Power, amount of inputs, sound quality

Remote

Picked this up as a open box return at the Crutchfield outlet (they're based in Charlottesville) for $400! Best money I ever spent, sounds great. After 1.5 months the rear channel outputs went dead. Took it in to Crutchfield (past 1 month return time) and they swapped me for a new one, no hassle. Have to reccomend their customer service highly. New one sounds great with Dolby Digital and for music as well, with some tweaking of the speaker setup. Remote is badly laid out, won't learn cable box codes, only weak link I've found.

build quality, input quantity

no 5.1 inputs, bad control menus

Held onto 2ch stereo (Sony TA-F606ES) till I found this for $550 refurb, full warranty at a Sony outlet. Usual good build quality. Sound a bit thinner than the old ES integrated but good nonetheless. No hum problem as reported by others. In fact with direct pass on, esp. with CD input selected there is hardly any hiss even with vol at 100%.

There are a handful of features I'd like to have (5.1 inputs, internal y/c circuitry (like Onkyo 939), multiroom or separate rec/play selector (the F606 has this), and some of the 'software' functions need work, (sub on/off, no input/soundfield correlation, general menu unfriendliness) but is otherwise a nice unit.

*my Value rating is based on list/near list pricing, not what I paid.

Build quality, output power.

Music quality is so-so, does not remember DSP mode for different inputs.

Very well-built (heavy). Works well with other Sony products. Good and simple remote control.

Not the best for music, but great for home theater.

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo Pro-logic.

Home theater processing is outstanding. Great build quality. Easy to use interaface for adjustments. Power, power, power.

The remote is a joke. Sony could have come up with something better for the ES line at the time. No 5 channel inputs.

I mainly bought this product because I was really wanting something that would integrate well with my new (at the time) TV and DVD player. I have always had a rollercoaster relationship with this receiver from day one. I was very suprised when it would not remember DSP mode settings from one input to the other. My Non ES Pro Logic Receiver even did that! The remote was and is a joke. Buttons too small and close together and don't even try to figure them out in a dark room. I must give it some credit for Dolby Digital Processing though. I have never felt like it was letting me down in that area and I have always felt it had plenty of power to disturb the neighbors. Two channel stereo is a letdown. I like the Direct Pass mode and use it with the analog outputs on my S7000 but it is slightly bright. I really wish I would have known 5 channel inputs would have been so important but that is the price we pay for being first on the block with a Dolby Digital home theater.

Similar Products Used:

This product replaced a middle of the road Sony Pro Logic Reciever. I have it connected to a S7000 DVD player and a Sony CD changer and a couple of Sony VCR's and my 32XBR48 TV.

Pre-Outs, Push Pull amplifier section, sound options down to hardness of wall surface's.

Remote

This is one of the better amps I have heard in a few years reciever or not.
I have used the 80es as a Pre-amp and on it's own and have stuck with the internal. Tested against 1. NEW class A amp, Jolida Integrated tube, Harmon Kardon, Denon, etc. The Push pull aspect (same as 9000 series) is the best feature. Associated equipment is Technics new A10 DVD-A player, Kimber PBJ's and VS8 speaker cable. Speakers are the classic Sound Dynamic 300ti's.
I have been playing with multiple Amps, Transports, Dacs, RCA's and even some speakers to reach the audio nirvana we all would like to find. Believe it or not so far I cannot see a more transparent, smooth, detailed sound for less than $6k. Highly recommended for HT processer using Pre-Outs (friend is using as a front end for 2 class A mono blocks to a nice pair of Alon 1's) or on it's own as a true audiophile reciever (if this can ever be said).
On a side note per reading reviews below, My ES HAS DTS. I may have a special model with this feature and the Push Pull amplifier that is no longer in the ES recievers but can only be found in the 9000 series seperate 5 channel Amp.

Similar Products Used:

Denon 5700, JVC.

have owned the str80es for about three months now. very suprised at how clean, and quiet this receiver is. most of the reviews have been very good, the only negatives have been either the remote or not saving the settings in a mode or from input to input. these minor inconvieces however annoying certainly can't justify a rating of one star. for the sonic quality and 5yr warranty at $780 this is an exceptional value.

Sound Quality, Build Quality,Number of inputs,both analog and digital

No tape monitor switch

Great sound and features at a decent price. Two channel sound is exceptionally good for an A/V receiver

Number of inputs, speaker binding posts, clean power

remote, no DTS

I've been using my 80 for a little over a year and overall I'm pleased with it. I use it for home theater and and 2 ch music. It fits my bill very well. Except for the piece of junk remote and the fact that the 80 doesn't have DTS, its a very good mid priced receiver. I get a bit of hum fom my left front channel but its very slight and can only be heard when you closer than 6 inches to the speaker so it isn't really a factor. I'm very pleased with the number of digital inputs. I use the coax for DVD and the fiber for my sat dish and CD changer. I'll also be hooking up a minidisc player shortly and I'll be using the digital input/output loop for the player. The number of digital inputs was a factor in my choosing a Sony product over another brand in the same price bracket. Very pleased overall.

Everything you could want in a receiver except DTS

No DTS

This is a great little receiver(actually big). I love the thing. Will someone please tell me how you can complain about this one. I highly recommend the purchase of this unit if you can do without the DTS. It is heads and tails above the newer receivers from the ES line.

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo 656
Yamaha 992

I had the 80es for one night and before the end of the movie (T-2) the unit went on protection mode and never worked again I had to exchange it for a different unit (A/v 550 Marantz) becareful when watching at loud volumes. I think that the sound quality is great but it is not as well made as one might think. Don't let it run loud for long it might fry the circuits inside. Good luck to you all who have this unit may you not have problems with it and happy hometheater.