Great sound, quality, warranty.

Poor manual.

Bought the unit from J&R Music World. This is an excellent
sounding receiver! Previously owned the also impressive
str-da90esg, but this baby has DTS and 5.1 analog inputs
for future applications. When buying this receiver, bring
a friend. This baby weighs about 60lbs in the box!You can't
go wrong!

Similar Products Used:

Sony str-da90esg

Build quality, value, looks, extras, warranty, remote

heat, remote (at times,

This is a follow-up on a previous post.

I have continued to love this unit. It definately has it's faults like all pieces of electronics, including seperates! I was in the market to buy a nice setup about 9 months ago, and I found this. I could have gone seperates, but didn't b/c I wasn't as familiar with them and the price would have been more.

All in all an EXCELLENT receiver. Compared to Denon it blows them away. Denon is way overpriced for the quality you get. Denon's look and work nicely, but cost too much and usually break. Sony's lesser line (sub-ES) is the same way, that's why I would not buy any receiver that wasn't ES if I was buying Sony. Back on track...Denon isn't the only brand that does not compete well with this. I have a friend who has the new Yamaha flagship (RV-1) or something like that and he paid over 2.5 times I did and since we have the same speakers and similar CD arrangements I can honestly say that the sony beats it pretty good.
I have had Onkyo's before and they are somewhat noisy and aren't as clean as some amps/receivers, but still nice. Again, I don't think anyone should pay much over $1500-$2000 for a receiver, b/c then you are getting limited returns and should stick to separates. And even that route is a bit iffy. I have been listening to my friend's Parasound separate setup and his does very well for HT, but something doesn't jive with during 2-channel Still a very nice setup he has, but not what I would choose.

All in all this is the BEST discontinued receiver out there. I must warn that the new Sony ES receivers are lame compared to this. The facts: 777 made from Japan (mine had a United Airlines shipping ticket still attached to the box) vs. V555ES made in Malaysia (bad on Sony's part for quality control). 777 weighs 60lbs vs. V555 weighing at less than 40lbs. This isn't everything, but gives you an idea or quality. There are other factors that lead me to believe that the newest line up from Sony's ES is not worth the money. I would strongly suggest that anyone looking for a receiver get the 777ES soon before you can't anymore. I must say that I would buy it again without even thinking about it.

Equipment:
Paradigm Studio 40's
Velodyne FSR-12
777ES receiver
80ES 5-disc matched with the MSB Link III DAC
9000ES SACD/CD/DVD (progressive scan)
Monster Power Center 3500


I love my setup b/c it is fairly simple, compatible, good looking, and beats the pants off many much more expensive setups. You don't have to be someone that gets their equipment based off price of equipment to know what good sound is and consider yourself an audiophile.

Goodluck and remember this is supposed to be fun and it really only matters what you, the listener, enjoys.

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo 555, Yamaha, Nakamichi

Power, analog mode, build, signal management, serial port for updates

Remote, Sony support

I was not a Sony fan and many years ago decided I would never purchase another. After listening to everything I could find on the $1k range I just kept coming back to the Sony. I thought each of the receivers I listened to had strengths. However none had as many as the Sony. If you don't like Sony products, fine, but you should at least give it a listen.

Note: If you are looking for advice on a new receiver, listen to your own (features, price, style). These forums are a good source of information but absolutely no one should purchase a piece of audio gear in this price range without a solid listening test.

HK and Grim are just being stupid. For some reason, they need to talk sh*t about a product they know nothing about.
Just look at HK. He'll be satisfied, if we gave him a whitepaper with some nice specs on it. He doesn't listen to the unit, he listens to the specs, and we all know that that's the right way to go *cough*...

Anyway, HK and Grim, maybe you two prejudice think-you-know-it-all-without-knowing-anything-really morons, should read some of the stuff written by people that own the unit and highly respected magazines.

I would recommend you reading my last post about this unit, where a certified audiophile (he owns equipment you can only dream of, and knows what he talks about, because he lives and breathes for this stuff), talks highly about this particular unit, driving a pair of B&W Nautilus 803 speakers, which are VERY transparrent and revealing. But this unit can actually drive these speakers and deliver some very good sound. Not perfect, but very good, especially considering that it is a surround amplifier and what the price of the unit is.

Guys like you ticks me off, because you talk about something you know sh*t about. Are you guys just lacking something important in your brain, that otherwise alerts normal people to shut up, when they are about to talk about stuff they know nothing about? - Maybe you guys know a great deal about hi-fi equipment (I do, too), but you know nothing, absolutely nothing, about this unit.

You guys are just plain pathetic, but too stupid to know it.
So the next time you are planning to talk about something you have no experience with, STFU.

None. HK is right.

The fact that the bad reviews on this receiver got deleted even if they did have some valid points. The people that worship Sony are pretty weak.

Sony doesn't make any good audiophile gear, except for maybe the SCD-1, and their top of the line CD player. This receiver is OK, but not for $1000+. If it were $750 or $800 it might be a better deal. How many upgrade paths does this receiver have? Hmmmmm, not as many as the similar priced competition. Don't you think this is perhaps a plan by Sony to take as much of your hard earned cash from you then slap you in the face with the next line of equipment that has a few more features on it that you'll want. It just seems strange to me that most other companies like Yamaha and Denon and Onkyo can offer soo much more at similar prices. Perhaps they care that their customer's investments in their products will be safe for more than a few months. Sony is soo huge they don't care that people continue to buy their overpriced stuff blindly. Look at Bose too. Are Bose speakers the best around or is it a marketing scheme? Think about that after you guys spend $1500 on your poorly made overpriced gear and then try to justify your purchase when you find out with a little research you could've spent your money better elsewhere. Run from Sony. You can thank me later after you get tired of looking at the prices of the gear in your Sony Style magazine. (Marketing rip-off)

Similar Products Used:

Denon, Yamaha, B&K etc.

