Where do I start, I've been up for hours playing with it...no I don't want to go to work today.

Unit arrived with front door broken (new one already en route. Remote seems to be cool but I can see why people don't like it.

I was always happy with the sound from my HK...warm, full, clean and was hesitant to go with a Dolby Digital Receiver because I thought I would have to compromise sound quality on my music. WRONG! This beast makes my Paradigms sing like birds. From Fiona Apple's 'Fast As You Can' to Faith Hill's "Breath" to Matchbox 20's "Bent" this receiver is so much more powerful and rich than my old setup.
I have hours and hours of tweaking ahead of me (this thing has about a million setup options). I had some trouble getting my subwoofer to come on while listening to music and then I found this AFD button (auto format decode) and boom everything came to life.
I cannot comment on home theater as I do not yet have the proper cables to hook up my DVD player digitally.
I'll foollow up with a more comprehensive review in about a month. For now it's 5 stars all the way!

Similar Products Used:

Harman Kardon AVI200MKII and PA 5800.

Sound quality, remote, sound fields

Remote(see summary), User manual

I purchased this unit through a local Sony dealer for $1100. I couldn't wait to get this thing home. After hooking up just two speakers, I knew it was going to be great. The sound quality is far superior to anyting I had expected. When watching "Saving Private Ryan" in DTS mode w/ the EX Cinema mode, I couldn't believe how realistic the sound was. I listened to and considered buying the 555 model. I'm glad I shelled out the extra money for the 777. It's well worth it. The remote worked beautifully on my other components and was easy to set up. The dual subwoofer inputs are great. Thank you Sony for adding a separate optical input for satellite systems.

A couple of complaints. I wish Sony would put a decent user manual w/ their receivers. This is a complaint I had w/ my last Sony receiver. The manual for the remote is fine, but the receiver's could use more detail. Also, I wish the remote wouldn't switch off so quickly. I realize this is to save batteries, but come on, give me at least 30 seconds instead of the ten built in to shut down. Finally, Sony included Pre-amp outputs, but no inputs. I have a subwoofer that can handle these to achieve the best cut-off rate for high and low frequencies but can't hook it up.

All in all this is an awesome machine. It was not easy to get into my cabinet (it's weight is enormous). The unit runs fairly cool considering what's under the hood. In my mind, you couldn't buy a better piece of equipment. This machine produces sound that is perfect. I too read an earlier review questioning the additional bucks for this model, but once you've heard it, you'll understand.

Similar Products Used:

Sony STR-DE1015G

DA converter is top notch, Remote, and it weights a ton must have something good inside. and the price

non found yet

I have had this unit for less then a month, this is what I have been waiting for from sony. The sound quality is awsome and the remote is the standared for the new millenium. In AC-3 the movies just come alive like no sound i have ever heard from a reciever. In Two chanel mode the first thing you notice is the raw power of this beast. Sound stage is great and very dynamic. Go out and check this gem from sony out befor you go and buy the crazy priced yamaha.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha DSP A 1

Build quality, sound, improved remote, ease of use, 5.1 inputs, serial "upgrade" port.

DAC's?

I actually replaced my Sony TA-E9000es and separate amp for this unit. I have spent the last week adjusting and tweaking the unit to suit my ears.

First, in my opinion in several ways it is superior to the 9000. These for the most part are convenience and ergonomic improvements, not sonic.

The remote is much improved. It now includes learning capabilities. Inputs can be set to default to different sound fields. The unit has an analog mode, which bypasses the digital section on the unit. Inputs can be renamed. It also includes a 5.1 input. The amp is strong and tight.

Sonically the 9000 is slightly superior. Where I noticed the biggest difference was in the internal DAC's. My CD player's internal DAC's sound better then passing the signal through the 777es'. This was not the case with the 9000. Surround performance seems about equal.

I will disagree with a previous reviewer who compares this unit to the Sony 555es. This unit appears to combine the best of the TA-E9000 preamp and the TA-N9000 amp. I found the 777es far superior to the 555es (as it should be given its price tag). It can be had off the web for around $1000.

For me this unit completely fits the ticket (and the wallet). It is clean, flexible and powerful. As good as the 9000es is, I have not missed it, even a little bit.

