Before you spend 499.00 on this unit, check out the Sony 333ES, I got mine and it does not have the problems this unit has. It also has a Five Year warranty, two more s-video's ,Pre outs, And High Current Design. I love it, plenty of crisp clean power, AC-3 and DTS are terrific. The unit cost me $566.00 Shipped from JandR Music World, I spoke with willie, they are a Sony Authorised Dealer.

Five Stars For the 333ES
One For the 935

I received mine on Tuesday this week. So far I have been pleased with it. Great sound to my speakers. Set up was not that bad, the remote works fine (I have all Sony components). I give it five stars for now.

This reciever has got to be one of the best recievers I have listened to in a long time. The 1st reciever I bought was a Pioneer VSX-608 but it had no BASS what so ever and to get the DTS to work was so much of a chore I returned it. If you have a DTS compatible DVD and a HI-FI VCR than this reciever is for you. The remote takes a little to get used to but what is'nt nowawadays. I purchased this reciever at Circuit City for $469 and it is worth every penny...

Purchased the 935 about a month ago from Crutchfield along with the Polk 5400 home theater speaker package. No problem with this hissing in the rear speakers (knock wood). All movies I've watched are from the vcr, since the DVD player is coming during the holidays. Soundfields are great, but I'm still playing around with how to setup some of the other features. Remote is good and I've figured out how to control the TV (Proscan), vcr (Panasonic) and cable box (jerrold). 4 stars and will probably go to 5 when I get the dvd player and all the options figured out.

Well, I finally got my 935 from Circuit City, IT took them 2 and a half weeks! They were back ordered. Well here is the deal that I got: the 935 and a set of Technics surround speakers that are worth about 70 bucks for $499 but I alsogot them to take off an extra 20 dollars because of the delay in ordering! So
far i've had it for a whole 3 days, and I've had it fully set up the first day
that I had it. Here are the things that I like about this unit:

1. The "looks" - The front looks nice and clean, the jog dial takes care of the need to have to many little buttons on the front.
2. The sound is clear and powerful yet moderately warm and fully customizable to your speakers and room.
3. You can vary the amount of the effect for each soundfield! For example for dolby prologic, you can vary the prologic effect for 0% (no prologic) to 100% (for all prologic)
4. Built in EQ!
5. Channel seperation is great with DD and DTS!
6. It has a nice built in pre-amp for my turntable, sounds great!
7. And most importantaly of all, it makes the room shake!

Some things that I don't like:
1. The remote! I don't see the point of having the LCD display on the remote,
it is just extra and doesn't really do much for you except use up your batteries! I have all sony components and still i'm having trouble turning
on and off the receiver with the remote. I think it is because the receiver
is off to the side of the room and not directly facing me.
2. The manual. It is a little pamplet about 30 to 40 pages? I would expect
from Sony a manual that is atleast a 100 pages or so. This one leaves out alot
of detail and is more like a summary card instead of a full blown manual.
3. Although i've touched the unit and it was never really HOT HOT, it did get
pretty warm. I think sony could have thrown a little 2 dollar fan in there, there is plenty of room for it inside.
4. I think sony should have added another sound mode called 4 speaker stereo where it connects your rear speakers in parallel with your front speakers so you could get a real dance club effect.
5. I think the tuner should be a little more sensative, maybe I just need to
get a better antenna then what they supplied, but I honestly get better reception on my JVC shelf system in my bedroom then what I get with the sony.
I didn't really buy the unit to listen to the radio anyway.


These are all the things I can think of now, i've only had it for 3 days, I will post a follow up in a week or two. So far I haven't had any of the problems described here in the other posts, but I should wait about 2 weeks before taking too much pride in this receiver. I got the extended warranty on this because of what some of the other posts said, I didn't want to take any chances. For right now I will give it 5 stars rounded out. It is really 4 1/2 stars. Thanks.

I purchased a Sony STRDE935 from Circuit City, and immediately took it home and started to hook up all the wires. Hook up was simple. I immediately turned on the receiver and the function buttons would not work. Back to Ciruit City I went, but not before scratching my stereo cabinet when I unhooked the wires.
Of course CC had no units in stock, so I had to wait four days to receive a new unit. Back at home I hooked up the new unit. Turned it on and it hummed.
Back to CC it went.

To all married men, I'm sure you probably know what your wife will be saying to you by now.

Four days later I had another unit. Hooked it up. Crossed my fingers and the unit worked perfectly. Sound quality was good, and the unit was simple to work.

