Price, overall performance, longevity

mid-range, distortion

This receiver seems to be getting a bad rap here in the review world. It isn't the best receiver, but at the time it was quite good and seved its purpose admirably. It has the 5.1 inputs so you can pump your dvds from a decoding player. It has caused me no problems in the 2+ years I've had it. Always reliable, always decent sound. I have very nice speakers now and they sound good, but not as good as the DB-830 I just purchased. For 269 bucks then, it was a good deal and had plenty of life left in it. It will never win you over with delight, but it will push your music loud and has quite a few good dsp settings for customization. All in all, I have very few complaints for this soldier on his way to the pawn shop or to a friend.

Similar Products Used:

Sony STR-DE935, 835, 635

Dolby Digital 5.1 inputs, line-level sub output, test-tone generator, 100w x 5 drives speakers very loud. Great for DVDs. Has turntable preamp input (increasingly rare nowadays).

Highs are a bit harsh, bottom can be muddy. only mid-fi quality. Has push-type speaker connectors. Manual could be clearer.

I bought this AV receiver so I could add home theater output to my stereo setup. I had used NAD equipment (until they were stolen) and most recently, Proton separate tuner/amp/preamp set. This system drives a pair of large Advent fronts and JBL TLX-121 rears with a KLH ASW-10 sub.

The Sony is much more powerful than my previous Proton amp (only 30 watts) but doesn't have the clear transparent sound of the latter. Sounds OK at low levels but can be harsh and fatiguing at higher volume.

The Sony excels at surround sound and Dolby Digital ouptut. While it doesn't have AC3 decoding, it plays very well with a Dolby Digital AC3-decoding DVD player such as the Toshiba SD-3109. It's real convenient to switch from CD to video or 5.1 input with the remote, and the video throughput is crystal clear.

I bought this receiver as a demo unit for $175, and at that price it's a pretty good deal. I am upgrading to the NAD T750 which is a lot more money ($500) but is guaranteed to be much more musical. The STR-DE615 is a good starter receiver or a 2nd system for den or bedroom.

Similar Products Used:

Proton 300s, NAD

High power, has all of the features I needed

None that I can find

I really havn't had any problem with this reciever. This was my first Dolby reciever and was a huge step up from my old Pioneer sx-203 stereo reciever. I bought it mainly for 5.1 ready and 100X5 power. For over a year I pushed a set of Klipsch KG 1.5s on the front, KG .5's on the rear, and a yamaha center with no problems. I never really noticed the heat issue even after long high volume playing. I really like the power it pushes to the rear speakers. I have heard a few surround setups that are only getting like 50 or less watts to the rear and you can 'barely' hear the rear channel at all, even when it is turned up to its highest. The 615 does not have this problem, at least with my Klipsch's it does not. Overall, I am still very pleased with this reliable reciever.

Similar Products Used:

None

none

everything

I have to agree with some of the other reviews this reciever is a piece of crap. I spent my money on speeakers when I bought my system. I have a pair of Paradigm 11semk3's and Energy Take-5 package and have been very disappointed in sound quality. From the other reviews on these speakers I can only assume that the problem is with the reciever. I think a new Harmon/Kardon is in the near future.

this receiver is a peice of sh*t. It all muddy sounding and destorts really bad at low levels.the highs are screechy and the lows are all blurred together.I am going to buy a yamaha or a harmon/kardon now there recievers are the best for the buck.actually they are the best. pioneer elite comes a close 3rd place. Not the normal pioneer though.I would give this receiver a -2 million if i could. i would not leave with this stereo running because you will come back 30 min. later and the d*mn thing will be on fire because it gets hot within 7 min.

500Watts/Easy Hookup/Sounded great for the Price...Really liked the audio in Jazz Club mode.

Has Dolby Surround, but no Dolby Digital or DTS. Great receiver for the price at the time I bought it. Recently have upgraded to a STR-DE1075 with a lot more options and brand new model. Am willing to sell this model for $175 plus shipping let me know if interested at rickll68@yahoo.com

This is a great receiver for someone who wants the power of loud music and wants good sound for movies but isn't picky about wanting dolby digital. My DVD collection is way over 100 and decided to upgrade. Worth getting if you can get one cheap like at the cost I'm offering mine...HINT!!! Not bad for a 97 Model...If mine doesn't sell, I'll use if in the bedroom!

Similar Products Used:

Kenwood

Excellent receiver. 100W X 5. 500W total. Will push any speakers well. 5.1 Dolby Digital, DSP.

Bass and Treble adjustments could give you a little more flexibility. Steps up and down are a little too far apart.

This receiver has served me well. It has never come up short for power. My entire system is Sony and it was the heart. I only replace it to keep pace with newer items. I'd recommend it to anyone.

Similar Products Used:

Sony STR DE825

The sound and controls are great. Though I feel the bad out-weighs the good.

Unfortunately the rear amp caught fire. The entire sytem consisted of the Sony STR-DE615 Amplifier, Panasonic DVD-RA31, Sony CDP-CX-55 CD changer, Energy EXL-16 Front speakers and Sony SS-SR9 center and rear speakers. The reciever was in an open-air, breathable shelving unit. Durring about ten months of moderate use the units output began to sound distorted only while increasing the volume.
The distortion occoured until the bitter end. The worst part is, the built in surge protector which automaticly enabled itself DID NOT stop the fire!

In summary, I feel that this reciever is a FIRE HAZARD!!!

This matter is being investigated by Sony represenitives now.

Strong sound, good soundstage

lows can be muddy and highs on the bright side

Overall, this is not a bad receiver for the price. It is fairly detailed, good bass although a little loose, decent highs that can be quite shrill at times, and a good layout of controls. The sound fields are not as good as Yamaha's and the menus can be perplexing. The remote is on the busy side too. Picture quality is ok with no real change to the signal, I don't believe.

I just bought some Paradigm Reference 100s that really do sound good with the Sony. However, as soon as the speakers are broken in fully, I plan on upgrading to McIntosh (a big step I know but I am just starting!) amp and preamp although I audioned the new MA6500 and about died it sounded so good.

Anyway, I have heard worse receivers for the price and this one does do everything well enough for average home theater.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha R-V703, Pioneer QX8000

I bought the reciever expecting not the best possible sound out of it as possible but one which would produce good, full, not muddy sound. Instead what I got was a reciever which gets extremly hot from running a mear 15 minutes, hot enough to almost burn you. I also got a reciever which had a lot of features, but not which worked to my minds own presets of what "good sound" is. What I heard in the music DSP modes was a bunch of crap partly due to the amount of oversampling the reciever had to do to give standard music the extra sense of realism. What I heard was again just computerized crap. For spending about $300.00 on a reciever there are much better ones out there and I urge anyone who is going to buy a SONY reciever to think again and buy a Yamaha, that is what I'm going to do. For the amout of features,, this reciever would get an "A"....if they worked correctly. I am very unsatisfied with this SONY reciever and again I urge anyone to buy a different company (YAMAHA).