Sony TDM-IP1 Digital Media Port iPod Dock Review

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(More customer reviews)I work from home and listen to an iPod quite a lot. Recently, I purchased a Sony Home Theater System (model DAV-HDX 500). Initially, I connected my iPod to the Sony via the ubiquitous Apple iPod cradle; however, controlling the iPod manually got old in a hurry.
The unit came equipped with an attached digital media port cable, which connected directly to the Sony receiver's DMPort. A separate video cable was supplied, which I connected directly to the TV's video-in RCA connector. The unit can also be used with a separately purchased video cable connected between the receiver and TV.
Setup was very simple and after I configured my Sony receiver to "DMPort1" and the TV to "AV1", a facsimile of the iPod's screen appeared on the TV and I was able to control the iPod by way of the Sony remote.
Visually, the menu is a little on the chunky side, but highly legible. Screen color may be set to Red, Green, Blue, and a couple variants of Gray. There are also modest on-screen controls for a screensaver, song shuffle, and song repeat.
The only moving part on the TDM-iP1 is a button, which allows users to switch between the iPod's own controls and control by way of a remote control.
The TDM-iP1 does charge the cradled iPod. This, however, may be the unit's major weekness, since the AV system must be powered for charging to occur. A separate power input would have been a nice touch.
At present, the Sony TDM-iP1 is selling for just under $100. In time, I would think the cost might drop to about $50, which is what I believe it's worth, despite its functionality and appearance. The unit's high price is why I've given it four stars; otherwise, the Sony TDM-iP1 functions as advertised.
As an aside, the Logitech Harmony 520 remote control can be configured quite nicely to control a TDM-iP1 by way of the Sony DAV-HDX 500. Nothing like one remote for all your audio and video components.


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Display your iPod® on the smooth and modern Sony TDM-IP1 Digital Media Port iPod Dock and unleash the power of your music. Take full advantage of your DMP compatible BRAVIA® home theater system or audio receiver's sound when you connect an iPod® to the DMP. It lets you search through your music or view video from your iPod right on your television. For added convenience, the dock also charges your iPod's battery.

