Sony Reputation, DTS and other Digital Capabilities, Easy to use Set-up features

Complete and Total Lack of Power!!!!

I purchased the Sony 545 as an upgrade from my previous
STR V220. The primary reson for the purchase was to upgrade to Digital Capabilities so that I could use a DVD player and decode digital signals with the use of a Digital Satellite System. I had no complaints with my previous reciever and expected the same performance from the 545.

To be brief, The Bass was totally lacking. People who buy SONY expect the rumble in your seat, air-penetrating bass waves and this was not acheived even with a B&W 6 speaker ensemble with a 12 inch 100 Watt Sub-woofer. I truly believe that although Sony advertises that this system delivers 100watts per-channel it is grossly mistaken.

I returned it to the store exactly 16 hours after purchasing it. and Invested into a Yahmaha AV receiver for 800.00 well see if she has her bang for her buck.

Didn't detect any hissing.

Similar Products Used:

Sony STR-V220

Price, features

can you spell hiss? remote is worthless

If people out there tell you that thing does not hiss they either lucked out and got a good one or they are completely
deaf. I won't even go into a rant about the remote because that is something I could live with, but it sucks too. The hiss from the speakers became unberable. That danged hiss is present at the same level from 1 to about level 25 where it hits new levels of crap. I thought it was my wiring, so I went to tweeter and blew some serious loot on an optical cable and monster speaker wire. No help at all, the hiss actually seemed to get worse (increased signal strength I assume). In short do not buy this product, don't even look at it in store. I plan to read reviews at this site in advance of any other major purchace.

P.S. It hisses

Similar Products Used:

awia mini system

One remote control for all Sony-products

HISS. Layout remote, terrible green-on-white buttons, unstable amplifier. Terrible bright blue light when playing DD

I had the Sony for 2 weeks and I was shocked about the terrible hissing especially when watching movies and even with listening to music (CD/tuner etc). Overall performance is terrible. Unstable amplifier, couldn't handle my JBL SCS135 Home Cinema speakers.
I replaced it for a Denon AVR2801 which is more expensive, i know, but the difference in audio/video is well worth the price.
If you have a low budget, don't buy a cheap DD-receiver, like this Sony. You will get disappointed. Just wait till you have more money so you can afford a better one.

Price, features

That hiss, lack of power

This could be a really great receiver, except for that damn hiss; doesn't matter if the volume is on 1 or 20, it's always noticeable. Plus, I just wasn't happy with the power output, I hooked up my old Kenwood KVR95 at 65watts/channel and it blew this sony amp away!
So, I returned it to Best Buy after auditioning it for almost four weeks, and got the STR-DE845. Funny how the DE845 weighs twice what the DE545 did, yet they both have identicle power ratings and similar features. Well the difference is real, there is a lot more power in the DE845, it might even be the advertised 100watts per channel. It made everything sound a whole lot better. Along with the receiver I had bought a set of Bose AM-10 speakers, and was thinking of retuning them, as they just weren't delivering the sound I wanted. But, with the DE845 I'm quite satisfied with the dynamic range of the music now. You get that feel it in your chest bass without having to turn the volume up. I can now listen to things at low voulume (not all the time mind you) without the hiss, missing dynamic range, and lack of bass the DE545 delivered.

I know a lot people hate Bose speakers, and I was almost one of them, but the DE845 made a Bose beleiver out of me again. I had listened to many different speakers in many different stores for months before deciding on the Bose AM-10. But when I got them hooked up to the Sony STR-DE545 I didn't hear the same speakers I had listened to in the stores. Trading the DE545 for the DE845 shows that some times its not the speakers, but what's powering them that makes the difference.

So, in my experience, this Sony product needs some work, or at least some realistic specs published for it. 100 watts per channel, give me a break, it's more like 50 or 60. Take my advise and skip this one, get the STR-DE845 and you won't be disappointed.

