The Sony STR-DE945 Receiver: QUANTITY vs. Quality.
Written: Dec 16 '01 (Updated Sep 02 '03)
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Pros: Good sound, Dolby Digital and DTS, 3 digital optical inputs.
Cons: Mass produced, ugly and sluggish remote, spring clips for rear and center speakers.
The Bottom Line: Please leave a comment or feel free to e-mail me. Feedback is what makes this site enjoyable.
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| symbiosis's Full Review: Sony STR-DE945 5.1 Channels Receiver |
Quantity versus quality. It is a decision of utmost significance. One well-trained U.S. Marine or 5 (heck, even 25) poorly equipped Iraqi soldiers. A rabbit with 7 offspring or a human with one child. One Audi A6 or two Kia Sephias. Ten Sony receivers or one Onkyo receiver.
When it comes to Sony electronics, with the possible exception of their ES line, there is no doubt that they represent the Quantity choice. Sony produces a tremendous number of electronic products, and their products can be found at most U.S. electronics retailers.
However, over the years, Sony has earned a reputation among average consumers for building good quality products. And compared to other large electronics manufacturers, such as RCA (3 out of the four letters required to spell crap, and no coincidence either), GE, Emerson, Aiwa, etc., Sony products ARE good quality.
The Sony STR-DE945
This receiver was the top model of Sony's entry level DE line of receivers. Recently, it has been replaced by the STR-DE975, and a newer model, the STR-DE1075 was added at the top of this series. The STR-DE945 was a very popular model, and there are a lot of them out there. So there is a good chance that you could find one on clearance, on an E-Bay auction, or used.
The Positive
First, I would like to mention the sound. This was the first real (RCA doesn't count) home theater receiver that I owned. The STR-DE 945 offers 110 X 5 watts of power. Initially, the sound seemed incredible. The sound of Dolby Digital surround for DVD movies was breathtaking. In fact, since I have decent (Paradigm) speakers, the sound was often better than local movie theaters. I was also satisfied with the clean, open sound during stereo playback, again using the digital optical connection to my CD player.
Next, I would like to mention some of the important features. This receiver has built in Dolby Digital and DTS decoders. Therefore, it can handle both of the most popular formats of DVD sound. There are 3 optical and 1 coaxial digital inputs, and one optical output. The inputs are for receiving a signal from a digital source, such as a DVD player, CD player, PS2, or satellite receiver. The output would be useful for recording onto CD or MiniDisc. There are plenty of analog (red and white RCA) inputs. There is a set of RCA jacks on the front, for quick hookup of devices such as video games, digital cameras, and camcorders. There are also 3 S-video inputs and two outputs. S-video is a higher quality video connection than the standard composite (yellow RCA) video connection.
The overall appearance of this receiver is nice. The front features an attractive blue led light which lights up when you are getting a digital surround (Dolby Digital or DTS) signal.
The Negative
Well, not surprisingly, most of the negative factors relate to the Quantity issue. Sony does not use parts which are as high quality as brands such as Onkyo, Denon, or Marantz. The speaker outputs for both the rear and center channels are spring clips, which are usually only found on cheaper receivers. The sound simply is not as impressive as better brands, which feature high-current power.
Some other reviewers have said that they found this receiver difficult to setup and use. I had no such difficulties, but I am somewhat electronically inclined. (Read: I am dangerously close to becoming an electronics dork.) If you have difficulty with operating a VCR or other simple electronic tasks, this is not the receiver for you. But if that was the case, you probably wouldn't be looking for a receiver anyway.
The Remote Commander
I decided to give the remote its own section, since it is both a positive and a negative. On the positive side, this is a two-way learning remote. This means that it can take information from the receiver, as well as send it out. The commands for many component brands are pre-programmed, and you just have to select them from a menu. There is also macro capacity, which lets you program a series of commands that will be run when you push a single button. Unfortunately, the remote also has a dark side. The appearance is funny, resembling an awkward cell phone. Most commands are given by choosing them from a menu. The button for this is kind of like a joystick, which you press up to move the cursor up, down for down, and in for Enter. I thought this might wear out quickly, and it has. After about a year, I have to sometimes push this several times before it works. The remote is also often very slow or sluggish, taking several seconds to respond.
Overall
This is not a bad receiver. There is sufficient power, a good number of inputs/outputs, and quite a few useful features. At the original price, it does not stand up to competition from better brands in the same price range, such as the Onkyo TX-DS595. However, the sound will please the average user. If you can find this receiver for under $300, it is worth considering. I would give this receiver 3 1/2 stars, if the rating increments from which I have to choose weren't so crude.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 500
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symbiosis
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