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Sony STRDH820 7.2 Channel 3D AV Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)Let me start off by saying that I'm not new to home theater equipment. I've been using receivers for about 10 years now (SONY STR-* receivers) and have been generally happy with them.
When looking for an upgrade from my previous 7.1 receiver to one that supports the new HD audio formats (DTS-HDMA, Dolby TrueHD, LPCM), this one seemed to be the newest, cheapest, full-featured model available (about 300 dollars) without going for last years' model for slightly less. When I mention my "previous receiver", I'm referring to a ~4 or so year old STR-DV10 receiver that cost about 200 bucks at the time (new/retail price).
The first surprise was that this is actually a 7.2 receiver (even stated as such on the box) - it has 2 Subwoofer outputs on the back (Amazon is listing it as a 7.1 channel receiver).
One important thing to me were the speaker outputs on the back - these are all "banana plug" style, making it MUCH more convenient to attach speakers (my previous receivers were the same, but looking at other models it seems like this isn't exactly something that comes standard on all receivers - the others I looked at used the other connection method).
Regarding the speakers, one important thing to note is that the traditional 5 channels are all there (Center, Front left/Right, Surround left/right) but the other 2 channels are split between: SURROUND BACK, FRONT HIGH, BI-AMP, or FRONT B - this means you can only use one of these modes (so if you want to use a 7.1 system, you can't also have a separate "B Speakers" setup). Not important to me, but worth noting in case it's important to you. My previous sony receiver (STR-DV10) had 7 Banana plug inputs (for the 7.1) plus 2 Banana plug inputs for the "B" speakers.
Inputs on the back are:
4 HDMI in, 1 HDMI out
2 Component in, 1 Component out (it actually SAYS 3 component in everywhere, but unless the COMPONENT OUT can be swapped to Component In, there are only 2 inputs).
About 7 Stereo (red/white) inputs and multiple outputs, 4 of them having a video (yellow) input. (1 of these Red/White/Yellow inputs is on the front)
1 Digital Coaxial input
2 Optical Inputs
1 AM input, 1 FM input (plus antennas)
1 USB input (on the front)
I will note that there is no S-Video input - my previous receivers had this and I *DID* use it years ago. I don't have any S-Video devices any longer, but it is worth noting (for those who do) there is no S-Video option here (RCA, Component or HDMI). My previous receiver had 3 S-Video inputs right next to the RCA inputs.
I didn't have a need for the RCA (red/white/yellow) inputs, so I can't go too into detail about them - if you have a specific question, leave a comment and I'll try to check for you.
It is a bit disappointing that there is a lack of Optical inputs - a number of my devices still use optical audio (and have no HDMI output -- the original XBox 360, some tuners and slightly older hardware - having only 2 Optical inputs is a problem for me (my previous SONY receiver had 4 optical and 2 digital coaxial)).
The design is somewhat good, somewhat bad.
I like the black metal - much nicer than my previous (Silver) sony receiver. On the downside, most of the buttons are removed from the receiver. My last one let you do just about EVERYTHING from the receiver, the new one seems to have combined buttons (the Input Select, for example, is no longer a button you press for the input you want (EX: Video 1, Video 2, Video 3, DVD, Game, Aux) but rather a jog-dial you turn to select what you want. The nice blue "Multi Channel Decoding" LED up front is gone, but not a big deal. Lastly, the RCA input on the front doesn't look too great - it would have been nice to have a flip-cover on this, but again that's just nit-picking.
One unexpected surprise is the inclusion of an iPod/iPhone dock - all throughout the materials it says "iPod/iPhone connection cord (sold separately)", but it includes a dock (with USB cable and Video cable) - both of these connect to the front of the receiver. In addition to the iPod/iPhone dock, you can plug in a USB drive or select MP3 players to listen to music. A nice addition.
Another surprise was the inclusion of a microphone for Auto Calibration. I haven't tested this, but the microphone has a nice reach (probably 15 feet?), making it long enough for most rooms. This is supposed to automatically set the levels of the speakers for you.
The remote control, to me, was a nightmare. It looks like the PS3 remote control (nice!) but is about 2" taller.
The problem is that they try to add EVERYTHING to the remote control. Half the buttons have multiple functions (theres a "shift" button), and it's near impossible to find some stuff.
AutoCal, Display, Sound Optimizer, Sound Field+, Sound Field-, Guide, GUI Mode, Tools/Options, Disc Skip, iPhone ctrl, Top Menu, Menu, TV Input, Wide, F1, F2, Auto Vol, Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, D. Tuning, Folder+, Folder-, to name a few.
I'm sure these are good to have, but it's just very confusing to deal with when you might rarely use any of these (which was nice previously when they were part of the physical buttons on the unit (or even menu options) on previous models. Having "Next Chapter" and "Shuffle" be the same button, "Stop" and "D. Tuning, " Auto Cal and Display, it's just confusing.
The purpose is so that you can program it to work with your TV, Blu-Ray player, etc.. but for those who just want to use it for the receiver functions (and use your existing remote controls) this is just a hassle.
Some buttons I don't even understand - I get the "Prev. Chapter"/"Next Chapter" button, the "Rewind"/"Fast Forward" button, but then there's another button for "Replay the previous scene or fast forward the current scene".
One thing my previous receiver didn't have was an onscreen GUI - maybe I was expecting too much from this (I was expecting an overlay on top of the screen input), it actually cuts out the video/audio and goes to a very basic GUI (graphical user interface) on screen. Fortunately you can control menu options by pressing GUI MODE on the remote control until it says "GUI OFF", then press the HOME/MENU button on the remote control to navigate the same options on the receivers' display.
The remote control has a "Bravia Sync" mode, which is supposed to let you control connected SONY products using the remote control. Check your products before though, to see if they work (the old, "Fat" PS3 doesn't support this, the new "Slim" PS3 does). This did cause issues with my Panasonic plasma (Panasonic has a feature called VieraLink which is supposed to do the same thing, but when BraviaSync and VieraLink try to interact, it causes the receiver to constantly go into MUTE mode. This can be solved by disabling VieraLink on the TV).
My next problem with this is the manual. So much of it is just downright confusing (even for someone who has always "gotten" this stuff in the past). It refers to different logos ("Select (weird logo) then press (weird logo)". Sometimes these are a physical button on the remote, sometimes it's an odd icon you only see onscreen using GUI mode. It's also just downright confusing to read (not that it's too technical, but that some stuff just doesn't make sense)
So I've complained for almost this entire review, but I still gave it a 4-star rating. Why?
Well, I like it. The sound quality is great, it has a lot of HDMI inputs and can decode all the latest formats (Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio), has a lot of power and doesn't cost too much money. My issues are mostly with it being more confusing (they seemed to both simplify it and make it more advanced, and you can't really do both). For someone who has never had issues with receivers, this one was a nightmare to get set up properly, but once that's done it doesn't matter. I would have made some changes to it (7 RCA inputs but only 2 Optical inputs?), but overall it fit my needs. I'd recommend it if you have patience to fight through getting this set up.

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Enjoy 7.1 channels of incredible surround sound, connect up to seven HD sources6 and listen to music from your iPod5 with Sony's STR-DH820 receiver. Improve the quality of connected video sources to near HD quality3 or experience incredible sound quality while you watch 3D sports, movies and games from connected 3D devices1. This great receiver also features an easy-to-use menu for simple operation and convenient audio calibration set-up, so you are assured the best possible listening experience

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Sony STR-DE595 - AV receiver - 5.1 channel Review

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(More customer reviews)I recently received this Sony receiver and am very pleased with it. The hook up was quick and easy and the owners manual is well-written. I wanted something specifically with Optical sound inputs and this unit has not one, but two of them, along with a digital coaxial input port. The first thing I did upon hooking up this receiver was to play a DVD which I had just recently played on my non-optical receiver that I am replacing.
Let me tell you...I started hearing sounds from this DVD that I never heard before!! I just stood in the middle of the room laughing at the amazing sound that was now coming from my speakers! I now know what true 5.1 surround sound is supposed to sound like. The channel separation was amazing and the multiple output modes (movie, music, concert hall, etc.) were fun to play with. I am able to tell this receiver exactly how far away from the speakers I am sitting and even tell it if the rear channel speakers are sitting high or low. This receiver has a large variety of customizable features that are simple enough for a novice like me to understand and program. The price is great, the features are great and I am completely pleased and cannot imagine upgrading again for a long, long time.

