1. Cost (about $415 online ordering)
2. Versatile Connections (SVideo & optical)
3. Digital Soundfield processing & power
4. Autooff/on through remote

1. Manuals make it even more difficult to set up and understand remote
2. Display difficult to read across room (remote display is backlit, though)
3. No tape monitor (but has optical out to Minidisk or CD recorder)

I wanted a receiver with
a) versatile digital & S-Video connections for future growth
b) good & versatile digital soundfield processing for both home theatre and CD listening (jazz, rock, and classical) c) as affordable as possible.

The middle criterion narrowed the choices down to the Yamaha 795 or a Sony; originally, I researched the DE-925, then discovered this model. The possibility of an optical and S-video connection for both DVD and satellite TV pointed towards Sony rather than the Yamaha.

Yamaha may have an advantage in the sound processing area; I haven't had a blind test of both with matched levels. But the Sony remote definitely requires study, and the manuals are so horrible that they make the setup and initial use even worse; it will help if you know something about surround or are patient. But virtually every reviewer of the Yamaha and Denon receivers on this site complains about their remote, so I suspect this weakness is not unique. By the way, has anyone figured out a way to set up the remote to control the Echostar DBS receiver (4500)?

Since my JVC pro-logic receiver had blown the rear amps apparently long before I bought rear spearkers, I was fairly unprepared for the quality of the theater sound while listening to several movies on the VCR with the Sony, with unmatched speakers, to boot (old JBL L100s,HS810s as surrounds, & a JBL center).

I'm not a very critical home theater listener; I suspect a DVD will shock me even more, so take all this with a large grain of salt. The 930 very easily drove my JBL setup (watching Entrapment and 13th level) past 90 db, with apparently no strain, at about 20% power, making the receiver top only slightly warm. This was listening to the VCR versions (obviously, to Prologic sound), which struck me as largely superior to our local megatheater chain sound. No doubt the efficiency of the old L100s has a great deal to do with this, but unless you listen at above theater levels or at live-performance symphony levels (don't you want to preserve your hearing in middle age?), I suspect this receiver has plenty of power for you. I can only imagine the levels possible if you have a good powered subwoofer; I don't think I will need one, based on the gun shots at the end of 13th floor. Another revelation was listening to the mono soundtrack of the Western Broken Lance on satellite TV; quite impressive.

I like several of the soundfield effects on CDs; especially the small hall & jazz club for acoustic CDs and the movie studios for some rock CDs.

My wife has not yet tried the remote, so ergonometrics may be the achilles heel, but this seems true of all such powerful receivers. The auto-on and off feature may prove to be the savior here.

E-mail me at rjarrett@ev1.net if you have figured out a way to use it to control the Echostar 4500 receiver (apparently it will control the Hughes and most DirectTV receivers).

And browbeat Sony to fire one token corporate engineer and hire an English or history major to write even a mediocre manual. (The remote and receiver have different manuals which do not overlap, so there are no specific instructions on using the remote to control even the main receiver functions, never mind the advanced soundfield setup. Ugh.)

Similar Products Used:

JVC pro-logic receiver

Excellent Dolby Digital, DTS and Pro Logic decoding.
Plenty of clean controlled power.

2 way remote a little slow
No separate speaker levels for DD,DTS and DPL
No tape monitor (use 2nd audio out)

This Sony is top of everyones list at the moment in the affordable price bracket so actually getting a unit was hard.

This was an upgrade from my previous DD only amp as I wanted DTS and a 5.1 input.

Once you get it out of the box and hear those DD and DTS soundtracks you will be knocked out by the sound quality this unit delivers it has exceptional decoding combined with the power to deliver.

It has 25 DSP modes but you won't need them just stick to the main 3 modes 2-Channel, Auto Format Detect and Normal surround.

The virtual rear speakers modes can enhance DPL playback akin to de-correalation on a THX system.

If you have a 3 head cassette deck it does not have a proper tape monitor, but you achieve the same effect by using the 2nd Audio Out to feed the rec-in on your tape deck.

The 2 way remote is a little slow, but if you teach a learning remote the amp reacts instantly. I have a Marantz RC2000 MKII and had no problems teaching it the Sony's codes.

Teaching remote tips (RC2000, Pronto etc.)
1, Don't teach a remote in the same room as the amp as the responses from the amp screws things up.
2, To teach Function or Soundfield, you don't want all the 2-way setup that gets sent when you first press the key, watch the LCD window and when it stops TXing you want to learn the code it sends when you actually select an option.


Equipment
DVD Toshiba 2109
Tannoy M3 front - Large
Tannoy MC Center - small
Tannoy M2 rear - small
Yamaha YST-SW300 subwoofer

Terrific Build, Sound, processing, soundfield and inputs

None at this price

Its funny how you get that guy from London comparing this amp to something in a much higher price bracket then giving it just one star. Its pretty obvious that he has no idea of how to review a product as well. I mean if you compare a Ferrari to a common Mitsubishi car...sure the ferrari is better in a lot of ways but to say the Mitsubishi was crap is just plain stupid.

