Powerful, versatile, clean robust sound. Terrific sonic accuracy for a reciever.

No significant difference over 555ES to justify $500. price increase.

Frankly folks this is just the 555Es with a few modifications. It is better in some respects, but as far as what counts (how it sounds) it differs little from its lower costing father. With an MSRP of $1500.00 (yes Iknow you will get it for less but still more than the 555ES) I think you are better off splurging a bit more and gettng a lower end seperates system from onkoyo or yamaha. The difference in sound quality is not nearly worth the 50% price hike for this product. For this price range you are far better off running to your local dealer and picking up the soon to be discontinued 555es (according to rumor) on clearance. Overall this was a disappointmet because of the price hike but still sounds great for a receiver in this price range. In truth, I think if you are considering investing this kind of money, you would be much happier saving for another 6 months and getting a descent seperates system from Adcom or your favorite brand. Of course if people like us would stop buying so much, this price gouging would stop. Personally I have invested $12,543. this year alone and I am far from rich. The best advice for anyone looking to buy is spend time listening to the equipment (an hour at least for each piece) and if possible, compare systems side by side with the same speakers and CD player in the same location without changing your listening location or moving the speakers at all. If you are spending this kind of money the sales staff will be accomadating, and if they aren't shop elsewhere!! I gave this 1 star for what I feel is blatant gouging from Sony, and an overall of 3 because for a 50% price hike, it better sound 50% better which it doesn't!! Personally I won't be buying this one.

Similar Products Used:

Sony 555ES, Yamaha 2095

Power, Authority, Clarity, Musicallity

Really none that matter

This is just a follow up to my review from almost a year ago. I am still blown away by the 777. I love this receiver and will not look to replace it for a really long time. This is the highest quality peice of equipment I have ever seen from Sony, outside of it's brother, the 9000es separates. I am still using the original firmware that shipped in the unit as I have had no trouble at all with it.

I still don't know why some people had a problem with the remote. I have had no trouble at all tweaking the EQ, doing macros, etc from the remote. It is great. In fact, since March of 2000 I have only change the batteries ONE TIME. Some people were saying it ate batteries really quick. I replace my pager battery every 2 weeks! That is quick. This remote is only on the second set of batteries in 10 months! That is excellent.

For music and analog mode I love this amp. For home theater, DTS and 5.1 mode, I could fall in love and marry this receiver and live happily ever after. There is no noise whatesoever even at extreme volumes. The massive amplifier components will make your favorite DVD come to life with authority and realism at any volume. Even the DSP modes like Cinema B and others make normal TV really sound phenomenal. My friends have offered to buy it since they can't get one, but I will not let this one go.

Enjoy,
A Happy Camper

Similar Products Used:

Denon, HK, Yamaha

Superb audio in both music and movies. High build quality. Looks great (I have the gold UK version).

Remote control is a pain.

I was attracted to this amp after reading several reviews in the UK press. Although the amp was only rated, mainly, at four stars from five, the concensus of opinion was that the performance of the amp was exemplary. Indeed it lost out on a fifth star due to it's ommission of EX/ES capabilities. After auditioning the amp I was pleasantly surprised with the way it handled both music and movies. Indeed, in my opinion, it out-performs all the current competition with the exception of the Denon AVC-A1SE. However, the Denon costs around £1500 more! Stereo performance is up there with the likes of the Roksan Caspian. It produces a wide open soundstage with lots of detail and pumps out basslines with impressive accuracy. Movie modes too are top notch - certainly on a par with the Yamaha DSP-A1X, and much improved over the denon 3801. My advice is to snap one up while they are still available. At this price it's a veritable steal!

