For all of you who posted 2 speakers and below, I can hear ya and I can understand your pain!!! I am posting this review to let people know that Sony DOES make high quality stuff - but it's not the STR-DExxx (crap)line!!!
Have you guys tried the STR-DAxxx (ES) or STR-DBxxx (QS) series? Their low end models are close to $400!!!

Do ask for STR-DB830 or STR-DA333es, of course you will not get them at Circuit City or Best Buy! Call JandR, OneCall or Crutchfield and do NOT waste your money on this "just lots of input/output - DD DTS - no sound quality" junk.

Price and features

Sound quality

The price got me, but the sound compared to the Pioneer VSA-D801S (pro-logic) I have used for the past 4 years sounds a little flat. The Sony sounds good, just not as good as my old pioneer. I wanted the dolby digital and DTS , I am running Klipsch KLF-10's, KLF-C7 and KSP-S6 surrounds, before I did not need a sub, now I do. I suppose it is a matter of you get what you pay for, for what it cost it is a good deal.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer, Yamaha

Good Price, Range of Inputs, Ease of Use

Unreliable, Doesn't Last

I was very pleased with this product when I first bought it. After around 6 months of use, I keep getting the message PROTECTOR and the unit locks up. I've read of other accounts of this happening and I figure it is a defect in the line. I am returning the unit tomorrow for another line of product.

Similar Products Used:

None

As many features as higher priced models, great quality

a little tricky to learn, remote struggles a bit.

If you don't have this product, don't review it. I was reading the reviews and I notice one guy who gave this unit 1 star and talks about how Sonys have never been high quality. its obvious he doesn't own this model and he literally is just ranting about his own personal beliefs. If you have this product and don't like it, fine...that's what this forum is for, but don't give me our take on Sony and their whole line of products. You screw up the rankings and mislead people.

My review, this product is one the best things you can get for the money. i got it for $299 and for that price, it is impossible to get what this offers. I have had no problems at all. The sound is impecable and very crisp. i am using both optical decoders, vcr, dvd, cd, and tv hookups. This system is managing everything and works great.

My only minus is the back of the unit. I'm using bi-wiring speakers and it gets a little crowded back there, but I guess bi-wiring isn't too popular yet.

lots of features, bang for the buck

the remote control's buttons are illegible in low-light.

pretty happy with purchase. equalizer is nice, and am
happy with dolby-digital mode.

Lots of soundfields, remote is the best one I own, Lots of A/V inputs and outputs

All the outputs and inputs are over rated because the reciever still sucks ass. Lots of problems with it, consumes too much power. Leihman's terms-100% JUNK!

Ok, here goes- I bought the Sony 835 because of (stupid answer but true) all the buttons and lights, the low price, and a good Sears salesman saying it was the best reciever ever and it was better than the ES models (STUPID ME FOR BELIVING HIM!) Anyways, I had bought it as Sears in North Dakota and had they sent it 2 day UPS air delivery ("garaunteed") to my house in Alaska. About a month later I get it after 3 order cancelations and UPS not delivering during the times they said, therefore i wasn't home when they came. The first problem i had with it- a hissing sound in all the speakers, and it was so bad in the back speakers i had to unhook them so I didnt have to listen to it. Brought it back to the Sears up here and got a new 835. Worked perfect, until I "blew up" my 300 watt Cerwin-Vega E-312. I returned those and got the E-712's for $28. (hehehe) I hooked them up and the sound was still crappy. Turns out all the speaker outputs got blow out somehow (it wasn't the speakers after all so, so I just got $580 speakers for $28. Good deal wouldn't you say?). I was not impressed with this reciever so I brought it back to Sears and told them that it was junk and I wanted my $400 back. After a few minutes of fighting with them, I get my $400 and go to a local Sony dealer, which was supposed to have closed 15 minutes earlier. I told the salesman there that I was looking for the Sony STR-DB830. He said they had a few in stock and they were priced at $440. (!) He said he wasnt sure about the price so he went to the back and said he quoted me the wrong price (by $60!), but since he wanted to go home, he would let me have it for $440. i got out my wallet and gave him the money right there and he went back and had me fill out a form quick and I took it home and hooked it up. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! Any of you people out there that are thinking "Its pretty much the same thing, just a different front cover," YOU HAVE SOME NERVE! I dont know why I bought the 835 after hearing this one, and its only been 2 days since I got it. The sound is 10 times better and there is 2 times more bass (correct me if im wrong but thats what it sounds like to me. Plus it gets so much louder and not so freaking hot!) Another problem i had with the 835 was how hot it got. i had to take my cd player off the top of it because it was so hot. When I got it I didn't think it would be that big of a deal (after geting the 830, I much more careful in what I buy.) so if you want a high quality reciever, DO NOT GET THE SONY DE LINE! get the DB830 and you will NOT be dissapointed

