Sony A/V Receiver STR-DE695- "Last Resort" becomes the Best Buy- for now.
Written: Jan 28 '04 (Updated Feb 01 '04)
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Pros: Handles all of our Home Entertainment Components and more...
Cons: Overdesigned, RCA Jack, S-Video, Optical, Digital, ComponentVideo. All-In-One design unnecessary for most users!
The Bottom Line: Sony's entry should satisfy most users. Any new Receiver requires patience, careful study, skill and a bit of luck. Consider hiring a technician to wire it- $65/Hour!
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| ASourdough4's Full Review: Sony STR-DE695 6.1 Channels Receiver |
SONY CORPORATION STR-DE695 Audio/Video Receiver
WHAT IS IT?
A receiver is the nerve center of Entertainment Centers that are made up of separate "Components" connected together and to a video display and/or an audio output system. Prices vary directly with the number of separate components you wish to CONNECT to your system. Some "High End" receivers differed from their "Entry Level" siblings only in the total connections built in at the factory.
Note: This device differs from a self-contained or combination system in which the desired individual functions or parts are contained within a single Box or Case - example, "Bose" table-top systems or Combination TV/VHS/DVD/Speaker units. If space is at a premium, age has caught up with your hearing and vision and you crave escape from yet another form of High-Tech Tyranny, component systems are probably not for you.)
If, on the other hand, you enjoy complex challenges, don't mind dealing with another language, have immense patience with inadequate user manuals and eager sales people, have some background in electronics and have some spare money; this approach may be for you.
The Sony STR-DE695 is only one of a large selection of Receivers made by Sony and competing ones are made by numerous other manufacturers. A receiver is an electronic device which allows the user to switch from one Audio/Video source to another if more than one source is available. This particular one is typical of its class, an attractive, useful, and complicated product; priced in the Mid-Range of $150 to $800.
The term "Receiver" is a bit of a misnomer, in fact, Sony has trouble categorizing it. The 58 Page User Manual is titled:
"FM Stereo
FM-AM Receiver"
It is much more, since it also can be used to transmit or send Audio/Visual (A/V) signals to the destination of your choice, be it a set of speakers, an A/V recording device, and a Television - to name a few. You will note that even the Epinions Title (above) is ambiguous.
WHY DID I DO THIS TO MYSELF?....
Please bear with me, for you, too may face this very serious decision and soon. I did it
...because I dread the economic consequences of obsolescence and I refuse to surrender my cultural preferences to some Corporate 'Bottom' line. Anyone who has given up a Vinyl LP collection and the means to play it will feel the same pangs I felt when reading about wonderful things like SACD or mini DVD and the slow but sure eradication of the VHS Format. Further, the proliferation of incompatible types of connections or ways to connect components together had thoroughly alarmed me.
As if that were not enough, the HDTV Monster has arrived. This development could have a more sinister message for some of us. It could mean "EXTINCTION" rather than mere Obsolescence. Some good, however, is mixed in with the bad: Larger viewing area, higher picture resolution and the ability to view "Wide Screen" without "editing to fit your TV Screen" are offset by incredibly high prices and largely untested and premature technology - at last count, some FOUR major formats compete for our dollars. Then there are the sound tracks: We do like the effects now available and affordable - but they are only obtainable with a new Receiver. The receiver we replaced (Sony) was purchased in 1993 at the factory outlet store in Tracy, CA.
It seemed amply obvious and prudent that we should do what we could to protect our extensive collection of Music and Theatre Performances; no matter what medium we have or use. To do this, I elected to replace the one vital component without which we would be condemned for life to the offerings of Broadcast TV and Radio.
In a way, we were protecting our past and preparing for the future. So, I set out to find a new receiver that could handle all of my ancient and creaky collection of electronic components; and make us ready for tomorrow's world of entertainment. It would be a battle. But the effort was worth it. The search began soon after this decision was reached; helped along by "Best Buy's" Sunday Ad Supplement; wherein three Receivers by Pioneer, Yamaha, and Sony were being advertised for $299. After a series of false starts and two returns, I settled on the Sony. And, I'm glad that I did.
