great sounding, awesome selection of sound fields, more than enough i/o points for all your components

remote takes a phd

i got the reciever on an exchange from circuit city after a kenwood 1080-avr crapped out after 6 months, and since kenwood discontinued the model and they screwed up my ticket by adding instead of subtractiong the total the did and even exchange for the sony, even with the sony being $200.00 higher, of course they werent crying because i had just bought a brand new sony trinitron while i was in there. i have seen different reviews on this reciever, not just here but before taking this one i did some homework on it, and 3 years later still reciever can't be touch, from others that i have listened to in the same price range. i have it hooked to the dvp-s300 sony dvd player, sharp hi-fi vcr and my satelite. optical outputs on both the dvd and the satelite. i have all jbl speakers: 2 10" stacks, sub, center and sorrounds they all fit just great and sound supperb.

AC-3 RF, optical

Can't change the designation of the optical inputs, would have been nice.

This is my first DD receiver and I've been very happy with it. I suppose that i'm lucking out with the amp not dying... I guess that they can't *all* be lemons :-)
For LD, DVD, CD, and MD play back I've been very pleased. It does a very good job with Pro Logic play back as well, much better than my old ProLogic receiver. The rear channel on my Star Wars LD used to crackle and pop on the old ProLogic (only disk that did that) but it's clean on this one.
I would have gotten a newer model or a different brand if I could have found an affordable one with AC-3 RF at least 3 optical inputs, and an optical output.
I guess the buyer should beware, I may be a lucky one.
(Three stars because everybody else is having such horrid luck).

Similar Products Used:

STR D815

My Sony receiver had A LOT of distortion in the higher frequencies...Enough to take it to Sony's repair place. They were TERIBBLE in their support, and I eventually sold the unit for 1/5 of what I paid. Avoid Sony like the plague.

I listened to the Yamaha, Denon, Kenwood and the Sony. The Sony promised the most bang for the buck, and I didn't find the reomte to blky since it controls the TV, VCR, 200 disk CD changer and oh yes, the receiver. One of the last individuals writes that you have to spend a mint for the DVD player: not true. One of the best around is the Panasonic A110 (DD and SDDS) and it has optical outputs that interface well with the Sony DD processor. A good budget buy.

I just bought the sony str-de915 and am quite happy with it. I would have been happier if "Shop-at-Home," located at www.shop4.com, had sent it to me within the 3 weeks that they told me it was likely to take (since it was back-ordered). They had a great price ($429, $451 delivered) but I got sick of waiting - so I picked it up at a local store for $449 + tax = $475.
I'm using Energy Take5 + ES-8 sub and it sounds great. However, I have a question for the group, since the instruction manual is somewhat lacking in a lot of respects. When playing with the equalizer in various DSP modes, I do not notice much of a difference at all. e.g., when setting a bass frequency for the front speakers, I can't tell the difference between 314 Hz and 125 Hz from 500 Hz. It all sounds the same to me. In fact, it's a very subtle difference from having the equalizer turned on or off altogether.

ANy suggestions on your "favorite" settings or "ideal" settings for rock vs. classical vs. jazz?

AND, how do you set the delay from front to rear? (I might have missed that in the instructions, but I'll post it here at the risk of being told to look in the former).

Bottom line, after 3 days with the unit, I'm happy thus far, but want to know how to best enhance the sound for various sources (rock, jazz, movies, etc).

Thanks

The STR-DE915 is a good receiver but there are better. For the price nothing can beat it but unless you are making a contemperary home theater you should save up $150 more and get a Yamaha RX-V793 for $550.
Tim,
Uh, excuse me? "One of the best around is the Panasonic A110 (DD and SDDS)"
I don't know about you but when you lie on the web you shouldn't give your e-mail. I could've really sworn that Sony Dynamic Digital Sound was only in theaters, my bad, I guess Sony lied, United Artist lied, Columbia/Tristar lied, and oh yes I lied. Before you post something up reasearch about it first. Sony Dynamic Digital Sound is a 8-channel system that is ONLY FOR THEATERS. There are no DVD's with it and there will never be, since Sony announced that SDDS is a theater only Digital Format. Also I don't see why you chose the STR-DE915 compared to the RX-V793 and AVR-3200, Kenwood however I can. The RX-V793 and AVR-3200 actually sound alot better. Yamaha has gotten alot of awards including the Grand Prix Award. They got an award for best AC-3 Processor made by a company not dedicated to making chips. The Remote control is actual learning and oh yes, it can actually turn off your tv!!!! unlike the Sony where it only controls it with channel up channel down menu blah blah blah, but yet you press system off and only the receiver goes off, hmmm? why is that? well maybe cause it is not a very good one the Remote Costs $140 compared to Yamaha $225 and Denon $195. The Sony Receiver is a big bang for your bucks but to look at Yamaha and Denon receivers and choose a Sony is just plain dumb.

I purchased the 915 for an interim 5.1 capability until the surround formats settle out somewhat. I bought it mail order in December 97 for $449. I am entirely pleased with the performance in my home theater set up. While it is not my choice for pure stereo listening, it is a super bargain that delivers very good performance. I am fortunate to have a separate high end systen for "just listnin". Look for a bargain, enjoy 5.1 format, you will be pleasantly surprised.

reasonable price for a dolby digital receiver at the time

scratchy volume, front and rear channels gone

like many of the others, i've had multiple problems with my receiver. the volume control does the cat scratch fever, repair for faulty optical i/o, and now my front and rear channels are gone. the center still works like a charm, though!

do not purchase this receiver unless you need a boat anchor.

happy trails, pilgrims.

Great Surround Capabilities for a while. Many options.

Sometimes too many options. Suffered a melt-down and went into protect mode and spent many months in the shop Feb 2001 is when it went into the shop. We got it back Nov 2001.

This was a good product to start but heats up quickly. This inevitably led to the melt-down of out receiver. Thank God I was home and awake when it happened and was able to turn it off and unplug it or it might have burnt our house down. Use caution when purchasing this receiver. Thinking of using it as a door stop or for target practice to sight in my new rifle. As for sound quality it is great but they need to install a bigger internal fan or something.

Similar Products Used:

Teac Receivers, other Sony Stereo systems.

Good Value 5.1 Reciever at the time

Pile of Sh*T, Front channels Blew, Remote down volume control never worked, Coaxial digital in never worked

Good overall value 5.1 amp. Had it 2 years and the front channels just stoped working, except the center, that still works fine. Sony wont fix it unless i want to pay. Coaxial Digital in never worked.

Similar Products Used:

Technics 5.1, Sont ES, Yamaha 6.1 DSP