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This full-featured surround receiver is ready to take on media of today and tomorrow. The STR-DE595 pumps out 100 watts per channel across five main channels (left, right, center, left/right surround) and has a dedicated subwoofer output for a seventh. You get everything from Dolby Digital and DTS surround decoding to Dolby Pro Logic II processing (creating 5.1 channels from two) and 5.1-channel analog inputs to accommodate the latest high-resolution audio formats.The receiver includes an FM/AM tuner with 30 station presets (20 FM, 10 AM) and three video inputs to simplify switching between components and your television. Two of the inputs are for standard composite-video (yellow RCA jack), while the third is ready for wide bandwidth (80 MHz) high-definition component-video signals.There's no phono input, but the unit's two stereo and one multichannel analog audio inputs simplify hookup of, for instance, a cassette deck, a VCR, and a high-resolution audio device that decodes formats like SACD and DVD-Audio. Three digital-audio inputs (two optical and one coaxial) accept bitstream feeds from DVD players, CD players, and other digital devices.An additional "B" speaker output lets you enjoy music or movie sound in a room other than your central listening area (speaker cable not included).What's in the Box Receiver, UniCommander preprogrammed remote control, 2 AA batteries, AM loop antenna, FM wire antenna, a sheet on correct loudspeaker connections, owner registration card, user's manual, and warranty information.

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Sony STR-DG800 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver with HDMI Passthrough Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a follow up to my previous review on Sony STR-DG800 Receiver with HDMI Passthrough. I mentioned that if a HD DVD is plugged in to the DVD HDMI port on the Sony Receiver, there will be no audio coming from the Sony Receiver audio system as all audio and video signals are passed-thru (hense by-passed) directly to the televison. Consequently, you do not have the quality sound from your home entertainment center.
Well I found a work-a-round for this problem but it still require either an Optical Audio Cable or a Coaxial Audio Cable. It is similiar to the SAT/TV solution using the Optical Audio Cable that I memtioned in the previous review.
Coaxial Cable: You can plug a Coaxial Digital Cable coming from your HD-DVD player into the Coaxial Digital input port on the Sony receiver. This coaxial input port will work with the DVD HDMI input port to give you audio through the Sony receiver. Obvioulsy you will have to have a Coaxial Digital output on you HD-DVD Player.
Optical Cable: If your HD-DVD player only has an "Optical Audio Output", then plug the Optical Audio Cable into the "Optical Digital Video 1" port on the Sony receiver. After that, use the Sony Remote Control and follow the "re-assign" insturctions in the Sony Receiver Manual. You will be able "re-assign" the audio input from "Digital Video 1" to the "HDMI DVD" port. It takes patience, but in this way, you can overcome the drawbacks of the "HDMI Passthrough".
So now I do have audio to my home enterment system from both the Satellite HDMI port and the HDMI DVD Port, dispite the fact that these ports are designed to pass-through the audio to the television only.
Is is odd that the nice people at Sony Technical Support could NOT help me with this or any other solution for the problem. But I DO want to thank the fellows at J&R Electronic for brain storming these solutions with me.
Now that I have this work-a-round setup finished, I am raising my rating to four stars for this receiver. As of now, both the video and the audio from this receiver are everything I had hope for. Happy Birthday to me.


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Sony STR-DH810 7.1-channel A/V Receiver with 7 HD Inputs Review

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(More customer reviews)I just received my new Sony STR-DH810 7.1 on Friday afternoon. I already had the previous version, the STR-DH800 set up in the living room. The DH810 I got for the den. It took less than an hour to pull the plugs out of my old Sony (non-HDMI) receiver and set-up the DH810. I would recommend that anyone getting this get a set of banana plugs for the speaker inputs. You "can" get the wires in the "screw-in" connectors, but banana plugs are just so much easier to deal with. I am using all 3 component inputs, 3 of 4 HDMI, Composite and CD, including DVD Coax, and all Optical audio inputs. Everything is very accessible and clearly labeled.
Once I had everything set up, I ran through the Audio/Video set-up manually. The DH810 comes with a mic that allows you to automatically configure your sound system (the receiver does all the work, but I prefer to do the "tweaking" manually. But that's just me. However, that said, after manually setting up my system, I reset the receiver and allowed the included mic to automatically detect and set up my sound system (just to see how it handled the task) and it did a bangin' job! Very easy automated and intuitive set-up.
The initial set-up is a breeze. Hold down the On/Off button on the receiver for 5 seconds until the receiver says CLEAR (which you can do anytime you want to undo any major blunders or just start fresh). Press the speaker button on the receiver until your speaker set-up appears, select your desired input button on the remote, crank up the volume and you have sound! From there, the remote's menu allows you to configure all the tweaks like EQ, Speaker distance, balance, bass, treble, you TVs resolution, etc. I would prefer some kind of TV-On-Screen Menu, but that is not really a big deal to me.
The sound is phenomenal and the DVD upscaling is very cool. I have Avatar on DVD (not blu ray) and the picture upscaled crisp and clear. The sound coming out of the speakers is clean and crisp. My audio CD's, movies, Cable TV, all sound great with the DH810.
I had been putting off buying this until someone gave it a rating, and I finally found a couple on the web that convinced me to give it an "early-adopter" try. Suffice to say, I am NOT DISAPPOINTED! The Price of $285 with no shipping was just a BIG plus too.
I will probably add to my rating later on, but for now, I HEARTILY recommend the STR-DH810 to anyone that has been hankering to upgrade their sound system with an upscaling 1080p A/V Receiver.

