The Perfect Receiver For Almost Any Home Theater System
Written: Nov 22 '01 (Updated Dec 03 '01)
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Pros: Just about everything, especially price
Cons: No S-video hookups
The Bottom Line: Seems you can't go wrong with this receiver, unless you must have S-video inputs.
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| workscorp's Full Review: Sony STR-DE475 5.1 Channels Receiver |
How This Receiver Has Performed
I couldn't be happier with the performance of my Sony receiver. It sounds incredible, has plenty of features and cost a fraction of comparably equipped units. It does everything I need except video switching.
Why I Purchased This Model
I purchased this specific Sony receiver for several reasons: Dolby Digital and DTS, sound quality, and most of all, the unbelievably low price.
I needed to replace my 8-year old Kenwood receiver (which was state-of-the-art and a lot more expensive when new than this Sony). I was comparison shopping in the store and was amazed that the STR-DE475 sounded just as good as more expensive Sonys and even better than other more expensive brands. It had all of the features I needed for under $200. I kept asking myself "Could this possibly be right?"
So I took it home, hooked it up, and found it was definitely right. It sounds better than my old unit ever did.
What I Like About It
This Sony is highly customizable and is compatible with any speaker configuration. You tell it your speaker size, speaker placement and whether or not you have a subwoofer and it self adjusts. Names for tuner stations and input sources are completely programmable.
In addition, if you have decent speakers, a subwoofer is not immediately required in order to enjoy low-frequency sound effects (though you'll probably want to add one eventually). I'm now running my DVD player through a digital audio connection using my Bose Acoustimass speaker system and the effect is incredible.
The receiver has several custom sound fields to choose from, but not so many to be confusing. Virtual Multi Dimension is good for most TV shows and movies, simulating 4 additional pairs of surround speakers. Live House is a good choice for most music, plus there's Hall and Jazz Club. Sony also has 3 custom Cinema Studio settings of their own. Dolby Digital and DTS automatically kick in if a digital signal is detected (and the narrow indigo blue light that comes on to let you know it's working is a cool touch).
The warranty is a full 2 years for parts and labor (1 years on accessories such as the remote).
What I Don't Like
The user's manual is about as basic as they come causing the setup and controls to take more time to learn and get used to.
This model has no S-video inputs on the back so you can't use it to switch your video components unless you strictly use RCA video connections. This means, for example, you have to select DVD on the receiver and the TV separately. But unless you want to pay twice as much for a receiver, the few extra button presses on the remote are worth it.
Overall
For $50 more you can buy the STR-DE575 which has 100 watts of power per channel instead of 80 watts. But this receiver has a lot of bang for the buck. You won't be disappointed.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 200
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Epinions.com ID:
workscorp
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Location: Asheville, NC
Reviews written: 25
Trusted by: 7 members
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