Similar Products Used:

STR-DB830 (I bought this one after i returned the 835 2 times

Very good value, comprehensive features

Front panel ergonomics are poor. Buttons have sharp edges, jog dial is hard to turn. Seems to run very hot. The remote is a real pain, with it's unreadable buttons.

Upgraded from a Pro-Logic receiver. Great difference running in Digital. Very pleased with this receiver, but concerned about it's long term reliability. Will probably put a cooling fan in.

Features to buck ratio. Amount of customization available. Ability of remote to control my HT.

Trying to control my HT in the dark with my remote.

I've been running this thing pretty much for the last week non stop in all modes. I have not had any problems with heat from the unit. I did have a small amount of hum emitting out of my rear surrounds(Infinity Rs2's). This was quickly fixed by making sure that the power cords and speaker wire were not tangled in the back since they are both on the same side. Haven't had any problems with EMF to the sub( Using 400 series Monster Cable 2m).

The box has plenty of power to fill up more than 1 room and plenty of bass. In addition to the aforementioned equip it's driving a pair of Infinity Rs3's up front and cc-3 center with crystal clarity.

Remember, there are a lot of variables that need to checked out to get the most out of your system. ie: room shape, wall material, etc...

With my experiences so far, i'd recommend it highly.

Very good sound
DTS
extremely tweakable
value
cool blue light

Runs very hot.- I just got through watching Daylight- DTS and can smell it simmering now
In small transitional sections on DVD's where the sound track drops out, the decoders have a latency problem, causing some of the initial audio to clip.

Great price for the features. Picked this one up for $349 at Electronics Express in Nashville, TN. Sound is a little harsh and bright out of the box, but the EXCELLENT eq and other fine tuning options allow you to customize the sound to your liking. After some tweaking it sounded great. The digital cinema processing modes are cool, although they seem a little artifical and some of the cinema modes seem to overdrive and distort the sound a little. I found that using the regular surround mode with my own personal eq settings to be the best route to go.

The heat concerns me, though. So far everyting is good, and I hope it stays that way.


Something else that bothers me is in small transitional sections on DVD's where the sound track drops out, the decoders have a latency problem, clipping the initial audio.
I think this has to do with the fact that the receiver analizes the incoming audio to select the best surround mode every time there is a new sound stream. These small gaps in some DVD's are not intended to be new sound streams, obviously, but the on board hardware interprets them that way. Not may discs, though, have these little audio gaps in scence changes, so it is not a huge deal.

Overall I am satisfied with my purchase. I recommend this unit to all but the serious audiophies that can actually afford the really, really good stuff.

High Quality DSP Effects, Nicely laid out front-panel controls, Clean DTS and DD, Adjustable EQ properties

Adustable EQ properties, Poorly designed remote

The sound is flat and dull, quite uninspiring. This is going back. Well, that's what I thought before I figured out how to adjust the EQ. This seems to be a mandatory initial step in setting this digital receiver up.

I've experienced no problems of "hissing" or heating...but I don't have my face laying on the unit. I've enjoyed many movies (Matrix, The Mummy, The Last Kiss Goodnight) at extreme volume levels without any problems.

My only complaint thus far worth mentioning is the remote. What a ridiculous design. Glowing keys with faint white/green lettering makes for impossible reading in the dark (they dont even glow really). Most of the time I don't know if I'm controlling my TV, VCR or what. So, I end up having more than one remote to control the volume.

For reference, Sony 515's were used for the front speakers. An Aiwa powered sub and Cambridge rear speakers were used too, along with a Pioneer center. Cables were Monster. Sony 330 DVD linked digitally via coaxial.

Five stars would be shining if it weren't for the remote, an integral part of any home-theater system.