Lots of features

sound level very low compared to others

Just received my new sony str-de875 and not to happy right now. How tried many things to get sound levels up to par. At this ponint and time we have to turn the volume up to 30 for avergarge listening and even higher to rock the room. I have also tested using head phones and get same results, so I know it's not the speakers. A friend of mine has s sony str-de635 and at quarter volume it is louder that the 875 at vloume 30 which is over 50% of the 875's capability.

What gives?? If anyone has any input, please e-mail me.

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Sony AV 1010

Auto dimming display, programmable remote, more functions than I'll ever use...

periodic faint hiss from rear channels depending on the mode,

It was time to upgrade the old Sony after watching DD/DTS movies at my brother-in-laws. Had to have DD at least.

Looked at JVC and Yamaha as well as Sony and bang for $, the Sony took the top choice as far as I'm concerned. That and the funky blue light the old Sony never had (not digital).

Doesn't have as many input/outputs (optical/digital) as the same level Yamaha, but for my needs, 3 optical and 3 S-Video inputs are more than satisfactory!

As for the rear channel hiss, it usually only happens during broadcasts from Satellite, so it may not be the reciever's fault... DVD's had no irregular sounds.

As for remote programming, the receivers might very well ship with various type remotes. Although my DVD may be newer than the receiver, it is the only component the needs it's own remote. TV, VCR, CD Player can all be operated by mine.

Being on a budget, this was a steal. No regrets from our clan. Anyone looking for an outstanding value in an entry level DD/DTS receiver might want to take a look/listen.

The previous posters pretty much covered everything else. No point in being redundant. A really decent purchase for a great price.

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STR-?575 Dolby PL

Good setup, easy to use

Remote - not programmable

Nothing special to say except that I love this receiver...I read on hometheaterforum.com that the DE series has hissing problems well let me just say that there is none! (I paused a DVD and cranked the volume to full off a digital out and there was no hissing)...I like the 6.1 virtual decoding since I have no room to put the 6th speaker...overall the sound is great...I have the unit at 60% of max volume and it rocks - everyone else in the house likes to listen to it at 40% and it still sounds great...overall a great product except for the remote which doesn't have built in macros and cannot be programmed...with my older receiver's remote I could turn on my TV, VCR, the AV Receiver and turn the TV into video mode all with one button...would have given it a 5 for overall rating had it been for that...

Tweakability is great...crossover frequency increments in 10Hz is great...lot of DSPs although I only use Ex A the others are more ear candy than anything else...

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Older Sony AV receiver from 1995

Power, Power, Power!! Lots of inputs (analog and digital), very versatile. Virtual 6.1 Matrix. S-Video inputs and outputs.

None

I love this receiver!! I got it as an upgrade to my 445, and this thing rocks!! I couldn't wait to get home from Best Buy to hook it up, and let me tell you, the wait was well worth it. It has so many inputs on the back, you can expand your home theater for years with this receiver. It has three optical inputs and even an optical output, so you can record to MD or DAT or whatever! I popped in The Fifth Element and Air Force One yesterday, and I think I scared all my neighbors away, because this thing totally blows the roof off the place in DTS! You've got to buy this receiver at your earliest chance, you will not be disappointed in the least. Trust me!!

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Sony STR-DE 445

Good sound, remote if you don't need it to learn.

No learning remote, no tape input, digital inputs aren't assignable

I bought this with some Polk audio speakers at Circuit City as a first attempt at a home theater. I already had a cd changer, dvd player, vcr, and tv so this was going to complete my setup. After a couple of days I realized that there was no way on earth I was going to get that remote to control my cable box, so I started shopping for universal learning remotes. Finally I decided that for $100 more, I could get the 975 (next model up) and get a learning remote as well as more power, etc. You can read my review of the 975 if you like, but to sum up it was a total piece of junk. Both these receivers produce a "pop" or a "thud" from the subwoofer when you change inputs, or EQ settings, or anything else really. Sony seemed unaware of the problem when I called them. I thought maybe I was getting some weird ground loop in my old house, but when I went back to the store and listened to their's, their's did it too. Aside from that, the sound was fine and the granularity of the audio settings is nice (bass, mid, and treble, as well as tons of subwoofer cutoff settings). I just wish Sony would take a hint from Pioneer and make the digital inputs assignable. My cd player was on DAT/tape and my cable box had to be hooked to dvd (only coax in) and my dvd player was hooked to TV/SAT in. The remotes on this year's Sonys are very nice (it's worth the $$ for the 975 to get the learning remote though). Overall, I'm sure most people could get used to all the minor issues if it weren't for the subwoofer popping all the time.

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STR-DE975, Pioneer Elite VSX-33TX

good all round use

cant reassign digital inputs to what you want - ie digital cable is a coax feed not an optical and its irritating with sat coming through dvd label

primarily used for dvds its leaps and bounds ahead of jvc products. Im using homemade glass speakers more in the satelite mode (size wise) so this receiver is perfect for them. Cant comment on power for larger speakers.

can be set up straight from the box - just hook in the cables and push autoformat input button and ready to go

i wanted an onkyo but wasnt paying the asking price - to be honest now I have this one I wont need another receiver till i have a bigger room and better speakers

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onkyo jvc

DD, DTS, and Virual 6.1 all sound great.

I have found none so far.

I'm happy with this reciever. I use it for home theater and video game playing and couldn't be more happy. I have never noticed any hissing or any of the other problems that other reviewers noted. Bass sounds great with a sub.

I think that this reciever is the best one that you will find for the price.

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Sony STR DE545, Kenwood and Pioneer recievers

Many inputs and outputs, including optical

manual could be better, especially the index
ADF was somewhat confusing

This receiver does have excellent DTS separation. The manual is somewhat informative, but always leaves you wanting just a bit more. The remote is also somewhat overbearing at first.

I still have yet to figure out the video out from the receiver. I couldn't get any video output to either TV. I'm assuming this is for some type of on screen programming.

My biggest problem came from the ADF (Automatic Decoding Format) button. It's supposed to automatically decode the signal coming in. But this only works when you have the correct inputs selected. I started with RCA's from the DVD and everything worked. When I went to Optical, no more audio. Hitting the ADF button did nothing. Then I found out that I had to hit the INPUT button to select the Optical inputs. I has assumed that was part fo the ADF function. Once I had that figured out, everything was great.

As for little to no bass response, that's likely from not selecting the correct speaker size (Large or Small) for your main speakers. Also, adjusting the cross-over points for each particular speaker should alleviate that problem.

Overall though, this is one of the best "bang for the buck" A/V receivers out there.

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other Sony's and Technics DTS receivers

Eveything

Nothing

This is a great reciever.

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This Is my first reciever