FEATURES:
Let's discuss the included Remote Control for this Receiver. I had hoped for a universal control but in actual practice, Sony would control Sony Products but not Pioneer Products. (Further, I found that I could not make our Satellite Control Remote control the Sony STR-DE695 Receiver!) The included remote was able to duplicate most selection and programming functions found on the front panel but there are too many buttons of the same shape and they are too close together. Many complex functions are best done right on the front panel. TEST TONES (800 HZ) and Sound Patterns are a different matter. With those tasks, the user needs to be out in the room, well away from the Receiver, in order to verify selections of speaker sets and sound patterns. Overall, I am satisfied with the Remote but it is a pain to use.
What mattered most to me was the ability to connect and control all of our media players. It took several rewiring efforts to accommodate everything we own:
Power On/Off
Fairly large button at left side of front panel.
Eight (8) different input selection:
Video 1 Video Cassette Recorder (VCR)
Video 2 Satellite/Cable Control Box or 2nd VCR
Video 3 Front Panel Audio/Video ports
DVD Digital (or Diversified) Video Disc Player
MD/TAPE Mini Disc or Digital Audio Tape Recorder
CD/SACD Traditional Compact or "Super Audio" Disc Player
TUNER AM or FM Radio Broadcast
AUX An alternate audio source.
EARPHONE On front Panel, no dedicated volume control
1 Switched Power Outlet 120 Watts, 1 Amp Max
Physical:
Weight 17 pounds 11 ounces
Dimensions: 16 7/8 Wide x 6 2/8 High x 12 2/8 Deep
Power consumption:
Area Code* U, 245 Watts, 120VAC, 60HZ
Area Code CA 330 VA (P=IxE)
Standby Mode can be set by user.
* Although an area code is supposed to be found on the rear panel, I found none. I did note a 245 Watts rating, however.
Power Out
This receiver is rated at 90 Watts per channel, all 6.1 of them. Recommended speaker impedance (coil resistance) is 8 Ohms.
Selections are made by pressing one of 8 small buttons on the face of the Receiver (or the included remote control). The name of the selected component appears in the Display Window, followed by a "Sound Field" applied to the program source.
Each component selected is assigned a logical (to the designer) speaker arrangement that reflects the complexity of the source program signal.
It probably will not hurt, and may help, if I digress for a moment. The Subject Receiver is designed to produce audio signals on as many as 6 separate speakers. Since it also can control a Sub-Woofer, it is termed a 6.1 Channel Receiver. We use a 5.1 Channel array of speakers, that is, we have 5 a "Sub Woofer" lacking only the "Rear Surround" speaker, we do not use the connectors for it. "7.1" is available - meaning the user needs TWO rear speakers, etc.
"Channels" (i.e. Speakers) are all the rage now. If one selects a source, the display indicates what speakers are being used. Thus, a Compact Disc signal can be heard through 2 speakers (or 2 Channels but all 5 can be selected). Another signal might deserve every speaker installed and the display will verify your preference on the front panel display, using a cluster of tiny boxes with labels. You can, however, override the automatic defaults and run a so-called "Surround" recording on only 2 Speakers. This is reassuring information. I mean it. One never really knows what to expect when a button is pushed. And, one does not need to dash around the room to verify if the Left Surround (not the Left BACK Surround, mind you) speaker is doing its job.
The New Age A/V Geeks use abstruse jargon, dropping terms like "5.1" or "6.0" to mean what? Umm, well, it's almost simple when translated into English: These novelties indicate how many speakers may be connected to the Receiver. For example 2.0 means two channels/speakers. 5.0 means a set of five (5) speakers - one in each corner of your listening area and one between the two main ones in front. 5.1 is fraught with import, it is the capability of connecting what is referred to as a "Sub-Woofer" or very low frequency sound producing speaker. Six speakers are important if you live in a mansion or sit in the middle of your "Auditorium". The set includes a single extra speaker located BEHIND you - somewhere. "7.1" means that a pair of speakers may be located somewhere behind the listener. Etc.
As noted above, not all of the channels/speakers will be used all the time. Nor will the same selection of speakers be used with each component. If, that is, automatic signal detection is used. Users can override this, using the whole set for a CD Selection or any other signal; which makes for novel sounds, I guarantee.
VOLUME
(or level) is controlled by a HUGE 1.5" Diameter knob, when twisting it, the level is displayed for a moment, 0 to 75 is possible (but not advisable - 10 to 40 is OK). Further, the Sony STR-DE695 allows the user to set a different level for every speaker installed. Tedious when trying to do it with the Remote Control but fun when using the funny knobs on the front panel. Once set, the Master Volume control takes over and adjusts the entire set of speakers bing used. A variety of instant gratification.