Similar Products Used:

Denon AVC-A10SE, Yamaha DSP-A1, Denon AVR3801.

sound quality ,clean power,analog direct,auto format decode ,look,weight,tweekability
& everything the monster lovers said below

sony terrible customer service , mistery of software upgrade , terror of audio split ,no component video switching , remote {but not that bad if...}

hello everybody ,this is my first review on this great reciever ,in a very short brief words IF YOU CAN'T PAY 3000 $ OR MORE FOR THE AVC-A1SE , RUSH TO GET THAT BABE.
actually i've got 3 {THREE} pieces of it , 2 str-da777es v 1.01 &1 ta-va777es v 1.03 ,seeking for upgrade.......,
details will be in my next review
congralulations for the owners,good luck for the ohters.

Similar Products Used:

OWNED : denon:avr-3300,3801
yamaha:dsp-a2 , rv-795a
pioneer,HK,
TESTED :denon . AVC-A1SE ,avc-a1d,avc-a10d
yamah : dsp-a1,ax1,ax2 , RX-V2095
hk:avr-7000
marantz : sr-14 , 9000 , 7000
SONY : TA-9000 , N-9000

Lots of Power. Clean sound. Lots of inputs. Good functionality.

No light on volume knob. Remote can be cumbersome to use.

Very impressed with this receiver. A beer was spilled on top of it, the receiver abruptly turned off. I wiped off what I could, opened the cover, wiped off everything i could see. Let it sit for a couple hours, and it worked fine. I believe this says something about the quality or my luck....one of the two. not sure which one :-)

I love the ability to set the level of individual speakers. This makes it easier to have your seat in the "sweet spot" and to make up for accoustical defficiencies in the room.

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo TXSV727

upgradable via RS-232 port

too big to fit in my old stereo rack

Great receiver!

I already had the software upgrade (it can be found for free on the internet) and the cable but I had never bothered to do the upgrade. Since it's now $25 I thought I might as well just buy it. It includes the software on CD (which also has version 1.08 if you want to go back to the that version), the cable AND a new remote control with batteries. That is a good deal.

Since I never had the original remote (I bought mine as a floor model with no remote, hence the great price) it's nice to be able to get a remote that can control some of the sound fields and such. I had bought Sony's LCD screen remote (model 2100 or something), but it only controls some of the functions of the receiver.

I'm glad to be able to get the upgrade at such as good price. Plus if enough of us buy it maybe Sony will consider making future upgrades like DPL II.

Overall I have been very pleased with my receiver. It even drives my PSB Stratus Gold's without complaint. I can't imagine anyone getting a better receiver anywhere near the price I paid. Plus I still have 4+ years of warranty left.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer Elite VSX-14

Official upgrade available for only $25

This is just to let other 777 owners know that the 'official' VUCD777 6.1 upgrade kit is available in the states now. I just ordered one from Crutchfield for only $25 (down from $120 a week ago). It includes the CD-ROM with (I assume) version 2.02 of the firmware, a null modem cable, and a new, one-way remote that accesses the 6.1 Matrix EX surround mode. This is a small remote, obviously not intended to replace the main remote - just to access the new features.

Let's all hope that Sony releases a DPL II software update. I know that the 6.1 Matrix upgrade can be had for free around the internet (sans cable and remote), but I'm sure buying the official upgrade can only help our prospects for receiving future upgrades for features such as DPL II, which the 777’s processors should be capable of handling. Because the 777 has so much in common with the 9000ES processor, which Sony seems to more thoroughly support, perhaps the chance of an upgrade is fairly good, especially if Sony finds there is a market for the 6.1 upgrade. Besides, what’s $25 compared to the $1,000-plus most of us have already spent on the receiver?

Anyway, this is a great receiver, I think the best that I have ever owned. Combined with my all-NHT setup (1.5 mains, Audiocenter-1, SuperZero XU surrounds, and 2 SuperSubs) it produces a very refined and detailed sound in my room. The “tweakability” is enormous. I know that the current Sony ES models share this tweakability, but none share the outstanding amplifier section of the 777, or the made-in-Japan build quality. Apparently you have to step up to the 9000 separates to get that now.

