Sony STR-DA50ES A/V Receivers
Sony STR-DA50ES A/V Receivers
[Dec 16, 1999]
Timothy O'Connor
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Clean sound,
Weakness:
Remote is a little annoying. Ive owned this product for more than a year, and am extremely happy with it overall. It does all I ask, and has not missed a beat. Its powerful, clean and smooth. The Auto format decoding works well. Similar Products Used: Yamaha 795 |
[Nov 22, 1999]
Douglas
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Great Sound/performace for the money
Weakness:
Remote-SUCKS This was one of the nicest DD and DTS units for the money when I bought it $649 from oade.com |
[Nov 04, 1999]
Steve
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Value
Weakness:
Remote I have had this unit for 6 months so far and have been very happy with it. I have found it to be a very good value, full of features, and good sounding except for a bit of hiss (especialy when using the digital processing modes). |
[May 29, 1999]
sony discontnued
a Casual Listener
J and R which is probably the most respected mail order place of all says the Sony 50ES is now officially discontinued. They are now awaiting the end of July for the Sony555. It will be the same thing with of course the fixed remote and 6 channel input. It will also retail for the same price. The 50Es I have is still 5 stars for value. |
[Apr 23, 1999]
Ray DiLorenzo
an Audio Enthusiast
Purchased DA50ES receiver from Reference Audio (699 plus shipping). I've had a week to live with it. I must say I do like the receiver very much. I am using it with a Sony 7700 DVD, Sony HiFi VCR (798), Sony Minidisc player (JB920) & Sony CX55 CD Changer. I previously owned a Sony 915 receiver that I had for a little over a year. It was my first experience with Dolby Digital. The sound from the 50ES is cleaner. Not dramatically cleaner, but noticeably cleaner. The soundstage is much wider than the 915. Overall a better performer. The setup was easy. The remote? Well, what can I say. The box did not say "new improved remote" on it, but Reference Audio told me when I ordered the receiver that if the box did not contain the "new" remote, they would swap with me (they said they had two "new" remotes in the store. I did send the remote back and did receive another remote, but I can't tell the difference in performance. Some have said that the new remote has an E at the end of the model number, but I checked with Sony and they said that the E model remote is for the TA-E9000ES pre/pro. In any case, do yourself a big favor do not bother with this remote it is a white (or gray) elephant. It seems to work OK, but it is much too cumbersome. I highly recommend you buy a SL9000 Universal Remote. IT IS FANTASTIC!! It will operate everything you need in a much better package. 5 stars for the receiver, but take away 1 for the poor remote. By the way, some have suggested using the 30ES remote. Sony will sell it to you for $155 plus shipping. For around $100 you can get the SL9000 remote and probably be much happier! |
[Apr 23, 1999]
lee
an Audio Enthusiast
While I generally have been a big fan of Sony products I feel I must let you know about a current miserable experience I am having with Sony. |
[Jan 25, 1999]
kyle
an Audio Enthusiast
I did what I thought to be extensive research on receivers and I decided on the sony. One, because of the multiple s-video inputs and dts capability. I had also wanted to try the acclaimed ES series. I am happy to say I am very pleased with the sound output at 100w/cha. and i had heard the receiver gets unusually hot, but i don't think this one plays any warmer than any other receiver i have owned. |
[Mar 06, 1999]
tristan
an Audio Enthusiast
Really nice reciever. The best in its price class. I've had mine for 3 months and I'm more than satisfied. You can really tell the diferance in ES amps and regular sony ones. Ony down side is the remote eats batteries. |
[Feb 07, 1999]
Feroz B.
an Audio Enthusiast
I owned this receiver since Dec. 98. In my opinion this receiver is an Excellent product. However its remote control is equally bad, so bad that its really frustrates you. I think that remote is equally as important as the receiver. If I had to buy this recevier all over again, I would never buy it unless Sony changes its remote and improves drastically. |
[Sep 28, 2001]
Karl
Audiophile
Strength:
Amplifier, design, input flexibility
Weakness:
Remote (though not as bad for me as for others) This receiver was a good deal at $1000 when it first came out in 98 or 99. About 9 months ago the Mil. Exchanges had a few of these left from their Japan/Hawaii stores and sold them off at $400. They were a steal. The sound on movies is excellent. I have used a couple of different speaker set ups with this unit--from Bose, Polk, and Mission--and it is capable of driving them well. The amplifier stage is excellent, I notice no low-level balance bias, or hiss at high levels. This remote is quite useful if you have Sony products, such as Minidiscs and CD players with title displays--because they are also displayed on the remote. I have been having a hard time with bass when employing a subwoofer (bose or Polk), actually having too much bass--still working on that problem. unlike a reviewer below, I have had no problem recording from cd to tape--just use the analogue inputs and outputs. I have also not had a hard time with batteries on the remote (my current batteries have been going for the last 8 months, but the first set of included sony batteries died in 3 weeks). The display is only readable with the backlight on and some functions on other sony products DO require their original remote-this one is not, but should be programable. The other complaint I have is that there are no 5.1 channel inputs. There are outputs, to use this as a preamp, but no inputs. This precludes the use of multi-channel DVD-audio or SACD units with this receiver. Similar Products Used: Yamaha and Denon |