All what was mentioned already

Nothing so far

I work in a major Audio and Video store in vancouver
and have the change to play around with all the goodies
onces their come into the store
we carry the Hk 7000 which sounde very good to me
but after reading the reviews on these site i was interested
in finding out if is really true.
so i hooked up with our sony rep to get my hands on these puppy.
And guess what I never gave it back coz it is worth
every penny i had to pay for it.
Every strenghts of this receiver is right on the mark
The weaknesses its a matter of opinion
Remote manual etc. are no problem for me in fact i like
the remote all lot compared to others i'd tried
My system
Sony Receiver 777 ES
Sony DVD 7700
Sony VCR SLV 660 HF
Sony CD Changer 555 ES
FRont SPK Infinty IL 40
Center SPK Infinity IL 36

On Back Order Rears Infinity IL 30
and Sub Infinity IL 120s

Similar Products Used:

hk 7000 Denon Pioneer JVC kenwood you name it

strengths mentioned below, produces clear listening, variety of sound stages.

none at this time

I must be honest, I have never really been a Sony Electronics(home theater) enthusiast. My brother however, works for Sony and was able to get this reciever for half of the retail price. This was a plesant surprise not wanting to spend $3500 plus for a pre-amp ect. I started reading reviews and finally decided to buy. I must say this reciever may be the best on the market for the price range.
The reciever offers many sound stage categories as well as coming with a two-way remote. Yes the reciever and remote are hard to operate at first but, if you stick with it your work will be pleasantly rewarded. I live in a townhouse which with my ASW 2000 at 1/4 power presents a problem. With the remote I can access the level menu and modify accordingly. The amp. included in the reciever offers clarity I would expect from a amp costing twice as much as this one. My reciever has yet break the 4th out of 10 mark on the volume, perhaps when the neigbors are gone.

home theater speakers:
b&w 603 front
b&w lcr6 center
b&w 601 rear
b&w asw2000 subwoofer

This offers a great match with my B&W power hungry speakers. I cannot say enough for the 777es I would suggest to anyone who wants a great reciever for around $1000.0

Similar Products Used:

rotel 985, classe

The incredible sound!!!

LCD Remote auto-turn off is too fast.

Most of the posts have been right on, so I won't repeat others here.

The sound though is absolutely incredible. It's making my cheap speakers (due for replacement shortly) sound so much more realistic, and the sound projects itself in such a way that the whole wall sounds like a speaker - rather than the two small boxes that are there.

My wife, who was doubtful on this purchase, is extremely impressed. She's keeps asking if we're listening to new CD's. Both of us are hearing things in the music that we haven't noticed before.

The question comes up is how my previous receiver (rated at 100W/channel @ 0.05%THD) can sound so poor in regards to this receiver? The difference is really amazing.

The "Gladiator" of Receivers. It is the sound stupid---judge this receiver with your eyes closed (running through good speakers) It doesn't get any better unless you want to spend many, many, thousands for a slight tweek better.

If you love something-minor flaws ean nothing.

If you have heard 5 channel stereo and love it, wait until you play a cd in dts surround. It is jaw-dropping.
NEVER use the da converters on your cd player and use the analog inputs on the 777. Even if you have Burr-Brown or other high end stuff. The optical input allows the receiver to process the sound and there is not a cd player under 1000 that can come close to this processing. By the way this has been on for an average of 8 to 12 hours a day (work out of my house) and it does not get hot. This receiver has a wow factor of 55555555555555555. Thank you soundpros.com for your great price and service.

Similar Products Used:

Harman/kardon, Denon

Clean expensive looks; accurate sound reproduction; power output, value

remote control - great in concept, poor in practice. Instruction manuals

Puchased this unit from Andrew Kent at Uncle Stereo NJ for $1095 delivered (www.unclestereo.com. Arrived double boxed within 4 days and was in excellent condition.

I was going to purchase a Marantz receiver, or the STRDA-555ES but decided to spend more on a good receiver after reading the pervious reviews of this unit. Did I say good? I mean great! This baby is awesome! I can't run it past 4/10 on the volume scale without fear of having all my neighbors attack me. I am used to having run past receivers at 5-7/10 on the volume - but not the Sony. Doldy Digital is awesome on this unit and don't use the decoder on my Sony DVD player.

The clarity of this unit really does make cheaper speakers sound awesome. You actually don't need to buy expensive speakers. I was going to buy Paradigm Monitor 9's, but after hearing the AR 318's, I was equally impressed. Bass from the receiver is very tight and controlled and midrange/treble is warm and not bright and harsh. Just remember not to skimp on good quality interconnect cables!

This baby is heavy - 62 pounds shipping weight! Don't go to gym before you try and take this home. You'll need your strength!

The remote is great in concept, but poor in practice. It just turns off way too quickly. It would be great if you could program the shutoff time. Who cares about batteries?
Also, it would be nice if there was an illuminated volume indicator. However, I say....just trust your ears when setting the volume!

The unit looks beautiful with the blue multi-channel decoding light operating. You'll most probably never need to buy another receiver again. Do yourself a favor if you can afford it...spend the extra money on this unit. It's well, well worth it. 5 stars for value (if yu get it off the net) and 4.85 for performance (remote lets it down)

Enjoy.

Equipment.

Toshiba G1 Projector (100" diagonal screen)
Sony STR-DA777ES
Sony DVDS-530D DVD player
Sony SLV-N80 Video
Acoustic Research 318PS Mains
Paradigm Atom Surrounds
AudioSource SW15 subwoofer (with fiberglass insulation)

Monster Cable Lightsource optical, Video 2 SVHS cable, Monster Sub cable