Quality sound, versatile sound modes and adjustments

Remote hard to read in dim light

I bought this receiver after reading the many favorable reviews found here. I must agree with the majority of them. This receiver is a great value. Excellent sound for a reasonable price. I replaced an older Sony surround sound receiver (STR-AV1010). My speakers sysytem is a Polk RM5400. I am now ready for a good DVD player! Innovative remote takes a little getting used to but I like the way it turns off all my Sony components with one push of a button.

I have been using this receiver for 2 weeks now and is still very impressed. I was tempted to post a review earlier but thought I had better give it a workout first.
This IS the receiver that I'll recommend anyone who wants DD without spending TOO MUCH money. Yes, there are better (slightly) receivers out there that costs more (lots more), but if you are an average person wanting to watch a DVD with great sounds, this receiver is it.

The remote is good for very general use (Channel changing, play volume etc etc) but using features such as PiP etc is non-existent (maybe unless you own Sony everything). So far two weeks of heavy use has not flatten the original batteries yet.

DTS is very nice. I have played DTS CD for over 3 hours, and DD Movie for over 6 hours at HIGH volume without any over heating problems.

Also, just in case you haven't read all reviews properly, the STR DB 930 is very different to the STR DE 935.

Great receiver for the money!

Overall construction; ease of connections; looks.

Remote needs work.

I upgraded from an old SOny pro-logic rec. and what a difference. I was looking at Denon/Onkyo/Sherwood-Newcastle/Marantz and just wasn't willing to spend that kind of money. Found this for $400 + S/H and jumped on it. DVD's and CD's sound fantastic out of this and the BIC Forza's that I have for speakers. All I need to complete it is a new large screen tv and it'll be perfect!

Similar Products Used:

none

Amazing package for the price......great sounds, flexible settings, etc.

The MANUAL. Does anyone know of a user group, bulletin board, publication or chat room that can help me really learn how to tweak this machine to the max......and use all thew things it can do?

Highly recommmended.
Manual could be a lot clearer.

Similar Products Used:

older Sony

High power, Nice display, number of audio connections

Don't know yet.

I have been reading this column for about a year now. The price on the Internet has been around $399 for some time. Well, the Good Guys (electronic store in CA) has it on sale for $399 right now. I believe the sale ends August 8th. But don't quote me. Anyhow, they were sold out in the Sports Arena store, so I bought the second to last one in La Jolla. I suggest getting one (just look at all the reviews) and because of the great sale price. No shipping charges and you can return it if there are any problems. Anyhow, I'll write a review once I get this baby in full gear. Just wanted to let you know of the great sale. So far it runs extremely well!

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N/A

This unit has a great assortment of inputs. 3 toslink in and 1 toslink out, 1 coaxial input, 4 S-Video, and lots of RCA inputs. Also looks great! Easy set up.

Remote control setup prodcedure

I had my heart set on the Denon AVR3300 as a replacement for my Sony GA8ES AC3 Ready receiver. I did not think it was possible for a better receiver to come along, especially one at half the price.

The STR-DB930 is without a doubt the best value in home audio. I have tried and tested alot of equipment in my quest for a new AV receiver and found that as much as I didn't want to believe it, the DB930 ROCKS!

If you are looking for a great receiver at a price range below $2500 Cdn then look know further. The DB930 is the unit to choose.

It sounds great in 2 channel stereo mode, Dolby Digital mode, and even better in DTS mode. I could not justify paying $1500 for the denon avr3300 once I had a listen to this unit. And at $799 cdn, the price was right.

NOW STOP READING THIS AND RUN, DON'T WALK, TO YOUR NEAREST SONY RETAILER AND PICK ONE OF THESE PUPPIES UP! GO! GO! GO!

Oh and by the way, get the DTS version of Saving Private Ryan DVD while your out. You won't be sorry.

Similar Products Used:

Denon AVR3200, AVR3300, AVR5600 AVR5700

excellent value, solid ES construction and quality

two-way remote is slow

bought at Oades for $420. I am completely satisfied with this product.

