Nice clean sound, good power, easy to use, many features, no major complaints at all.

Many features I will never use, like different sound modes..but others may use them, just personal preference.

My speaker setup consists of : PSB Stratus Bronze L/R, Infinity Center, Bose 161 rears. PSB capable of 300W, 200 Constant, center is 150, rears..well, how do you figure Bose wattage? 150 w subwoofer.

I had a problem with setting up a reciever that could not only power up my speakers, but that had the discrete amps and controls, with balance and power for the reason of the size and layout of my den. It sits in a 50x30 room with acoustic ceiling and carpet, with wood paneling to dampen the sound.

My previous receiver was a Kenwood VR series, rated 100w per 5 channels. I never saw it even come close to that, it seemed it peaked around 65w per before distorting. Same with the Aiwa and Onkyo, though the Onkyo had much cleaner sound, just lack of power. Sounded decent with cheap speakers, but doesnt have the oomph to push good ones.

Then I picked the Sony up. Never was too keen on Sony sound, but figured I would chance it and see what it could do. This receiver has lots of optical, rc, and S-vid hookups with the option of using 2 subwoofers. Rated at 110w per channel x5 with an option for 4 or 8 Ohm on the left and right which is nice as my PSB's are 4 ohms.

After powering up, I have never heard my speakers perform so well! Even with the size of my room, I can only crank it around 70% and it shakes the piano upstairs! And cleanly! It has several options for sound, many I do not care for..like the Arena, Church, etc..as they cause an echo that makes it sound exactly like you are in a huge hall. Not a shabby imitation like others, just not my style..but it sounds just like an auditorium. It has several Sony Picture Studios sound recordings as well, with the Smart remote. It has an EQ function that allows you to set it just the way you want it to and save the settings which is nice. This thing is nice!

Then I tried it in Stereo mode with just the 2 fronts, and I was surprised that a receiver in this range could sound that good! Many in this price range sound good in Surround, but not in Stereo with music. Nice speakers help, but this has NO problem pushing them, at low or high volume it has a nice clean, sound. The DTS and Dolby Digital sound awesome with beautiful separation and clarity. You cannot go wrong with this unit, and I have seen them as low as 333 bucks online!

I paid 50 bucks more, but have absolutely no regrets. For the price, it will be hard to find a receiver in this class. Not as tinny as the Yamahas or early Sonys, more power than Kenwood, just as clean as Onkyo with more power...and sounds decent even with the cheap speakers I hooked up in the kitchen, as this also has controls for seperate rooms, which is nice. With a 3000 dollar speaker setup like mine, or with a 100 dollar setup..it will sound decent! Highly recommended!.

Similar Products Used:

Kenwood, Aiwa, Onkyo

Strong receiver, plenty of outputs/inputs, multiple environments, dual sub-outs, 2nd room option, TONS 'O OPTIONS!!!!!!!!!!

remote isn't backlite

Last summer I fried my pioneer hooking up my turntables(damn gemini mixers) so needless to say that after 6 months of living without a receiver I NEEDED to find one. I looked around and dicided to give sony a once over. Previously I wan't that big of a fan considering how cheap I thought their final product was (look at the first couple generations of PSX's for an example). However when I went to best buy and looked around I started comparing prices to options and decided to give this sony a try. Today I'm happy as can be. I have paradigm monitor 7's hooked up to the front and plan on getting the ADP-170's for surrounds and the CC-370 for the center. The sound is crisp and I have yet to here the "sony hissing". Perhaps some people just don't know how to hook up a system properly. None the less I give it 2 thumbs up for the features/power-to-price comparison.

Similar Products Used:

pioneer (can't remember the model number)

-110 watts per channel
-loads of extras
-price
-remote seems pretty good

-hissing

Being a on a scrict budget and this being my first foray into Home Theater/Entertainment I don't think I could have beat the price to performance on this receiver. I originially intended to get a sony STR-DE675 but upon spotting this auction had to buy. 550 watts of power, 2 subwoofer outputs, DD, DTS, load of inputs, S Video, 2nd Room operation all made it a good buy. The only weakness through the entire receiver is that it hisses, with componey selected, but no output it becimes very noticable around 30-32 (max 49). I guess this is the infamous Sony hiss I've heard about. For a beginner such as myself this seems to be a good amp for casual listening and whatnot, but if you know what your doing a better amp would, particulary one that does not hiss.

Similar Products Used:

My fathers old sony receiver, AIWA Shelf stereo systems

good remote more than enough inputs and outputs good power good looks price

can not make popcorn speaker binding posts a little to close together

was going to buy the denon 3802 but decided on the sony i heard a lot of units they basicly sound the same with the same speakers at the same volume level but the low price of the sony got my vote there is no hiss no getting hot like with the 945? the remote is fast and easy to use but it is short on battery life small price to pay the sound is great with pro logic set to off in cinema ex b mode with my small bookshellf speakers in 2 chanell mode the sound is thin and weak that tis o be expected with small speakers to sum up i did not go wrong with my purchase verry pleased everytime i listen to cds dvd or satelite broadcasts a big two thumbs up five stars

Similar Products Used:

vintage seperates dbx