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Take your HD surround sound experience to new heights with the STR-DH810 A/V receiver. Offering an abundance of connectivity options (4 HDMI, 3 component), you will have room for all your components including a Blu-ray player, PS3 system, DVD player and more. And with DVD upscaling via HDMI you can watch DVDs in near HD quality. This 7.1-channel receiver has LPCM, Dolby trueHD and dts-HD decoding technologies for audio that is true to the original master recording. The STR-DH810 features wireless 2nd zone audio capabilities, which allows you transmit wireless audio in up to 10 additional rooms via optional S-AIR accessories. Additional features include Audio Return Channel which eliminates the need for extra cables connected to your TV, and standby pass-through that lets you access all of your HDMI connected devices without having to power on the receiver.

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Sony STR-DN2010 - AV network receiver - 7.1 channel Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this receiver to replace my Sony STR-DA5300ES receiver to get better Bravia Sync support and have more HDMI ports. Unfortunately I found major problems with the firmware that is forcing me to return it. The receiver intermittently goes into mute without any reason. The Bravia Sync which is one of the main reasons I bought the receiver has bugs in synchronization and discovery with other Sony products that are supposed to support this feature. In addition, the receiver runs very hot in standby presumably because the 4 port Ethernet switch is on all the time. To be fair, this receiver has a nice design and if the problems are fixed, it would a good value for money. Unfortunately, Sony is notorious for being slow to bring out updates or abandoning the product once is it in the market. I'll be checking the reviews in a few months to see if some of these issues have been fixed.

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Sony STR-DH700 7.1-Channel A/V Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is my second Sony Receiver in a row. In fact, the only reason I even upgraded my STR DE697 7.1 receiver was because it didn't have HDMI inputs--aside from that deficiency I was completely satisfied. So after researching the Yamaha (RX-V464BL), Onkio (RX-V463BL), and Sony (STR-DH700) I stuck with Sony and purchased the STR-DH700 7.1-channel A/V receiver. Now, most will say I'm crazy for not going with the Onkio, but I've always been pleased with Sony and I wanted to 1) save some $$$ and 2) avoid a steep learning curve (I'm very used to Sony's products).
PROS: My favorite feature has to be the quick set up for the speakers. With the push of a button in just 30 seconds my speakers were auto calibrated via the calibration mic. GREAT FEATURE!
CONS: The music settings i.e. Jazz, Stadium, Hall, etc. are useless to me due to the fact the subwoofer is excluded from all the settings in this mode except Portable (setting for MP3 players). I'm not sure why Sony did this, but it really stinks since my Polk front channels are rather small and depend on my 8" sub for quality sound. Again, this is my only complaint and because 99% of what this receiver is used for is cinema I'll survive!
Overall I'm very pleased with this entry level receiver. For an extra $100 I could have gone with the STR-DH800 which includes Dolby® TrueHD Decoding, but since I'm only running a 3.1 set-up I figured I'd be okay. I would; however, suggest paying the additional $100 between the STR-DH500 and DH700 because the HDMI connections in the DH500 only carry video, so you'd have to run separate cables for audio.
My Set-up:
TV: Vizio XVT series 42"
RECEIVER: Sony STR-DH700
BLUE RAY: Sony BDP-S360
SPEAKERS: Polk Audio surround RM10 set w/ PSW111 Subwoofer
UPDATE: 2 May 2009 - I'm attempting to edit this post again. Basically, the issue with the music sound fields was due to my assumtion that the auto-calibration would set the speaker size. WHAT WAS I THINKING? Once I changed the speaker settings from LARGE to SMALL everything worked like a champ!