I have been purchasing Sony products for years and this is the first major problem I had with Sony. Of course during my four trips to Circuit City, I was told no one else has had a problem with this unit.

I would like to advise everyone who has had problems with this unit to return it. Quality control seems to be a problem with the STRDE935, but if you have the patience and time countinue to return the unit until you receive a unit that operates properly.

I'm incredibly frustrated with this unit. Sony's high-tech 3-line backlit LCD remote doesn't work!
Sometimes, granted, it works great, and then it's a fantastic system. Much of the time, though, I simply cannot control the reciever with the remote - the 2 way communication icons on the remote flash for a little while, or just one of them will flash, and nothing happens.

$469 for _this_. Uggh. I've had no problems with any other remotes I've ever owned, but this takes the cake.

I think I'll go shopping for a DE835 with a "normal" remote.

Two stars - easy setup, easy connections, good documentation, but horribly bad remote that makes it a useless system unless you don't need a remote.

Let me start by saying I have always been a Sony Fan. Even though this is a low rating I think Sony makes good equipment!
Bad Points about the STR-DE935
1) Hissing from all channels especially in Pro-Logic Mode or SDDS. Even sometimes you get crackling from the rears.
2) No Binding Posts for Center and Rear Channels.
3) Remote is TERRIBLE!
4) Codes for Remote does not work all my equipment.
5) Noise when adjusting volume knob.
6) Will Run Hot if played for extended periods. Over 4 hours. NO FAN!!!
7) Only 2 S-Video In.
8) Setup must be dont from unit.
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Good Points.

1) Adjustable EQ Frequencies for all channels.
2) Great Bass Output with or without Bass Boost.
3) Blue Bar Illumination for Multi-Channel Decoding.
4) S-Link for Sony Components.
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I purchased this unit as soon as it was released. I was very excited and was impatient waiting for this unit only to be majorly disappointed! For starters the digital inputs are not assignable. I have a DVD and a LD player and one of them has to be plugged into TV/SAT which gives me no optical for the SAT. No CD Optical!! BIG MISTAKE!! 2 S-VIDEOS for units I dont even use S-VIDEO (DVD, VCR) My DVD is component which makes that useless!!
Terrible hissing is acquired through the rears during playing in any surround mode!! Fronts also produce a modest hissing!! SDDS is useless with Echo and Reverberation that is terrible. On to the Remote. Terrible display that is small and hard to read. Alot of functions for individual components are not offered. Does not even work 2 of my units!!
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Overall Sound Quality is at a Medium at best. DTS sounds the best with very good seperation. High power output is modestly ok. For a receiver that runs you $500.00 it is not worth it. It will go back to the store!!
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I still remain a Sony Fan and would continue to buy other products from them, just not receivers. ES is better but for the price you can get Nakamichi, HK, and Denon (which is what I am ordering) with much better design and Sound Quality that only rivals these top brands. Unless you want to by seperates and go with Krell I suggest you stay clear from Sony Receivers and pay a couple hundred extra dollars and go top end! You will be glad you did.
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I Hope this helped.

Before I purchased the strde935 I had purchased the onkyo 575. I was very disaponted with the onkyo, It had no power no bass and no features. Damping factor is 60dB. That is terrible. onkyo went down the tubes. So I returned the onkyo and ordered the sony. I was very scepticle about it because I never was a sony fan. This reciever is incredible. It does everything you can imagine and has tons off power and gobbs of bass. I have a powered sub, floor standing speakers with 12's. It powers my speakers way more than my old JVC 717. The remote is ok not great , but you can upgrade it to a better lcd model. All the reviewers out there that rated the onkyo and says power is good must have expesive puny speakers with 6 inch drivers and built in powered subs. I just have to say that sony did well with this reciever great power,super surround,S-Video in and out,4optics,3Video outs 2 in, tape,cd,md,phono,tv/sat,dvd and 5.1 channel input with dts. oh 2subs out and a second audio feature. Noy to mention the suround modes all work great and dont sound fake like the 575. You can also fine tine each soundfield manualy to get the best sound for each unlike the 575.I have no noise problems no heat problems and the remote works fine(just use your noodle a little bit)I am giving this product 5 stars becuase it put a smile on my face ear to ear.

This reciever is pure junk. First theres lot audibile hissing, and crackling, especially in the center. I first had the DB930 which also had the same problem which I exchanged 2, and now this. There's something wrong with Sony as a company. I later purchased the HK AVR 65 and am totally happy with it, I compared it to many recievers and can honestly say it sounds better.