OPERATION & Lessons
As noted above, we had a large variety of things to hook up to the Sony STR-DE695 Receiver: All video output is through a single RCA Cable (or S-Video Cable) to the TV set. (Ours is ancient, 4 years old now, so no connections are possible for S-Video or Component Video cables)
NOTE: I am not using the 6 "Multi-Channel" RCA ports that are labeled "MULTI CH IN". This is a Signal Format that can be generated by certain external components. A MLTI CHANNEL DECODING indicator lights up when the unit(receiver) is decoding signals recorded in a multi channel format. Six different cables are required. Good Grief, what's next?
Video Cassette Player/Recorder (VCR/VTR)
- An older Sony Product
To "VIDEO 1" on Receiver
This one required 6 RCA Jack connections, one for signals in from, and for signals out to, the Receiver. After a great deal of consideration, I elected to NOT connect the Satellite Dish Box to the UHF/VHF connectors on the VCR
Laser Disc Player (LD)
- a Pioneer Electronics product
On "VIDEO 2" on Receiver
A three RCA Jack connection, Video, Audio L & R. This connection was meant for a Second VCR or a Satellite Dish Box input. Here, I ran into an S-Video connection that was matched by one on the Satellite Box. I did not use it because I only needed the 3 RCA Jack connections.
The Laser Disc player performed without a flaw with the exception that I could not make the Receiver Remote command it - the code for Pioneer (117) is probably obsolete. This is a minor inconvenience since we still have a Remote devoted to this LD Player.
Portable Video Device
-to "Video 3" on Receiver
The inputs, 3 RCA type (no S-Video) are on the front panel of the Sony STR-DE695. I opted to use these ports only with our SanDisk Card Reader. We don't own a video camera but have visitors from another planet who like to bring theirs along. The SanDisk device came with a S-Video cable, which cause me no end of grief for reasons noted below.
DVD Player
- a Sony Corp device
- to "DVD" on the Receiver
Meaning that the Remote for the STR-DE695 can control it. In fact, the remote was pre-programmed to control our ancient Sony TV, the ancient Sony VCR and the DVD. Nice. But an ugly type of corporate bias seems to be designed into the equipment.
I found that the Receiver Remote had more control over a given DVD ("The Music Man") than did the Remote that came with the DVD Player.
Here, again, there was a S-Video port that matched the input selection on the Receiver. It did not work, however. The S-Video 'bus' does not share the same signal path to the TV. Same for the "Component Video" connections provided on the DVD Player. Sorry, Charlie, you'll need a new TV. By now, I was becoming an expert. The DVD player had a "DIGITAL VIDEO" output, requiring a special Orange(?) Cable - sure enough, the Receiver had a matching Digital Port. I did not speculate very long on this option - again, the ancient TV lacks accommodations for this technology.
In fact, we have arrived at my only strong objection to the design of the Sony STR-DE695 (and others of its family as well as its competitors): the needless proliferation of connection technology. There is even a set of ports for OPTICAL cable connections but the price of such cables causes my teeth to ache. In my opinion, this only provides opportunities for needless frustration. It would be better and more logical to limit these exotic things to the high end products.
The proliferation is not unique to Sony, they all do it. If the consumer views a receiver as the marketing tool it really is, the foundation block of every A/V System; then the consumer may well be persuaded to try any or all of the types. Once that decision can be made (Optical Fibre, say) then it is simple to peddle the new stuff. Remember, your choice determines the design features of every other component. The rest is simply Marketing 101.
MD TAPE
No use for this as we have no such device. It provides two sets of Audio L&R RCA Ports. It would be possible to connect a second CD Player output to two of these ports.
TUNER AM/FM
Built-In, the only requirement is the installation of an antenna for each of the AM or FM broadcast sources. Both tuners played several stations.
CD Player
- a Pioneer Electronics device
To "CD/SACD" on Receiver
I found and used the two RCA Jack connections provided. Works fine, I was surprised to observe that the Receiver could grab the CD Signal and send it to any or all of the 6 speakers we use. I think most of the effects are provided with simple reverbration circuits but the "Surround" effect is nice to hear. Also, the STR-DE695 has Audio Circuitry that allows good reproduction at very low volume settings - a must if one shares the house with a spouse. I have found that I cannot tolerate settings much above 50 or so without pain.