Everything

Nothing

If you can still get your hands on this unit, DO IT. You will not be dissappointed with its performance. I was trying to find a good receiver at a modest price - this one is the clear winner.

Similar Products Used:

Old Pioneer Receiver

All rounder, quality of sound and built Quality of sound and built is rated highly, CD to Amp using direct source is pure, DVD to Amp is all rounder fun to play with, and relaxing to hear. There is a lot of features in the Amp that I am trying to get my head around and of course an upgrade path from 5.1to 6.1 using a PC/laptop (upgrade disk, RS 232 cable and a new remote at your nearest local Sony shop for about US$100). All in all the sound quality is fun, exciting, energetic, lively and heaps of functionality that will keep you excited.

a. The remote control! Too bulky, and the battery never last long.
b. Too much functionality and half of the stuff you don’t even want to use (the best is direct source)
c. Power cable from power point to Amp is too thin. The amount of money that you pay for this Amp and it is the 2nd top of the range in the SONY ES A/V range, the cable should be thicker – should be like the computer power cables that we get.

My sound system set up is:
Sony Amp DS777es
Sony DVD – 725
Arcam Alpha 9 CD
Kef Coda 9’s – front speakers
Kef Cresta – center speak
Kef KHT 2002 home cinema system – 2 rear and one sub

Cables -
Kef (front and center) to Sony Amp - Audioquest – Slate
Kef (rear) to Sony Amp – Audioquest – Type 6
DVD to Amp – Digital coaxial cable – Audioquest video source 2
CD to Amp – Tara Labs – type 25

I have to say, I am one proud owner and I would keep this amp forever. It is an all rounder classically made and the quality of the sound is thumbs up!
In order to balance your amp and speakers, you need to hear/buy an UK made speakers, as this will give you a warmer sound, without been too warm (to fall asleep while watching a DVD).
Friends of mine do have surround sound systems, it is all great and well - that it is loud and with a heavy booming sound, and at the same time very artificial.
To me, what it is important is the output of sound (High Fidelity), quality it comes out with! I don’t care too much about the big Watts out put, heaps of functionalities, bigger speakers, bigger sub woofer. This should be all balanced, to make the sound quality musical.
The best thing to choose a system is to take either your amp or speakers or even speaker cables to audition at your local HiFi dealers. If the HiFi dealers hate the idea of it, then take your business somewhere else.

Other web site reviews on Hi Fi -
www.t3.co.uk
www.hifichoice.co.uk
www.whathifi.com

Help site:
Upgrading from 5.1 to 6.1 channel
http://www.cronus.spaceports.com/~mobetta/SonySTRDA777ES.htm

Similar Products Used:

Sony STR-DA555ES – Japanese Sound – very clean processed sound
Marantz SR7200 – Japanese Sound – warm sound quality, very clean processed sound
Onkyo – Japanese Sound – very digital processed sound
Yamaha – Japanese Sound – very digital processed sound
Arcam Diva and FMJ range – UK sound – very purer warm direct sound, too relaxed, excellent for CD’s

What do I mean by Japanese Sound?
Very digitally processed sound. Therefore the sound quality from DVD/CD (what the producer and manufacture wants you to hear from their studio) is loss through the digital processor. Therefore you lose a lot of warmth sound, too much artificial sound.

My second choice would be the Marantz SR7200

Everything...King of the AV recievers

none

Just to let you all know that the 6.1 up-grade is availible at Crutchfield for $25. The latest firmware version is also included. I just finished the upgrade and let me tell ya,6.1 matrix sounds awesome. Its a leap up from cinima-ex b,which is great on its own. For 25 dollars which includes an extra remote..well its a no-brainer! The extra remote is used to access the 6.1 mode. Also note that the new soundfield will not display on the old remote,my only complaint(if you really want to get picky).It displays only on the display of the reciever. Also the sound seperation and clarity has improved much,an added bonus. Keep it up,Sony!