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Sony STR-DN1000 7.1-Channel Audio Video Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought the STR-DN1000 as an upgrade to my old Yamaha receiver that didn't have audio decoding through HDMI which I really needed since I've recently added a couple additional HDMI components to my set-up and needed HDMI switching. I bought it based on reviews of sound quality (anyone saying this amp has anything less than great sound doesn't know what they're talking about or doesn't have their amp set up correctly!), price, and features (4X HDMI being the most important). I am relatively pleased with my new receiver. Sound and video processing are both excellent, and aside from a few issues, this is a great receiver. Before I go into more detail, here is my home theater set-up:
1) 5.1 surround sound consisting of: Polk Audio TSi200 L + R speakers, a Polk CS20 Center Channel Speaker, and a Yamaha subwoofer and two Yamahah back channel L & R speakers.
4) A Sony DVP-NS700H/B DVD player
5) Toshiba 42" Regaza LCD
6) Comcast Digital Cable box
7) WD TV Live HD Media Player
All devices connected using Version 1.3 Category 2 HDMI Cables.
Setting things up:
Set-up is a breeze. Everything is laid out well enough, and the included wire-map which gives a blown-up overview of the connections makes things even easier. The wire screws for connecting the speakers are made of plastic and are not as easy to turn as I might have liked, but this was a minor issue at best. They do support Banana jacks if that's your thing. I had all my speaker wires and HDMI cables connected in about 10 minutes (all of them were already in place so it might take significantly longer if you are running new wire). Just a note for reciever set-ups: give yourself an extra 3-4 feet of wire for each speaker so you can connect your amp OUTSIDE your AV cabinet/rack. This will make things much easier because you can work on the amp with it's back facing you!
GUI (Graphic User Interface), Programing, and Auto Calibration:
The DN1000 comes with a built in GUI for adjusting settings. It is a rudimentary text based interface in black, white and blue, but it is easy to navigate and use even if it isn't pretty. I was easily able to program in radio pre-sets, assign inputs *More on that to come*, and run the Auto Calibration. Auto Calibration involves connecting a provided mic and placing it in the correct location and then letting the amp put out some test tones to each speaker and the amp. The whole thing takes about 30-40 seconds. The manual states that this will involve "very loud" sounds, so I was a bit worried what that would be like. Thankfully it wasn't loud at all, so don't get freaked out when the manual warns you to watch out for small children, dogs, and angry neighbors. The GUI could be a bit more intuitive; you are frequently required to git an 'option' button that is on the remote itself. It would have been much simpler to just have that button in the layout of the GUI itself.
Programing custom inputs and renaming inputs was my biggest complaint with this amp. First, you CANNOT re-map the TV, Satelite, DVD, etc., buttons to be linked with the HDMI inputs. Each time you re-map an input it asks for both an audio and video input. I wanted to re-map the DVD button on the remote to work with my HDMI DVD player. I was able to choose the correct HDMI in, but because the amp also requires an audio input, you are FORCED to choose from coaxial, analog LR channel or digital. Choosing any of these overrides the HDMI's sound, and gives you video but no sound! This is incredibly frustrating and very stupid on Sony's part since the amp supports HDMI sound processing natively and all they would need to do is tweak the GUI to allow the user to select either HDMI or 'None' for sound input! I called Sony tech support to verify this is the case and they said they have no plans to issue a firmware update to correct this issue. I was able to re-name the HDMI inputs to DVD, WD LIVE, and COMCAST so that the amp displays the correct input when one of the HDMI buttons is pushed, but that isn't ideal considering the layout of the remote:
The Remote:
On first glance, the remote appears to be well laid out and to have excellent built quality (no squeeks when you hit the buttons, feels nice and solid in your hand, responsive buttons, etc). It is solidly made, but functionally it has some major flaws:
1) Because there are nice big, well labeled "DVD, TV, Satelite, etc." buttons on the top third of the remote, it will be highly confusing to have to explain to non-tech savvy people "when you want to watch a DVD you hit HDMI 3, not DVD" or something similar due to the inability of the receiver to re-map those buttons! Basically the usefulness of having 'quick launch' buttons on the remote is destroyed by not being able to map them correctly!
2) The mute button location is horrible. It is at the bottom lower third of the remote on the left side. It is also the smallest button on the remote and a real pain to hit with your thumb since it requires balancing the very end of the remote in your hand or using two hands. In my opinion, the button you're most likely going to use more than any other should be easily accessible!
Sound Quality:
I put the amp through its paces with the following:
1) Comcast TV (College Football) with Dolby Digital Surround
2) Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (DVD) & The Matrix (DVD)
3) Various lossless audio files streamed over my WD media streamer
4) Battlestar Galactica HD streamed over my WD media streamer
Surround sounds is just about perfect. Crystal clear highs, nice punch with the bass (although my sub really isn't anything to write home about) and excellent, authentic reproduction of even complex sound files like Feist and Metallica playing from a FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) file. I ran through a few excellent (in my opinion) surround sound movies and all sounded fantastic. Orcs screaming from behind me, thunderous sounds of war, the steely tones of Mr. Smith threatening Neo, all sounded lovely.
Video Quality:
HDMI video pass through was great. Suffice it to say that I didn't use this receiver to decoded low-res video files (something it does, but according to other reviews not that well). The video decoder in my WD media streamer does that job. I can confirm that the receiver did not affect inherent video quality to either good or ill.
Aesthetics:
This is a slick receiver and looks great on my AV rack. It matches my DVD player which I guess is a good thing, and even (sort of) matches my Toshiba TV. The LED screen is adequate if not amazing. It is easy to read from across the room (about 12 feet in my smallish living room). Text is clear and crisp which is all I really need.
Heat:
This unit does produce more heat than my old Yamaha, but much less than my friend's Onkyo (you could fry an egg on that thing!). In a well ventilated AV rack or cabinet it should never be an issue.
Conclusions:
For the price (sub $300 range) there isn't a better option out there as of this review. You could spend a hundred more and get a Pioneer (which does come with an ipod connect wire included in the price) but you're not gaining anything other than a few more connection options. Sound quality wise, this receiver is very, very good. If you can live with the crap remote and a few problems with the GUI, it's well worth the price. I'll probably just get a Harmony remote to make things simple for my family and friends.
4/5 Stars.
Thanks for reading my review. Feel free to ask questions and I'll do my best to answer them in the comments section.