AUX Various uses possible
HeadPhones (HP) Stereo Jack port on front panel
I have a 10 year old set of HeadPhones that I tested using "Saving Private Ryan" (VHS). Results: Glad I had the remote over on the couch. Plugging in The Jack disconnects the speakers, allowing monitoring of such dynamic recordings without peeling the wallpaper off the walls.
The Sony STR-DE695 Receiver includes circuitry that creates "Surround Sound" within the HeadPhones - startling but very effective. Day or Night!
Here, I elected to "cable" the RCA Audio Jacks from the Satellite Dish Box the Receiver "AUX" ports to allow the use of Head Phones (We have no HP connections on the TV nor on the Satellite Box); which allows the user to listen to content after hours without disturbing anyone else. Not even the Cat!
DECISIONS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS.
I pondered the imponderable - trying to figure out what benefits would be gained by bringing the Satellite Dish video signals into the Receiver. I even wired it up and tested to see if I could make it work. It did. Frankly, however, the very idea of a quiz show or a "B*o*w*F*l*e*x" or any other Infomercial in throbbing stereo nauseated me. So far, the typical TV Broadcast offerings are painfully mediocre (except for TCM, IFC and PBS Channels) and I have decided to avoid recording anything off the air - including PPV Movies. Commercial Clutter is incredible. The idea of inviting these hucksters into the living room is lunacy. Yes, I know what some of you may be thinking. Go ahead and think but ponder this: we do not allow a telephone connection to the Satellite Dish Box either. In this house, we keep TV in its place, separate except for the Audio per above. When we want content, we will go out and look for it.
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How Does Sony Corporation's entry compare to those of other manufacturers?
My unintended experience with all three Brands qualify me to think that these products would compare in every way if price stratifications were followed. After all, they are designed to compete with each other. The high end entries on the shelf from Pioneer, Yamaha and Sony came with a few more connections for video, and 100 Watts per channel; otherwise, the return for the higher prices would not make them worth having for most buyers.
As noted, my experience involved installing THREE different Receivers from that many manufacturers. I only meant to shop the price, my budget was $300 or so, as advertised in the late December 2003 advertising flyer from Best Buy. The first choice was:
PIONEER VSX 812 Receiver
I liked the idea of Pioneer, having owned a Laser Disc player and a 100 CD Player made by them. Both are more than 10 years old now. (Anyone hear a train coming?) Also, Remote Control compatibility seemed to be attainable. When hooked up, however, I was dismayed to discover that the Programming Process (using the Remote) would not address the Receiver itself. This was a crucial step toward setting up the system. It was too much, so the Pioneer went back to Best Buy. I noted the same problem with the Demo on the shelf - I accepted defeat and chose another brand.
The principal performance problem I noted during the short (2 day) attempt to make Pioneer's entry work was that of an arcane and secretive Volume/Level adjustment. Graduated in Decibels (Db) or "Noises" I guess, it was easy to set it backwards - a problem that nearly blew out my speakers and my ears.
YAMAHA HTR-5640
I wound up with one that had been returned and, was actually the next model up (HTR-5650). This presumably superior model was marked down below my $300 Budget - I was wary and anxious but... I could not pass up what was surely a bargain - could I?
Yamaha had been recommended by our Satellite "Dish" Provider as being trouble-free. They offered to bring one (top of the line, of course) over to the house, along with a $9,000 52" Plasma display TV Monitor. I salivated but I declined. We could not accommodate the sheer mass without some changes to our living room furniture. (Also, there was a little matter of installation costs at $65/hour!)
Nevertheless, I remembered this when deciding on the next sample. In the process of rewiring, I did not press home fully one of the speaker connections on the rear of the Yamaha Receiver. The resulting loss of the speaker panicked me - it seemed too preposterous. Coupled with my wariness about the unit being "Open Stock" i.e. already rejected by someone else, presumably smarter than I am. I could not deal with it so back it went, after only a 3 hour stay. In fairness, I am convinced that this unit would have worked out for me but for my own ignorance. The lesson, of course, is to avoid such bargains.
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REVIEW ENDS HERE
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Comments and Reminiscences
Off Subject, more Industry than Product. Nobody has to read any more of this - the meat and potatoes are above. But it is fun and generates nostalgia (or neuralgia).
In 1955 when I was fresh out of High School, the folks at the U.S. Navy Electronics School at Treasure Island, CA taught me to build an AM Radio from a kit. It actually worked - superhetrodyne and all! When I escaped the military, I became a kit building enthusiast and built a music system with two speakers, one amplifier, and a "Tuner".
