I've had the 90esg for about 2 weeks now. I returned the 80es since it had an audible "hum" that I just couldn't take.The 90esg is basically the same as the 80es except for the vision touch and 20watts more power.
I am very happy with the sound quality of this receiver....it really does sound incredible!
My only problem with the 90 is the "vision touch". I am not impressed by it and really wish that other remotes could run the receiver. I currently own the sony rm-av2000 remote and it will not operate the 90esg. All I want to do is be able to control the power and volume and select components with the remote. So far I have found that NO OTHER remote will operate the 90esg. If anyone can fill me in otherwise I would greatly appreciate it.
I would recommend getting the 80es over the 90esg though...the remote thing really sucks.
Keith

flexability,awsome remote.musical

cant use s and rca inputs together.
one or the other

ive had no problems with this unit.
i use the pre-outs to use my macintosh 2105s
i love the remote.i know some people dont.it takes getting used to.its an air mouse.
well built

Similar Products Used:

mac-integrated amp

Great Sound Quality and Features

Cannot Channel Surf with the Remote

I am very pleased with this Receiver. I have a Sony DVD and TV to match. It is well integrated and I really enjoy the convenience of the GUI. My only complaint is that the remote control cannot scan through the channels. It is the best sounding receiver I have ever heard.

Sound, excellent DD decoding, some useful cinema modes, direct pass for 2 channel, huge number of inputs...

No DTS, no 5.1 inputs and too dependent on the remote.

Outstanding receiver. The sound is incredible. I have recently gotten the upgrade bug and want to trade up but this has me spoiled. I honestly can't find another receiver that would be noticably better. I think I may go separates. The only receiver I would think of trading up to is a Denon 5700 or 5800, but that's such a beast.

On the remote, if you have it set up for all your components and used S-Video, I think it would be great. But I have component in and there are many functions that you cannot get a Direct punch button to, you have to navigate through menus. So I bought an RTI TheaterTouch remote. One of the only ones that can control the Vision Touch Sony's. With that, I can run Macros to adjust all the Sony's modes. It's nice...

This model does not directly compare to the current Sony ES line. The 555 and 333 are just not in the same league. Ask any Sony dealer. They all love the old 90ES and the only receiver that compared was the 777 which is an awesome unit if you can find one I hear.

This review is late in coming but I see some of these on Ebay every now and then, they are worth it.

Similar Products Used:

none

I have always been a proponent of buying separate components. The thought of *ever* having a reciever -- much less the need for an AM/FM tuner at all -- was utterly foreign to me. That was before I decided to get more serious about home theater...
When I purchased my DVD player, I realized IMMEDIATELY that I had better upgrade to Dolby Digital (AC-3) to get the best sound or I was not going to be happy. I was in the market for A)an A/V pre-amp, B)an amp for my rear speakers, C)an amp for my center channel, and D)a Dolby Digital decoder.

After looking & listening, I just couldn't get past the fact that I *really* liked the Sony ES line. From a pre-amp standpoint, it has pre-outs for all channels (2 for the subwoofer) and all video inputs are s-video/standard. Also, all audio devices can be linked via optical cable (except for sources like turntable, etc...) -- All of this sounds, for my purposes, like the *perfect* pre-amp! At a list price of $1600, that can be pretty hefty...

Also included in this package is an excellent Dolby Digital decoder (plus Pro Logic) that can we configured *very* easily -- PLUS 120W amplification into five channels (RF, LF, C, RR, LR). It also offers twin front channel outputs for A/B multi-room switching and/or power sharing.

From my standpoint, I was looking at an ideal solution. I was worried that the tuner and pre-amp circuitry would add noise to my rear channels, but to be honest, I haven't heard much. Sony's A-Rated amps are clean and deliver audio into the full spectrum of frequencies -- unlike other home audio components.

One *very* nice feature is the vision-touch remote control system that allows on-TV programming of the reciever. When watching letterbox features, the menus don't really cover up the picture at all. Another REALLY nice feature is that the standard play,pause,FF,Rew,etc... buttons are context sensitive depending on which input device is active. When watching DVDs, the remote controls the DVD player, same with LDs, CDs, VCR... and I do NOT own all Sony equipment. I used simple menus to set them up.