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The STR-DN1000 7.1 Channel A/V Receiver delivers the Full HD 1080 experience to a home theater system. It features 7 HD inputs including 4 HDMI inputs with "Active Intelligence". In addition, the STR-DH700 is compatible with 24p True Cinema technology video signals and decodes uncompressed audio (LPCM via HDMI) making it compatible with Blu-ray Disc Player, the PlayStation 3 technology and other HD sources. Speaking of an enhanced experience, how about listening to music in a different room? Now share your favorite songs wirelessly throughout your home with ease. Simply plug in the optional S-Air transmitter and turn on the AirStation client (sold separately).

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Pyle-Home PT590AU 5.1 Channel 350 Watts Home Theater Built-In AM/FM Radio/USB/SD Card HDMI Amplifier Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)For the price, this is a nice receiver. Two things that would make it better would be a tape output and easier speaker wire hookups. The biggest inconvenience is the FM antenna jack is not a 75Ohm coaxial connection, which is what my antenna has. The crummy wire antenna is pretty worthless. Luckily I have a good FM tuner I can hook up as a component to solve that problem. Other than that, I'm happy with the purchase so far.

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Power a full surround sound system with this 5.1 channel amplifier with HDMI selector inputs. Equipped with an AM/FM radio, front-panel USB, SD, and 2 quarter-inch (1/4") microphone inputs, and a VFD display for crystal clear information. It takes 4 HDMI inputs and has 1 HDMI output, so it also functions as an HDMI selector - perfect if you've got multiple hi-def appliances but only one HDMI port on your TV. Independent volume knobs for master volume and microphones. 4 ohm impedance on speaker outputs. Supports AC-3 and Pro Logic decoding.

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Sony STR-DE1075 A/V Receiver with Dolby Digital, DTS, and 6.1 Decoding Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The STR-DE1075 is an excellent receiver. It packs a considerable punch for the money. One glance at the connection panel at the rear will confirm that you can pretty much hook up anything with it.
Setting up is easy, particularly if you have it hooked up to a monitor or TV, because the on-screen display is very good. Setup can be done via the clearly laid-out front panel, or from the absolutely dreadful remote control. You can specify the size of each speaker, the distance from the listener and other parameters.
The system is designed around a 6.1 Dolby Digital processor. This means that it can handle the rear surround effects channel that has begun to be added to movies recently. A variety of DSP options are available for those people who have awkward speaker placement or for those who just like to fiddle around.
I have just two complaints about the unit. The user guide .... It helps you setup the system but little else. When I spend hundreds of dollars on something, I expect a clear and comprehensive user guide. Many of the receivers facilities are practically ignored and there is no mention whatsoever of the remote control - my other complaint. It is overcomplicated and unattractive.
I must disagree on one point with one of the other reviewers. It is much better, I feel, to use the remote control to go through the setup routine. This allows you to sit in the listening position while you setup the speakers.
As far as sound quality is concerned, I doubt you will find a finer system in this price range. It has more than enough power to cope with most home-based setups and in two-channel mode, it sounds as good as most sub $500 amplifiers.
Highly recommended.