Similar Products Used:

Sony TA-E9000es (preamp), Yamaha, Denon

well built a/v receiver

the learning part of the remote

I've had my 777 for a while now and ya I still like it. The only my wife would let me get a new amp was if it was A/V. Yes it does a marvelous job with home theater. Also a good job with 2 ch. too. This is an all around solid rated good sounding amp. The remote is what everyone complains about. I found it EASY to set up and EASY to use. Until it came to using the learning function. I got the remote programed properly but the ease of use while in the learner portion of the remote stinks. Happy so far.

I give the amp a rating of 4 because they do have room for improvement.

Similar Products Used:

Dennon, yamaha,onkyo

Analog Direct, DTS, Bass management, tweekability, etc. etc.

My girlfriend-she can't move this piece of equipment to redecorate my house. GREAT!!!!! ;0)

I've had this receiver for 5 months now and still impressed by it's sound. I listen to SACD's through the Analog Direct
feature and a pair of Klipsch Reference RF-3's - pure heaven. The sound is so clean and natural, as if you are in the same room as the artists. For movies, what can I say, AWESOME.
For the reviewer previous to this, I am afraid of buying on Ebay, there are a lot of con-artist in that site. In many cases you can't even return or exchange the product. I'm sorry to say, you received a defective product.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha, Marantz

Build Quality, Sound reproduction, soundfield control, the remote, just about everything

Takes a long time to set up becuase the manuals are not laid out and written too well.

In a previous posting I gave this receiver a rating of three stars unfairly.
I could not get a picture from the monitor output to my TV. After a little experimentation and some help from Roger at Sound Sellers I was able to determine that my problem was the cables I was using. I was running a digtal cable from my VCR picture output to my Sony VCR picture input. I was using a regulr analog cable for the monitor output to the TV. The Sony won't decode digtal to analog (probaly for copy protection). Once I changed the digital cable to analog it worked fine.

Five stars to this reciever. If you get a chance to buy one of these badboys it's highly recommended.
In addition to all of its features and excellent sound it comes with a learning remote.
The remote controller is excellent and can control all of your other electronics.

Similar Products Used:

Sony 333es, denon 2800, nak av1s, nak zv500,

Sony Quality, MASSIVE weight, Awesome remote, motorized from panel, gold plated connectors.

None

I got this Receive from OADE Brothers for $1025 + $30 for shipping. Goto oade.com for the best price. This receiver is very nice, I am very impressed with all the bells and whistles it has. More importantly though, the sound output is great, with lots of power. I nearly purchased a 555es, but heard that the unit could be discontinued soon, so I waited for the 777es. Glad I did, the updated remote works very well, I have no problems with the remote at all. On the 555es reviews on this site, the remote got bashed quite hard. I like these remotes, I find them easy to use, setup is easy. My advice, SPEND THE MONEY!!! GET THIS NOW!!!

Similar Products Used:

Sony 715, 925

Well Built, inputs, pretty much everying

remote, I hate it

Very good receiver, so good in fact that sony stopped making them because they were taking sales away from their separates.

I have the latest firmware upgrade if you would like it. It can be found on this page:

http://www.cronus.spaceports.com/~mobetta/SonySTRDA777ES.htm

Similar Products Used:

none

Superb Sound, tweakability, great DSP modes

Remote is a bit cumbersome even though it is programmable. No GUI, would have preferred it over the 2 way remote.

This is one amazing receiver, I wish they would get rid of the tuner and lower the price. Who needs tuner anyway? I always had a not so great opinion about Sony receivers, some of my friends own the non-ES receivers and they sound like junk. Also a lot of malfunctions too. I read the reviews on the audioreview page and ecoustics, etown, stereophlie mag, and got the overall consensus that this is one superb receiver. In short after testing it out for 1 week, I was not dissapointed. The adjustability on this receiver is a galore, you can almost adjust sound on all speakers. I owned a Denon AVR3200 and used the Pioneer 626D to decode any DTS movies. The sound was bright on it but dull nonetheless even after adjusting the speaker levels and LFEs. But with the Sony, it just blew me away, the sound out of my NHT VT2's are startling! Even with the EQ off. I listen to a lot of techno sounds and prog rock, even these sound more enveloping and soaring. I can't say much more about it since I am not an audiophile, my ears are my guide, not specs. Buy this if you have a budget of $1100. I bought mine from JandR for $1020 ask for Rick ext 1029. Make sure that you buy it either from them or Onecall on the internet. There are others but these two have the lowest prices. Otherwise the warranty is not valid.

Similar Products Used:

Denon AVR3200