GDS is right althought it's $649 +$10(priority mail)you can buy this receiver if you are a military man or somebody, you can get this on order catalog in www.aafes.com.

Good Power, many optical inputs, nice display,

Remote

It sounds great watching DVD movies. I am running it with Wharfdale Valdus 500 fronts, a Wharfdale Center channel, a Kenwood 501 sub, A Sony 300 disk cd carousel, a Sony 530 DVD player, and Infinity SM 185 rears. I also play my Dreamcast, Playstation, and NIN 64 in Pro logic, using my receivers DSP modes, and that even sounds awesome. I just really dislike the fact that the remote used to do more than it does now, it just stopped performing certain functions.

Similar Products Used:

JVC-RXV448 Yamaha 795

We purchase the STR-DA50ES in Jan 99. In April 99 we had to return the remote because of various problems. It's now almost October and we still do not have the remote back. Sony have given us the complete run-around on this. Bad job Sony - if only we gone for the Yamaha!

Ive had the 50ES for over 6 months now, and LOVE it. Its been a joy to use and to listen too. The remote is a bit of a WAFTAM, BUT its is useable - Just.
The sound quality is clean powerful, and at least as good as the Yamaha 995. IMHO. (Given that the 50ES was over $500AUD cheaper than the 995, its a fantastic bargin)

Features, easy to set-up

Remote, lousy sound quality, power output

Setup
-main speakers: ProAc Response 1SC
-center: Mirage OM C2
-surrounds: Mirage OM R2

I had high expectations when I bought this product, but I must say this isn't a good product at all.

The sound quality really sucks in normal stereo listening. I tried DA50ES with a quality Rotel power amplifier, but it didn't help much. Yes, the sound was a bit better, but not as much what I expected. I was missing some musical details and midrange. The bass was still boomy. The only positive thing is that surround/Dolby Digital sounds better. Though it takes too many seconds to switch to DTS!

When I upgraded this product to DSP-A1 it really blew me away. Yamaha is very musical, provides enough power and most important it sounds very good. Yamaha provides what I wanted, and I must say that this was the last Sony amplifier what I will buy ever!

If you have good speakers, stay away from STRDA50ES!

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo, Yamaha DSP-A1

Quality, Style, remote control, surround mode, power, etc

old model

I have had it for about three months.

Da50es plays exactly what you feed it and do with it.
It gives me the plenty of power when I hear the Rock or
Jazz.

In conclusion the STR-DA50ES is a very good product, but for the lack of a second Coaxial Digital input, I will upgrade again to DA555ES model.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha A1, Yamaha A2

I got my 50ES on January 6, and have been quite pleased with it (except, of course, for the remote, which I am anxiously waiting to be recalled for fixing or replacement). Then it happened. I guess someone has to have happen to their equipment what has happened to mine, otherwise this would be a perfect world.
When I first got my 50ES I hooked it up to my Panasonic VCR, my Philips TV, my RCA satellite receiver adn my Eosone speakers. Everything worked well. Then, this past Monday, I got my Sony DVP-S7700 DVD player, and hooked it up to the system. The good news is that all of the attached components still work, including the S7700. The Eagles "Hell Freezes Over" DTS DVD sounds great. The bad news is that the AM/FM tuner no longer works. This happened coincidentally with the installation of the S7700, but I can't figure out how or why.

I am not looking forward to disconnecting everything and bringing the receiver to the Sony repair center (only a few miles from my home, thank goodness). I plan to wait until shortly before I will be going out of town, to minimize the time I must do without it.

I realize that there will always be a few lemons, and I must have one. Since I have not read any other such horror stories, I am assuming that my case is the exception.

Sony is introducing eight new audio/video receivers this summer. Check out this site: www.sel.sony.com/SEL/corpcomm/news/consumer/119.htmlThe 50ES is being replaced by the STR-DA555ES features 120 watts per channel x 5 and a pre-programmed, two-way, touch panel LCD remote control. It will include 5.1 channel inputs and preamp outputs as well. It will be available in August.

I recently purchased the STR DA50 ES and the reciever is dream. It easily pounds my speakers to there limit and sounds great doing it,the dd decoder is equally a pleasure to listen to,its one of the best ive heard even compared to outboard processors costing ten times as much as the whole receiver.Unlike everyone else though I payed $800.00 for it because I believe in shoppig at a store that takes care of there customers,and thats what Planet Audio does for me.I wanted this receiver back in mid november but it was out of stock so they gave me a str da30 es to use until it arrived,(almost 3 mo.later)try to get that kind of service over the web or through a catalog.

This message is for that guy claiming to be a worker for Sony. I don't know why you don't believe that you can get the 50ES for $650 shipped. YOU CAN from Uncle and I think you're one of those guys who tries to trick people. You don't work for Sony, and if you did, you would not disclose the Ship-out price or whatever you called it. So instead of pretending to have a good job, why don't you go back to McDonalds and serve fries.