I took my remote into a local retailer to do a side by side comparison to the old remote. It is definitely brighter maybe not as bright as some would have liked but definitely brighter.If your not impressed with the 50es remote try the av2000(also made by sony). I'ts much brighter and has learning functions and is a lot more flexible. It retails for 179.00$

I bought my 50ES in Jan'99 and am very glad I did.1) The setup was easy despite a long list of selection.
2) The long list of selection for setting up makes the 50ES flexible with all
kinds of speaker size, impedence, placement, etc.
3) I love the remote(although I've heard a lot of complaints about it). I like
the touch pen which makes it really easy to select features and it also
eliminate the need to clean an otherwise full-of-fingerprints touch screen.
4) Of course the sound is just spectacular!! Worthy of the ES badge. I hooked
it up to a Panasonic DVD A110 and tried both DD and DTS softwares. Even
using my Infinity Minuette Pack speakers(they are pretty small ones), the
sound(speech, music and sound effects especially bass) is just excellent.
I usually turn the volume to about 1/10 power for regular TV viewing and
1/4 for DVDs. If I turned it up to half power, I'll probably lose my hearing
before I get complaints from neighbours 2 blocks away.

Bottom line is even at $999(I paid $250 plus trading in my Kenwood VR2080 and got the 50ES and a 6 year warranty--parts/labor and replacement. The sales manager even thrown in 4 sets of Monster S-Video cables), it's worth every penny.

I am about to buy this 50ES and I was wondering if I could use my laserdisk player with AC-3 RF 0ut on this reciever since it doesn't have AC-3 RF input. Is it possible to hook it up using the Coaxial or digital Input???Heard alot about the this receiver and also about the remote problrem.

I would like to know were I could get this unit for less than $700.00. if so email me a mattyscorner@hotmail.com . I heard good reviews so I decided to go with the 50ES, so somebody reply please.

I received my 50ES the beginning after waiting 3 months. The receiver has an excellent very clean sound with exceptional power, at 1/4 volume this thing rattles the windows. The sound fields are interesting and I'm still playing around with them, Live House and Virtual 3D modes are cool. Dolby Digital and DTS are very well done, and make my small 16x24 room sound huge. Set up is a breeze, this unit has more connections than you'll probably ever need. 120 Watts a channel and at a price I couldn't resist - $650 at Uncles ($625 at Oade Bros)
Now the remote: I've never heard so much moaning about a remote in my life. The remote does not make the receiver sound any better or worse. I find it readable in all types of light, and fully functional with the receiver, which is what it should do! The concept is cool for a Universal remote, the execution SUCKS!! Sony did a poor job of including other device types in the universal remote function (max 4 different products per vendor). Also they left out alot of functionality for the devices they did include (DVD!). For a unit this size you would think that you could put thousands different equipment models (with full functionality) without increasing the cost. The power management of the remote is also poorly executed, 4 AA's lasting a month what a joke. I wonder what kind of Designer thought up a two-way remote! That is what is killing the batteries, this thing is constantly trying to communicate with the receiver, the user should have the choice to turn off the two-way comms. I do have basic functionality with my Pioneer DVD and Technics CD player (Stop, Play, Next track/chapter, power etc) and Full functionality of my VCR. SONY next time do your HOMEWORK!! My opinion go for a nice programmable remote by Microsoft/HK or Philips, and put this one in storage.

I give the receiver a solid 5+ and the remote a 2

The 50ES is an excellent receiver, however the remote is useless. I've sent the remote back for the upgrade, I let it sit for three weeks and then picked it up to adjust the sound fields and it was completely dead! Sony needs to do something to fix this remote. Their fix(??) which just shortened the turn off period did not work. When I buy a Sony ES item I expect to receive a quality product that Sony will back. What gives Sony?

I was one of those people who wanted only a Sony DA50ES and Got fed up waiting and upgraded to theTAE9000 & TAN9000 hopping that I would get a remote that did not have the problems of the DA50ES
since this was supposed to better "right", well the remote was bad really really bad. I then heard that the fix
was just as bad so I went looking for a solution. I found a remote that will make all your problems go away
and make you think you went to remote heaven. The remote is the Philips Pronto. This remote learns
everything and you can design how the screens look, how the buttons look, macros to do almost anything
and do everything the Sony remote should but talk to the TAE9000 & DA50ES which you will not miss because you
will so amazed at the things you can do with this remote. There are three sited to check for info on this
remote and you will find programs already written for the TAE9000 Pre-Amp and DA50ES reciever. They are
www.remotecentral.com, www.prontoedit.com and www.philips.com. I don't work for them but I aplaud thier
efforts to bring forth a remote worthty of this equipment. The cost will range from $250 to $400 check
these site chat areas for good places to buy.

To all those who find the Sony remote for this receiver unacceptable, do as I did and stop wasting your valuable time trying to "fix" this lousy remote. Just go out and buy the Universal SL9000 programmable remote (about $100.00 mail order) I have one and it operates my DA50ES, my mini-disc, my Sony 7700 DVD, my TV, my VCR & my CD changer. And, you can see it in a dark room and the batteries (4 AAA)last about 6 months.
Yes, the Sony remote is badly conceived. Yes, it is cumbersome. Yes, it is surprizing that Sony ever came up with this piece of cannon fod. Yes, it is in short a pain in the neck. But, don't make living with this fine receiver a bad experience. My Sony remote is where it belongs.. IN STORAGE!

I am one of the many EXTREMELY satisfied Sony 50ES owners! The new remote is much better. This receiver has to be one of the BEST buys for the money!
However, it is not for the novice. The remote is usable and controls all of my equipment (including non-Sony). The 50ES has everything going for it except 6 channel inputs. You won't find a better deal!

Sony or Yamaha ?
I just bought the Sony STRDA50ES, but now I heard that
the Yamaha RX-V2095 is better.

The Sony sounds OK, but I can't believe that does not have regular
bass/treble controls. Also I have to ship the remote control to Sony as
the display is low and impossible to read.

I'm going to use it connected with my DSS system
Mostly Dolby Prologic and Digital, and I think the Sony have a 32 bit
chip, better than the Yamaha one?

Which one have the best DSP processor and the best Dolby Prologic
decoding quality?

Thanks! in advance.

Regards,


Edmund.