn't you have to call it an S-Video signal degrader? So I have only two video sources, one coax and one S-Video. I don't use the receiver or processors video switching at all. Why would I? I just plug the two sources straight into the TV and keep the signal purer. Besides if I did route the coax throught the receiver, I would have to have it on the proper input to use the PIP.

Parts-wise, I'm sure its built of the typical low cost components that all the Denon & Yamaha owners criticize about the non-ES Sony lines. But the end result works, at least in my particular unit. From looking through the vents, all the lower end receivers seem to have about the same size transformers, capacitors and cheaper heat sinks.

I've read other reviews on this web site about the other models in the Sony "DE" receiver line. While my SDP-E800 does get hot to the touch, the STR-DE 435 does not. Guess I got lucky and got a 435 without that problem ("knock on wood").

When I first got the E800 and noticed the heat, I thought, "Great, I guess this will be good for only about 6 months!" But it's never failed me. I expected the 435 to get just as hot, but strangely, it doesn't, even though the E800 sits on top of it. The 435 stays as cool as all my other components, which means it gets warm but never hot. And there is absolutely no hiss from any of the channels, at any volume and on any input ("knock on wood again") except when it's on the 5.1 input. But that comes from the dd processor, which as I said does get hot. But the E800's hiss is only audible at high volumes at least higher than what I normally listen to (half way up the dial).

At regular volumes you have to put your ear against the speakers to hear it. I know it's the E800 hissing and not the receiver because it's hissed through other amps as well.

The only time the hiss is a problem is with those movies recorded at low levels. You know, those dramas. Most recently I rented Great Expectations and it was like this. I had to have the volume set way up to get it to normal listening levels. Why do they do that? Record at whisper levels?

In anycase, I didn't notice the hiss until a few months after I got the E800. If I'd have noticed it right away, I probably would have exchanged it or something.

The cheap spring clips on the back of the 435 are a weak link, but I like to terminate wires anyway. I just use pin connectors. Pins will allow you to use 12 gauge wire if you want (I use 16 gauge wire myself), you won't have any shorting problems and good pins won't slip out of the clips. Spring clips may not be as good as 5-way binding posts but I prefer them to friction clips. Friction clips tend to pop open.

THE REMOTE

I agree with people who have the same remote as I (the one that comes with the STR-DE 435, 635 & 835) that say that the "GREEN LETTERS" on "WHITE GLOW-IN-THE-DARK" buttons is really lame. Another thing I hate about the remote is the flip-up door. This is really a pain. Even though it may be well intentioned to hide lesser used buttons under a hidden door, inevitably, you always end up with buttons under the door that are used alot more often than anticipated. i.e. DVD menu contols. So trying to use this remote, in effect, becomes more cumbersome than just using two separate remotes. On the up side it does control most (but not all) the functions on all my other devices. Luckily, I have a One4all Cinema 7 w/ learning that controls my whole system the way I want do I'm not stuck with having to use a less competent remote. (I've posted a review on this device to in the "others" section of this web site.)

The Sony remote isn't totally bad. I guess you can get use to it. It does look nice and have a decent layout (except for the door). The one thing that I always liked about the remotes that come with receivers is that fact that when you hit the device key, it puts the remote in the mode to control the device you selected and at the same time switches the input on the receiver. But on the Cinema 7, with some creative macros you can still get it to do this.

COMPARED TO MY FRIENDS RECEIVER

I didn't do any actual a/b comparisons when I bought this receiver. I don't recommend doing this. I think you should compare as many as possible. But I have done so in the past and I'm satisfied with my purchase so far.

I can't really compare it to my old technics because it didn't have DD, although stereo and dpl wise I like the sony better.

A friend recently got a new Yamaha HT 4140. Although he has different speakers than mine (he uses some discontinued line of energy bookshelf speakers) as well as different sources and listening space (his room is bright, mine is more neutral). I have a good idea of what his speakers sound like and I could probably guess how the Yamaha would sound on my speaker system.

Like I said before, my speakers tend to be bright. His speakers are more mellow, but the Yamaha is bright so it's a good match. On my speakers, I'm sure the highs would be overly bright and tend to sound harsh.

His system does sound slightly more dynamic than mine in 2 channel stereo but he has an $800 powered sub and I have a $300 one so that's not unexpected. His is everybit as loud if not more so than mine, but remember I'm using sat's and he has bookshelves. In anycase, considered the Yamaha is rated at 70 watts and the Sony at 100 watts, I'd have to agree with Yamaha, Denon and other "high current" receiver owners when they say, "don't let the rated watts fool you."

My understanding is that volume is directly related to a ratio of watts, current (amps) and voltage, but since I never see a listing of more than one figure I guess you can't really compare by ratings.

In 2 channel stero his complete system maybe slightly more dynamic than mine, but I think mine is warmer and more full bodied. Personal opinion really. I think mine is more immersive. He thinks his is more transparent. For stereo sound quality, his is probably a little better overall. He thinks mine's strains at the mids but I don't hear any strain. I think we define our mids in different ways.

In multi channel it's hard to compare since he doesn't have a dd source. Obviously DD blows away DPL. But in DPL mode I think, again, mine is much more immersive than his. In DD my system really shines.

I use dipolar surrounds which is the form I prefer for surround and he uses direct radiators which he prefers, so that makes a difference in what we consider pleasing. Overall in multichannel, I prefer my system to his.

Both systems are pretty good for the price range of our systems. (about the $2000+ area) but both leave something to be desired when compared with much more expensive systems. Although I think for now my friend is in a total state of bliss with his system where as I am just very content with my system. I would not choose his over mine though.

CONCLUSION

So in conclusion, I would like to say. I think the 435 is a pretty damn good reciever for sub $500 recievers and one that works really well for my situation. If you don't already have a dd processor, get a reciever that does for only $50-100 more. Or, if you have a lot more money to spend, by all means, get a reciever that's a lot more expensive and enjoy the bragging rights that comes with it. At this price point, I don't think brand names are going to make much difference. If you're like me and you want something cheap and you already have a dd processor, go ahead and get one of these. $200 is damn cheap for a multichannel receiver.