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NAD

5x110W, So cool looks, Remote controls alot, decoder, In/Out-puts

Tuner(even when i listen to the station with the best coverage in the country the signal is bad)! Hissing

This unit is so great. With all its in/out-puts you can do alot.

I just got my PlayStation2 an it is so great with the receiver. The DVD is perfect and so is the game sound as well as the CD's.

I just hate the hissing - especially when listening to something with an analog signal. With the optical signal its not that big of a deal.

I cant understand why many complaint that the unit on have a DVD optical input and no CD input. Why arent they using there DVD-player as a CD-player?

Overall the unit is great and worth buying.

by rune

- limp bizkit rules and fred ... stay out of trouble! -

Lots of video inputs
Construction
Value
On-board AC-3 and DTS decoders
Remote (except for lid, see below)

No CD digital input
Remote lid
Can't program radio stations with the remote

After living so long with a very basic, cheap system from my college days, I decided to get a new receiver. I am not an audiophile by any means, but I had heard that Sony makes a good product. An audiophile friend of mine suggested the ES line, but when I found out the price... After reading the reviews here, I was sold on the DB930. I got mine from Sound City for $429, I have no regrets, and I would recommend them to anyone looking for this model (ask for Barry Chin). I think this unit is a steal at anything less than $500.

I really like the flexibility the unit offers in terms of A/V inputs, with the notable exception of no digital input for the CD player (can use MD/DAT input instead) which I find interesting, since my Sony CD player has a digital output. I would agree with others regarding the uselessness of all the sound fields and tweaking ability, but they are there if you want to mess around with them.

I also like having the AC-3 and DTS decoders on-board, so that you can purchase cheaper DVD players without the decoder built in.

I also like the remote, for the most part. It controls the other components in my system with relative ease (they're all Sony), except for my television (Philips 2784C), which I can't find any one of the programmable TV settings that provides total functionality...each setting gives partial function. I like the two-way feature, even though it is somewhat slow...being able to scroll through your CD collection or radio stations, etc. is a plus. Negatives on the remote: the flip-open lid, which you must use if you want to have any amount of control over your DVD player, is something waiting to be snapped off. It would have been much better to make the remote bigger and not have the lid. Also, as I quickly discovered, you cannot preset the radio stations using the remote; once you have them programmed, you can use the remote to change between them, so this is probably only a one-time annoyance and nothing more.

I had only one problem with the unit. When I turned it on, I would get a nasty interference pattern on Channel 2 (only) on each TV in my house, even those in other rooms on other circuits, on cable and broadcast. I exchanged it for a new one, no problems now.

Overall, I am very happy with the unit and would recommend it to anyone looking in this price range. Great value!

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None

Sound Quality
Build
Inputs/Outputs
Power and THD

None

Guys, this isn't a chat forum. I know it pisses us happy DB930 owners off to see someone who won't even use their real name bash this excellent receiver. But every time you comment on someones negative comment you are going to mess up the overall 'star' rating of the unit. This is because that negative comment person will again respond with a 1 star rating.

Because 'Audio' praised HK so much I decided to look at the unit on the web, and view the reviews here. Take a look at the HK AVR-65 reviews on audioreview.com and you'll see it is no where near the DB930 on overall ratings at 3.56. Second, I went to the HK site. Yes, their site is way better than Sony's offering you the instruction manual in PDF format on-line and loads of info that Sony doesn't want to reveal. Upon looking at the instructions one can see this unit (HK AVR-65) easily doesn't have nearly as many features as the Sony. Yes, it weighs more (by 3 lbs) and yes it has .02 better THD in 5.1 mode, but the Sony is still rated .02 better in 2 channel stereo mode. And the AVR-65 is only rated at 65 watts per channel compared to 100 watts per channel. Do the math. Am I bashing the HK, no. I have never even listend to it so I can not say if it a better sounding unit. Everyone needs to investigate what they are interested in buying, then demo the units and make a decision. Everyone is also entitled to their opinion. When reading these reviews, don't read to deeply into a comment from someone who only heard the unit in a show room. Take it from the 60+ 5 star rating owners such as myself: this is an excellent receiver for the money with a high quality build, loads of inputs and outputs and gobs of power.