Similar Products Used:

Kenwood, Sony

Features for the $

Annoying hiss when connected to ANYTHING but my DVD player

A good product considering the price and feature set. I got this unit because it was an open box deal and I wanted a cheap fiber solution for my DVD player. I am impressed with DVD playback, but get the same annoying hiss when connected to my WEGA TV and VCR. I can drown out the hiss if I turn the thing up enough. I am considering returning it and getting a better unit. It seems this unit is no exception: you get what you pay for.

Similar Products Used:

Another low/mid range Sony

Numerous features at a low price: Many surround modes, including 3 Cinema Studio modes and Virtual Multi Dimension. Rear panel has numerous inputs and outputs, including S-Video.

Excessive background noise/hiss. As soon as there is an input signal, the background noise and hiss is very noticeable and very annoying, even when the volume is only one step up from MIN.

I originally planned on getting the Sony STR-DE445 ($249), but when I saw this Sony STR-DE545 for $249 at Best Buy, I took the opportunity to purchase it at what seemed to be a good deal to me at the moment. I choose this line of receivers because of the numerous features Sony has packed into them. Also, I must admit that I tend to favor and choose Sony products. I purchased a set of Sony SAV-E315 speakers to go with the receiver. In reading the reviews posted here and elsewhere, the problem that I was most worried about was the apparent noise and distortion this receiver exhibited. Being a Sony lover, I ignored these warnings and bought the receiver. However, after connecting the speakers, I was very disappointed. The noise was very apparent, and matched the descriptions of the problems I've read about. Basically, as long as any of the DSP modes are in effect, the noise is loud and clear. Even at a volume level of only one step above MIN, the noise is loud and clear. I must add that the noise level does not seem to increase with volume and stays almost constant. When the input is set to Digital for Coax or Optical, the noise disappears, but as soon as there is an input signal via Digital, the noise appears immediately. So, when listening to CDs through the Digital connection, the noise would disappear and reappear between CD tracks. If it were constant I guess it might be less noticeable. I have been told that it could possibly be the speaker cables or power source being noisy, but I doubt it. I had a Kenwood VR-2090 in the same room which I tried with the same set of speakers, and there is no noise of the extent I got from the Sony STR-DE545. The only way I was able to reduce the noise was by using the 5.1 input connectors, which means it's just amplifying the sound through. This seemed a silly solution to the problem though, to purchase a receiver and not use any of its features. I might as well have purchased a plain 5.1 ready receiver at a much lower price. I know that there is always going to be some noise with all receivers, but the amount I got from the STR-DE545 was excessive. I've returned the receiver and decided to get another Kenwood instead. I'm going to try the Kenwood VR-407 ($299). As a Sony lover, I am extremely disappointed in my experience with this receiver. I even tried to force myself to ignore the noise/hiss and get used to it, but I felt so aggitated hearing it whenever I used the receiver, and felt that if I had bought a cheap sub $100 stereo of any sort, I'd have more comfortable listening conditions. If anyone has purchased a Sony STR-DE545 and they do not hear the excessive noise and hiss I am describing, I hope they will comment here. Hopefully it is just that some people, including myself, are unlucky enough to picked up the defective ones from the batch. With my poor experience with this Sony product, I would recommend purchasing it only if you have a good return policy.

Similar Products Used:

Kenwood VR-2090

That cool blue LED on the front.

Volume knob increments are audible and badly set.
HISSS!!!!
Poor sound

These people are not lying: This reciever is a total piece of crap. The hissing nearly drove me mad!! It's really that bad. The volume knob is really bad too. It is not linear at all, and you can audible clicks in the speakers when moving it up and down. The sound was pretty poor, with a lot of harmonic distortion. It lacked any punch whatsoever, and the imaging was downright terrible. All in all, I disconnected it within ONE HOUR, and took it right back the next day. People, spend the extra $100 and get the Yamaha RX-V496. You WON'T be sorry. It is much simpler, and has a lot more power, despite it's 70 watt rating (it's actually running at something like 130 watts on my 4 ohm from speakers, and 110 on my 6 ohm center).