I even got paid to do this at Trade Shows in Chicago, Minneapolis, LA, and New York City. Actually they paid me to take those electronic kits APART. I used special soldering iron tips that could reheat all the contacts on a "Chip". Later, the engineers traced numerous Space Ship failures to soldering - at Minneapolis, a small outfit called General Mills was developing solderless connections. So, my days were numbered. It was then, however, that I got to ride a jet plane nonstop cross country, Boeing outbound and Douglas in. Life was truly wonderful.
At the time, progress in electronics was measured in terms like "Solid State", "Multiplex FM Stereo" and we loved that. I collected a pile of 33 1/3 vinyl recordings and really began to enjoy life.
Obligatory "LA was a great place" Story
During those happy days, we enthusiasts enjoyed an annual "HI-FI" Show in Los Angeles. It was held at a swank hotel called (I think) the Ambassador or Cocoanut Grove. No matter, it was one of several hotels out there that featured very private little cabins out on the grounds and this was the only opportunity 99.9% of the human race would ever get to enter one, let alone rent one. Posh. One could wander around the grassy grounds, along beautifully groomed pathways that led to those very cabins - and there in each one of them would be a working display of the latest Audio devices and Technology. I saw a turntable that was mounted upside down from the ceiling of one of those cabins. It was playing an LP, too. There also, I saw one of the famous J.B.Lansing speakers - pre-stereo ones that were bigger than the typical Hi-Fi cabinet! On it, I heard an LP recording of a Bull Fight in Spain. Still have not heard the equal to that sound. (But Sony has come close with its new Receivers.) There were giants in the land then. Of course, the sales folk played music at Ear-Splitting levels and we loved it. Much of my hearing on the right side of my head was lost thanks to too much target practice with the Semi-Automatic M-1 Rifle but I could enjoy that music and I did. I also invited certain selected female companions along on these pilgrimages - I married the second one. Maybe she thought I would give her one of those cabins? Sure!
Over several years, I gradually became an Audio Nut and during several of those years, I had no TV. I was patient as the manufacturers enjoyed the Bonanza of getting us to buy a second speaker when Stereo became 'de rigeur', balked at the chatter about a "Center" speaker, got a new Tuner for the new "Multiplex" Stereo signals, and a bigger set of components when we moved into a bigger house. We endured the craziness of Reel-to-Reel, then Cassette Tapes. Then things became serious. In 1984 I saw my first CD Player. No threat was perceived. It played one CD (itself a miracle at $45/Disc) at a time, was 12" wide and 12" deep by 60" high and cost $10,000. That was in Japantown, a section of San Francisco, where the California Street Cable Car line ends.
Illustrating the fate of the early adopter, we were able to afford a combination receiver/CD Player/Dual Cassette Tape/AM/FM Tuner and holes/ports for a turntable. This came with two matching speakers! I had never been able to afford one of those turntables; especially when the indispensable needle/cartridge had to be bought separately. Speakers were another expensive extra. We paid $200 for the whole combination receiver (it was a repo), picked up a Turntable for $89 and went home to enjoy life. We witnessed, with a lot of pain, the demise of the LP - the LP stuff went away, the turntable went to the thrift shop last year. We still have that receiver but it is about to join our other misteaks over at the new thrift shop.
Things have changed since then. We are the concerned owners of a Laser Disc Player (very obsolete) with about 100 Laser Discs, about 50 Video Cassettes and a VHS Video Cassette Player, a new DVD Player but only a dozen or so of the disks. The VHS Player is going quickly, closeouts are available at Target - hmm, might be a good idea to grab one for $60. The only question remaining is "Are the VHS Tapes worth saving?"
The only salve for this latest wound is the "Combo" DVD/VHS player that is crowding the shelves of every store. Beware of "Combos", loss of one function renders the other questionable. And the design quality is always suspect - How much and where did the factory compromise? Both formats still require a dedicated set of RCA cables; one for each of the components. So, we have even more choices and decisions for the new century.
The pace of obsolescence is painful and seems to be speeding up. But not at the McDonell residence. We have been dragged into the new Century but not without a lot of delay & complaining.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 299.00
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Epinions.com ID:
ASourdough4
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Member: Maurice McDonell
Location: Above Beautiful Napa Valley
Reviews written: 200
Trusted by: 193 members
About Me:
July-2009 Gone to the Wide World of Wireless. Still reading and rating. Mostly elsewhere.
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