Anyway I think that this is a great receiver and so do a lot of other reviewers here and magazines. I think with any receiver you have to take time in the setup to get the most out of it with your other components. I think trying to AB most stuff in a store is pretty useless unless they have a proper room and have the receiver properly setup with the rest of the components. Notice how this receiver is currently the reference amp being used in some home theater review setups...even though they reviewed and loved the high end Denon.

That being said...the sound quality of this receiver in movies is stunning! Amazing detail and clarity with superb dynamics and staging. At this price what you get is amazing.

On stereo its credible but nothing compared to its performance in hometheater.

The build quality at this price is comparable to products costing twice as much. Speaker Binding posts for all speakers and gold connecters.

This is a very good amp. If you want some magazine reviews of the Sony DB930 take a look at

What Hifi magazine October - 5 stars for everything.
What Hifi awards Edition - A/V Product of the year
Home Entertainment www.home-entertainment.co.uk/
- 5 stars for sound and overall.

HomeCinemaChoice November issue. They should be putting out a review on their website soon.
www.homecinemachoice.com

At the end of the day its basically what you prefer...so try and have a listen to it in your home...and remeber...set it up properly

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo

This is a very good receiver, especially for the money. Clean, powerful sound, loads of inputs, stylish looks and heavy-duty construction. The remote is a little odd, but it is pretty nifty having an lcd screen with 2-way readout. All in all, a very, very good unit.

Has anyone out there had the oportunity to A-B the:DB830/930 series to the Sony ES line, i.e. 30ES, 333ES, 50ES? How different do their amps sound? Thanks.

Similar Products Used:

Denon, Onkyo, Yamaha

Great sound,price, love that surround

remote,,manual

Probably one of your best values for money spent,,around $415 online delivered// less than i spent on my old prologic

Similar Products Used:

replacing 4year old Sony prologic strd965,,

Clean sound..yes even on music, excellent processing power, build and looks

remote is...interesting.

First off anybody trying to compare a $500 A/V receiver to one that costs $1600 or more is certfiable in the WHACKED CATEGORY.

Replacing the Yamaha with this receiver. Am pleased with it's music reproduction in 2 channel mode, very clean, very smooth. Overall I've lowered my standards in this category, because I haven't found a AVreceiver CD player combo in this vain anywhere that reproduced music to a significantly high standard...no matter what the price, even the gimmicky DSPA1.

Setup-Fronts Aura Sound LSW-628's, Sound Dynamics Center, and NEAR M10 rears. Shopping for a sub right now.

Fantasic sound thus far off of VCR movies, DSS and regular TV..appreciate the soundfields, and the ability to adjust to a number of settings. Looking forward to getting my Sony DVD here shortly to set that up (hurry up UPS). I too wish they had one more Digital input for CD, like the SVideo switching capabilities.

Sony has certainly stepped it up a notch in this line over the DE line.

I've auditioned Denon, Yamaha, Onkyo, Nakamichi, Harmon-Kardon, Pioneer and Pioneer Elite. With enough research you can find a receiver in every line that's just as good as the other, so I bought the Sony on value, and interoperability factors with other components.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha RXV-592.

Tons of realy clean power! ES components and look, for just a little more than a DE.

Heat, and alot of it. Slow remote if you have the 2 way enabled.

While doing my researh for my new AV gear I found this site. Was pretty much set on getting the 935 but read all the reviews. Picked this up from my local Good Guys the only place in town able to sell it, got a good deal as well, they tend to do that when you drop alot of cash. Make sure you buy from a AUTHORIZED Sony dealer

First thing I did was check to make sure all the amps work properly, then I checked for heat and this thing can cook, so I gave it more room and screwed a 5.5 in fan from radio shack to the opening in the back.

Setup is way indepth. First impression was crappy sound, but after setting up the speakers properly then adjusting each speaker thru the EQ it sounded awsome. It was like breathing life back into my 12 year old speakers. I bought new speakers at the same time as the reciever and love them even better Polk Audio RT 2000 and 500 fx surrounds.

The auto switching is great as well, now there is no need to keep the reciever remote taped to the back of the tv remote. A ton of inputs including more S-Vid inputs than the 935.

System
Sony 930 reciever
Polk Audio RT2000p mains
Polk Audio 500fx surrounds
Cambridge center channel plus
Panasonic, pana black, superflat 27"
Sony 650d DVD player
JVC super vhs VCR

I love my setup now, maybe a bigscreen is next

Voice

Everything Else

I made the mistake of buying this amp based on the rave reviews it had received. With my configuration (Kef Ref 2, Cresta rears, Tannoy sub and B&W CDMCSE centre) the unit simply could not perform. Bass was fluffy at best and no feeling was ever present. I have since purchased the Yamaha A2 which excels in every area the Sony failed.
I would also like to express concern over the was Sony operate, I had this unit for just 24 hours before returning it to the Sony Centre in Poole and was refused a refund. After much hassle a 90% refund was given… Well done Sony !

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha A1, A2

Sweet look and control over ll its functions

Remote kinda funky

When connecting my Sony 550D DVD player, what are the best connections to use?
Will the sound performance be better from the optical out or the coaxial out?
In other words, what is better?
Please email me at bgoodu@hotmail.com and let me know what you have tried/think.

Thanx

Similar Products Used:

Older STRDE Prologic Reciever