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha RX-V496

Sony Brand

Hiss, Hiss, Hiss, and HEAT HEAT HEAT

The gentleman below may think he has some exclusivity with respect to the obvious.
If several people are stating a fact, you should not insult them by challanging their intellect or observations.
Enough of a manners lesson, your mother should have taught you that. If not go back and repeat the course.

And now to the point at hand. Sony obvious has a problem with these units. I quick phone call to several stores, SEARS, Circuit City, Crutchfield will reveal that this item has a high rate of returns. More so than any other. This should quickly raise a flag in peoples mind. As electronics designer I can tell you that heat = noise and that some components that are used in this receiver a probably at or near their max tolarance values. That is why some units are not generating this hiss and others are. SONY is clearly pushing the Amp and/ or Pre-amp stages within this unit.

And as a side note for the gentleman below, appropriately gauged and quality wires and interconnects were used.

I actually exchanged my unit through Crutchfield excellent return program, which gives me 2 weeks to return a defective or unwanted product. This allowed me to observe two units side by side. The first 545 had some of the same problems listed within this forum. Heat, Hiss, and distortion and high levels (70% max dial volume settings). The second unit was quite different. Hiss was not present untill the volume setting reach 50%, and even in that case it was very low. The unit also ran considerably cooler under the say conditions and location as the first.

Overall the second unit performed much better than the first one, and I was quite satisfied with both movies and music performance. I eventually have returned both units in exchange for an STR-945DE SONY, which I highly recomend, but I belive that all of youu that are having problems and still want to keep to your budget, try exchanging the unit. You will surprised at the difference. It may take more than one exchange (a friend of mine had to go through three, but eventually got there !), but it may be worth your time and money.

Similar Products Used:

Denon, Yamaha, JVC

Sony Brand

Hiss, Hiss, Hiss, and HEAT HEAT HEAT

The gentleman below may think he has some exclusivity with respect to the obvious.
If several people are stating a fact, you should not insult them by challanging their intellect or observations.
Enough of a manners lesson, your mother should have taught you that. If not go back and repeat the course.

And now to the point at hand. Sony obvious has a problem with these units. I quick phone call to several stores, SEARS, Circuit City, Crutchfield will reveal that this item has a high rate of returns. More so than any other. This should quickly raise a flag in peoples mind. As electronics designer I can tell you that heat = noise and that some components that are used in this receiver a probably at or near their max tolarance values. That is why some units are not generating this hiss and others are. SONY is clearly pushing the Amp and/ or Pre-amp stages within this unit.

And as a side note for the gentleman below, appropriately gauged and quality wires and interconnects were used.

I actually exchanged my unit through Crutchfield excellent return program, which gives me 2 weeks to return a defective or unwanted product. This allowed me to observe two units side by side. The first 545 had some of the same problems listed within this forum. Heat, Hiss, and distortion and high levels (70% max dial volume settings). The second unit was quite different. Hiss was not present untill the volume setting reach 50%, and even in that case it was very low. The unit also ran considerably cooler under the say conditions and location as the first.

Overall the second unit performed much better than the first one, and I was quite satisfied with both movies and music performance. I eventually have returned both units in exchange for an STR-945DE SONY, which I highly recomend, but I belive that all of youu that are having problems and still want to keep to your budget, try exchanging the unit. You will surprised at the difference. It may take more than one exchange (a friend of mine had to go through three, but eventually got there !), but it may be worth your time and money.

Similar Products Used:

Denon, Yamaha, JVC

lots of inputs/outputs

GARBAGE sound,Overrated Power, and HIIIIIIIIIISSSSSIIIIING !! LIKE MAD

This Receiver SUX crap! Do not buy it!! dont get fooled by the Sony name! sure it has plenty of inputs etc.. but its not worth it!! the HISSING will drive u crazy!!!
and it gets hot
i returned mine after 2 days time !!

and now i got a Denon AVR-1601 !! its truly awesome! the power rating on this is 60wX5! but it kix the Sony's ass!!

sony is over rated!! !!

again

DO NOT BUY THIS PIECE OF GARBAGE called SONY STR-DE545 !! or ull regret it !!

:)