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Sony STR-DN1010 7.1-Channel A/V Blu-Ray Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Introduction:
So, I finally found myself in a position to upgrade my home audio. For many years I used and rather enjoyed my 5 dic DVD changing home theater in a box (Sony DAV-HDX500/i BRAVIA Home Theater System) but still didn't feel like I was getting the full audio experience out of my movies and music. Since I recently purchased a new 3D TV Samsung UN55C7000 55-Inch 1080p 240 Hz 3D LED HDTV (Black) and I already had a PlayStation 3 160 GB I figured my best option was to find an A/V receiver that would make the most of the 3D Blu-Ray functionality of the PS3 and the Samsung UN55C7000. After much research, and slowly piecing together a 7.1 collection of quality speakers, I decided to take a gamble and purchase the Sony STR-DN1010.
Initial Setup:
When the STR-DN1010 arrived via UPS I was excited. Upon unboxing, I immediately noticed the sleek and contemporary design and was pleased that it went so well with the decor in the family room. Having already run the speaker wires all I needed to do was; connect the wires to the appropriate receiver ports; connect the PS3, DVR/cable box, and TV; and plug the receiver's power in.
I open the user manual and it takes you through the usual inital setup steps I previously accomplished, so I flip to the speaker calibration section. Included in the box is a Auto-Calibration microphone which works surprisingly well. All I needed to do was plug it into the front of the receiver and follow the steps in the manual. This is where it gets a little complicated. I wanted to manually adjust my speaker but was having trouble navigating the on-screen GUI (graphical user interface). Response from the GUI had slight latency issues (as in it wasn't a 1:1 response from the remote commands). The manual seems to be made for above average tech consumer but I managed to figured most of it out and everything worked flawlessly.
Audio and Video Performance:
After everything was tweaked to my liking I first tested the audio performance from the cable box. Sound was great for the most part but after cycling through the numerous sound modes I noticed that in Sports mode audio sounds like someone speaking into a plastic tube, this was a minor complaint. Sports in general look and sound phenominal.
Next I tested Blu-Ray performance via the PS3. I checked the audio quality using The Matrix Blu-Ray on the scene where Neo and Trinity break into the building where the agents have Morpheus held captive. From the booming shotgun fire to the loud thud of guards getting kicked to the high twinkling of expended shells hitting the floor, I was in awe of the clarity of sound not to mention the crisp quality of video. Next I checked out the 3D video quality of Despicable Me 3D. Absolute perfection I couldnt find a thing to complain about here.
Since I had a Sony TDM-IP1 Digital Media Port iPod Dock from my previous home theater in a box I connected it to the receiver and plopped my ipod onto it to test my digital audio collection. Since I like The Roots (hip hop band) and they use live instrumentation in most of their music, I decided to use the album "How I Got Over" as my test material. Bass guitars sounded smooth and organic, percussion was precise and thumping, and vocal sounded live. Basically it all sounded like I was right in the studio with the artists. Great reproduction from the receiver, once again no real complaints here.
Conclusion:
In closing, this A/V receiever was everything I was looking for. I purchased an open box item here on Amazon so I only paid a little over $300 USD for it with free super saver shipping. Considering the price and performance I got this receiver, I feel like I got a hell of a deal. As far as gripes and complaints they're minor. The plastic speaker terminals used to connect the speaker wires to the receiver are a little cheap but sturdy enough to get the job done. I suggest you buy banana plugs to offset this. Another drawback is the lack of HDMI inputs this receiver has compared to comparable receivers of other brands (this has 4 in and 1 out, most others have 6 HDMI inputs). And lastly, not so much a problem for me but if you dont have a Sony Ipod dock you have to shell out roughly another $100 just to get on screen control of your Ipod through the receiver. Of course, you could always just use a 3.5mm audio cable to connect your ipod/mp3 player but you miss out on the on screen control. The manual requires a Rosetta Stone to decipher it, nuff said. I hope this review was helpful and if it was please vote up for me. Thank you for taking the time to read this.7.1 Home Theater Speakers:
-Sony SS-CN5000 Dual 5.25" Center Channel Speaker (each, black)
-Sony SSF-7000 Floor-Standing 4-way Speaker with 8" Woofer (Pair)
-Sony SS-B3000 Bookshelf Speakers with 8-Inch Woofer (Pair, Black)
-Sony SS-B1000 5 1/8-Inch Bookshelf Speakers (Pair)
-Sony SA-W2500 Performance Line 100 Watt SubwooferBy the way, check out the images above to get an idea of the STR-DN1010's scale

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Take your high-definition surround sound experience to the next level with the STR-DN1010 7.1-channel Blu-ray Disc A/V receiver. Enjoy 3D images while hearing sound closer to the way it was captured, plus improve image quality of non-HD video sources to HD using one convenient cable. Offering plenty of connectivity options for your expanding lifestyle, this A/V receiver features 4 HDMI inputs, 3 component inputs and is SIRIUS Satellite Radio-ready. You can also share your music in multiple rooms with wireless 2nd zone technology.

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Sony HT-DDW700 Complete 5.1-Channel DVD Home Theater System Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you want a budget home theater system for under $200 there is probably not many systems better then the Sony HT-DDW700. This system is ideal for small rooms such as a bed room or a tiny living room.
Considering the price, sound quality is actually better then expected for me. The tiny cube speakers presents pretty good clarity. They may look like cheap computer speakers but they aren't and are a bit heavier then they look. The center channel may be a little underpowered since dialog during dvd movies sound a tad soft and a little too low. The surround effects during movies in dolby digital and dts are very good though.
If set up properly the speakers handle surround effects very well.
Some minor complaints is that the speaker wire attached to the speakers are very thin. They are fixed and can't be replaced. Also, if you want heart stopping bass then this system might not be for you. The 8" subwoofer is okay considering the price of the system. It is currently better then any other sub included in a home theater system under $200. It isn't powered, is very light (only 9 lbs) and you have to be pretty close to actually feel the bass. The volume would have to be cranked up extremely high for the sub to actually rattle your walls.
The receiver comes with 1 optical and 1 coxial digital input and 4 rca analog inputs. It should be enough in most cases. An extra digtal input or two wouldn't hurt but again the system is under $200. Setup couldn't be easier. You just hook up the included microphone, place it at your listening postion and press a button on the remote. The system will automatically sets up the speaker distance, delay and volume levels. The receiver comes with the basic pro logic II music and move modes to upmix your stereo sources. It also has other sound fields and effects to enhace the sound but they don't really seem to enhance the sound by that much if at all.
Basically, if you want a home theater system for a small room and for under $200 then there isn't much better then the Sony HT-DDW700