As always, there are gripes... My #1 gripe is that there are some buttons that SHOULD be on the remote. A) TV/VIDEO button - My VCR is NOT S-Video, so I need to switch the TV to Video3 to view it, B) Channel switching on the remote in addition to the vision-touch control menus.

Another gripe is no external processor loop... This would guarantee future compatiblility with some other standards.

Finally, everything has a price. I would not have purchased this item at the list price of $1600, but thankfully I was able to get it for $999. After doing much searching, there are *better* prices but not by much, and at $999 this unit is well worth the price for what I needed.

I bought this unit after upgrading my LD player a few notches. I was able to get a price midly better than list which is $1,600.00 So walking out the door with having only spent $1,300 I was feeling pretty smug. Let me be forthright, the unit SOUNDS wonderfull! Altough I use external power amps (Cinepro 600X2)the sonic quality of this unit is very high. But I am taking the unit back for a refund for the following reasons. 1. You CANNOT control the rest of your A/V system without having the TV on.
2. Everytime you turn the receiver on it will power up the TV (Sony TVs)
no matter how you slice it I don't want to hear my TV tubes when
listening to a CD!!!
3. There is no input specific memory. You listen to LDs in Dolby Digital,
you should not have to switch it back out when you hit the
CD/Tuner/Phono... options.
4. The volume button on the remote must be pressed repeatedly instead of
held down to change system volume.

I am going to switch over to either the Kenwood AV-2080, or the Sherwood R-945 unit because neither is reliant upon the TV for system remote functions. Like I said to start with I like the sound of the unit, but the ergonomic/usability features on this thing drive me nuts and when spending over $1,000 then I think those little things become important.

I have had the Sony 90ESG for about a year now. I am now in the market for another product. It is one of the most frustrating components I have purchased. Operationally its fine, but the remote requires you to turn on the TV. It uses a strange frequency and then rebroadcasts at the normal IR frequency from the reciever to control the other devices. The remote is very, very weak in function.
Dont buy this unless you have all Sony components and have the receiver out in the open and expect to keep the TV turned on all the time.

This receiver, Sony STR-DA90ES purchased for $899, has replaced the Sony STR-D2070 in my system. My system is comprised of Sony components with the exception of the speakers. The front pair are Klipsch Forte. The center is a Klipsch Heresy II. The rear pair are Klipsch kg4. I have found the audio of the STR-DA90ES to be superior to the STR-D2070. The user interface has been easy to master but I find it a bit cumbersome. If Sony wants to mimic a computer GUI then Sony should provide the computer interface and have the user employ their computer. To have the TV come on every time the receiver is turned on is less than desireable. One can select a non-Sony TV and not set it up to eliminate the TV turn on. To use the Video-3, which is defined as the 8mm video input, the front panel must be left open. The AM does not support stereo reception. The antenna input does not support the standard F-type connector but rather the Sony 'push on' type. The unit does not support multiple audio tape decks, (tape monitor).
If this receiver was somewhere in the middle of the Sony ES line or if Sony had not made receivers with the issues mentioned above covered, (at least in the past), then I would consider it an outstanding product. But, this is Sony's flagship model and at a list price of $1600.00 the consumer has a right to high expectations of the product and should complain to the manufacturer when they are not met.

I rate the egonomics and features of this unit a 3 and I rate the sonic quality a 5, hence, the overall rating of 4.

I have owned this receiver for about 8 months now, and my opinion is still the same: One of the best sounding receivers I have ever listened to! There seem to be a lot of people complaining about the Vision Touch control system; I find it very easy to use, but then, all of my other gear is by Sony as well, so it is a perfect match, especially with my DVP-S7000 DVD Player; They make a great looking (and sounding) combo. I can't really recommend this unit highly enough, it has some of the best sounding Amplifier stages you'll ever find in a receiver and the Build Quality is unmatched, just like other ES gear. Just try out the Vision Touch GUI system before you buy, you may like it, or it might freak you out. But it's still one of the best sounding receivers out there.

I have an all Sony system and the receiver operates all the components. I am using the receiver to power a set of rather inefficient Snell speakers and it can drive them to very loud levels for extended periods without any problems. It is true that the turning the receiver on turns on the television, but you can turn the TV off if I am not going to use it. Overall I am very happy with the sound produced by this component.