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Sony STR-DE845 Surround Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I found the 845 reciver to be a very well thought out piece of equipment. It has 100watts X 5 channels, Dolby Digital and DTS processers, and a wealth of connections. All the RCA jacks one could ever need, 4 S-Video inputs, 4 Fiber optic, and a dual sub output for those who like their bass thick and chunky! And to top it off.... this year it includes Sony's Remote Commander, which will control just about everything you own. I would recommend this receiver to anyone looking for Digital surround sound, versitility, and reliabilaty.... that won't break the bank!

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Sony STR-DE898/B 7.1-Channel A/V Surround Sound Receiver (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)For the most part, this receiver does its job well. It provides plenty of power and has an overall quality build and feel to it. One feature I really like is that, when listening to music, you can set it to multi stereo mode, which distributes stereo sound equally through all the speakers in your home theater system. Many receivers will only play CDs or radio signals in 2 channel mode, essentially shutting off the center channel speaker, surround speakers and, in some cases, the subwoofer. If you listen to a lot of music, you will really appreciate this feature.
However, I do have a few criticisms. For one, I wish it allowed more extensive equalizer controls. As it is, you can just do basic adjustments to the bass and treble. . . nothing in the mid range. It does have preset sound fields for Hall, Jazz Club, or Live Concert effects. Unfortunately, these don't apply when you are using the headphones. The owner's manual could do a more thorough job of explaining some of the features. It devotes many pages to how to hook up your components, which will be self explanatory for most people, but devotes little space to the unit's unique features and quirks . . . or how to decipher the sub par remote control. The remote's buttons are small, cramped, and laid out in a confusing manner. Many of the buttons have different functions, which means you have to push one button in order to perform a specific function with another button. The buttons and labeling on the main unit itself are also small and hard to see from more than 6 inches away. But, overall, this is a good receiver for the money. With Sony, you can't really go wrong.


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Sony STR-DG500 6.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This 6.1 reciever offers 110 w/channel with subwoofer output. Sony has clearly worked to make the receiver smarter to provide the best audio experience with minimal intervention from the user: a microphone input (mic provided) automatically locates each speaker attached and balances all outputs.
If you're interested in simply having great home theater experience, without excessive tweaking, this is the reciever for you.
Pros - multiple a/v inputs, with support for component video and and optical connections for dvd audio.
Cons - no upsampling video sources (component output from component input only), no optical connection for cd players.

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Pioneer VSX-521-K 5.1 Home Theater Receiver, Glossy Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)My choices for an entry level replacement receiver were between this and the Sony STR-DH720. I picked the Pioneer as I was replacing a 10 year old Pioneer that had just recently started acting up and I was quite happy with. This receiver is plenty loud, but I do have two primary complaints. My first (and biggest) is the fact that it doesn't seem to support ARC or Standby Passthrough unless you enable "Control via HDMI" which only works with certain pieces of equipment as is only spelled out in the manual. On the website, they simply have a check-mark next to both features, so I didn't expect either to have caveats. Perhaps I am wrong in thinking that the HDMI signal should pass through the receiver if it is in standby regardless of whether "Control via HDMI" is turned on and regardless of the equipment being Pioneer-compliant, but I feel it was a bit misleading in my mind. Please note that I am no A/V expert, so take what I say with a grain of salt and please research for yourself. In the mean time I am considering leaving the HDMI switching to my display and making use of the dual optical inputs like I did with my old receiver. My other complaint is that the on-screen-display (OSD) is only output through the RCA ports and NOT through HDMI. After purchasing brand new 1.4 HDMI cables and attempting to rid myself of all of the other optical-toslink, etc. cables, I find it a bit retro that you would only allow menu setup to happen through RCA video out. Just my opinions, decide for yourself, but given the info I have now, I believe I would've went with the DH720 and hoped for the best.

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The Pioneer VSX-521 features a Bluetooth wireless audio option with 550 watts of high powered 5.1 home theater audio playback. Other features include 4 HDMI 1.4a 3-D ready inputs, hi resolution Dolby and dts multi-channel audio playback from Blu-Ray discs, Pioneer's proprietary Auto MCACC room calibration system, and On-Screen display.

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Sony STR-DE875 Surround Sound Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this receiver over a year ago and have been very pleased with it's performance. Sound quality is outstanding along with an extreme ease of setup. Recommended.

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